world may be both proud and prosperous; nay, his very prosperity may engender his pride: but in christian experience, the more prosperous any soul is, the more humility there will be found in it. Spiritual pride is apt to insinuate itself into the minds of God's people, and they need hourly to watch against its inroads. Care must be taken, likewise, to check its first appearance, by earnest prayer and watchfulness against it. Pride is degrading to the soul, but meekness and humility are true dignity, they are the soul's best ornaments, and are highly estimable in the sight of God and man. "Before honour is humility," and "the Lord giveth grace to the humble." This may properly enough lead us to a few distinct remarks on

HUMILITY.

Humility consists in a contempt of vain-glory, and in a low and mean opinion of ourselves. The prosperous soul shines in this grace. Once indeed he thought he was something, but grace has taught him that he is nothing, yea, less than nothing, and worse than nothing, that he is a sinner, deserving everlasting misery. Once, perhaps, he loved to have the preeminence; but now he can say, "My heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty, my soul is even as a weaned child." He mourns over the failings and falls of others, and over his own numerous defects and short-comings, of which he cannot but be sensible. If others accuse him, he is more forward to accuse himself; nor is he forward to vindicate himself against every foul aspersion that may be thrown on his character. His aim is to live down reproach,

and to let his light so shine before men, that others, seeing his good works, may appreciate their utility and importance, and glorify God. Instead of thinking he surpasses his fellow-christians, he thinks himself "less than the least of all saints," and is confident that, in some things, he is out-done by them all. Instead of writing his own faults in water, and his neighbours' in brass, he inwardly condemns himself as the chief of sinners," and esteems others better than himself."

He falls down in humble adoration before God, and says, "I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies." When he sins he takes the blame on himself, and mourns and weeps in secret; and when he is useful, or does any thing good, he gives God all the praise and the glory. He quits all hopes of being saved by his own works, and comes before God as an humble beggar, and submits to the righteousness of God, as the sole ground of his pardon and accept

ance.

Thrice blessed is such a man! He is "clothed with humility," the holy attire of the spirits of just men made perfect, and of the angels of God. In the presence of Jehovah they veil their faces with their wings, and cry, "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts." The most high God accepts their adorations: and descending towards this earth, he passes by the palaces of haughty kings and emperors, sultans and popes, and glances his eye towards the humble cottage, and says, "To this man will I look, even to him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and who trembleth at my word."

O my soul! all thy towering pride must be abased.

Think of thy Saviour, who took on him the form of a servant, and humbled himself unto death, and say,

"My former pride I call my shame,

And nail my glory to his cross."

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Since the Son of God was so humble, let me not be proud, who, above all creatures, should be abased at his footstool. Henceforth and for ever, may resist all vain-glory, and pursue the honour which cometh from God, who at last will "exalt the humble and meek, and beautify them with salvation."

HEAVENLY MINDEDNESS.

The prosperous soul despises the world, and lives above it." His conversation is in heaven, from whence he looks for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ." But still he cannot be indolent. He is taught to be" diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." He does not see it needful to withdraw from human society into some retired cloister or cell, but remembers "he that provides not for his own, and especially for those of his own household, has denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." He desires rather to walk with God in his daily calling, and to "glorify him in his body and spirit which are his."

But he knows enough of the glory of the celestial world, of the dignity of his own soul, and of the delusive vanities of time, to prevent his placing his affections inordinately on things below; he ever desires, more and more, to set them on things above. Whether he be rich or poor, he is alike convinced of the total insufficiency of all created good, to render the immortal soul happy. As the man whose coffers

are overflowing with gold, thinks little of inferior metals, so he who has God for his portion, thinks little of earthly things, but sees vanity of vanities inscribed on them all. The less he has to do with the world, the better he likes it. And though it is good for him to be actively engaged six days of the week, yet he desires that all his labour in all his lawful pursuits, and all his diligent exertions, should, some way or other, tend to promote the glory of God, and the good of mankind. He is possessed of the true riches, in comparison with which every thing earthly is dim, and ready to vanish like smoke. He cannot be poor.

O that I did but more fully "know the things which are freely given me of God!" Did I but know "what is the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints," how should I tread the world beneath my feet. A glance of thee, my God, would cause all the pageantry of the world, and all the nations of the earth, to appear as if they were not. They would, at best, be low, and mean, and despicable, compared with the honours that await me in heaven. Be gone, then, vain world, and all thy alluring charms. Come thou adorable SAVIOUR, dwell in me and walk in me. I know that to "be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." Elevate and prosper this soul of mine, that I may have the joyful foretastes of immortal felicity. Here, be thou to me as "the shadow of a great rock," while I sojourn in this "weary land" of snares and shadows, of darkness and death; till in due time I may, as by one mighty spring, fly into thy eternal embraces, and so be for ever with the Lord. Amen.

Address to the Reader

: Now reader, what is your condition ? Does your soul prosper? Is it quickened by divine grace, or are you still dead in trespasses and sins? This is an important inquiry. Let it not be hastily dismissed, but well weighed and scrutinized. And if on an impartial trial, it appear that you are a subject of divine grace; if you can say, you hate sin and love God, as the “ God of salvation” from the guilt, and .the dominion of sin; if you can say, "I know whom I have believed," "one thing I know, that whereas I was once blind, now I see;" in a word, if you can infer that you are passed from death unto life," because you love the brethren," take the comfort of so glorious a change, and give all the glory to him that loved you, and washed you from your sins in his own blood. Remember that you are called unto glory and virtue, keep a steady course, cultivate all the before-mentioned graces, see that they “ be in you and abound;" so shall you "neither be barren nor unfruitful, but understand what the will of the Lord is." Your soul shall continue to prosper, and he who has said, "Fear not, little flock, it is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom," will by and by say to you, "Friend, come up hither." Come and flourish in a better soil; come and let grace be crowned with glory. Amen.

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