If a believer in Jesus, my happiness will be increased by living near to him, by living to his glory. May humility and love ever dwell in my heart; then I shall be happy in all the changing scenes of life. If called to ascend the hill of prospe rity, or to traverse the valley of adversity; if blessed with health, or depressed with sickness; if carried to old age, or cut off by early death: all will be well, if Jesus be my Saviour, and my Friend.

It is profitable to consider what I deserve, and what I enjoy, to awaken self-abasement, and gratitude.

If the righteous Lord were to deal with me according to my deserts, I should at this moment be under the rack of excruciating pain: or, under the pressure of most abject poverty: or, under the destitution of every friend to comfort me: or, under the sting of an awakened, guilty conscience; thus feeling the foretaste of eternal woe.

If thus dealt with in strictest justice, Death would receive his commission to hurl my affrighted soul into the gulf of endless misery, there to remain an everlasting monument of the vengeance of a holy God. All short of this is mercy

Do I enjoy a portion of health? It is all mercy. Am I undergoing a sanctified affliction? It is all mercy. Do I partake of the bounties of Providence? It is all mercy. Do I possess dear, affectionate friends? It is all mercy. Do I experience the love of God in Christ, pardoning my sins, and purifying my heart ? 0 ! this is mercy, beyond the power of language to praise or to express. Rejoice, O my soul, in such a heavenly Father, who thus spares and blesses his rebellious child. Rejoice in such a Saviour, whose intercession for thee is incessant and prevailing. Rejoice in such a Comforter, whose gracious work it is to snatch thee as a brand out of the burning.

O ! that I could be more and more grateful for those mercies which I enjoy. Let every murmuring

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thought be gone. Lord make me all praise, all gratitude, all love. May sin increase in hatefulness, as I increase in the knowledge of thy goodness. En

lighten my mind to know myself and thee. Increase this salutary knowledge, that, from a deep abiding sense of my own depravity of nature, I may be led with greater earnestness to flee into the ark of safety -Jesus Christ, the righteous.

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My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise."-Psa. lvii. 7.

"I will extol thee, my God, O King; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever."-Psa. cxlv. 1.

"Thou art my God, and I will praise thee; thou art my God, I will exalt thee."-Psa. cxviii. 28.

The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation."-Psa. cxviii. 14.

"Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable."-Psa. cxlv. 3.

Thus sang the sweet Psalmist of Israel. O that I could seize his harp and strike a chord in unison with his.

Glory be to thee, O Father, Son, and Spirit. To Thee be ascribed, by angels and men, all blessing, and honour, and glory, and power. Thy name alone is excellent, and thy glory above the earth and heaven. "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Hallelujah."*

Soon shall I bid this world adieu !
And enter soon the world above;
Th' eternal day bursts on my view,
The radiance of eternal love.

Weep not, ye friends, nor mourn my loss,
My purest joys are all to come;
When far remov'd from every cross,

I reach my sweet, my heavenly home.

CC

* Psa. cvi. 48.

The shadows fly, the glorious light
Bespeaks the Holy City nigh;
Behold the day excludes the night,
My soul, is this Eternity?

The first-born form a sacred train
Around the Lamb, whom they adore;
While, safe beneath his gentle reign,
They chaunt his praises evermore.

I fly to join the victor's cry ;
To taste their transports, all divine!
I fly to share the bliss on high,
And in my Saviour's glory shine.

Release me now, ye heavy chains;
Burden of flesh, drop down, and die;
Ye piercing griefs,-ye earthly pains,
From you for ever do I fly.

Come, then, quickly, Jesus! Come!

A. PICKARD, PRINTER, LEEDS.