I am come to send fire upon the earth, and what will I if it be already kindled? by both these desiring to represent to us a disciple full of heat and fire, and prepared for every danger. Such an one was this woman. For so kindled was she by his words, that she left her water-pot and the purpose for which she came, ran into the city, and drew all the people to Jesus. saith she, see a man which told me all things that ever I did.

Come,

Observe her zeal and wisdom. She came to draw water, and when she had lighted upon the true Well, she after that despised the material one; teaching us even by this trifling instance when we are listening to spiritual matters, to overlook the things of this life, and make no account of them. For what the apostles did, that, after her ability, did this woman also. They when they were called, left their nets; she of her own accord, without the command of any, leaves her water-pot, and winged by joy performs the office of an Evangelist. And she calls not one or two, as did Andrew and Philip, but having aroused a whole city and people, so brought them to him.

Observe too how prudently she speaks; she said not, “Come, see the Christ," but with the same condescension to their infirmity, by which Christ had netted her, she draws the men to him; Come, saith she, see a man who told me all that ever I did. She was not ashamed to say that he told me all that ever I did. Yet she might have spoken otherwise, "Come, see one that prophesieth;" but when the soul is inflamed with holy fire, it looks then to nothing earthly, neither to glory nor to shame, but belongs to one thing alone, the flame which occupieth it.

Is not this the Christ? Observe again here the great wisdom of the woman; she neither declared the fact plainly, nor was she silent, for she desired not to bring them in by her own assertion, but to make them to share in this opinion by hearing him; which rendered her words more readily acceptable to them. Yet he had not told all her life to her, only from what had been said she was persuaded that he was informed as to the rest. Nor did she say, "Come, believe," but, Come, see; a gentler expression than the other, and one which more attracted them. Seest thou the wisdom of the woman? She knew, she knew certainly that having but tasted that Well, they would be affected in the same manner as herself. Yet any one of the grosser sort would have concealed the reproof which Jesus had given; but she

parades her own life, and brings it forward before all men, so as

IN the divine law, next to piety to God, charity to our neighbor is commanded, to signify how pleasing it is to him. The gospel eclipses all other institutions by the precept of universal love, and inspiring a delightful disposition in Christians to exercise it. This adorns the gospel, and recommends it to the esteem and affections of men. A person innocent and pure, but of a severe and harsh temper, condemns by his holy conversation the profane and scandalous; but a good man charms and captivates the hearts of others, that one should dare to die for him. Now this love, while, for its extent, should be universal, for its character, among other things, it should be sincere. Let love be without dissimulation.

Love is essentially sincere; it is seated in the heart, and expressed in real actions; it is cordial and operative. There is an empty noise of love and respects, that proceeds from a double heart, not entire and ingenuous. Some by fair promises, work and wind men to obtain their ends, and then slip through them. How often are the sincere deceived by the liberal expressions of love untried and untrue, mistaking a shining counterfeit for a real ruby? But though the human eye can not see through the disguise, he that commands sincere love, pierces into the heart, and if it be wanting there, his anger burns against the vain pretenders to it.

Some will seem to grace others with a flourish of words, that they may tax them more freely, and without suspicion. To

praise without a ground of real worth, is sordid flattery; but to commend with a mischievous intent, is the worst treachery.

Some will assist the sick day and night, and seem to sympathize with them in their pains and sorrows; but their design is to obtain a rich legacy. They appear like mourning doves, but are real vultures, that smell a carcass to feed on.

There are others guilty, who esteem empty compliments to be courtly decencies; and though it is not their design to be injurious to those whom they caress, yet their love is only from the tongue, which, in the apostle's expression, is but a tinkling cymbal. Their pretended friendship is like leaf-gold, very extensive, but soon worn off for want of depth.

Others are mercenaries, that, like the heathens, do good to those from whom they receive good: their love degenerates into traffic, and does not proceed from a divine principle. Ingenuous and Christian spirits have not such crooked inclinations, always reflecting upon their own interest. It is true, Christian love declares itself in alternate acts of kindness, but is also exercised where there are no such inducements. This is to imitate our Heavenly Father, who does good to all, without any desert in the receivers, and beyond all requital.

Affliction is the furnace where sincere friends are tried, and discerned from the deceitful; their afflictions are common; their compassions and cordial assistance are common. This is the most certain and significant character of unfeigned love, not to fail in a calamitous season. Job aggravates his sorrows by this reflection, that his friends dealt deceitfully: as brooks, that run in a full stream in winter, when snow falls, and there is no want of refreshing waters; but when it is hot, they dry up, and vanish. We may securely rely on their friendship, who afford us undesired supplies in time of trouble.

The observation of the wise philosopher is verified in every age; that Men in a flourishing condition are surrounded with friends, but in an afflicted, are forsaken. This consideration should inflame us with a holy ambition of the friendship of God; for his sincere love is most tenderly expressed in our distress. The Psalmist enforces his request by this motive: Be not far off, for trouble is near. It is often seen, that men fly from their acquaintance, when the clearest trial is to be made of their afflic

tions; but then the blessed God draws nearest to us, and affords relief and comfort.

"So shall the world believe and know
That God hath sent thee from above,

When thou art seen in us below,

And every soul displays thy love."

MAY 2.

R. WATSON.

And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders, and no man could learn that song, but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.— Rev. xiv. 3.

1. They sung. Powerful emotions of joy seek for outward expression. This is one of the laws of our very nature. The expression will be suitable to the emotion. Grief pours forth its wailings; joy is heard in the modulations of verse, and the sweet swells and cadences of music. One reason for this is, that thus our joy may be social. The shout of one warrior animates another. The song of one laborer cheers another, as well as himself, in their mutual toil. The song of victory in one part of the field stimulates the combatants, where the battle is yet doubtful; and the common chorus heightens the common triumph. In heaven all is social, all is action and reaction. There is song in heaven, because there is joy there; joy too strong to be confined to the heart. It must not only be felt but sung; not only sung, but song in united chorus, rising, till the voice is as the voice of many waters, as the voice of a great thunder."

2. They sung a new song. Every deliverance experienced by the saints of God calls for a new song: how much more, therefore, this, the final deliverance from earth! Their salvation is completed, and they now sing, "To him that loved us, and hath washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father: to him be glory and dominion for ever." Their song is new, as demanded by new blessings. John saw before the throne "a Lamb, as it had been newly slain." The phrase intimates that blessings for ever new will flow from the virtue of his atonement, and the manifestation of the Divine perfections by him. Nor shall the song be new

as to individuals only, but as to the whole glorified church. The church, even upon earth, has ever sung the mercies and the judgments of God. At the passage of the Red Sea, the construction of the tabernacle, the opening of the temple, the people sung praises to God. As they went to their great festivals, they were found "coming to Zion with joy.” So now. Every Sabbath hears the church singing her psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs. And all heaven shall sing, when the mill-stone is cast into the waters, and antichrist is destroyed. And this song is new, because its great subject, Christ crucified, never waxes old. I appeal to yourselves. Yes, brethren, when human poets have put these subjects into verse, and tuned them with human harmony, even then you have a new song. Who that knows the good will of God calls for new joys, a new Christ, a new salvation? Even here" the people of God are satisfied with his goodness;" how much more when heavenly poetry modulates the verse, and heavenly voices attune the lay!

3. They sung it before the throne. The glorious fruit of "the travail of his soul." Before" the living creatures; " angels who now see their charge secure, after that benevolent anxiety which they would feel. Much as an angel knows, he knows not whether I shall be finally saved. "Before the elders; "the presbyters, ministers of the church, who see, in souls redeemed from earth, both the fruit and reward of their past labors.

MAY 3.

Yield yourselves unto God.-Rom. vi. 13.

Howe.

You should look upon God in yielding yourselves to him, thus-You are to yield yourselves to his claim, as your rightful owner. To his instruction, as your undeceiving Teacher.-To his government, as your gracious, sovereign Ruler; and-To the enjoyment of him, as your best and most satisfying Good, or your self-communicating Benefactor.

But it also concerns you to have distinct and right thoughts of the state of your case, and how things are between him and the sons of men, that you may duly apply yourselves to him in so great a transaction. The gospel under which you live tells you he treats with men in and by a Mediator, his own Son, who