shrivelled souls, when they adulterate the bread of life before they take it into their mouths?

The meek are satisfied. They never hunger, never desire any other food, because they find this nourishing, and it sustains them. They find life in this, yea, an everlasting life.

Should any one say to them, 'How do you know what you eat to be the bread of life? You may be mistaken: try some other food; at least inquire whether better is not to be obtained;' they would reply, It was this bread which, when we were perishing, gave life to our souls; it is this which has preserved us alive: we have hitherto found nourishment from it, nor has it failed to administer support to us. We long fed on unsubstantial food, which only created hunger, and left us famishing. We can entertain no doubt that this is the true bread from heaven. We have seen others eat manna in the wilderness, and die; but “he that eateth this bread shall live for ever." When it ceases to supply our wants, then will we seek other food. Do not " devise deceitful matters, to disturb them that are quiet in the land;" but leave us to the peaceful enjoyment of our satisfying food, and you, who are dissatisfied, seek other food elsewhere, if you can obtain it.

In another respect the meek are satisfied; they find themselves always filled with good things.

The meek" delight themselves in fatness;" they have a sufficiency. "He that gathers much hath nothing over, and he that gathers little, hath no lack."

Such an abundant supply do they find, that they desire nothing to be added to their nourishment; they feed on a crucified Immanuel, and are satisfied.

Let us then each ask ourselves whether we belong to the meek, whom Jesus blessed? Do we desire to be one of this company, or do we desire to spend our lives in vain speculations? in empty inquiries?

The apostle Paul was content to be a fool, that he

might be really wise; but vain man would be wise, though he be born as the wild-ass's colt.

Oh! happy, happy company! from afar, from the mount of proud speculation, I behold you! I see you sitting at the foot of the cross; peace and satisfaction are visible on your countenances, as your glistening eyes take in fresh views of your crucified Lord.

He, who once bled there, but is now reigning above, has his glorified hands full of blessings, to shower down upon you.

These restless desires tell me that I belong not to you; these daring thoughts admonish me that I am of another society. Oh! may I be snatched from the unhallowed spot to which I have wandered! "Return unto thy rest, oh my soul, for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee." Beloved of God! whom the Lord has blessed! if ye need any other benediction, I will bless you. If the prayers of a wanderer will benefit you, I will pray for you. I will pray that none may entice you from your place of rest. I will pray that your hearts may not be rent by losing one from your society, but may each day increase your numbers, till in the likeness of him you love, you are eternally satisfied.1

Sept. 26, 1818.

MATTHEW XXVIII. 1-10.

THE period of day in which these troubled mourning souls came to the sepulchre of their Lord, strikingly corresponded with the state of their minds. The day 'began to dawn," that blessed glorious day, in which they were to behold the risen Sun of righteousness-that

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I Written in consequence of being arrested in the midst of a speculation upon some of "the deep things," by a consideration of the text.

bright Sun whose presence chased away those misty fears which overwhelmed their minds, and taught them to rejoice in those heavenly beams which he shed abroad in their hearts. They needed not a star to point out the way; they had a soulward direction to the sacred tomb. In the four following verses, we have a beautiful miniature picture of the day of judgment presented to our view. And we manifestly discern the different effect which that day will produce on the two classes of men into which the Scripture divides all mankind-believers and unbelievers. In the keepers and the women we may see the whole world before us, and we observe that the same appearance, which caused the former "to shake and be as dead men," afforded joy and consolation to the latter. How sweet the voice of the angel to the women, "Fear not, for I know ye seek Jesus which was crucified." This was the reason why they were bid not to fear, because they sought Jesus, the crucified Saviour. They felt that they could not enjoy life without him; they knew they had no other refuge, and therefore could not rest till they had found the Friend of sinners. It was not because their characters had been moral, because their outward conduct was comparatively good, that they were told they had no cause to fear, for all we know, this might have been the case with the keepers, to whom no such consolation was afforded. But an everlasting promise was here given, that none who seek Jesus as a crucified Saviour have any reason to fear; "Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest;" for " him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out." As well might these keepers have prevented the Lord's rising from the grave, as men or devils withhold the Sun of Righteousness from rising on a seeking soul. Why then, beloved of the Lord-you who are longing after him, yet dare not think yourselves warranted to come to him-why affront your Lord by

doubting his gracious word? "My thoughts toward you are thoughts of good and not of evil, saith the Lord." Oh! can you indulge despondency when an angel from heaven has declared that you have no cause to fear? When the "Lord from heaven" left his throne of glory, sojourned on earth, and died, that he might bear away all cause of fear from those who seek him, knowing they need a crucified Saviour; you who eagerly desire to find your crucified Saviour, you say, "Oh! that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his mercy-seat." If this is your wish, let me tell you, you are already at his cross, which is the propitiation, the mercy-seat. You do not want, like the blind man, to pray that your eyes may be opened, for that is already done; only turn your eyes from the ground, or from looking at your evil hearts; direct them upwards, and you will see the "Lord of glory bleeding for the ungodly. Let us now mark the next words of the angel; "He is not here, for he is risen as he said, come, see the place where the Lord lay." "He is not here." Look not for him on earth, nor in any earthly thing, nor in yourselves; "he is risen," "he is ascended on high," "for ever to sit at the right-hand of God," to plead his finished work for his ransomed people, to gather his elect from the four winds of heaven." "He is risen," and as 66 we are risen with him, let us seek those things which are above." Believer! whosoever thou art, thou hast ascended with thy Lord, as a member of his body; where he is, there must you be also, for God hath raised us up together, and hast made "us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." Turn thine eye of faith to heaven, and behold thyself already in glory. We are all too apt to indulge proud thoughts of what we are in ourselves, but not one of us has views sufficiently exalted of what we are in Christ. Blessed truth that he is risen! for them he has accomplished all the work of redemption. Then

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it is a complete and finished salvation, which the Spirit enables us to receive by faith. By this we know that the Father has accepted of the atonement which was made on the cross, and that we are complete in him," 66 accepted in the Beloved." The Lord Jesus would not have risen until he had fully accomplished the work of redemption, but now hath he "entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." Therefore, since our Lord is "for ever sat down 66 rest in his love; on the right hand of God," let us ""for he that is "let us labour to enter into that rest,'

entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his." Now all ye who love the Lord Jesus, come, let us follow our angelic invitant, Behold the and "see the place where the Lord lay." place of the burial of sorrow, the resurrection of eternal joy. Let us contemplate this wondrous scene of love, and believingly view how low the Lord of Life and Glory laid for us. What did he who is "life eternal" submit himself to die, to be buried, to lie in the grave, for sinners? Oh! richly endowed spot

'Where the dear flesh of Jesus lay,
And left a long perfume.'

Let us meditate on this really consecrated ground, till, instead of looking with fear or terror to the time when our bodies will own the same dwelling, we rejoice in the thought that the time may not be long ere we shall rest in the grave of our beloved Lord; and, sometimes may we be able, in anticipation, to recline at his side, for

'Where should the dying members rest,
But with their dying head.'

Oh! how eagerly these women ran to proclaim the tidings of a risen Saviour; with what joy did they declare that those who sought him in his appointed