powerfully to devotion. And, indeed, we are surrounded with motives to piety and devotion, if we would but mind them.

The poor are designed to excite our liberality;-—the miserable, our pity; the sick, our assistance ;-the ignorant, our instruction;-those that are fallen, our helping hand. In those that are vain we see the vanity of this world. In those that are wicked, our own frailty. When we see good men rewarded, it confirms our hope; and when evil men are punished, it excites us to fear.

He that would be devout, must beware of indulging a habit of wandering in prayer. It is a crime that will grow upon us, and will deprive us of the blessings we pray for.

Avoid, as much as may be, multiplicity of business. Neither the innocency nor the goodness of the employment will excuse us, if it possess our hearts, when we are praying to God.

When our Lord bids us to take no thought for the morrow, he intended to hinder those cares and fears which are apt to distract our devotions,—which are the more unreasonable, because they never can change the state of things.

Never intermit devotion, if you can help it; you will return to your duty, like Samson when his locks were cut, weak and indifferent as other people of the world.

The oftener we renew our intercourse with God, the greater will be our devotion.

Frequent prayer, as it is an exercise of holy thoughts, is a most natural remedy against the power of sin.

Importunity makes no change in GOD, but it creates in us such dispositions as GoD thinks fit to reward.

Make it a law to yourself to meditate before you pray; as also to make certain pauses to see whether your heart goes along with your lips.

They whose hearts desire nothing, pray for nothing.

Give me, O God, the spirit of true devotion, such as may give life to all my prayers, so that they may find acceptance in Thy sight, for JESUS CHRIST's sake. Amen.Bp. Wilson.

WE MUST SHUN ALL MANNER OF SIN.

If we desire to have our souls moulded to this holy

frame, to become partakers of the divine nature, and to have CHRIST formed in our hearts, we must seriously resolve, and carefully endeavour, to avoid and abandon all vicious and sinful practices. There can be no treaty of peace, till we lay down those weapons of rebellion with which we fight against heaven; nor can we expect to have our distempers cured, if our daily food be poison. Every wilful sin gives a mortal wound to the soul, and removes it to a greater distance from God and goodness.-Scougal.

JANUARY 6.

EPIPHANY.

M.L. ISA. lx. LUKE iii. to v. 23. | E. L. ISA. xlix. JOHN ii. to v. 12. Most gracious GOD, who didst manifest Thine only begotten Son to the Gentiles, by ordering a bright star to point at the rising of this Sun of righteousness with healing in his wings; blessed be Thy holy name for that glorious light which dispersed itself through the dark regions of the world, and, dispelling the thick clouds of ignorance and idolatry, directed mankind to the true and only worthy object of their worship, and raised their nature to its utmost improvement. Adored be Thy infinite mercy, which brought the joyful sound to this land of my nativity, and permitted it to partake of the gracious influences of Thy distinguishing Providence. O may we ever value such an inestimable benefit, by walking as children of the light, and compassionating the miseries of those who sit in darkness! To this end, I humbly beseech Thee, prosper the undertakings of that Society, which is established among us for propagating the Gospel in foreign parts; make the members thereof zealous and diligent in that good work; give them wisdom to discern the best and most proper means of promoting it, courage and resolution to pursue it, and, by Thy blessing on their endeavours, the happiness to effect it, through JESUS CHRIST Our Lord and Saviour. Amen.Spinckes.

I have done so much evil and so little good; been so eager in the pursuit of the things of this world, and so cold and unconcerned many times about those of eternity; so unmindful of my promises, unthankful for Thy benefits, and

unfruitful in the knowledge of the Lord JESUS; that it is a wonder of Thy patience, that I am still alive, and not cut down like a barren tree that cumbers the ground. For ever adored be Thy sparing mercy, which hath borne so long with an unprofitable servant; who hath so many ways offended in thought, word, and deed against Thy Divine Majesty I have not given Thee that honour, worship, and service, which I owe to my Almighty Creator; nor laid to heart, as I ought, Thine infinite love in CHRIST my Redeemer: nor duly followed the godly motions of Thy HOLY SPIRIT ; Which Thou hast sent to renew and sanctify my affections, and draw me to Thine obedience. I have not lived according to the faith which I continually confess; but behaved myself too oft as if I dreaded not the threatenings, and valued not the promises of my Lord CHRIST; as if I feared not His vengeance, nor cared for His glorious rewards; and as if He would not come to judge the world, and render to all men according to their works.

But JESUS hath offered Himself a sacrifice for us, in whom Thou hast declared that Thou art well pleased. For JESUS' sake dispose me now to offer unto Thee the acceptable sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving.

Oh! give me grace ever to fear Thee, and to walk humbly with Thee; to preserve a tender sense of my duty towards Thee, and conscientiously to obey Thee: that so, by virtue of His sacrifice of Himself, all my sins may be done' away and remembered no more. Blessed be God,

Blessed be GOD,

that I have any hope of that great mercy. who by Him hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through His grace. By Him I will offer up to Thee continually the sacrifice of praise, giving thanks to Thy Name. Yea, the mercies of Thee, my GoD, move me to present my body a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto Thee, which is my reasonable service.-Bp. Patrick.

FAITH.

O that I may believe in Thee, O GOD, and put my whole trust and confidence in Thee alone, and not in any thing that I myself can do.

4 Here reckon up those particular sins you are conscious of,

Grant, O GOD, that I may so perfectly, and without all doubt, believe in thy Son JESUS CHRIST, that my faith in Thy sight may never be reproved, for the sake of the same JESUS CHRIST.-Bp. Wilson.

JANUARY 7.

M. L. GEN. ix. MATT. v.

E. L. GEN. xii. ROM. v.

CHRIST Himself saith, "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the

meek for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see GOD. Blessed are the peace-makers: for they shall be called the children of GOD. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." As He will one day say to such, "Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world;" so now He authorizes His ministers to say, Come ye blessed souls; receive the tokens of His love, some earnests of future bliss ; and rejoice in hopes of His heavenly kingdom. He hath not only prepared for you a kingdom; but, as the Psalmist speaks in another case, He hath "prepared a table for you, and anoints your head with oil" (that gladness wherewith our royal High-Priest is crowned), and "makes your cup" (His celestial blessings poured on us) "to run over." Let me go then (when my Lord's Supper is next administered), and humbly receive that " cup of blessing," to which He invites me. Let me bless the Lord, and speak good of His name: desiring that "all mankind may be blessed in Him: all nations may call Him blessed "."—Bp. Patrick.

"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive honour, and power, and glory, for Thou hast created all things."

"In this is my Father glorified, that ye bring forth much fruit."

May thy children have a great regard for every thing that belongs to Thee.

May I never dishonour Thee, O heavenly Father, by word or deed.

May I glorify Thee daily by a good life.

Fill my heart with a great concern and zeal for Thy glory.

66 Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord."

66

They that honour me, I will also honour."

How little have I done to promote Thy glory! God be merciful unto me.—Bp. Wilson.

It is a piece of that corruption which runs through human nature, that we naturally prize truth, more than goodness; knowledge, more than holiness. We think it a gallant thing, to be fluttering up to heaven with our wings of knowledge and speculation; whereas, the highest mystery of a divine life here, and of perfect happiness hereafter, consists in nothing but mere obedience to the Divine will. Happiness is nothing but that inward sweet delight, which will arise from the harmonious agreement between our wills and the will of GoD.-Cudworth.

JANUARY 8.

M. L. GEN. xiii. MATT. vi. 1 E. L. GEN. xiv. Roм. vi.

Matt. vi. 6.- "Thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to Thy Father which is in secret; and Thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."

How good is GOD! Who will not only give us what we pray for, but will reward us for going to Him, and laying our wants before Him.

May I always present myself before GOD,-with a firm faith and hope in His promises and mercy ;-with great reverence to His infinite Majesty ;-with the humility of an offender;—and with a full purpose of keeping all God's commandments!

May the thoughts of eternity quicken my devotions; my wants make me earnest ;-my backslidings make me persevere; and may I never wilfully give way to any distracting thoughts!