JANUARY 9.

But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words? JOHN V. 47.

IT is the weakness of human nature which causes us to think that we should be better satisfied with some other evidence than with what we havefor which reason the Jews were always seeking a sign: not so the Christian indeed,—for signs are not for them that believe, but for them that believe not. He knows that he cannot have any better ground of believing than the simple word of God; and he feels in himself such a power of unbelief, that even if one were to rise from the dead, he is assured he could only believe as he was enabled-no, not even if he heard the Saviour himself, or that voice from heaven which said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." The believer's business is with the revealed will of God, which contains every thing necessary for salvation. This is the third instance in which our Saviour refers to the writings of the Old Testament as speaking of him. The other two are where he tells the Jews to "Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and these are they which testify of me," and where he expounded to the two disciples, beginning at Moses and the prophets the things concerning himself. How much, therefore, does it behove us to search the Scriptures in this view, and to take them up always as the testimony of God concerning his Son, Jesus Christ; for all the promises of God in the Old Testament are to be understood as made to us in him, being all yea and amen in Christ Jesus; and all the threatenings as directed against those not interested in his perfect salvation.

JANUARY 10.

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.-COLOSSIANS III. 15.

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WE cannot experience a greater blessing than to have the peace of God ruling in our hearts, and therefore it is added-Be ye thankful, as if it had been said, that though we had nothing else to be thankful for, yet this were sufficient to excite our thankfulness; and so undoubtedly it is; for what greater benefit can we have, than that the peace of God should keep our hearts, alway, through Christ Jesus. Wherefore our Saviour says, My peace I leave with you-my peace I give unto you." It was his best legacy to his disciples, and it is a legacy of which we cannot be defeated. "Not as the world giveth, give I unto you." The world's gifts are not only inconsiderable in value but uncertain in tenure. But blessed be God, his gifts are without repentance, as he himself is without variableness or shadow of turning. Have we not cause, therefore, to be thankful for this blessing of peace, and the more our thankfulness springs from such sources, the more evenly will it flow, for as the peace of God is to keep our heart alway, so we can never be without matter of thankfulness, while that peace is the foundation of it.

JANUARY 11.

And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.-MATTHEW XXVII. 51.

SIGNIFYING that the entrance into the holiest was now made open, so that we may now come with boldness unto a throne of grace; Christ having consecrated a new and living way through the veil, that is to say, his flesh, for us to approach his divine nature, and having given us encouragement to enter by the same way. Thus being made nigh by the blood of his cross, we may approach God as our reconciled Father, and are admitted to the privileges of kings and priests unto God. For into the holiest entered none but the high priest only, and that once a-year. But now Christ being come, an high priest of good things to come, not by the blood of bulls and of goats, but by his own blood, he hath entered in once, having obtained eternal redemption for us. What disparaging thoughts do we in general entertain of this great transaction, and how low do we rate the value of that one offering which perfecteth for ever, when we withhold our offerings of prayer or of praise, on account of their own unworthiness; forgetting that what God doeth, it is done for ever, and the veil being once rent, the way into the holiest is made open

for ever.

JANUARY 12.

If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed: and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.JOHN VIII. 31, 32.

WHEN we are oppressed with care, or fear, there is nothing but the truth that can relieve us. This seemed at first a circuitous way, but we find at last that it is the only direct way to relief, for it sets before us the infinite value of the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ, and his all-sufficiency "to save even to the uttermost, all those that come unto God by him." It sets before us how infinitely these transcend all our own merits or demerits, and all the concerns that we are the subjects of. They are like Aaron's rod, which swallowed up the rods of the magicians; they eat up all our cares and fears at once, by taking away the foundation of them, and shewing us what we are in Christ, and what we may expect from Christ -even the most perfect safety and happinessall things pertaining unto life and godliness-grace sufficient for all the purposes of time, and glory everlasting; not to mention the supply of all our outward wants, and the watchful eye of providence over us for good and for the prevention of evil. He withdraweth not his eye from the righteous, from them who have obtained like precious faith, in the everlasting righteousness of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

JANUARY 13.

To whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.-LUKE vii. 47.

ALL religion is founded on the forgiveness of sins, and our love to Christ arises out of our apprehensions of our own sinfulness. Not that we are sinners one more or less than another, "for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God," and are all equally far from that righteousness, which is required by the law; for the law is spiritual, but we are carnal, sold under sin. But though we do not differ in our real condition as sinners, we differ greatly in the apprehension of our state as such, because there is in us all, a seed of self-righteousness, which sets itself up in opposition to the righteousness of God, and though most heinous in itself, is ever persuading us that we are not such sinners as others, and consequently that we have not so much to be saved from, nor to be indebted to grace for, in the matter of salvation. This spirit is the greatest enemy to our peace, and to our enjoyment of Christ that enjoyment springing chiefly from a deep sense of sin, and a conviction of our lost estate before God. To such the assurance is sweet, Thy sins are forgiven thee," and those words come with power, "Go in peace." Yea, Lord, grant us evermore this peace, and to that end grant that we may grow in grace and in a sense of our obligations to pardoning mercy, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; and also in the apprehension of the sin of self-righteousness, so that it may rather help us than hinder us in the way of salvation.

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