First. The pathway of heavenbound travellers described. They walk and they have to walk through many valleys. Some very dark and dismal; some very rough and rugged; some very mysterious and trying. Jacob thought all things were against him; not one or two things, but all things-the loss of a beloved wife, of a favourite son, and a painful anticipation of losing a beloved Benjamin, as well as a prospect of starvation by famine, constrain him to come to this conclusion.

It is not improbable but there may be, in this crowded assembly, some at this time in the valley of great poverty-they cannot be lower: every means apparently exhausted: all supplies seemingly cut off: friends all failing-it is the valley of the shadow of death on providential help. And there may be others in the deep valley of soul desertion :-no comfortable communications from the Lord Jesus: prayer seems not to penetrate the heart and hand of God: the enemy rages most violently: like Naomi concluding the Almighty is dealing very bitterly with them: or like Jonah, saying, "I am cast out of thy sight:" or like Peter, " Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." There may be others whom the Lord is chastening out of his law:-God appears as frowning upon them that he never will shew them mercy that they are doomed to destruction that there is no seat prepared for them in heaven, nor crown for them to wear that a wide gulph is fixed between them and the elect of God and while mercy will encircle its millions, they will never be enclosed in its arms and although the precious blood of the Lord Jesus has procured the ransom and the pu

rity of its countless numbers, and the sentiment is suggested to their mind, and often believed, that they have no interest in it. These are some of the valleys that poor pilgrims have to walk in. And, in addition, the king of terrors often appears a most formidable foe: such having no assurance of interest in the infinite merits of the Lord Jesus, nor of union to his person: it makes the valley gloomy, and dark, and distressing. Many, very many, all their life-time, through the pressure of guilt and sin upon the soul, the fear of death, and no clear gospel views of the sacrifice of the Saviour and the infinite righteousness of Zion's Redeemer, are all their life-time the subject of bondage. One thing we should ever bear in mind, that the church of God, in all her individual members, before they reach their ordained home and heaven, are passing through a wilderness full of pitfalls, enemies, and valleys.

A most

But, Secondly, we have the faith and the confidence of the christian expressed. "I will fear no evil, for thou art with me: thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." There are many evils that oppose the soldiers and the servants of Christ. vile and evil heart within him in its various workings of pride, self-righteousness, human policy, cursed unbelief, fleshly reason, horrid rebellion, and uncleanness. There is an evil world, with its attractions and entanglements, its policy and its persecutions, its applause and its frowns. And there is an evil enemy always upon the alert: he draws out the sin of our nature, that he may then accuse us of and condemn us for it. But through the abounding grace of God, who not only loves his people, made an everlasting choice of them, bound them all up securely in the bundle of endless life; he has, upon the footing of the wonderful substitution of his wonderful Son, justified them from all law charges, or condemnation, so that they are faultless

before the throne. And in addition, he sends the Holy Comforter on messages of mercy to the heirs of heaven, with the all-important information that they have an interest, a sure and, certain interest in all the blessings of the covenant of grace. And God the Holy Ghost frequently fills these joint heirs with Christ with all joy and peace in believing, so that they can believingly adopt the language of our text, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me."

me,

And who can describe the richness and fulness contained in this clause, "For thou art with me." My everlasting God is with me, who has adopted me into his royal family. My most beloved Bridegroom is with me, who has betrothed me to himself. My firm and faithful Friend is with me, who has promised never to forsake me. My all-sufficient Saviour is with me, who has saved me in himself. My exalted Head is with who has united me to himself as one of his members. My glorious Surety is with me, who has paid my every debt. My great Sacrifice is with me, who has atoned for all my sin. My Lord my Righteousness is with me, in whose garments I am clad. My loving and lovely Sovereign is with me, who has translated me into his kingdom. My High Priest is with me, who is ever interceding for me and pleading my cause. My heaven-preparing Jesus is with My

me, and will lead me there. promise-making, my promise-performing God is with me; his rod and his staff are my prop, my comfort, and my weapons. Jehovah in his Trinity of Persons, Father, Son, and Spirit, are with me. Then I will fear no evil. May both speaker and hearer be blest with this triumphant confidence when flesh and heart are failing, when entering the valley of the Eshadow of death. It will then be found to be only a shadow, if the cheering presence of God is but real

ized, however the cold sweat of death may trickle down the poor body, eyes become dim and dark, nature all convulsed, friends taking their last farewell; no evil or enemy will be feared if God be with us there.

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Thirdly. The crosses and the comforts of a faithful minister of Christ are here set forth. He often has to descend into the valley, and to go to the very bottom of the horrible pit, to speak to the cases of those pilgrims who are walking in the valley; and sweet relief they find a word in sea. son to be and those who have sunk into the pit of horror, are helped to ascend, and through the ministry of good men, who are taught by the Spirit, and who love to set forth Christ, the adorable Redeemer, in all his great salvation and suitability to the valley traveller. But the servants of Jesus are exposed to peculiar attacks and temptations from the cruel adversary Satan, and from flippant and slanderous tongues. And their trials are often very oppressive, and cutting, and like the piercing of a sword, from false, fickle, and faithless friends, as well as from open enemies. And their low valley frames are sometimes most distressing, both in public and private. But although sometimes their crosses are so heavy that they sink under them, there are seasons, and that not a few, when they have the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Many intimations are given of usefulness; many proofs that they do not labour in vain. Satisfied that the great Lord of the harvest has sent them into the work, and blesses them in it. His cheering presence is enjoyed in private preparation for the public services of the sanctuary; and some most delightful seasons enjoyed in setting forth the sufferings, sacrifice, and satisfaction of the God-man Mediator. Your late beloved pastor was well disciplined in the Lord's school, and was often directed to speak a seasonable word to souls in

trouble. I have known him many years. I have travelled with him many hundred miles. Much communion have we often enjoyed together. He was no licentious antinomian although he loved the high, and deep, and delightful doctrines of grace, yet he fearlessly maintained their practical tendency, and often said to me how much more he saw the necessity of preaching practical experimental godliness of late years. He was often grieved to see how ministers sit and sot over their pipes, and wine, and spirits, and newspapers, and the Bible and holy conversation neglected. He loved to be setting forth the close, lovely, and inseparable union ever subsisting between the Lord Jesus and his spouse the church. How his Deity stamped a royal dignity upon all he did, and said, and suffered. How his countenance would brighten up when dilating upon the essential, personal, and relative glories of Christ, and the mighty magnitude of the Redeemer's righteousness, and the sympathy and compassion of Christ towards all his members, which he loved to enlarge upon. His spirit was grieved whenever he heard the laws and ordinances of Jesus, placed in a more prominent view than the infinitely precious blood, law-fulfilling and heaven-admitting robe of King Immanuel. That he insisted upon a holy life, a sanctified temper, and a christian walk, you are witnesses. I have lost a beloved brother in the Lord, a fellow labourer, and you have lost a faithful and affectionate pastor, and the widow and children an attached husband and parent. But I will not open wounds already bleeding, but remind you that your friend and pastor is now uninterruptedly happy; not a pain or a sorrow is he the subject of. That Saviour he loved to exalt is ever in his view, and from his glory he says to you, Did you but know what joys I feel, what glory I am enveloped with, what a royal splendid robe I wear, what company

I associate with, what mirth and melody I hear, what a royal crown is upon my head, what seas of bliss I bathe in, and what an ever-green palm of victory I ever bear, you would never wish my return to that world of sin and woe I have for ever left." Well, beloved, the Lord liveth, and blessed be our Rock, we have Jesus still to look to, to live upon, and to make up all our happiness in. May we be followers of them who, through faith and patience, inherit the promises; and may we live and die the death of the righteous, and our latter end be like our dear departed friend and brother.

Lastly. I then read an interesting statement drawn up by the family; but as it has since been published by them in a little volume, entitled, "Pastoral Remains," I shall omit it here. Amen.

NOTIONAL AND SAVING KNOWLEDGE CONTRASTED.

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"WHATEVER notional knowledge men may have of divine truths, as they are doctrinally proposed in the Scriptures, yet, if they know them not in their respect unto the person of Christ, as the foundation of the counsels of God-if they discern not how they proceed from him and center in him, they will bring no saving and spiritual light to their understandings for all spiritual life and light is in him and from him alone. Believers differ from unbelievers more in the manner of knowing than the matter of knowledge. Unbelievers may theoretically know more of God, his perfections and will, than many believers; but they know nothing in a right, spiritual, saving sense. The excellency of a believer lies not in a great apprehension of things but that what he apprehends, though never so little, is by the light and teaching of God the Holy Ghost. This gives communion with God, and not prying thoughts or curious notions."

J. OWEN, D. D.

"When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained; what is man?" &c.Ps. viii. 3.

"He shall call upon me, and I will answer him."-Ps. xci. 15.

I WALK beneath night's gorgeous canopy, And with an upraised glance and upraised spirit muse

The theories of sages. My weak mind Shrinks staggering backward at the bound

less view

Which science, lifting ignorance's veil,
Displays adoring. Worlds on worlds,
Each with their suns and planetary trains,
So countless, so immense, that were this
earth

Crushed, blotted out, destroyed, 't would be

no more

Than taking from a forest tree in spring
Some little leaf. Great Architect! the thought
Adds loftier splendours to thy majesty,
And trembling I inquire canst thou regard,
Surrounded with such vast magnificence,
Canst thou be mindful of poor feeble man?
Canst thou attend his cry, when all alone,
Oppressed with sorrows, on recumbent knee,
He prays for help? Yea, canst thou hear,
Amid tea thousand thousand calls for aid,
Each scarcely uttered sigh? And canst thou
spare

Aught of that power which rules an Universe,
To guide and guard and answer every one?
Reason and Nature fail to comfort here:
Perusing Nature's page we learn thy power;
Listening to Reason we conclude thou art
Too great, too high, too wonderful for us
But coming to the Oracles of God,
The surer word by inspiration given,
We learn-not whether stars be worlds in-
habited,

Or only light-lamps in night's ebon roof-
But that the Almighty who created them,
Doth always hear man's supplicating cry,
And always hears to help.

REZENEB.

"" THE LORD IS THY KEEPER.

Psalm cxxi. 5.

How sweet, O ye pilgrims of Zion, to know Ye have a good guardian as onward ye go;

The path may be thorny, and oft make thee smart,

But Christ thy strong Keeper will ne'er from thee part.

Yes, Christ is thy Keeper ye children of God, And oft, as thy Shepherd will stretch forth his rod,

Though he let you wander, to try your own strength,

He surely will keep you and save you at length.

The Lord is thy Keeper, though troubles abound,

And sorrow on sorrow is frequently found; Though friends should forsake thee, and foes all attend.

He'll safely protect you until your life end.

The Lord is thy Keeper, from sin, death, and hell;

O'er these he has pow'r which tongue cannot tell :

His presence is life, yea 't is fulness of joy, Which sin, death, and hell cannot ever destroy.

The Lord is thy Keeper, He'll save from despair,

Though oft you are tortur'd with trials and

By him you 're made ready revealed to be When time with its trials you 'll never more

see.

The Lord is thy Keeper, he gives thee thy faith,

In water and fire unto thee he oft saith, Trust all you have to me, the fire shall not burn,

Nor floods overflow thee, you need not to

mourn.

The Lord is thy Keeper, then give him thy praise,

He'll keep thee secure through the whole of thy days;

He's fed thee and cloth'd thee in time that is past,

And still he will keep thee secure till the last.

The Lord is thy Keeper, when death shall appear

He'll shield and protect thee and save thee from fear;

Down in the dark valley with thee he will go, And there full protection he surely will show.

The Lord is thy Keeper, he 'll keep thee in peace,

And bring thee to glory, where sighing shall

cease;

O'er Jordan's black river he 'll cause thee to ride,

And give thee in Canaan a seat by his side.

Then while here below let thy praises abound, We've here but a foretaste of that happy ground;

There all the full choir for ever shall sing The praise of our Keeper, our Father and King.

Rudgeway, Glo'stershire. J. HARDING.

GOD IS FAITHFUL!

"GOD is faithful," saith the word:
This, my soul, doth help afford,
As in Jesus Christ I see
"Truth maintained and mercy free.

Faithful to bis holy law,
Sin's demerit to explore;
Nor will clear the guilty man,
But by cov'nant, oath, and plan.

Faithful to the church's Head,
Who for sin a ransom bled,
That he might his people free
From all curse and misery.

Faithful to his oath and word,

As we read, "Thus saith the Lord," To deliver from all woe

Those who unto Jesus go.

Faithful to maintain his cause,
'Mid the strife and din of wars;
All who tread the battle plain,
Shall with Jesus conquerers reign.
Faithful to defend his own,
Listening to each sigh and groan;
All who shelter in his name,
Find his faithfulness the same.
Faithful to conduct them home,
Where his saints shall safely come;
There, while gazing on his face,
Sing Jehovah's faithfulness.
Boston.

WILLIAM FELTON.

THE MORNING STAR.

JESUS. thou Bright and Morning Star,
Could I but see thee from afar,

What pleasure should I feel;
With joy I'd hail thee to my heart,
Resolved from hence no more to part,
If thou wilt in me dwell.

At noon, at night, or in the day,
My soul would fervent to thee pray,

And learn to do thy will.
Can such poor rebels, Lord, as me,

Spend vast eternity with thee,

And yet behave so ill?

Lord, quiet thou my froward heart,
The blessings of thy grace impart,

And let me live to thee;
Give me to say that thou art mine,
Oh let me see thy face divine,—

Let me thy glory see.

Oh that this precious star would shine
Upon this sinful heart of mine,

And point the path to heaven;
With joy I'd follow up the road,
Choosing the path that leads to God,

Who has my sins forgiven.

Could I but reach that happy clime,
Where Christ the Star of Bethlehem shines,

And at his footstool fall;

I'd sing his love, so rich, so free,
Throughout a vast eternity,

And crown him Lord of all.

When this bright star shall rise on high,
His enemies will from him fly

In vain, to hide their face;

But his omniscient eye can see
The wicked, though from him they flee,
And marks their just disgrace.
But Oh may I among them stand
Whom thou shalt place at thy right hand,
And whom thou lovest well;

Oh, may I hear these words from thee,
"Come, my beloved. unto me,

I've ransomed thee from hell."