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the same qualities, and flow as freely as before. Nehemiah therefore did wisely when he wished to obtain a favour from Ahasuerus; "I prayed," says he, "unto the God of heaven:" and God disposed him to grant more than he could have requested. So Esau armed four hundred men, intending when he set off to kill Jacob: but Jacob wrestled in prayer; and having prevailed with God, he found no difficulty in succeeding with man. Accordingly his brother's mind, though not sanctified, was softened; and when they met they fell on each other's neck, and kissed each other-" When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him." Hezekiah went and spread the letter before the Lord, and prayed, and conquered Sennacherib upon his knees.

Let us therefore, when we wish even to carry an enterprise with our fellow-creatures engage the Lord on our side; and follow the admonition of David, who had often tried the measure and found it successful: " Commit thy way unto the Lord, trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass." And the Church here found it to be true.

OCTOBER 14.-"And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains tell off from his hands."-Acts xii. 6, 7.

How well is God characterized in the address of David; "O thou that hearest prayer." "Ask," says he, "and it shall be given you: seek and ye shall find." He never said to the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain. It is impossible to read the Scripture and not see what an honour he has always put upon prayer. Indeed much of the Sacred History is only a record of its achievements. The deliverance before us was in answer to prayer, which was made with out ceasing of the Church unto God for him. But we may remark three things connected with the deliverance itself.

Observe the time when it was obtained-It was the very night preceding the day that Herod would have brought him forth to the people, like a wild beast, to be put to death for their entertainment. The Lord intended to hear their prayers from the beginning: but he suffered their faith and patience to be tried to the uttermost. A few hours more!-But before the morning the decree goes forth, Peter is released, and the Church like them that dream! He designed to relieve the woman of Canaan who cried to him so piteously on the behalf of her daughter; yet he exercises her with three repulsive discouragements before he proclaimed her success. He had engaged to deliver the posterity of Abraham at the end of foor hundred and thirty years, yet the last month, the last week, the last day of this period had arrived before the accomplishment of the promise and if they are not rescued before the next dawn the Divine bond is forfeited. But there is time enough for payment"Even the self-same day it came to pass that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt." Thus even when he has determined to give, he holds his people in suspense; and he has

reasons for his conduct. He is a God of knowledge, and blessed are all they that wait for him. These delays operate like the repulse of the Israelites from Ai; they lead to self-examination and inquiry. They tend to destroy creature-confidence. They induce us to receive the blessing with more notice and thankfulness. It is a great thing to be prepared for a mercy, as well as for a trial. But hope deferred maketh the heart sick-And here is the patience of the saints. Yet let them quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. Let them remember how long he waited for them-that he is a sovereign, and has a right to choose his own time-that his time is the best time-and that though he seems slow he is sure. Cast not away, therefore, your confidence. Never despair, though Isaac be even bound, and laid on the altar, and the hand has seized the knife, and aimed the blow

"Just in the last distressing hour

The Lord displays delivering power;
The mount of danger is the place

Where we shall see surprising grace."

Observe also the state in which, when the salvation arrived, the subject of it was found-He " was sleeping between two soldiers." Asleep! in such a condition! in such company! in such a place! at such a time!-when there was only a step between him and his execution when he was in the jaws of death! But his cause was good, his conscience clear, his mind kept in perfect peace, being stayed on God. Such a frame of soul would turn a prison into a royal chamber, and make a pavement of clay a bed of down, and enable the possessor to say, in the midst of danger, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me-" So thou givest thy beloved sleep." The Lord has comforts for his people answerable to every exigency, and as the sufferings abound, the consolation abounds also; so that they are often a surprise to themselves as well as to others; their new experience exceeding so much their former feelings, and falsifying their gloomy apprehensions. Yet this is only the fulfilment of the promise, as thy days so shall thy strength be." Peter was one thing out of prison and another in it. He who trembled at the question of the damsel in the judgment-hall can now sleep so soundly as to require a blow to wake him, though in the morning he is to die in all the horrors of a public execution.

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Again, let us observe the instrument employed in the rescue"Behold the angel of the Lord came upon him." And what marvellous beings are these messengers. They are called "his mighty angels:" and how well are they said to "excel in strength." Peter seemed perfectly secured. He had been committed to no less than sixteen soldiers, who were to lose their lives if he escaped. Some of them even guarded the doors; but the angel easily enters without their perceiving him. The prison was dark, but he finds his way to Peter. He was chained to a soldier on his right hand and to another on his left. The angel strikes a light; smites him on the side; severs him from his fetters; tells him to arise, and put on his sandals, and follow him-without disturbing his keepers-and opens the gates, and sets him free to return to his praying friends. How little we can judge of the nature and agency of invisible beings. One thing however we know, that the highest of God's

creatures are his people's servants. Though they are innumerable, and have among them thrones and dominions, principalities and powers, and the "least of them could wield these elements,"" are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" What monarch is attended in his iournies like the poorest, meanest child of God? "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them."

What right have Christians to despond? Is not he whom they serve continually able to deliver? Whatever be their straits and difficulties, he can find or make a way for their escape. That, at what time they are afraid, they may trust in him: he has not only given them exceeding great and precious promises, but he has taught and encouraged them by examples. They can remember the years of the right hand of the Most High: and they know that ne is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.

OCTOBER 15.-" And his rest shall be glorious."-Isaiah xi. 10.

We need not ask whose rest is here spoken of: for there can be no uncertainty respecting the appropriation. The whole chapter is a prophecy or promise of the incarnation and kingdom of the Messiah; and the verse from which these words are taken is expressly applied to him by Paul, in his Epistle to the Romans, and there is no other that could verify and fulfil it but himself: “In that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek and his rest shall be glorious." But we may ask what is this rest of his, to which is ascribed such an attribute, or such an abstraction; for the margin is, His rest shall be "glory."

His rest includes that blessed state into which he entered after his mediatorial work on earth. Never was there such an enterprise as he had to accomplish: the execution of it would have been infinitely above the power of men and angels. But he could say to the Father, "I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do." And what was the result? "He that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his:" the one reposing after the redemption of the world, as the other did after the creation; and each thereby giving rise, as the Apostle remarks, to a Sabbath-the one to the seventh and the other to the first day of the week. Who can imagine, so to speak, the refreshment and satisfaction of the Maker of all things, when he looked and " saw every thing that he had made, and behold it was very good." So Jesus having obtained eternal redemption for us, for ever sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. There he dieth no more, death hath no more dominion over him. There he possesses the joy that was set before him, for which he endured the cross. There he sees his seed, and prolongs his days, and the pleasure of the Lord prospers in his hand. There he sees of the travail of his soul and is satisfied. There, for the suffering of death, he is crowned with glory and honour; angels, principalities, and powers being made subject unto him; and every name that is named, not

only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and his rest is glorious

His rest means his church. "This is my rest for ever, here w I dwell, for I have desired it." And whatever the world may think, "In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel. In Salem / also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion. There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey. · The glory of the Church does not arise from multitude without character, from riches and pomp, from splendid buildings and magnificent ceremonies. What glory would there be in a community dignified with all that is pagan, and all that is popish, yet destitute of the truth as it is in Jesus, of spiritual worshippers, of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost? We read of " the Spirit of glory and of God" resting upon Christians. And the one explains the other. It is the Divine presence that ennobles as well as defends it: "I will be a wall of fire round about her, and the glory in the midst of her." With him is the fountain of life, and in his light we see light. But if the Church of Christ be glo.ious now, how much more glorious will it be found in a period which we are persuaded is already begun, when its numbers, and graces, and usefulness shall be increased with "all the increase of God;" and the assu rances upon which our longing hopes repose shall be fulfilled: "The little one shall become a thousand, and the small one a strong nation:""Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound." "For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron." "I will make thee an eternal excellency, the joy of many generations"-His rest shall be glorious.

His rest also intends that repose into which he brings his followers. This rest indeed, as to its fulness and perfection, remains for the people of God in another life. And how glorious this will be exceeds the power of language to describe. Yet turn only to the representation of the angel to John. "These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." But we which have believed do enter into rest: and how glorious are the earnests, the foretastes, the beginnings of it, even here; when the understanding is freed from the perplexities of error and doubt; and the conscience is pacified from the horrors of guilt and the torments of fear; and the heart is delivered from unattainable and vexatious desires; and the will no longer resists the pleasure of the Almighty with regard to duty or events; and the mind is kept in perfect peace, being stayed upon God. The wicked are like the troubled sea, whose waves cast up mire and dirt; and what anxie

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ties and disquietudes must men of the world feel, who have their portion in this life exposed to a thousand accidents and changes, and who have no confidence in God as presiding over all their concerns, so as to promote their welfare. But the believer's treasure Is in heaven, beyond the reach of harm; and he knows also that all the ways of the Lord towards him are mercy and truth. He has sast all his care upon one who careth for him, and whose care is accompanied with infinite wisdom, power, and love. He therefore is careful for nothing, but feels a peace that passeth all understandHe is satisfied with favour, and ing. His soul dwells at ease.

filled with the blessing of the Lord.

Such is the Saviour we preach! This is the rest wherewith he causes the weary to rest, and this is the refreshing! His followers may have tribulation in the world, but in him they have peace. He will more than make them amends for all their services and sufferings in his cause-Yea, he has done it already. What they have been required to give up they have willingly resigned, for he has blessed them with advantages and pleasures infinitely richer and sweeter. They have meat which others know not of; they nave joy which strangers intermeddle not with. He is not only their physician, but their friend; not only their refuge, but their consolation.

But what shall we say to those who neglect so great salvation? Can creatures content the cravings of immortality? Can any earthly successes or indulgences give you heart-felt repose? Could the whole world sustain and solace you when trouble comes? when your gourds wither? when your pulse intermits? and upon your eyelid sits the shadow of death? Such a moment will come; and then to whom will you flee for help, and where will you leave your glory? But he cries, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden." Venture upon his gracious invitation; and he will give you rest-rest unto your souls-AND HIS REst shall be gloRI

OUS.

OCTOBER 16.-"Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."-Matt. xxv. 34.

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WHAT a delightful announcement! And how perfectly opposed to the tremendous sentence addressed by the King to them on his left hand "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, preye cursed;" here, pared for the devil and his angels." There, Depart from me;" here, ye blessed of my Father." There, "Come." There," Depart into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels;" here, "Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."

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Observe the character: "Ye blessed of my Father." Some bless themselves, and some are blessed by their fellow-creatures; but the great thing is to be blessed of God. How vain would be, in all our most important exigencies, the friendship of mortals, however kind But in his favour is life. Their bles or powerful they may be.

sing is wishes and words: his blessing is deeds and realities. In his blessing there is an actual communication: "He commandeth

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