protected by thee, when we cannot protect ourselves may it please thee to give this family comfortable rest and repose, to defend our habitation, and all about us from accident and alarm; and to raise us in health and cheerfulness to praise thee in thy house of prayer. Fit us for the enjoyment and improvement of thy holy day; then we will sing of thy power; yea, we will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning; because thou hast been our defence and our refuge at all times. Unto thee, O our strength, will we sing; for it is a good thing to praise thy name, O thou most High; to show forth thy loving kindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night. Thus would we both lay ourselves down in peace, and sleep; for thou, Lord, only, makest us to dwell in safety and whether we wake in this world or another, may we still be praising thee, for thy mercy endureth for ever and ever. We humbly beseech thee to accept these our imperfect petitions and unworthy praises, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. THIRD WEEK. MEDITATION For the Lord's Day Morning. "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman." John xv. 1. Never was any vineyard so honoured; never was any husbandman so wise, so watchful over his vineyard, as God is over his church. The true vine is the Lord Jesus Christ! Of this vine believers are the branches. The root, though unseen, bears the tree, diffuseth the sap, and is all in all to its flourishing and fruitfulness. So our life is hid with Christ in God. The branches, though many and extended, all meet in the root, and all form but one vine. Of all Christ's disciples it is the great concern to keep up a constant dependance upon him, and communion with him; to adhere habitually to him, and actually derive from him all their spiritual life. Their aim is so to abide in him by faith, that he, according to his promise, may by his Spirit abide in them. Union with Christ is a divine principle. A life of faith in the Son of God is the most excellent life a man can live in this world: it is pure and heavenly; it is most useful and.comfortable: it is not only the means of cultivating and increasing whatever good there is in us already; but it is the root and source from which must spring all that shall be in us in future. We have as necessary and constant dependance upon the grace of the Mediator for all our spiritual and divine life, as we have upon the providence of the Creator for all the actions of the natural life for as to both, it is in the Divine Power that we live, and move, and have our being. Without Christ we can do nothing aright, nothing that will be either pleasing to God, or profitable to ourselves. We depend upon Christ, not only as the vine depends upon the wall for support; but also as the branches upon the root for sap. Our union with Christ is maintained by the word of God, and by prayer. Where the word of Christ dwells richly, there Christ dwells. Those who come to him must abide in him by faith. We must abide in Christ's merit as our righteous ness and plea; and it must abide in us as our support and comfort. Christ's word must abide in us, as a light to our feet, and a lamp to our path. If this word is our constant guide and monitor, if it dwells within us, then we abide in Christ, and he in us. Those who abide in Christ, regarding him as their chief delight, shall have fulfilled unto them the desire of their hearts. The promises abiding in us lie ready to be turned into prayers; and prayers so excited and regulated cannot but speed. If we abide in Christ, and his word abides in us, we shall have an interest in God's favour through his mediation; we shall have an answer of peace to all our prayers. Christ says that those who abide in him shall bring forth fruit: from christians, therefore, we look for christianity: that is, the fruit of a christian temper and disposition, a christian life and conversation, christian devotion, and christian designs and practice. We must honour God and do good; and exemplify the purity and power of the religion we profess in all the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ to the glory of God the Father. He pruneth them that they may bring forth more fruit. The pruning of fruitful branches, in order to their greater fruitfulness, is the care and work of the great husbandman. Even the best have in them much that wants pruning. That faith which is received into the heart purifies the soul. There is, through the Spirit, a cleansing virtue in his holy word; it quickens grace, and works out corruption; it cleanseth as fire cleanseth the gold from its dross and we then evidence that we are cleansed by the word, when we bring forth fruit unto holiness. So shall ye be my disciples. So shall we both evidence our discipleship and adorn it ; and be to our Master for a name, and a praise, and a glory. That is to be disciples indeed! So shall we be owned by our Master in the great day, and have the reward of disciples, and share in the joy of our Lord. : HYMN For the Lord's Day Morning. Come worship at Emanuel's feet, |