with the reply, immediately let her go free. As they were returning home, Tigranes asked her what she thought of Cyrus. Indeed, said she, I did not look at him, or think about him. Whom then did you look upon? asked her astonished husband. Whom should I look upon, or think of, but him that would have redeemed my life with his own? And, O beloved, whom should you meditate on, but him that did redeem your life with his own? What kind of entertainment has the world ever given you, worthy to draw your thoughts from heavenly joys? Are you not a pilgrim and a stranger? How unseemly then that this world should be the settled place of your mind, your habitation to which you continually resort! Say with David, from this day, "Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee."

Do not object that you have no time or ability for this. All you want is an increase of love to him, to make you meditate upon him more largely. How naturally do our minds revert to objects we love! How welcome are

they always to our thoughts! We seek a place to weep when we are separated from them; we retire from company to write to them; we think of their excellencies on our beds and in our walks; we dwell upon the delights their society and love have afforded, and long for the day and hour when we shall meet again. And yet we never complain that they occupy too much of our time. Have not those moments, disconIsolate widow, been your sweetest, when you could relieve the desolateness of your situation by looking back on the kindness, and care, and tenderness of him whose body you have committed to the tomb? And has it not alleviated the loss of that beloved child, to dwell on the blessed symptoms of grace in his heart, his filial love, and the hope of meeting him in glory? While these have moved your tears, you have tasted a pleasure unknown to any but a mother and a widow. And why do we not thus with Christ? Why is he like a stranger and a wayfaring man, that tarrieth but for a night in our hearts, which should be his home? Is it not a wonder that he will give you permission to love

him; that he will condescend to keep a book of remembrance when you think on his name; that he waits to be gracious to you, knocks at your door, and asks you to let him come in to sup with you; and that he is not ashamed to be called your God? O unspeakable love! O wonderful compassion! Should not these considerations awake you to meditate on him who thus loves you? "He will command his loving-kindness in the day-time" for your sake. Go. forth, my loving-kindness; I commission thee to settle, like a dove, upon that fearful, humble, broken heart: warm it, expand it, soften it, and bring it back again on thy wings to me. And will not you command your thoughts to receive this heavenly messenger, to indulge these blessed intimations of the Spirit, and ascend to your Father and your God?

3. Of holy walking with God.

By this I mean obedience to his precepts, and delight in his ways. Walking implies life, exertion, perseverance, and progress; being born again, and having the eye looking forward, and the eyelids straight before us. It does not con

sist in a rapturous enjoyment now and then; a satisfaction of interest in the covenant of grace; or some heavenly meditation once a year; but a regular, habitual, persevering course of obedience to his commands. There must be a disposition first to say, with David, “I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right, and I hate every false way;" and then a conduct corresponding: "My soul hath kept thy testimonies, for I love them exceedingly.” It will not do to boast of attachment to Christ, and to live in the wilful neglect of his known commands; to say that his love constrains you to live to him that died for you and rose again, and to give your lusts the reins of government. Your soul requires a watchful superintendence, a vigorous resisting unto blood, striving against sin, a taking heed to your way according to God's word; a constant self-examination to see how matters stand between yourself and God; for without this, acquaintance will be suspended. You know how little sin and righteousness can agree. God will not walk with you till you come back into his path. The world

requires this. You must have a good report of them that are without, that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. The world will otherwise give you no credit for religion it does not see in you. It looks for fruit, as well as talk. The eloquence of a blameless life, will more effectually plead for you than all other arguments in favour of christianity. It is the eloquence of fact, which is the most difficult to resist. You are a city set on a hill, and cannot be hid. You are the salt of the earth, and should not lose your savour. You are a peculiar people, to be zealous of good works; a people formed for himself, to shew forth his praise; and you are to "let your light so shine before men, that they, seeing your good works, may glorify your Father which is in heaven." Abraham was the friend of God, and thus he walked; he obeyed God, believed God, kept the charge of God, and rejoiced to see the day of his Christ. It is a short but comprehensive character given of Enoch; he walked with God, and was not, for God took him. As one observes, God and

K