Such are the 6th, 32d, 38th, 51ft, and 130th.

Have you received any public or private bleffings from the hand of God, and would you return the acknowledgments due to your divine benefactor? The Pfalms are full of thanks

givings to the Father of mercies; every page will teach you to praife the Lord for his goodnefs, and ftir up all that is within you to adore and blefs his glorious name. Read particularly the 18th, 30th, 96th, 98th, Icoth, 103d, 116th, 118th, and 145th.

Obferve the fervency of mind and the enlargement of heart, the defire and delight, with which David offered his prayers and praifes to the author of every good gift. He rejoiced, when he went up to the houfe of God; he meditated in the divine law night and day; it was fweeter to him than honey and the honeycomb: yet he had but an imperfect view of the glorious kingdom of the Meffiah. With what joy and rapture then ought we to come before the Lord, who are brought to a clearer knowledge and freer access to the throne of grace; to whom the treasures of divine goodness have been clearly revealed; who have received the spirit of adoption, and the full promise of everlafting life!

CHAP. XXXVIII.

THE BOOK OF PROVERBS.

THE Book of Proverbs, written by So

lomon, is a collection of wife and moral fayings; which, though not connected in the way of a regular difcourfe, but put together without order or method, have a general defign, and contain eafy and inftructive rules for the direction of our whole behaviour. They are fufficient to give wifdom to the fimple, to the young man knowledge and diferetion: and being adapted to the weakeft understanding and capacity, should be put early into the hands of youth, and recommended to their attentive perufal.

Solomon.remembers with gratitude the good inftructions given him by David; and from his own experience advises others to hear the inftructions of their father, and not to forfake the law of their mother. He cautions youth against the infinuating arts of evil company, and warns them to keep at a distance from the danger: My fon, if finners entice thee, confert thou not. Walk not in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path. He recommends purity and chastity, by fhewing the defperate ftate of the thoughtless

2

thoughtless wretch, who giving himself up to the pursuit of fenfual gratification, goeth as an ox to the flaughter, and as a fool to the correction of the flocks.-The idle and indolent have a ftriking leffon in the field of the flothful, which was covered with thorns and nettles; and are fent to learn industry and prudence from irrational creatures: Go to the ant, thou fluggard, confider her ways, and be wife.

The doctrines and precepts of religious virtue are defcribed as far exceeding in value thofe things, which are highly defired among men: Wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things which may be defired are not to be compared with it. Therefore we are called upon to make it our choice, and ufe our utmost endeavours to attain it. Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wifdom; and with all thy getting, get understanding. The study and practice of it are alfo enforced by the peculiar advantages and bleffings which attend it; Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. Whofo findeth wisdom. findeth life, and fhall obtain the favour of the

Lord.

CHAP. XXXIX.

THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES.

HIS inftructive book is fuppofed to

THIS

have been written by Solomon, in his old age, after his happy recovery from idolatry and fenfuality; as a penitential confeffion of his guilt, and a ferious admonition to all thofe, who give themselves up to the extravagances of fin and folly. The main fcope and defign of it is to teach us, that the happiness of huIman life does not confift in the abundance of riches or the fplendor of titles, in the gratifications of the voluptuous fenfualift, or the impious jeft and jollity of the profane. He strictly forbids the indulgence of youthful vanities, ftops the poor giddy creature, who is walking in the way of his heart, and in the fight of his eyes, with this alarming addrefs, Knnu thou, that for all thefe things God will bring thee into judgment and calls earneftly to thofe, who are just entering into life, to devote their early bloom to the service of God: Remember now ysur Creator in the days of your youth; and do not defer this important concern, till the evil days

come,

come, till old age and infirmities overtake you, and death and judgment are ready to take hold of you. For though a finner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet furely God will judge the righteous and the wicked: I know that it fhall be well with them that fear God, but it fhell not be well with the wicked. Therefore after a ferious review of all his labours and enjoyments, he fums up his opinion in that affectionate conclufion, Let us hear the conclufion of the whole matter; fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty, and the whole happiness, of man.

To whom, gracious God, can I go for happiness, but to thee?-Now, therefore, in the days of my youth, do I furrender myself unto thy bleffed guidance and direction. I bid an eternal defiance to all the deceitful pleasures of fin; and refolve, from this moment, to cherish a lively conftant remembrance of my Creator, and -to feek for 'fatisfaction and happiness only in the fear and love, the knowledge and obedience of thee, the inexhauftible fource of joy, and bountiful author of all good, through the mediation of thy bleffed Son, Jefus Chrift. Amen.