ful," and fear to ask more until we have improved what we have, lest we should be found wanting when more is required of us.

We

may be led to prayer by necessity and affliction—to the promises by a sense of weakness and melancholy; but the evidence of our delight in the love of God, and our faith in a Saviour's love, and the grace of an everpresent Comforter, is meditation— the heart's daily exercise upon eternal interests-the soul's free tribute of services and grateful thoughts to God when it has no request to make known, nor grief to seek comfort, when it neither is, nor would be of the world.

While I was musing the fire burned. Ps. xxxix. 3.

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt

meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous. Josh. i. 8.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Phil. iv. 8.

V.

With what religious awe do we meditate upon the dead, because they are departed-gone to the world of our faith, and to "the Judge of all;" because they have entered upon all that we believe, and know what we shall never know till we are one with

them in eternal light. Our hope, our affection for them, when they were living here, how far does it come short of the dearer interest with which we follow their appearing before God, and we reckon as nothing what they have wrought or suffered, their cares now hushed, their light afflictions, compared to the sorrow or glory which may now be revealed in them!

The Apostle tells of the Saviour who hath made us "kings and priests" in his kingdom, and we feel that no conception of earthly grandeur can be adequate to represent the glory of a soul that is now shining in its Redeemer's spotless holiness. Yet it is not the soul's mysterious state which occupies our anxious meditation, but the question, whether it is forgiven, happy, and dwelling with the blessed? And shall we be careless of the soul's

welfare, because it is not yet departed? Is it the separation of the spirit from this sinful clay which gives it importance in the scale of created being? Will not others meditate upon the bliss or sorrow of our soul, when in like manner it shall have departed: nay, rather, is not our spiritual state in this life of supreme and infinite concern, since it will determine our spirit's immortal and eternal state in the life that is to come?

Because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God. He that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, the Lord, the God of hosts is his name. Amos iv. 12, 13.

I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. John ix. 4.

I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 2 Tim. iv. 6—8.

VI.

Does sin deserve no punishment, or can repentance cause that to be undone which has been done? May we see the insufficiency of such sorrow to atone for the soul's guilt, and justify its pardon! May we look only