17. Lord, save us : we perish.

Matt. viii. 25.

1. Painful apprehension.-2. Importunate appeal.

Just in the last distressing hour,
The Lord displays delivering power;
The mount of danger is the place
Where we shall see surprising grace.

18. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Rev. ii. 10. 1. The service enjoined.-2. The inducement offered.

Be faithful unto death,

Partake my victory;

And thou shalt wear a glorious wreath,
And thou shalt reign with me.

19. So run, that ye may obtain.

1 Cor. ix. 24.

1. With a right spirit.-2. In a right way.— 3. According to a right rule.-4. Toward a right end. Oh, faint not, Christian, for thy sighs Are heard before the throne; The race must come before the prize, The cross before the crown.

20. Walk circumspectly. Eph. v. 15. 1. That you may walk safely.-2. That you may walk usefully.

The glowing lamp of truth will light
Thee on thy anxious road;

Will keep the heavenly goal in sight,
And guide thee to thy God.

21. I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes. Ezek. xxxvi. 27.

1. The efficient influence.-2. The practical re

sult.

That heavenly influence let us find
In holy silence of the mind;
And let it dwell in every heart,
That we from God may ne'er depart.

22. Ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. Heb. x. 36.

1. For wise reasons, God sometimes withholds, temporarily, his promised blessings.-2. They who do his will, and patiently wait his time, will ultimately receive them.

The truth of God shall stifl endure,
And firm his promise stand;
Believing souls may rest secure
In his almighty hand.

23. Into thine hand I commend my spirit. Ps. xxxi. 5.

1. None but God is able to keep it.-2. With none but God can it be safely trusted.

Firm as his throne his promise stands,

And he can well secure

What I've committed to his hands

Till the decisive hour.

24. The salvation of the righteous is of the Lord. Ps. xxxvii. 39.

1. In its purpose.-2. In its execution.

High lifted on the cross,

The spotless Victim dies:
This is salvation's only source;
Hence all our hopes arise.

25. He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? Isa. 1. 8.

1. Faith's reliance.-2. Faith's challenge.
Faith has an overcoming power;
It triumphs in the dying hour;

He that has loved us bears us through,
And makes us more than conquerors too.

26. As by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Rom. v. 19.

1. A deplorable fact.--2. A cheering assurance. By the rebellion of one man,

Through all his seed the mischief ran;
And by one Man's obedience, now,

Are all his seed made righteous too.

27. I will hear what God the Lord will speak. Ps. lxxxv. 8.

1. That I may know what to believe.-2. That I may know what to do.

Oh may thy counsels, mighty God,
My roving feet command;
Nor I forsake the happy road,
That leads to thy right hand.

28. For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. Isa. liv. 7.

1. When God withdraws from his people, it is only temporarily.-2. The restoration of his favour is distinguished by signal tokens of his kindness. Fear not that he will quite forsake,

Or leave his work undone :
He's faithful to his promises,
And faithful to his Son.

29. Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. Ps. xxv. 1.

1. In devout adoration.-2. In grateful acknowledgment.-3. In penitent confession.-4. In humble petition.

Eternal Source of life and light,
Supremely good and wise,

To thee we bring our waiting souls,
To thee lift up our eyes.

30. Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Heb. xiii. 5.

1. A sin to be avoided.-2. A virtue to be prac tised.-3. A promise to be trusted.

How well thy blessed truths agree !
How wise and holy thy commands!

Thy promises how firm they be!

How firm our hope and comfort stands !

31. I will sing of mercy and judgment. Ps. ci. 1.

1. The cup which God puts into our hands is ordinarily a mixture.-2. We have occasion to praise him for the one ingredient as much as the other.

Mercy and judgment are my song;
And since they both to thee belong,
My gracious God, my righteous King,
To thee my purest praise I'll bring.

AUGUST.

1. I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. Gen. xxxii. 26.

1. Painful sense of necessity.-2. Full confidence in ability.-3. Resolute importunity.

Lord, I cannot let thee go,

Till a blessing thou bestow;
Do not turn away thy face,

Mine's an urgent, pressing case.

2. Take good heed unto yourselves, that ye love the Lord your God. Josh. xxiii. 11.

1. Because he is supremely worthy of our love.2. Because love to him is the spring head of all sound morality.-3. Because love to him is indispensable to true happiness.

This is the grace that lives and sings
When faith and hope shall cease;
'Tis this shall strike our joyful strings
In brightest realms of bliss.