Lord, Thou art just in all the troubles which Thou hast brought upon this church and nation : yet, O Lord, have mercy upon us, and restore to us that peace and unity which we once enjoyed.

'By their fruits ye shall know them."-Matthew vii. 20.

This rule, though given by Christ Himself, is seldom observed. The best fruits are counted as nothing, are overlooked, and often condemned by those who have none good to show. Hence all the evils the church suffers.

"But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat."-Matthew xiii. 25.

O Jesu, awaken the pastors of Thy flock, and open their eyes, that they may perceive the tares which choke the seed, the wolves which destroy Thy sheep.

A mixture of good and bad in the church is necessary to instruct, exercise, purify, sanctify, and keep the righteous in humility.

"Nay, lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them."-Matthew xiii. 29.

A zeal not regulated by this prohibition allows no time to the good to grow strong in goodness, or to the wicked to forsake their evil ways; but chooses rather to destroy the good, provided they can but destroy the bad.

"I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling-block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols,

and to commit fornication. Thou sufferest that woman Jezebel to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication.”—Revelations ii. 14, 20.

How dreadful is the government of the church, wherein a man must answer for those sins which he does not hinder!

To tolerate by silence those who favour and promote sin, Jesus Christ rebukes in the persons of these bishops.

O my Saviour! Thou who givest me this warning, enable me to profit by it. Assist me, in this day of trial, effectually to oppose and suppress that spirit of impurity, idolatry, profaneness, and irreligion, which is broken in upon us.

If for fear of offending men, or from a false love of peace, we forbear to defend the truth, we betray and abandon it.

"And when he had said these things, the Jews had great reasonings among themselves."—Acts

xxviii. 29.

A preacher of the truth is not to be blamed for the contests which it gives occasion to carnal men to raise. Even Christ Himself could not preach without disturbing sinners; and if He came not to bring peace on earth, but a sword of division, His ministers ought to expect to do the same.

It is not by the heat of disputation, but by the gentleness of charity, that souls are gained over to God.

And when controversy is necessary, as sometimes it is, let it never be managed with harshness, bitter

ness, or severity, lest it exasperate and harden, more than convert and edify.

A prudent condescension has often prevailed upon the weak, and rendered them capable of hearkening to reason, when the contrary conduct would have removed them farther from the light.

We ought to avoid evil men and seducers, in order to shame them; to deprive them of that credit whereby they may do hurt; to make them to return to a right mind; and that we may avoid the snare ourselves.

DISPUTES.

The primitive fathers were ever modest upon religious questions. They contented themselves with resolving such questions as were proposed to them, without starting new ones; and carefully suppressed the curious, restless temper.

May I receive from Thee, O God, at all times, the rules of my behaviour on these occasions.

God judges otherwise than we do of these things. He knows the good He intends to bring out of evil, either for the sanctification of the righteous, or conversion of the wicked, by His goodness in bearing with them, or leaving them without excuse.

One single soul is worth the utmost pains of the greatest minister of Christ. But then let us take care, when it is brought into the fold, that he be a better Christian than before, that he be not twofold more the child of hell than before.

THE LORD'S PRAYER PARAPHRASED.

OUR FATHER, WHICH ART IN HEAVEN.

MAY we ever love, and serve, and fear Thee, not as slaves, but as children.

We depend upon Thy fatherly goodness, to do ever what is best for us, upon Thy wisdom to choose for us, and upon Thy power to help us.

My Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and in Thy sight, and am not worthy to be called Thy son. Look upon us, O Father, as poor, weak, ignorant, froward, and helpless children, and pity us according to Thy goodness, for Jesus Christ's sake, the Son of Thy love.

As a father pitieth his own children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him.

Be ye followers of God, as dear children.*

In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil. Whoever doth not righteousness, is not of God.t

As He that hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.‡

Blameless as the sons of God, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation.||

What love, O God, is due from us to Thee, for so much love to us?

Ephesians v. 1.

† 1 John iii.

+ 1 Peter i.

|| Phil. ii. 15.

HALLOWED BE THY NAME.

O that I, and all His children, may give the Lord the honour due unto His name, which is great, wonderful, and holy.

Increase the number and the graces of all such as love, and fear, and honour Thy holy name.

May Thou, O heavenly Father, have the glory of saving a miserable sinner, such as I have been.

O that we may glorify Thy name, by walking before Thee in righteousness and holiness all our days.

That men may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven, do all to the praise and glory of God. A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master. If I be a father, where is my honour; if I be a master, where is my fear?*

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

May we thus glorify Thee, O heavenly Father; not only with our lips, but in our lives, walking before Thee in righteousness and holiness all our days.

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

May the end of all our designs and actions be to the glory of God.

THY KINGDOM COME.

O that the saving laws of Thy kingdom may be received in all the world.

* Malachi i. 6.

† John xv. 8.