Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. ROM. x. 4. See Rom. viii. 1-17.

W HERE the law ends CHRIST begins. The

law ends with representative sacrifices; CHRIST begins with the real offering. The law is our schoolmaster to lead us unto CHRIST; it cannot save us, but it leaves us at his door, where alone salvation is to be found. Gal. iii. 24. The law calls for a perfect righteousness, which in ourselves never will be found; but all its demands were fulfilled by our surety.-Every true believer finds that righteousness in CHRIST which he stands in need of; and is enabled, through the Spirit, to rest upon it for sanctification; he faithfully endeavours to obey the law, as the great rule of his duty both to God and man; yet is so sensible of his own manifold defects, that he would utterly despair, if he could not look up unto JESUS, and "Thou shalt answer for me, O LORD, my

say, GOD."

Lord, when my thoughts with wonder roll
O'er the sharp sorrows of thy soul,
And read my Maker's broken laws
Repair'd and honour'd by thy cross;

When I behold death, hell, and sin,
Vanquish'd by that dear blood of thine;
And see the Man that groan'd and died
Sit glorious by his Father's side;

My passions rise and soar above;

I'm wing'd with faith and fired with love;
Fain would I reach eternal things,
And learn the notes that Gabriel sings.

But my heart fails, my tongue complains
For want of their immortal strains;
And in such humble notes as these
Must fall below thy victories.

But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto Noah into the ark. Then he put forth his hand and took her, and pulled her to him into the ark. GEN. viii. 9.

THAT
HAT dove-like spirit communicated to the
soul in regeneration, can find no rest for the
sole of its foot until it bring us to JESUS, who is
the great ark of the covenant. Many, on their
first awakening from sin, apply themselves to very
hard works and rigorous duties, thereby expect-
ing to find rest for their wounded consciences.
But though the right and diligent use of all the
means of grace is absolutely required, yet great
care must be taken not to quiet ourselves by that
only. We should not place any confidence at all
in our own doings, but only look for rest through
the blood of CHRIST. To be found in him justified
and accepted would soon fill our hearts with peace,
nay, encourage and enable us to do good works.
And in the doing of good we must always cherish
a meek and grateful spirit, knowing that all is
of the infinite grace of GOD.

In vain the trembling conscience seeks
Some solid ground for rest;
With long despair the spirit breaks,
Till we apply to CHRIST.

Just as we see the lonesome dove

Bemoan her widow'd state,

Wand'ring she flies thro' all the grove,

And mourns her loving mate.

Just so our thoughts from thing to thing

In restless circles rove;

Just as we droop and hang the wing,
When JESUS hides his love!

While JESUS shines with quickening grace,
We sing and mount on high;

But if a frown becloud his face,
We faint, and tire, and die!

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. JOHN xiii. 35. Forbearing one another in love. Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Let not the sun go down upon your wrath; but be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven you. ЕPH. iv. 2, 3, 26, 32.

EVER

VERY member of the mystical body of CHRIST should labour for the comfort and edification of the whole, and the honour of the head. He that would live a quiet life and keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, must be as backward to take offence as to give it. He must live in love and full of love. Humble Christians never affect singularity, nor pretend to have the preference one of another; they rather study to be of one mind, and strive not about words, lest the general harmony subsisting between them, and the edification of souls shall be hindered. Whoever judges and blames everything, and can never agree in words and notions, or join in devotion with other experienced Christians, is puffed up with self-conceit, and is in the way to make a dangerous shipwreck; for "pride comes before a fall."

Nor diff'rent food, nor diff'rent dress,
Compose the kingdom of our LORD;
But peace, and joy, and righteousness
Faith, and obedience to his word.
When weaker Christians we despise,
We do the Gospel mighty wrong;
For GOD, the gracious and the wise,
Receives the feeble with the strong!
Let pride and wrath be banish'd hence,
Meekness and love our souls pursue;
Nor shall our practice give offence

To saints, the Gentile, or the Jew.

While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. MATT. xxv. 5.

THAT I may be roused out of my slumber, and be watchful and ready against the coming of my Bridegroom? How many are there that set out in good earnest in their way to heaven, and run well for some time, but at last are lulled to rest, and are entangled again with a false notion of liberty! Even the wise virgins fell asleep. Let this be a warning to me, O LORD! Set thou a guard before my eyes, ears, and other faculties, lest the world should again enter through these avenues of the heart: if the spark be not speedily extinguished, it will soon break out into a flame; thus sin is of a progressive nature, and its venom spreads very quickly and very wide, unless it be stopped and opposed in time. Watch therefore over this unsteady heart of mine, O thou Keeper of Israel; that as soon as it begins to wander from thee, I may be alarmed to flee from sin as from a serpent. Give me grace to look upon every hour as my last, so that, being ever wisely upon my guard, I may meet thee with joy when my time is run out, whenever it shall please thee to call me hence. And let my going out and my coming in be guided by thy Spirit, so that every day may bring me nearer to thyself.

But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat. MATT. xiii. 25.

wonder that Christians lose their power

Now strength, if the enemy of souls find

them asleep. How soon may he gain an advantage from without, if a strict guard is not kept within! Though Satan seems to sleep sometimes, and we should by all appearance be in no great danger, it is only his stratagem to make us careless. He never fails to be vigilant, and watch his opportunity, that he may offer us battle with advantage; and who knows but he may gain the victory by those very sins, to which perhaps we, for many years, had hardly any temptation.

O! how cunningly does he work! how enticing is the world! even in lawful things, very often, the most dangerous snares lie hidden. A single word that we hear may be able to disturb our peace. One unguarded look is sometimes enough to infatuate our hearts. There is danger on all sides. Unless the LORD open our eyes, and preserve us on all occasions, each of us, even the best, may still be overcome and deadly hurt by sin and the world. Satan is particularly busy to sift, the godly most of all; and having catched them in his net, triumphs exceedingly over them.-O Lord, suffer me never to fall asleep again!

Help me to watch and pray,

And on thyself rely!

And let me ne'er my trust betray,
Lest I for ever die !

Quick as the apple of an eye,

O GOD, my conscience make;
Awake my soul, when sin is nigh,
And keep it still awake.