had not seen the star of Christ, they had had but light enough to lead them into utter darkness. Philosophy without this star is but the wisp of error. The angels direct the shepherds; the star guides the sages; the wisdom of our good God proportions the means unto the disposition of the persons. No sooner hath the star brought them within the noise of Jerusalem than it vanishes out of sight. What joy these sages conceived when their eyes first beheld the reappearance of that happy star, they only can tell who, after a long and sad night of temptation, have seen the loving countenance of God shining forth upon their souls. If, with obedience and courage, we can follow the calling of God in difficult enterprises, we shall not want supplies of comfort. Let us not be wanting to God; we shall be sure he cannot be wanting to us.-Bp. Hall.

TRUE WEALTH.

All a man's wealth or poverty is within himself: it is not the outward abundance or want that can make the difference. Let a man be ever so rich in estate, yet if his heart be not satisfied, but he is still whining, and scraping, and pining for more, that man is miserably poor; all his bags cannot make him other than

a stark beggar. On the other side, give me a man of small means, whose mind is thoroughly content with a little, and enjoys his pittance with a quiet and thankful heart; that man is exceeding rich: all the world cannot rob him of his wealth. It is not having by which we can measure riches, but enjoying: the earth hath all treasures in it, yet no man styles it rich: of these which the world calls goods of fortune, opinion only sets the value. Gold and silver would be metals, whether we think them so, or not; they would not be riches if men's conceit and institution did not make them such. O my soul, be not thou carried away with the common error to covet and admire those things which have no true worth in themselves. both the Indies were thine, thou shouldst be no whit the wealthier: labour for those riches whereby thy stock may be advanced. The great Lord of all, who knows best where his wealth lies, and where thou shouldst hoard up thine, hath told thee where to seek it, where to lay it: "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven." Matt. vi. 19, 20. There thou shalt be sure to find it entire, free from plunder, and all danger of

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diminution. O God, give me to covet that my mind may be rich in knowledge, that my soul may be rich in grace, that my heart may be rich in true content; as for this pelf of the world, let it make them miserable that admire it.-Bp. Hall.

ENCOURAGEMENT TO PRAYER.

I acknowledge no master of requests in heaven but one-Christ, my Mediator. I know I cannot be so happy as not to need him; nor so miserable, that he should contemn me. I will always ask; and that of none, but where I am sure to speed; but where there is so much store, that when I have had the most, I shall leave no less behind. Though numberless drops be in the sea, yet if one be taken out of it, it hath so much the less, though insensibly; but God, because he is infinite, can admit of no diminution. Therefore are men niggardly, because the more they give, the less they have; but thou, Lord, mayest give what thou wilt, without abatement of thy store. Good prayers never came weeping home: I am sure I shall receive either what I ask or what I should ask.—Bp. Hall.

HAPPINESS-TRUE AND FALSE.

We need desire no more to make us easy and happy, wherever we are, than to have God's presence with us, and to be under his protection. It is comfortable, in a journey, to have a guide in an unknown way, a guard in a dangerous way, to be well carried, well provided for, and to have good company in any way; and they that have God with them, have all this in the best manner.

Faint desires of happiness, without right choice of the end, and a right use of the means, deceive many into their own ruin. Multitudes go to hell with their mouth full of good wishes.

The gains of the world, and the delights of sense, will surfeit, but never satisfy; but the communication of Divine favour and grace will satisfy, but never surfeit.

We are likely to have small joy of any of our creature comforts if we make not God our chief joy. I have often said, and I must take all occasion to repeat it, that a holy, heavenly life, spent in the service of God, and in communion with him, is, without doubt, the most pleasant, comfortable life that any one can live in this world.-Matthew Henry.

CHRISTIAN OBEDIENCE.

It ought to be the great care of every one of us to follow the Lord fully. We must, in a course of obedience to God's will, and service to his honour, follow him universally, without dividing; uprightly, without dissembling; cheerfully, without disputing; and constantly, without declining: and this is following him fully.

We cannot expect the benefit of the promises, unless we make conscience of the precepts.

Christ will not save us unless we be willing he should govern us.

Sincere obedience is universal; and he that from a right principle obeys any of God's precepts will have respect to them all.

If our hearing be not the means of our obedience, it will be the aggravation of our disobedience.-Matthew Henry.

PRAYER.

Our daily devotions must be looked upon as the most needful of our daily works, and the most pleasant of our daily comforts.

Those that pray much will have much to give thanks for.