January 7

"When I can say my God is mine, When I can feel thy glorious shine, I tread the world beneath my feet, And all that earth calls good or great"

It suffices—to teach him in whatsoever state he is therewith to be content—to embolden him in his work, in the face of all opposition and danger—to sustain him under every trial—and to raise him above the fear of death. Moses endured as seeing Him that is invisible. And Simeon was ready to depart in peace because his eyes had seen His salvation.

But this knowledge is to be derived from the Lord Jesus. "No one knoweth who the Father is but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal Him." "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son which was in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." Some would rather look for God in the world of nature; but the Apostle tells us that "He who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." He shows us the Father by his person—He is the image of the invisible God. By his sacrifice—in which we see so fully and harmoniously displayed his wisdom, holiness, righteousness, truth, and love. By His word—the most illiterate Christian, with "the word of Christ" in his hand, knows more of God than all the philosophers of Greece and Rome. How much does He teach us concerning God as the God of grace by the parable of the prodigious son! And how much does He teach us concerning God as the God of providence by one saying; "a sparrow falleth not to the ground without your heavenly Father, and the very hairs of your head are all numbered." By the Spirit—this Spirit leads us into all truth; and it is the Spirit of Christ. We have an unction from the Holy One, and know all things.

Therefore to Him we are to apply, as Philip here did, and pray, "Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us." He requires it from us; and He assures us our application shall not be in vain. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find. He never has been, never will be, never can be wanting to the promise upon which he causes us to hope. "I am the light of the world; he that followeth me, shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." "Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth."

JANUARY 7.—"And the Apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith."—Luke 17:5.

If we consider these words—In reference to the Being to whom they were addressed—"The Lord:" they teach us that He is the source of grace; and the object of worship.—If in reference to the persons who addressed Him—"The Apostles:" they teach us that even the Lord's disciples themselves have their imperfections; but feel them; and are concerned to be freed from them.—If in reference to the subject they express—"our faith:" they teach us that faith is not finished at once; it admits of degrees; and higher measures

of it are attainable.—If in reference to the occasion which excited them—our Saviour's preceding charge: they teach us that an increase of faith is not only always desirable, but sometimes necessary. Observe what He had been enforcing. "Take heed to yourselves; if thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him!"—"And the Apostles said unto the Lord, increase our faith"—and thus enable us to do it. But why faith in particular? Why not increase our humility? love? patience? Because faith is the root from which they grow, and as faith abounds, they will flourish. Because all things are possible to him that believeth. Forgiveness, so irksome to mere nature, will be practicable and easy as faith is in exercise, and we can believe not only the testimony that if we forgive not, we shall not be forgiven, but the assurance that God for Christ's sake hath forgiven us. Can we, who have had remitted ten thousand talents, seize a fellow servant by the throat, who owes us only a hundred pence?

But there are many other cases, the pressure of which will make us feel that we want more faith than we have at present; and should induce us to pray for an increase of it.

Has the Saviour said that He will deny those who are ashamed of Him and of His words? And does He require us to own and confess him before men? And will this give offence to our connexions? and draw upon ourselves persecution and reproach? This is the work of faith; and will only be practicable and easy as faith increases—"We ought," said Peter and John, "to obey God rather than men." "We cannot but speak the things which we see and hear." "They rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name." "By faith Moses feared not the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible."

Are you called to sacrifice an object, that nature will never let go, without violence? "By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac."

Are you called to confide in God in great straits and difficulties—when His providence seems to oppose His promise—when means fail—and there seems no way of escape—when He says, "Come, follow me through this dark dispensation. You are ignorant; but I know the way that you take. Here is my arm, feel this; lean on this. The sorrow shall turn to your salvation, the trial shall be your triumph. The end will show that I am very pitiful and of tender mercy, and constrain you to say, 'it is good for me that I have been afflicted.'" What is all this without faith? "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."

How solemn was the order addressed to Moses, "Go up and die, and be gathered to thy people!" By years, infirmities, and disease, God is calling you to the same service—The living know that they shall die. And what is it to die? We know not, from our own experience, or the experience of others. But to bid farewell to every earthly scene—to be surrounded with weeping friends, whose presence we can neither dispense with, or endure—to bear sinking spirits and a body full of pain—to feel perhaps our unworthiness and sin more than we ever felt them before—to enter into an untried and