MAY 19.

But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit.-1 COR. ii. 10.

THIS is one of the offices of God the Holy Ghost, -the Revealer of secrets,-of things which were hidden from the foundation of the world, but are now made manifest for God's glory, and for our comfort. He reveals unto us the things that are freely bestowed upon us of God. He shews us his secret purposes of grace towards us, and stirs us up to ask such things as he means to bestow. He shews us things to come, what God means to perform upon the earth, both with reference to ourselves and to others. Thus he revealed the flood unto Noah, by which revelation he and seven others were saved. He revealed the destruction of Sodom to Abraham; and unto this day, he puts the people of God upon praying for such benefits as he means to bestow upon them, especially spiritual benefits: or for deliverance from such evils, as he forewarns them are coming upon the world. Let us seek therefore his direction in all things, for if any man lack wisdom, he is to ask it of God, and it shall be given him, even the wisdom of God."

MAY 20.

Seek the Lord and his strength: seek his face evermore.-Ps. cv. 4.

THIS is the principal business of life, and that which alone can benefit us in death; to seek the Lord and his strength to seek to be found in him," who of God was made unto us Righteousness; "-in whom we have strength, for in him shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory. They shall first be justified, and then being justified, they shall live by his strength, receive out of his fulness, and walk before him unto all well-pleasing. For the Lord delighteth in his people, in them that seek him according to his appointment, and there only he is to be found, in the person of Jesus Christ. "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, and not imputing their trespasses unto them." And this is the word of reconcilation, which by the gospel is preached unto us. This is to seek the face of the Lord, and it is in this way that God shines upon us. The Lord the Spirit testifies of Christ unto our souls, and gives us to live a life of dependance on him. He gives us to trust all our concerns into his hands, so that we have not one care or fear, but we commit it unto him "in all things by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, letting our requests be made known unto " him. What a blessed life is this, and how far above that life of careful dependence on their own exertions, or on each others help, which the world leads. "To set the Lord alway before us" is the perfection of Christian experience, to live as with God, in friendship with him, and assured of his favour.

MAY 21.

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent.-ACTS Xvii. 30.

THERE is a season at which men are called upon to repent, and turn from the error of their ways; and if they do not turn, but persist in their disobedience, God will surely take vengeance on their inventions. Such a time is the present. The hand of God is gone forth in the earth, and he has called upon his people "to come out and be separate" from the idolatries of the earth, that they be not partakers of her plagues. There is surely much of the spirit of superstition abroad, and though God hath long winked at the times of their ignorance, yet, will he not always do "but will surely avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him." So saith the Apostle,-Though all things continue as they were since the fathers fell asleep, yet is not God slack concerning his promise as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering to usward, waiting, as he did, in the days of Noah, for our repentance and turning to him, that we may not be judged with the world."

So,

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MAY 22.

They have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and have hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.-JEREMIAH ii. 13.

OUR Lord Jesus Christ has promised us that "the water which he giveth us, shall be in us a well of water, springing up unto everlasting life." And it is added. “Now this he spake of the Spirit which they that believe on him should reccive." Therefore, this living water is no other than the gift of the Spirit,which Jesus Christ still bestows upon his people, and it becomes them not to hew out for themselves cisterns of human learning, or earthly wisdom, which can hold no water, but rather to ask of him, and he will give us this living water, which whosoever drinketh shall thirst no more,--that is, he shall find such perfect satisfaction in the communion of the Holy Ghost, that he shall waive other consolations, and having once obtained this gift, he shall never again be deprived of it. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance and to whom he giveth, he giveth unto the end; not as the world giveth upon their good behaviour, but he gives them good behaviour also; and makes them by his Spirit, such as he would have them to be, humble and happy.

MAY 23.

If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith unto thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him and he would have given thee living water.—JOHN iv. 10.

THERE cannot be a stronger proof of the condescension of the Saviour to human ignorance and infirmities, than his whole conversation with the woman of Samaria; for never were answers more beside the question, than all the answers of this woman; her thoughts never seemed to mount beyond her natural wants, nor would she even understand, when our Lord endeavoured to draw her attention to higher considerations. Yet he still persisted to instruct her, and to bring her to desire a better inheritance, even a heavenly, and to look for better promises than those of a constant supply of water, even the promise of the Holy Ghost. This is the characteristic blessing of the gospel, even the gift of the Spirit, which they that believe on Christ receive, to enable them to live on him, and to look to him in all things. It is this gift which makes and which keeps our hearts happy in the Love of God. It is this which constitutes the blessedness of the saints in glory. They are one with God, and are partakers of the fullness of the Holy Ghost. They are one Spirit with the Lord, partakers of the divine nature; filled with the Holy Ghost.