JANUARY 19.

God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.-1 TIMOTHY iii. 16.

THIS verse contains the whole doctrine of salvation: -God taking our nature, that we might be made partakers of the divine nature-declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead-a mystery which angels desire to look into-made known to all nations for the obedience of faith-believed on in the worldand to crown all, Christ himself received up into glory, and set down at the right hand of God, to see this great work of his made effectual for the salvation of sinners. "For he is able to save to the uttermost all them that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." This is indeed all our salvation and all our desire; even the incarnation of Christ, his death on the cross, his resurrection and ascension. We can add nothing to this, we can only derive benefit from it. To be looking to Jesus is all that we have to do,-to what he was, and did, and is, on our account; even the Son of God, with power to save, power to bless, and power to bestow upon us every good thing in heaven and on earth.

JANUARY 20.

Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken from her.-LUKE X. 41, 42.

How much have we all of Martha in our constitutions! how many anxieties and cares of this life, and troubles about things of little or no consequence, but which appear to us to be of the highest importance. The force of the temptation, indeed, lies chiefly in this, that we see things out of proportion at such times, and magnify our present concerns much beyond their real importance. The present business seems always of more consequence than the last, and each, as it arrives, becomes the most important of all. Whereas, in fact, there is but one thing needful, and that even in a temporal view. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." But we prefer seeking these things in the first place, and leaving the kingdom to look after itself. We too, like Martha, are apt to persuade ourselves, that all is done from a sense of duty, and that a necessity is laid upon us to attend to these things. But there is a still greater necessity to attend to things of more consequence; and we have the authority of Christ himself for believing that, whatever may be expedient, one thing only is needful. Let us therefore, as many as be his disciples, be thus minded; and if in any thing we be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto us.

JANUARY 21.

That the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.-JOHN Xvii. 26.

THIS is a part of Christ's own prayer on behalf of those, who should believe on his name; and it is to be observed, that his prayers are in fact promises; because as he never asks anything but what he obtains ; so that we may consider these petitions as so many intimations of the good-will of God in Christ Jesus concerning us. And can anything exceed the good contained in this promise, that "the love wherewith thou hast loved me," even all the delight which the Father has in the Son, whom he declared to be his beloved Son, in whom he was well pleased,—that "this love may be in them," and I, even I, "in whom dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead" personally-"I in them." Can anything exceed the greatness of this promise, that Christ himself, together with all the fulness of the Father's love, shall dwell everlastingly in the people of God. Neither are these benefits confined altogether to the future, though the full enjoyment of them is reserved in heaven for us. But we are taught to expect that, even upon earth, Christ will condescend to dwell in our hearts by faith, and that we being rooted and grounded in the doctrine of his love to sinners, shall be able to comprehend with all saints, "what is the length, and breadth, and height, and depth, and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge," that we may be "filled with all the fulness of God!"

JANUARY 22.

Those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.— JOHN Xvii. 12.

How secure are all the children of God in the hands of Christ, who, even in the days of his flesh, lost none of those committed to his charge but the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now that he is exalted to be a prince and a Saviour, and that all things are committed to his hands, we are even more secure in his keeping, for he has all power in heaven and in earth, and none is able to pluck his people out of his hands. No; not all the powers confederate of earth and hell, can wrest one sinner out of the hands of the Saviour, though his own heart be in league with his enemies, and ready to betray him into their hands at every turn. But still the Lord Jesus Christ has him in his own keeping ; and though Satan may desire to have some of Christ's flock, yet he will not surrender one of them to his will, but will keep them by his mighty power through faith unto salvation. This is the true faith and perseverance of the saints-the faithfulness of Christ to his own covenant engagements, and not their own faithfulness to grace received, or anything inherent in themselves. They stand by faith, and their faith standeth by the power of God, without possibility of failure.

JANUARY 23.

The Lord bless thee and keep thee; the Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.-NUMBERS Vi. 24, 26.-PSALM iv. 6.

THIS could only be in and through Jesus Christ; so that we have here an instance of the gospel preached in the book of the law, and the word of Christ verified, that all the Scripture, properly understood, testified of him. It is in him only that we can behold the light of the knowledge of the glory of God. It is in him that all nations shall be blessed, and he is not only king of righteousness but Prince of Peace. It is he that gives peace and continues it." My peace I leave with you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you." The world's gifts are for the most part given grudgingly, and are not only constrained in the gift, but uncertain in the continuance. The gifts of the world are conditional, but the gifts of Christ are absolute and unconditional. The gifts of the world are at best but temporal gifts, but those of Christ are everlasting. They extend through time and eternity. Here then are three benefits, the blessing of God, which is life for evermore; the light of his countenance, or his sensible favor; and peace, the effect of being reconciled to him through the blood of the cross, and all these secured to us by the unchangeableness of the giver. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. "Even so, Lord

Jesus."