SEPT. 15.-No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.-Luke ix. 62.

The eye, though a little member, yet, perhaps, of all others, is the greatest inlet to temptation. The first motion to sin entered by seeing. Eve saw the fruit was good and pleasant to the eye. Looking begat longing. So lust was conceived and brought forth sin. Sin, when it was finished, brought forth death upon her and all her posterity. When Satan tempted Jesus, he began the attack by presenting to his view the kingdoms of the world and the glories thereof. Seeing this, we have reason with Job to make a covenant with our eyes; and with David to pray daily, "Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity." No state more awful, than to set out in the best cause and turn back to the worst enemy. The last end of such is most dreadful. Most deplorable, to turn from following Jesus, and make shipwreck of faith and a good conscience!

Whether minister or disciple, who hath put his hand to the gospel plough, if his eyes be attracted and his heart allured after the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, these will render him unfit for the kingdom of God. For these are as contrary to the spirit, frame, and genius of Christ and his kingdom as heaven to hell. No man can serve two such opposite masters. If thou hast chosen Jesus for thy portion and thy all, why look back to the world? What contempt doth such conduct pour upon him! The heart is not whole with him. It speaks loudly, as if there was somewhat desirable in Christ and his ways; but not enough to win the heart and engage the affections entirely, and make the mind completely happy. "If any man draw back, my soul, saith the Lord, shall have no pleasure in him." And, verily, such a soul can have no pleasure in God. Whither will he fly, to what refuge betake himself, in the hour of calamity and day of distress? A forsaken Jesus, a slighted gospel and

neglected salvation, will wound the conscience with the keenest sting. See to it, O professor. Watch over thy lustful eye. It is ever looking back to and longing after more from this world. Beware of thy deceitful heart, lest that turns from Christ to the world. If so, thou wilt soon let go the gospel plough, and yet find carnal pleas for thy conduct. Many barren professors have ever a reason (such as it is) at their tongue's end, for their covetous, worldly-minded spirit. Yet, like Lot's wife, they look to Sodom, and are monuments of God's displeasure. "But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak," Heb. vi. 9.

SEPT. 16.-Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.-John v. 39.

It was an excellent reply of a christian lady to a scoffing infidel, who vented profane banter upon the scriptures, and asked, What proof she could give of the truth of holy writ? "Yourself, sir," said she, "is one. For it is written, 'There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,"" 2 Pet. iii. 3. Even Satan, when he tempted our Lord, though he dared to pervert, yet he never once attempted to deny holy scripture to be the truths of God. Shame to professors who are ignorant of God's word! For Jesus and eternal life are revealed therein. Even devils, who have no hope from the scriptures, seem well versed in them. But, may not Jonadab's question to Amnon be put even to some of God's children, "Why art thou, being a king's son, lean from day to day?" 2 Sam. xiii. 4. Leanness of soul comes on many through neglecting the nourishing truths of God's word. It is the rich feast of the Father's love. By it the soul is fed and nourished up to eternal life. Verily, when we lose our appetite for the scriptures, and they are not savoury food to us, our souls are distempered.

They testify of me," saith Jesus. Is not that word enough? what so sweetly, so powerfully engaging to the soul, as when somewhat of our dear Saviour is to be learned from every page? The more we are acquainted with his precious person, his amazing love, his wonderful humility, his astonishing sufferings, and his finished work on earth; so much the more will he be endeared to our hearts. We shall prize the word that testifies of him, and the Spirit who glorifies him. We shall think of him, love him, live upon him, live to him, long to be with him, from day to day. So we shall beguile all our troubles and trials below. Our hearts will be simple and happy. Our conversation and conduct will be more like the meek Lamb of God. Thus shall we grow as Pharaoh's "kine, fat-fleshed and well-favoured," while we feed in God's meadow, Gen. xli. 18. If we neglect the scriptures, that testify of Jesus, no marvel we enjoy not the comfort of the Spirit's witness of him. Says Luther, "Let the Lord take me out of life this hour, or when it pleaseth him, I leave this behind me. I will own Jesus Christ for my Lord and my God. This I have not only out of the scriptures, but by manifold experience also; for the name Jesus hath often helped and comforted me, when no creature could." "Holy scriptures are able to make us wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus," 2 Tim. iii. 15.

SEPT. 17.-Ye are come to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling.-Heb. xii. 24.

When from zeal and affection for their beloved Master, the disciples would have called for fire from heaven, "he rebuked them, saying, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of." In young disciples there is often much heat of zeal, which is not according to knowledge. They know but little, what evils they are called from,

and what privileges they are come to. It behoves all to be diligent in reading, hearing, and studying the truths of Jesus. So the Spirit makes wise heads and joyful hearts. To see, taste, and feel somewhat of Jesus, from the law, the types and figures, the prophecies, promises, and the gospel, is the chief concern of simple souls. So their hearts are daily more and more established in faith; and they know more assuredly, that they are really come to Jesus. When we read of Moses sprinkling the people, and crying out, "Behold the blood of the covenant," (Exod. xxiv. 8,) this comfortably reminds us of the pardon of sin, by the precious blood of the dear Lamb; and how the sprinkling of this blood purifies the heart from sin, and the conscience of guilt, by faith.

The acceptable sacrifice of Abel, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, brings to our minds the most excellent sacrifice of our dear Saviour. This speaks righteousness, peace, love, and salvation to our souls. This silences all guilty fears. This revives and comforts drooping, trembling hearts, knowing that Jesus is our dear and ever-loving Mediator before the throne. This gives boldness, and confidence of free access to God, and freedom of heart, to draw nigh to, love him, and rejoice in him. Whatever our various cases, frames, and circumstances are, our only wisdom and comfort lie in simply commending all to Jesus, knowing that we are come to him, and live comfortably by daily coming to him. Is sin our sorrow, grief, and burden? Jesus has a plea for it. He does not extenuate or excuse it. Nor should we, but confess it with all its aggravations. His blood speaks before the throne. The Spirit bears witness to it. When the voice of sin and terror is heard in thy conscience, Christ's blood speaks pardon from God, freedom from condemnation, peace of conscience, joy of heart, and a hope full of immortality. Happy, to have come to Jesus; and joyful, to believe in him as our Mediator. Oh, how full of the richest consolation is this declaration! "If we

confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness," 1 John i. 9.

SEPT. 18.-My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.-Gal. iv. 19.

Many sincere disciples, who are convinced of sin, whose hope in themselves is cut off, and who have fled to Jesus for refuge, are often distressed, because they have not been under such dreadful terrors of legal wrath, which others talk of, and are mistaken for the pangs and travail of the new birth. But, there is no authority from scripture to conclude, we must have such great terrors of hell and damnation ere we come to and believe on Christ. Nay, the law may work great wrath in the conscience, and yet the soul never be converted to Jesus, and the holiness of the gospel. The Spirit is a sovereign agent. Enlightened, convinced souls are differently wrought on. Some feel more, others less terror. But all see the sinfulness of sin, their lost state by nature, the spirituality of the law, and the preciousness of Jesus, before they will come to him. On such the dear Saviour sees the travail of his soul, and is satisfied, Isa. liii. 11. Zion, the church, in her living members, travails in faith and prayer; and by her, as the mother, children are brought forth, Isa. lxvi. 8. Ministers, in their painful labours and endeavours, travail that souls may be born to Jesus.

Thus laborious and affectionate Paul travailed in birth again for the apostatizing Galatians. He had been in pain for them till they were brought forth at first, as a holy seed, in their conversion to Jesus. But now, his soul was pained at their turning back again to the law. Children of God, though little in knowledge and weak in faith, are as dear to Jesus as adult christians; so are they to his faithful ministers. But they are fearful of believing too much in, and trusting too