CONTENTS. 1. Jacob a dying 2. Anger and Grief united 3. The Fight with Amalek 4. The Tenderness of Christ 5. The Nature of the Promises 6. Moses a Shepherd 7. The Burning Bush 8. The Solemn Assembly 9. Smallness of Comfort 10. Patient Waiting 11. The Recluse 12. The Observer 13. The Glorified Throng JULY. Heb. xl. 21. Ps. Ixiii. 1, 2. AUGUST.. Isaiah xviii. 4. 18. The sure Anchor 19. John beheaded 20. The Blessed Man 21. Little Children 22. 24. 25. Psalm xli. 3. David serving his Generation Moses addressed at the Bush Renovation of Spirit The Revelation of Jesus 26. The Grace of Glory 27. The Duty of Christians 28. The Tree of Righteousness 29. A little Strength 30. Jesus upon his Throne 31. The Royal Priesthood & SEPTEMBER. Luke iv. 16. 1 Sam. xxx. 6. 1 Sam. xxx. 6. John L. 14. Haggai ii. 7. Isaíah xiv. 1. Isaiah viii. 20. Psalm cx. 1. Isaiah xli. 10. Job vii. 20. 2 Sam. xiv. 14. 116. Inspired Friendship 17. Christian Holiness 18. Obduracy 19. Besetting Sin Acts xv. 36. Acts xv. 37, 38. John iii. 35. John xiii. 31. Mark X. 21. Micah v. 4. James i. 21. Rev. xxi. 6. 20. The Father of the Lunatic Mark ix. 17. 21. Gracious Tears 22. Harvest 23. The Gospel Feast 24. The Certain Test 25. Sorrows carried to Christ 26. The Grand Bestowment 27. Death disagreeable to Na ture 28. Application to Christ 2 Sam. xiv. 14. 29. The Outcasts Preserved 2Chron.xxxiii.2 30. The Cloud of Witnesses Mark ix. 24. Psalm 1xviii. 10. Isaiah XXV. 6. John vi. 45. Matt. xiv. 12. John iii. 35. 2 Cor. v. 4. 1 Pet. ii. 4. Isaiah xvi. 4. Heb. xi. 1. Philemon 23--25. Micah vii. 19. 2 Sam. vi. 10 2 Sam. xiv. 14. Acts xxvii. 23. Acts xxvii. 23. Actsxxvii.24--26 Mark ix. 24. Micah vii. 14. Heb. i. 3. Mark x. 32. 2 Thess. i. 6, 7. 1 Chron.xxvi.5. 2 Sam. vi. 12. John ix. 30. 1345 EVENING EXERCISES FOR THE CLOSET. JULY 1.-"By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff."-Heb. xi. 21. "PRECIOUS in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." No wonder therefore that he graciously appoints the time, the place, and the manner of it; that he honours it with his special presence; and calls upon us to make it the subject of our contemplation: "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace." For this purpose he has often mentioned it in his word, and has sometimes recorded it with circumstances the most striking and improving. Let us convey ourselves into Egypt, find out Goshen, inquire for the house of Jacob, and enter his chamber of sickness. It will be found none other than the house of God, and the gate of heaven. He is " a dying" and observe how he dies. First; he "leans upon the top of his staff." Thus he looks like a pilgrim. Had he recourse to this action to aid such an impression? The Jews were to eat the passover with their staves in their hand: and we should observe every ordinance, form every connexion, enjoy every advantage, as those who have heard the voice, Arise and depart hence, for this is not your rest. Abraham wished to preserve the recollection of this, and therefore he "sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God:"i and it was thus "they confessed themselves to be strangers and pilgrims upon earth." Give me, says the dying traveller, my staffWas this staff the same he spoke of when he was returning from Haran; "With my staff I passed over Jordan, and now I am become two bands?" If so, and the thing is very probable, how ma ny feelings would this companion of all his journeys revive! For after a length of time even inanimate things draw from us a strange kind of regard, and affect us, if not by themselves, yet by their associations. But it was an instance of his bodily decline and infirmity. He whose constitution had enabled him to bear such travels and fatigues is now reduced to the weakness of infancy and dependence; and leans upon the top of his staff. "The glory of young men is their strength:" but let them remember their Creator in the days of their youth; for the evil days will come when they shall say, we have no pleasure in them; when they that look out of the windows shall be darkened, and the strong men shall bow 6 themselves, and the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the grasshopper be a burden, because man goeth to his long home. It was also a proof of his conscientiousness in duty. He would place himself in the best posture of devotion his infirmities would admit. We are to glorify God in our bodies as well as in our spirits; and though he does not bind us down to any corporeal forms, yet every thing in his service should be expressive of reverence and godly fear. The Seraphim veil their faces with their wings. Our Lord kneeled three times in the garden. So Jacob, aged as he was, and under the debility of approaching dissolution, when he would adore God, rose upon his knees, though he was obliged to seek support. Think of this, ye who in full health and vigour, instead of kneeling or standing, sit during the devotion of the sanctuary; and see how far you come short of the self-denial and godliness of this patriarch. Secondly, He "worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff." He had been trained up in the nurture and admonition of "the fear of his father Isaac ;" and had long walked before him; but now he was ending the worship of him on earth, to join in the worship of him in heaven that would never end. This worship doubtless included confession. Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? some talk of looking back upon a well-spent life. A good man, if he has been distinguished from others, knows who has made him to differ; and sees in the review his obedience a thousand imperfections which humble him, and prevent all confidence in the flesh. He feels that he is an unprofitable servant, and says in his last approach still more than in all his former ones, "I come, trusting not in my own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies." It had also in it thanksgiving. He had experienced many personal and relative troubles; but out of them all the Lord had delivered him. The angry storms of life were now blown over, and a serene evening had arrived. He had escaped the difficulties and dangers of a tiresome road, and was now in sight of the journey's end, and of his father's house. It is easy to imagine the grateful emotions of his mind when he remembered his flight from the face of his brother, the vision of Beth-el, and the promise of God that he would be with him, and keep him in all places, and never leave him nor forsake him. All this had now been accomplished. "Bless the Lord," would he say, "Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." It contained also prayer. He would implore mercy and grace to help in this time of need; for he had yet to die. O my God, strengthen me this once. "O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help. O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. Now also when I am old and gray-headed, O God, forsake me not; until I have showed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come." And he prayed not only for himself, but for others, especially those of his own house. For, Thirdly, he "blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff." The affair is recorded in the book of Genesis with the most touching simplicity. Understanding that his father was sick, Joseph hastens to visit him: and he takes his two sons with him. It was wise in him to show these youths, who had |