January 5

because it was well watered as the garden of the Lord! On the other hand, Ruth was early deprived of her husband, and reduced to the lowliness of a gleaner, but met with Boaz in the field, and became the ancestor of the Messiah. A man wished to sail in a particular ship, and to his extreme disappointment, found, when he reached the port, that the vessel had just sailed—the next day it was wrecked! and his anguish was turned into joy.

We draw the conclusion also, because we are carnal, and walk as men. We regard our ease and indulgence more than our spiritual advantage. If the hedging up of our way with thorns prevents us from going astray, if the sickness of the body secures the health of the soul, if the loss of a creature brings us to God, surely we cannot say these things are against us. They are greatly for us; and we should acknowledge this, if we were wise unto salvation, and had our conversation in heaven.

We also err by judging prematurely. "He that believeth maketh not haste." If a man engaged to accomplish a great work in ten years, would it be right to decide concerning it at the end of ten days, or ten weeks? God did not pronounce judgment upon his own Creation till it was done: "God saw every thing that he had made, and behold it was very good." The end will not only crown all, but explain all; and produce not only satisfaction, but praise. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come. And the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. And blessed are all they that wait for him. In the mean while, there is a substitute for the explanations of heaven. It is, in the absence of sight, to walk by faith. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established. But by believing we enter into rest, and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keeps our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Under the influence of this faith, let us look at his promises; let us think of his perfections; let us review his wonders of old—above all, let us keep near the cross. All our discouragements and perplexities originate in our departure from this. God forbid we should glory in any thing else. It not only opens the kingdom of heaven to all believers, but it is the key to unlock the dispensations of providence. If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all; how shall he not with him also freely give us all things. God of love! Thou shalt have all the future confidence of our hearts—

"Our cares, we give ye to the wind, And shake you off like dust; Well may we trust our all with Him, With whom our souls we trust."

JANUARY 5.—"Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is."—Mark 13:33.

IT is the language of Jesus, to whom it behooves us always to say, with Samuel, "Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth." The Christian welcomes his voice, not only in his promises, but in his commands; and not only when he encourages and comforts, but when he reproves and admonishes.

Here he tells us to take heed. We may consider the caution, first, 3*

as to the manner in which it is to be exercised—"Watch and pray." Watchfulness is wakefulness in opposition to sleep; attentiveness in opposition to neglect; and perceptiveness in opposition to stupidity. To watchfulness is added prayer. Vigilance will not do alone. We must not only be active, but humble. We must not only use means, but depend upon the influence that is necessary to render them effectual; and seek it of Him who never said to the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me, in vain.

Secondly, as to the season for which it is to be a preparation, and by which it is to be enforced: "for ye know not when the time is." Watch and pray, for ye know not when the time of duty is. Who can tell, when he leaves his home for a journey, or only for a day, what opportunities, before he returns, may arise to relieve the distressed, to comfort the feeble-minded, to oppose error, or to rebuke vice: opportunities which may never return, and should never be neglected? David therefore said, "On Thee do I wait all the day;" for he knew not what the great Master had for him to do. Watch and pray, for ye know not when the time of danger is. If we consider the enemy of our souls, the world in which we live, and the sin that dwelleth in us, we may safely conclude that we are never far from temptation. Joseph, in the court of Pharaoh, learned to swear by the life of Pharaoh. Moses, the meekest man upon earth, under irritation, spake unadvisedly with his lips. Even in old age, Solomon's heart, by outlandish women, was drawn away from God. Peter, immediately after the most solemn warnings and professions, denied his Lord with oaths and curses. Barnabas was carried away with the dissimulation of the Jews. Paul was likely to be exalted above measure, by the abundance of his revelations. We are sure to be in danger, whenever we deem ourselves secure: for pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Blessed is the man that feareth alway. Watch and pray, for ye know not when the time of trouble is. To this we are born and therefore we cannot think our trials strange things. Who can tell what a day may bring forth? An accident, a disease, a loss in our circumstances, a family bereavement may befall us, without warning—"For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them." And what if it finds us unprepared? Watch and pray, for ye know not when the time of death is. The day of trouble may come, the day of death will come: and it is the most solemn and important of all days. For death is not the termination of our being, but only a change of the mode of it, or a transition from a mortal to an immortal state. Then the dust returns to the dust whence it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it; and is disposed of according to our character here; for after death the judgment. The time of our dissolution is not a secret with God; and we are sure that it cannot be far off; but each of us must say, with Isaac, "I know not the day of my death." It may be in the evening, or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning. What then is the language of wisdom? Be ye therefore ready, for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom!