who they are. The Bible is our book of life; there the heirs of glory are written, if not by name, yet by character; and "we are the circumcision," says the Apostle, "who worship God in the Spirit-and rejoice in Christ Jesus-and have no confidence in the flesh."

By the Scripture, therefore, let us judge ourselves; and be anxious to ascertain whether we are in the number of his people-for they are the most important and enviable people upon earth. They are not commonly distinguished by any worldly greatness; and they have many enemies who consult their injury-But the blessing of God is upon them.

Upon their mercies. This takes the curse out of them, and gives them a relish never tasted in the comforts of others. "I will bless thy bread and thy water."

Upon their trials. And they as much need a blessing upon their daily rod, as upon their daily bread. Without this, our afflictions will do us no good, yea, they will prove injurious; and leave us more careless and impeninent: but by means of this, they will turn to our salvation; and yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness to them that are exercised therewith.

- Upon their labours. "Thou shalt eat the labour of thy hands; happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee." Without this, in vain we rise up early, and sit up late, and eat the bread of sorrows: it is he that giveth his beloved sleep. It matters not what we sow, if he does not give the increase; or what we bring home, if he blows upon it; or what we gain, if we "put it into a bag with holes." "The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich; and he addeth no sorrow with it."

Upon their families. The house of Obed Edom was blessed for the sake of the ark; and the thing was publicly known. "I have been young," says David, "and now am old, yet I have never seen

the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." The generation of the upright shall be blessed.

Upon their souls. Thus they are blessed with light, and liberty, and strength, and peace, and joy: yea, they are blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.

O Christian, is this thy experience and portion? Rejoice and be grateful. What can equal the blessing of God!

But remember how it comes upon you. The source is his free and boundless grace. The medium is the Lord Jesus. He is the way from God to us, as well as from us to God.

Remember how it is insured-by the truth of His promise and His oath. You may remind Him of this, and plead as Jacob did, "And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good."

Remember also how it is to be enjoyed-in the use of means, and in obedience to his will. "Blessed are they that do judgment, and keep his commandments at all times."

O my soul, put in for a share. Pray, "Bless me, even me, also, O my Father." He will not, cannot refuse "Their hearts shall live that seek God."

JAN. 25.-" And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed." Gen. xlviii. 1, 2.

AFTER a very cloudy day, Jacob has a clear and calm evening and it is but an evening. He is now called to go the way of all the earth: but his end is peace. Some die suddenly. But the more com

mon road to the house appointed for all living, is down the narrow, miry, dark, and dismal lane of sickness. The former is a privilege to the individual himself, saving him from "the pains, the groans, the dying strife:" but the latter befriends more his usefulness, by affording him opportunities to exercise the graces of the Holy Spirit, and showing how religion can sustain when every other supply fails, and refresh when every other spring of comfort is dried up. But we are not to choose for ourselves and if we can hope that the Saviour will receive us to himself, we may well leave-the when-the where-and the how, to his wise and kind care.

When sickness seizes persons in early life, and removes them in the midst of their days and usefulness, we seem surprised. Yet wherefore? Are not all our days vanity? And if, by reason of strength, they be fourscore years, is not their strength labour and sorrow? What, then, can we expect at one hundred and forty-seven?

Jacob had some time before kept his bed, and Joseph had visited him; but seeing no immediate danger of death, he had returned. Now the case assumes a more threatening character, and he is re-called. Doubtless, they had sent to another Being, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick." But they do well to inform Joseph; and Joseph immediately leaves his public affairs, and hastens to visit him. To visit the sick is a duty. If it affords the sufferer no effectual relief, it is soothing to show our regard, our sympathy, and our readiness to help. It is always profitable to ourselves; and far better than going to the house of mirth. For here the heart is made better; more serious, and more soft. Hence the dying bed is shunned by infidel and worldly companions, who love not to be reminded how soon the condition of others may be their own.

How affecting is it to visit a fellow-creature, the progress of whose disorder is saying to corruption, thou art my father, and to the worm, thou art my mother and my sister. But O! to see a dear friend, a beloved relation, a revered parent, sinking under the decays of nature and the violence of disease! It is a sick dying father, who had trained him up under an affection too partial, that Joseph visits. Though death does not follow the order of nature, but the appointment of God; yet, while parents are living, there seems to be something between us and death; but when they are removed, his course seems open to us; and we naturally deem ourselves the next objects of assault.

Joseph goes not alone, but takes his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him. It was wise and well in Joseph to take these youths away from the splendour of a court to see the end of all men; to view a dying bed dignified with more than a palace could bestow; to show them, at their entering the world, a servant of God departing out of it; to enable them to receive his admonition and blessing and to be reminded, that though born in Egypt, Egypt was not to be their home; but while incorporated with strangers, they were to seek the heritage of Jacob, God's chosen.

How much wiser and better was this, than the conduct of many parents, who, instead of bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, conduct their children into scenes of gaiety and dissipation, exciting and feeding the pride of life, and making provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. We mourn over children that are bereaved of their parents: yet one is sometimes tempted to wish the removal of some wretched fathers and mothers-hoping, that if these examples and teachers of evil were withdrawn, their children would find it good to bear the yoke in their youth, and that the Lord may take them up. The worst orphans

What

are those who have wicked parents alive! a dreadful meeting will there be hereafter between their offspring, and those fathers and mothers who not only neglected their souls, but taught and encouraged them to go astray!

Not that we would have children confined to religious prisons, or even cells. Hinder them not from seeing and enjoying whatever is pleasing and instructive in the world of nature, and the wonders of art. Keep them not in a frozen region, that shall chill and check every harmless budding of mind and affection. Let your piety itself be inviting, not rebuking and repulsive. But, O ye parents, keep them from infidel books; from vicious associates; from every path of the Destroyer. Allure them to the Bible, to the Throne of Grace, to the grave of friendship, to the chamber where a dying Jacob is waiting for God's salvation-to every place where they are likely to meet Him, who says, "I love them that love me, and they that seek me early shall find

me."

JAN. 26.-" He that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God; who hath also given unto us the earnest of the Spirit." 2 Cor. v. 5.

THIS self-same thing is nothing less than the final blessedness of the righteous; which, though it doth not yet fully appear, is expressed in the Scripture by various names and images. It is called in the preceding verses, "A building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens ;" and also "life"-" Mortality shall be swallowed up of life."

With regard to this, the Apostle reminds us of God's work, in our preparation for the whole; and of God's gift, in our possession of a part. The preparation is not natural to us. We are not born Christians, but made such: and the operation