SEPTEMBER 28.

Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, eben they shall understand the loving-kindness of the Lord." Psa. cvii. 43.

ALL Christian duty consists in the exercise of confidence, faith, and love; for these combined constitute piety, justification, and holiness since by confiding, man acquires piety; by believing, he acquires justification; and by loving, holiness. In order to confide, believe, and love, it is necessary to be wise, to understand, and to know; to be wise in selecting the object in which we ought to confide; to understand what it is we have to believe; and to know what we ought to love.

Juan de Valdes, 1540.

SEPTEMBER 29.

"

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away."

Matt. xxiv. 35.

WE contemplate with no ordinary degree of interest, a rock which has braved for centuries the ocean's rage, practically saying, "Hitherto shalt thou come, but no farther; and here shall

thy proud waves be stayed." With still greater interest, though of a somewhat different kind, should we contemplate a fortress, which during thousands of years had been constantly assaulted by successive generations of enemies; around whose walls millions had perished; and to overthrow which the utmost efforts of human force had been exerted in vain. Such a rock, such a fortress, we contemplate in the Bible. Like the burning bush, it has ever been in the flames, yet it is still unconsumed; a sufficient proof, were there no other, that He who dwelt in the bush, preserves the Bible. Edward Payson, 1811.

SEPTEMBER 30.

My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness."

2 Cor. xii. 9.

A BELIEVER finds himself weak in knowledge; a simple child in the knowledge of God, and Divine things. He is weak in love, the sacred flame does not rise with a perpetual fervour. He is weak in faith, he cannot suspend his all upon God's promises with cheerful confidence; nor build a firm fabric of hope upon the rock, Jesus Christ. He is weak in

hope; his hope is dashed with rising billows of fears and jealousies. He is weak in repentance; troubled with that plague of plagues, a hard heart. He is weak in resisting temptations; he is weak in prayer, in filial boldness, in approaching the mercy-seat. He is weak in courage to encounter the king of terrors. He is weak in everything in which he should be strong. These weaknesses the believer feels, and bitterly laments; and this sense of weakness keeps him dependent on Divine strength, enabling him to say: "When I am weak, then am I strong."

President Davies, 1750.

F

OCTOBER I.

"Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my helpers in Christ Jesus." Rom. xvi. 3.

HEADS of families, by an exemplary attendance on the preaching of the word, greatly assist their minister. There is no way in which they can more effectually second his labours. They thus show to their children, to youth in general, and to all around them, that they esteem the Gospel divinely excellent, and infinitely important; that they regard the preaching of it as an institution of God, and honour the preachers of it as the messengers of Jesus Christ. Their attendance invites others to accompany them, animates their minister, gives elevation to his spirits, and an ardour to his zeal. Joseph Lathrop, 1820.

OCTOBER 2.

He will abundantly pardon.”—Isa. lv. 7. NEVER did we take so much pleasure in sinning, as God doth in forgiving. Never did any penitent take so much pleasure in receiving, as

God doth in giving a pardon. He so much delights in it that He counts it His wealth; "riches of grace;" "riches of mercy;" glorious riches of mercy. No attribute else is called His riches. He sighs when He must draw His sword; but when He blots out iniquity, then it is, "I, even I, am He that blotteth out your transgressions for My Name's sake." His delight in this is equal to the delight He hath in His Name. This is pure mercy, to change the tribunal of justice into a "throne of grace;" to bestow pardons, where He might inflict punishments; and to put on the deportment of a father, instead of a judge.

Stephen Charnock, 1684.

OCTOBER 3.

Behold upon the mountains the feet of Him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace!" Nahum i. 15.

THE tidings which this glorious person published, are tidings brought to rebels against their Saviour and their God. They are tidings to prodigals and outcasts, who were destined to wander for ever, who had no place of rest where they might lay their heads. They are tidings