and for eternity. O my God, I would adore Thee, for that Thou hast by the working of thy mighty power raised from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, and exalted Him to thine own right hand to be the High Priest of his people, so that, sinner as I am, I can come boldly to thy throne of grace, confident of obtaining mercy, and finding grace to help according to my need. I would adore Thee that Thou hast, I trust, by the working of the same power, made me a new creature in Christ, quickening me when I was dead in sin, and raising me up in the likeness of his resurrection. O God, I thank Thee that Thou hast taught me something of the power of the death and of the resurrection of Christ, enabling me in some measure to mortify my members which are upon the earth, and to raise my thoughts and desires and affections heavenward. But, oh! how little have I yet learned of the exceeding riches of thy power towards them that believe. Give unto me, I beseech Thee, the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge

of Thee. May my understanding be enlightened to discern the things which Thou hast promised to them that love Thee, and may my heart be stirred up to give more diligence to make my calling and election sure. Grant also, O God, that the Lord Jesus may be glorified by the increase of faith and love in all who call upon his holy name. And unto Thee who art able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us; unto Thee be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Autumn.

The Pledge of Final Glony.

COLLECT FOR ASCENSION.

Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that like as we do believe thy only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to have ascended into the heavens; so we may also in heart and mind thither ascend, and with Him continually dwell, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

"For the Lord our God shall come,
And shall take his harvest home;
From his field shall in that day
All offences purge away;
Give his angels charge at last
In the fire the tares to cast;
But the fruitful ears to store
In his garner evermore.

"Even so, Lord, quickly come
To thy final harvest home:
Gather Thou thy people in ;
Free from sorrow, free from sin;
There for ever purified,

In thy presence to abide;

Come with all thine angels, come,
Raise the glorious harvest home."

H

ALFORD.

MORNING.

Meditation.

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.”—1 JOHN iii. 2.

HAPPY family, in which all are the sons of God! The bond amongst them must be love, and they speak of each other as "beloved." The feeling within them is gratitude, and so they speak often one to another, and say, "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the Sons of God." They have a holy joy which runs on into a blessed hope. The language of every heart is, "We would see Jesus! and the prospect before all who walk by faith is this, We shall see Him as He is!" The eye of the body may be dim, but the eye. of the soul is bright. Seeing is believing. The opened heavens have closed over the believer's head; but the glory of God, and the presence of the Lord Jesus are behind.

"Though now we see him not, yet believing we rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory." This is the privilege of our sonship. The child of God can say, "My Beloved is mine "—I have an interest in Christ" and I am his; Christ has an interest in me. "I know in whom I have believed."

"But we know that when He shall appear we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." Sweet surprise, to see his glory and his beauty, face to face! Glorious reality, to be like Him! A glorified body, a satisfied heart, a sanctified will, a perfected understanding—who will not long and look up, when such things are for him! "And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure." Christian hope and Christian holiness: how close and how continuous their union ought to be! "Having, therefore, these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."