mourners; the sun was clad in black; and if the inhabitants of the earth were unmoved, the earth itself trembled under the awful load. There were few to pay the Jewish compliments of rending their garments; but the rocks were not so insensible, they rent their bowels. He had not a grave of His own, but other men's graves opened to Him. Death and the grave might be proud of such a tenant in their territories; but He came not there as a subject, but as an invader, a conqueror. It was then the king of terrors lost his sting; and on the third day the Prince of life triumphed over him, spoiling death and the grave. J. McLaurin, 1762.

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JULY 1.

They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.” Matt. ix. 12.

THIS heavenly Physician hath no practice, but on humbled and broken-hearted sinners; these are they to whom He applies His remedies, and in whom He works and cures. He was appointed and designed to bind up the broken in heart. None others do think they need Christ's help; prize His remedies; or value His consolations: those that are whole, that never saw the "plague of their hearts," or groaned under the burden of their sins, do not think they need a physician. Christ hath few patients, and little practice in the world, because men are not sick of sin. Samuel Tomlyns, 1659.

JULY 2.

"Them that honour Me E will honour."
I Sam. ii. 30.

GOD is the fountain of all honour. It is the height of honour to be honoured by God; all those and only those who honour God, God

will honour. And God is not only graciously forward, but under engagements to honour them that honour Him. He says, I will." If God be the fountain of all honour, and if the height of honour be to be honoured by God, and if all those and only those who honour God, God will honour, then it must needs follow of itself that it is the shortest way to true honour to honour God. Daniel Evance, 1659.

JULY 3.

He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" Rom. viii. 32.

Is God at peace with thee? hath He pardoned thy sins? Never, then, distrust His providence for any thing thou wantest as to this life. Two things, well weighed, would help thy faith in this particular. When He pardoned thy sins, He did more for thee than this comes to; and did He give the greater, and will He grudge thee the less? "All things are yours." The reconciled soul hath a right to all. The whole world is His. God gives believers a right to all the comforts of this life; but proportions so much

out to them for their actual use, as His infinite wisdom sees meet. Consider how God gives these temporals to those that He denies peace and pardon to. Doth He cause His rain to drop fatness on their fields, and will He neglect thee that art a believer? If the prince feeds the traitor in prison, surely the child in His house shall not starve. William Gurnall, 1650.

WRESTLING and importunity in prayer is in many cases itself the possession of the very mercies we desire. It is the exercise of almost every gracious disposition. To increase in sanctification, to have his graces strengthened, his corruptions subdued, is the habitual and prevailing desire of every real believer. But how can this be more effectually obtained than by fervent prayer? How, and where, can any gracious disposition be either more improved or more clearly discerned than when it is in exercise? Faith, love, penitential sorrow, trust, and resignation, are the very essentials to a wrestling believer. 7. Wotherspoon, 1768.

JULY 5.

"E delight in the law of God after the inward man." Rom. vii. 22.

THE Christian man consents to the law, that it is righteous, and justifies God in the law, for he affirms that God is righteous and just, who is the Author of the law. He believes the promises of God, and justifies God, judging Him true, and believing that He will fulfil all His promises. With the law he condemns himself and all his deeds, and gives all the praise to God. He believes the promises, and ascribes all truth to God; thus, everywhere he justifies God, and praises God. William Tindal, 1530.

JULY 6.

"When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace.' Luke xi. 21.

So long as the devil hath peaceable possession of a man's heart, so long he never molesteth him; he willingly obeyeth the devil, and delighteth in his service; and, therefore, what need the devil impugn him? A king never lifteth up his sword against his own loyal subjects; but if once they begin to rebel, then he raiseth a