enviable, simply because they judge from outward appearances, and imagine that a man's happiness must necessarily consist in the things which he possesses; forgetting that a godly man's happiness and pleasures lie chiefly in that which he has in prospect,-in hope, in expectation. "Blessed [therefore] is the man that endureth temptation," or trial, or tribulation; in a word, that endureth affliction and privation. Not so much, however, in the fact of his having to endure: for all have more or less to endure, and the like affliction happeneth to the godly and to the ungodly; but the godly endure, as "seeing him who is invisible," and knowing that they have "a better and enduring substance" in heaven. Blessed, therefore, is the man that endures, believing that fact: for as that is believed, the affliction and trial is more pleasantly endured and more cheerfully submitted to. To endure is one thing; and to endure patiently, cheerfully, and hopefully is another thing. He endures with most profit to himself and honour to God, who is helped to endure, believing that "all things work together for his good;" nay, more-not only for good; but for the very best: that nothing can be better than as Heaven has arranged it. He that so endures is a truly blessed man. His is a blessedness of quietude, calmness, assurance, patience, submission, and hope; and withal a holy expectation of all that God has promised: hence, when he is tried, the text says, he shall receive the crown of life; or he shall be crowned with life: he shall be full of life and immortality; he shall have life gloriously. He shall have life, without any of the remains of death ;nothing of death shall be felt; death shall be swallowed up in victory. He shall be crowned as a victor,—as he that has a right to be crowned,—as one that is to reign: as it is written, "They shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy." Mark, reader, it is the crown "which the Lord hath promised to them that love him." By all such the Lord is loved. Jehovah-Father, Son, and Spirit-all are concerned in the promise. promise is made by the Father, through the Son,—re

The

vealed and testified by the Spirit, and consummated in heaven. All real religion will be completed there. As the promise has been made, so the promise will be performed. Mark, reader; it is to them that love him. An endurance of affliction without love to him, is no proof of a religious or godly state. Love is the grand element of the religion of God.-If there be no love, there is no real religion. The love of God in the soul is the best proof of the life of God; and we cannot be better assured of God's love of us than by our love to God. There is no merit in our loving God; but oh, it is a wonderful mercy to love God!-The crown will be received by all such; not because they love him; but their love to him is a certain evidence of their finally receiving the crown. O my soul, ask that thou mayest love more ardently. To love God is agreeable to law and gospel; the law demands it: the gospel by the blessed Spirit helps us to do it.

My tried and tempted soul,
Would fain abide thy will;
Would on thee all its sorrows roll:

O Lord, say, "Peace be still."

Give grace, my Father God,
And let my spirit be
Sustained by thy precious word,

Till thou shalt set it free :

That so temptations may

Be patiently endured;

Through all the dark and dreary way
Then end in blessed reward.

END OF VOL. I.

LEANING ON JESUS' BOSOM.

JOHN XIII. 23.

On Jesus' breast leaning,
How pleasant the feeling!
Sustaining and comforting too;
It is so endearing,

And truly heart cheering,
It does so our spirits renew.

With Jesus communing,
Is love so confirming,

And strengthens, too, every grace;
It helps in resisting,

The world's base enticing,
And speeds us on, too, in our race.

Of Jesus oît talking,

As homeward we're walking,
Is safety and profit as well;
For the tongue so employed,
Is vain boasting destroyed,
And bosoms with gratitude swell.

On Jesus depending,

Is faint hearts defending,

And poor feeble knees are made strong;
For he that believeth,

And after him breatheth,
Shall dwell in high heavens e'er long.

For Jesus Christ weeping,

And after him seeking,

Is proof there is life in the soul;
And they who do want him,

He surely will have them,
He came to make wounded ones whole.

Then be not desponding,
Nor backward in knocking,

At mercy's great, wide, open door;
For all who come needy,

He'll hear very speedy,

And bid them come to him for more.

DEVOUT AND EXPLANATORY

REFLECTIONS

ON

IMPORTANT PORTIONS OF GOD'S WORD;

OR, A

Short Sermon and a Short Song

FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR.

INTENDED AS

AIDS TO PRIVATE AND DOMESTIC WORSHIP.

BY GEORGE WYARD,
Author of "Pastoral Letters," &c.

To be completed in Four Issues.

ISSUE II.,

COMPRISING APRIL, MAY, AND JUNE.

London:

PRINTED BY J. BRISCOE, BANNER STREET, FINSBURY, And may be had from him by all Booksellers in Town or Country,

or of the Author direct.

1864.