"ed way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting," Pfal. cxxxix. 23, 24. One Achan in the camp was like to have proved the deftruction of all the Ifraelites, Jofh. vii. "If I regard fin in my heart, the "Lord will not hear me," faith the Pfalmift, Pfal. lxvi. 18,

May I therefore from henceforth harbour no fin in my foul, feeing as long as I regard fin in my heart, it will be in vain to pray May I therefore through divine grace, caft every fin out of it, fparing no Agags there, left the Lord reject me, I Sam. xv, 9. 23.

Is it not the will and commandment of the Lord that I fhould have war with these Amalekites my fins for ever and ever? and have I not fworn to do fo in baptism, if not feveral times fince? Should I then spare any of those my deadly enemies?

What a trange tree is the afpen, the leaves whereof continually shake. Just now, though there is not a breath of wind to be felt, how the leaves of this one tremble! What is the meaning of this? Methinks I

hear it reply, Because the axe is laid to the root of the trees, Matth. x. 39. and I cannot tell how foon I fhall be cut down.

This puts me in mind of those whom the apoftle. fpeaks of, who for fear of death were all their lifetime fubject to bondage, Heb. ii. 15. a proper fear of death is very commendable, but a flavish fear of it is highly deteftible, as it renders the man who is poffeffed with it, uncomfortable to himfelf, and unufeful to his neighbours.

To deliver us from this dreadful bondage Chrift Jefus died: Let us then imitate Ifrael in the wilderness, who, when they were bitten by fiery ferpents, looked up to the brazen ferpent for healing, which was erected on a pole for that purpose, Num. xxi. 9. even by looking up to Chrift Jefus lift up on the pole of the cross, taking out the fting of death for us, who did it there effectually, and fo be healed of this flavish fear; for death through Chrift's dying is converted from being an enemy to be the good man's. friend, as it breaks the fetters of flesh and blood with which he is bound to this trou

tlefome world, and opens for him the door to eternal life and happiness.

How much then doth it concern me and every one to know that death will thus be our friend, and to have our acquaintance. made up with it ere we meet with it at last; so that it may not prove to us as a stranger and an unwelcome vifitant! Happy are they who can fay with the great Addifon, when on their death-beds, See with what peace a Chriftian can die! and hap'pier still that can fay with Job, “For I "know that my Redeemer liveth, and that "he fhall ftand at the latter dạy upon the "earth and though after my fkin worms.

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destroy this body, yet in my flesh fhall I "fee God: whom I fhall fee for myfelf, " and mine eyes fhall behold, and not ano"ther, though my reins be confumed with"in me," Job xix. 25---27. And with the fweet Pfalmift of Ifrael, "Although my "house be not fo with God; yet he hath "made with me an everlasting covenant, or-. “dered in all things and fure; for this is all 66 my falvation and all my defire," 2 Sam. xxiii. 5. And with the apoftle, "For me to “live is Christ, and to die is gain,” Phil. i.

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"And I heard a voice from heaven "faying unto me, Write, Bleffed are the "dead which die in the Lord, from hence "forth: Yea, faith the Spirit, that they may reft from their labours; and their "works do follow them," Rev. xiv. 13.

By the fides of this rill grow a few wil lows, which bring me in mind of thofe by the streams of Babel, on which the difconfolaté Ifraelites hanged their harps, Pfal. cxxxvii. 2. as having no more use for them ; yet it is not faid they broke them, or threw them into the river, but hung them on the willows; which argued their hope that after a very long time, the term of feventy years, foretold by the prophet, Jer. xxix. 10. they should again take them up and rejoice with them, finging the fongs of the Lord in the temple of Jerufalem,

And what reafon have we of this land to be thankful that we are not obliged to hang our harps as it were upon the willows, and mourn with a bitter lamentation on account of our being removed from our native land and the gofpel, or the ordinances thereof taken from us, because of our ill

improvement of it, which is of itself glad tidings of great joy, and the most precious thing on earth; but how little do we rejoice and be glad at the ever-bleffed and falutary news! angels no doubt are struck with wonder and amazement at our stupidity and careleffness.

It is an old proverb, The well is never miffed till it go dry: The Jews made but light of their privileges and Mofaical ordinances when in their own land ; but after they were carried captive to Babylon, fenfible of the value of these, how did they mourn for their loss! In like manner fhould we, if deprived of the bleffed ordinances of the gospel.

Strange, then, that we should now esteem them fo little, and prove fo barren under them! Much need have we to pray that the Lord would accomplish that promise to us, "I will pour water upon him that is thir

fty, and floods upon the dry ground: I "will pour my Spirit upon thy feed, and "my bleffing upon thine offspring and

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they shall spring up as among the grafs,

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