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BREAD OF THE FIRST FRUITS:

2 KINGS IV. 42.

OR

SHORT MEDITATIONS

ON SELECT PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE.

FOR

EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR.

WITH A PREFACE BY THE AUTHOR OF "THE WEEK."

"My meditation of Him shall be sweet."

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PUBLISHED BY R. B. SEELEY AND W. BURNSIDE :

AND SOLD BY L. AND J. SEELEY,

FLEET STREET, LONDON.

MDCCCXXXV.

103.再

JANUARY 1.

But whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.-PROVERBS XVI. 20.

66

LET this be our motto on the commencement of a new year, and let us consider what is implied in trusting in the Lord, and the happiness arising out of it. First, for righteousness and strength;-righteousness to justify us from all things, from which we could not otherwise be justified; from all the penal and in all the preceptive demands which are written in the book of the law; and secondly, for strength to do and endure whatever we may be called upon to perform or suffer in the ensuing year. My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness." Blessed be God for this assurance of grace sufficient for every purpose of living or dying. So that come what may, we are provided with a promise suitable to our wants. Next, we are to trust in the Lord for all things pertaining to life, and unto godliness; and here again we have a promise that he will make❝ all grace abound toward us," so that we may confidently put our trust in him for health and happiness, and all good things. No good thing will he withhold from them that fear him. How happy, then, ought we to be, having a perfect righteousness, and an all-sufficiency of grace, and a promise of all good things; what more can we need to make us perfectly happy? nothing but a sense of these mercies, and a full persuasion of the truth of God in his word, and of his faithfulness to his word. Lord, evermore give us this persuasion, and grant us to be "filled with all joy and peace in believing; that we may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost."

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JANUARY 2.

Give thanks always for all things.—EPHESIANS V. 20.

WHAT abundant matter of thankfulness has every
believer!-To be chosen of God from everlasting, and
to be called in due time to the knowledge of salvation
through the remission of sins, are never-failing subjects
of thankfulness in the absence of all others. But
when we consider with how many mercies we are
daily surrounded; health and strength, and all things
pertaining to life and unto godliness; grace sufficient
for our daily need, and a promise, for the future, that
he will never fail us nor forsake us-what can we
want more to move us to thankfulness, provided only,
our hearts are in tune to praise him,-who hath
dealt so bountifully with us,-who daily loadeth us
with benefits, and ceaseth not even in the night season;
but keepeth us by night and by day from all evil,
and hath undertaken to keep us by his mighty power,
through faith unto salvation; so that our prospects for
time and eternity are equally good, and pregnant with
blessings? "Bless the Lord, therefore, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,-who forgiveth all
thy sins who healeth all thy diseases-who satisfieth
thy mouth with good things, so that thy youth is
renewed like the eagle's-who saveth thy life from
destruction, and crowneth thee with loving kindness
and tender mercies."

JANUARY 3.

The Lord is my helper.-HEBREWS XIII. 6

CAN any thing tend more to quiet our fears and to set all our anxieties at rest, than to believe that the Lord is our helper, by covenant engaged to assist us, and that more particularly when all other helps fail. Nor is it a small matter of consolation, that he knoweth exactly what help we require, and when we require it, so as to be able to afford it not only effectually, but also in season. "He knoweth our frame, he remembereth that we are but dust, and therefore he will not suffer us to be tempted above that we are able, but will with the temptation also make a way for our escape, that we may be able to bear it." Thus he delivered righteous Lot, who with hearing and seeing evil continually had vexed his righteous soul; nor was he at any loss for the means of his deliverance, when vain was the help of man; for who could have foreseen what was likely to befal, or having foreseen, 'could have delivered him out of the hands of the Lord. Thus it is, that God, knowing what is going to happen, delivers his people in due time, and makes a way for their escape. The Lord is our helper, and we need not therefore fear what man will do unto us, since we are secure in his protection, from all evil, from every quarter. Man cannot hurt us, and the Lord has promised to bless us-so that we have every security which we can desire to make us perfectly happy.

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