I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord. Because thy heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord, etc.-2 Kings xxii. 8, 19.

THE priests, probably to save themselves the trouble

of writing, and the people of reading, the book at large, had furnished themselves with abstracts of the law, leaving out, or slightly mentioning, some parts thereof, and particularly the threatenings; which Josiah was so much affected with, as being new to him. The book of God's law seems in our day to be lost; a sealed book to the most of the congregations that profess themselves Christians; imperfect accounts of it are given, which hide the promised blessings and threatened curses of God. When this book by spiritual light is found, and on reading or hearing thereof, conviction reaches the conscience, it is a great instance of God's favour, a token for good, and must be faithfully acknowledged as such. Reader, art thou truly apprehensive of the weight of God's wrath, and solicitous to obtain his favour? Seek then earnestly, upon thy knees, and in the house of the Lord, redemption from the curses of the law; pray that Jesus may be revealed to thee; the blood of the Lamb of God alone can take away the guilt of sin; having found the law, rest not till thou find the Gospel also, and arrive at a comfortable assurance of thine interest in its blessings. Josiah's heart was tender, he went and was encouraged; follow his sorrow, and thou wilt partake of his blessings; and make the law of God thy delight and counsellor.

Draw me, we will run after thee. The King hath brought me into his chambers; we will be glad and rejoice in thee; we will remember thy love more than wine; the upright love thee.-Song of Sol. i. 4. In thee the fatherless findeth mercy.-Hosea xiv. 3. See also Ps. cii. 13.

THE needle's point in the and shakes mill it comes

stands still, but quivers and shakes till it comes right against the north pole. The wise men of the East never rested till they were right against the star which appeared unto them; and the star itself never stood still till it came right against that other Star, which shone more brightly in the manger than the sun did in the firmament. And Noah's dove could find no rest for the sole of her foot all the while she was fluttering over the flood, till she returned to the ark with an olive branch in her mouth. So the heart of every true Christian, which is the turtle-dove of Jesus Christ, can find no rest all the while it is hovering over the waters of this world, till with the silver wings of a dove, and the olive branch of faith, it flies to Jesus, the true Noah and rest of our souls, who puts forth his hand out of the ark, and taking the dove in, receiveth it to himself.

Vain are the things of time,

There's nought of pleasure here;

Even our most sunny clime

Is dark, and wild, and drear;

God only is the refuge sure,

The source of pleasure full and pure.

In vain I seek for rest

In all created good;

It leaves me still unblest,

And makes me cry for God.

And sure at rest I cannot be,

Until my heart finds rest in thee.

What think ye of Christ ?-Matt. xxii. 42.

UGHT we not to put this question to our souls, when our happiness for ever depends upon him, and when without him we are undone to eternity? How ought we then to think of the Lord Jesus Christ! Surely, as the scripture represents him to be, "the chief among ten thousand, and altogether lovely.”—We ought to think of him in his person as the great God incarnate; in his work and his offices, as the Saviour of Israel. We ought to think of him as one in whom justice is satisfied, love and righteousness are manifested, and sinners are saved. O how highly have God's people ever thought of Christ Jesus! and how exultingly do the saints now in heaven think of him! But what think we of Christ when burdened with sin, when oppressed with affliction? When we cannot entertain a good thought of ourselves, can we then think of Christ as highly as heretofore? Alas, how very weak is our faith at the best! Lord, strengthen our faith, inflame our love, enlarge our views, support us in trials, guide us by thy counsels, and receive us into glory, that we may sing thy praise to all eternity. Amen.

Now living waters flow

To cheer the humble soul:
From sea to sea the rivers go,
And spread from pole to pole.

Now righteousness shall spring,
And grow on earth again;
Jesus Jehovah be our king,
And o'er the nations reign.

Our conversation (or our citizenship) is in heaven.-Phil. iii. 20. Therefore rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. -Luke x. 20. Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth.-Col. iii. 2.

A

that way.

CHRISTIAN being only a traveller through the world, must expect a traveller's fare-bad roads sometimes, bad weather, and bad accommodations; but since his journey's end and city are in heaven, all his actions, sufferings, prayers, trade, and conversation turn His actions, for whatsoever is bound on earth is bound in heaven; his sufferings, for those who overcome shall receive a crown of glory; his prayers, for grace is the answer to prayer; his trade, for whatsoever is of the world is sin; his conversation, for whatsoever is earthly is abomination, and worketh a lie. O Lord, grant that mine eyes may be always fixed upon this mark, so as to regulate all my doings accordingly, asking myself in everything, whether it be fit for heaven, and agreeable to the mind of the heavenly Bridegroom, and to the manners of the heavenly citizens.

Lord, bid my soul fly out and run
Through every heavenly street;
And say, There's nought below the sun
That's worthy of thy feet.

So shall we mount on sacred wings,
And tread the courts above:
Nor earth, nor all her mightiest things,
Shall tempt our meanest love.

The glorious tenants of the place
Stand bending round the throne;

And saints and seraphs sing and praise
The Infinite Three-One.

To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name, whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.-Acts x. 42; and iv. 12. Thy name is as ointment poured forth (the fulness of his grace).-Song of Sol. i. 3. It is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.-Prov. xviii. 10.

N this name we should draw nigh to the Father in

approach a fire

of our own, kindled from the fancied merit of devotion; and he will draw nigh to us again. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.-James iv. 8. He will certainly grant our petitions, and we shall receive, that our joy may be full.-John xvi. 24. For the Lord is good, and ready to forgive, and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon him (Ps. lxxxvi. 5); and all these promises are Yea and Amen in Christ; so that every believer may say, The Lord will receive my prayer.-Ps. vi. 9. "Blessed be God, who hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me;" for "he hath dealt bountifully with me."-Ps. lxvi. 20; and xiii. 6. Lord, may this be the language and the exercise of my heart, and do thou grant me to believe more firmly in thy name.

Lift up your eyes to th' heavenly seat

Where your Redeemer stays;
Kind Intercessor! there he sits,
And loves, and pleads, and prays.

Petitions now, and praise may rise,

And saints their offerings bring;
The Priest with his own sacrifice
Presents them to the King.