October 3

"the acceptable year of the Lord." The whole continuance of this dispensation, however, is only a year—and each of you has only a day of it—"Behold now is the accepted time; Behold now is the day of salvation."

What effect has this discourse upon the audience? They were struck with admiration. But it is feared with nothing else—"all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?" They seem not firmly to have believed his declarations, or seriously to have considered his doctrine, or to have received the love of the truth, that they might be saved. If they had convictions they were ineffectual ones; or if their feelings were excited they were overpowered by their vain and worldly prejudices and passions: and therefore they begin cavilling, not indeed at his teaching, but at the meanness of his extraction. "Have we not lately seen him labouring like one of us? Are we to bow to his authority?"

"Lord, what is man!" How are the best means and opportunities rendered useless! Is it strange if modern ministers should complain of the want of acceptance and success, when even he could say, "I have spent my strength in vain?"

Yet we sometimes hope, though outnumbered by a vile majority whose astonishment soon issued in malignity, a few admired from other and better principles, and were ready to lift up their voice and cry, "Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked." So must it be with us, if we would not "wonder and perish." How glorious his person! how divine his condescension! How full of grace and truth! We must love him. We must confide in him. We must apply to him for every purpose he is appointed to accomplish. We must feel the tendency of every view we take of his character, changing us into the same image, from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord.

The gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth are enough to relieve every perplexity, to banish every fear, to surpass every hope, and to fill us with joy unspeakable, and full of glory—But they cannot profit, unless they are mixed with faith in those that hear them.

OCTOBER 3.—"Upholding all things by the word of his power."—Hebrews 1:3.

THIS is unquestionably spoken of the Lord Jesus. It shows us what is the nature and condition of creatures: they cannot subsist without support. They can no more of themselves continue in existence than they could give themselves life. In him they live, move, and have their being. "Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust." Preservation therefore is a divine work; and in a sense it is a continued creation. Yet he is equal to this; he does it; and observe—

The extent of his sustentation: he upholds "all things." This takes in nothing less than our earth and the multitudes of beings attached to it. And what myriads of these are there! And the