ments, we have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from Thy precepts, and from Thy judgments. . . O Lord! righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces as at this day."

Mankind are exhorted to turn from their sinful ways unto God, ere it be too late. They are intreated to "give glory to the Lord their God, before He cause darkness, and before their feet stumble upon the dark mountains; and while they look for light, He turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness." (Jeremiah, xiii. 16.) They are encouraged to come in the new and living way, which Jesus hath consecrated for them. If they look to the Mediator, and confess their sins, God is faithful and just to forgive them their sins, and to cleanse them from all unrighteousness.

Praise is another mode of glorifying God. In the olden Temple-service there existed the thank-offering as well as the sin-offering. And still doth Jehovah declare to us (Psalm, 1. 23):

"Whoso offereth praise glorifieth Me!"

This is heavenly employment; yet is it begun on earth. If, through eternity, we hope to be engaged in this service, we must commence it in time. The Lord's song must be sung here, although it be a strange land. It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto the Lord. We have reason to bless Him for our creation, preservation, and for all the blessings of this life. We have yet higher causesfor His inestimable love in the redemption of the

world by our Lord Jesus Christ, for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. The thankfulness of our lips is best followed by the devotion of our lives. We shall honour the Lord aright by giving up ourselves to His service, and by walking before Him in holiness and righteousness all our days.

By the sanctification of Time we may also glorify God. Our days are His. They come to us from His bounty, and they should return to Him, to tell of our thankfulness. If we number them aright ere they pass from us, we shall apply our hearts unto wisdom. With the worshipper of old, the day commenced with the morning sacrifice. With the believer still, the first bright employment will be found in the Lord's presence. Protected by God's power, and preserved in His providence, the child of God will celebrate those mercies which are new to him every morning. He will, moreover, "awake right early" for his service. Casting off the fetters that indolence might impose, he will consecrate his "first springs of thought and will." He will remember his Master, who would rise up a great while before day, and depart into a solitary place, and there pray. And David's resolution (Psalm, v. 3) will be his :

66 My voice shalt Thou hear in the morning, O Lord!

In the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up."

The shadows of night will find him fleeing to the guardianship of One that neither slumbers nor sleeps. His prayer is set before God as incense, and the lifting up of his hands as the evening sacrifice. Nor

are these his only special seasons. Evening, and morning, and at noon he prayeth, and the Lord heareth his voice. And the Day of days cometh round in its glad succession. It affords him yet higher means of giving unto the Lord the honour due unto His name. His servant enters into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. He calls the Sabbath a Delight, the Holy of the Lord, Honourable; and he honours Him-not doing his own ways, nor finding his own pleasure, nor speaking his own words-but he delights himself in the Lord. By the consecration of our worldly substance, we may likewise do honour to the Lord. The great Householder has large possessions, and many servants to whom He will entrust them. The distribution resteth wholly with Him. To one servant He will give five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability. They do not receive from Him equally; yet is there not one left without some supply. Now, it is their wisdom always to keep in mind their responsibility. Their powers of serving the Lord may very widely differ; but these powers, such as they be, should be conscientiously dedicated to Him. In their endowment with reason, in the gift of speech, in the common enjoyment of health, they have great bestowals; while in a preached Christ, in a communicated Spirit, in an open Bible, they have possessions better unto them than thousands of gold and silver. For these, their Lord will yet reckon with His servants. As for worldly means, all cometh from God. He maketh poor, and maketh rich. Whatsoever wealth passeth

into men's use, is holden by them in trust. The believer feels this, and he will pray for help to live accordingly. His store shall be sanctified. Of all the Lord giveth him, he will surely give again to the Lord. There shall be a portion set apart for His immediate service. With one believer, the Lord's part shall be the tenth; with another, the seventh; with another, the third; with another, the half. With all, there will be a conscientious appropriation of what they will deny themselves in, that they may call it " Holy unto the Lord." They will honour

Him with their substance, and with the first-fruits of all their increase.

By patience in afflictions we may glorify God. How blessed a thing to let our Heavenly Father do with us, as it seemeth to Him good! How happy (with David) to trust in the Lord; to delight ourselves in the Lord; to commit our way unto the Lord; to rest in the Lord, and to wait patiently for Him! His deliverance will come in His time. The tried believer will lift up his eyes unto the hills whence cometh his help. It is true love, that in the hour of need leans only on The Beloved. It is tried faith, which is fully persuaded that what God promises He is able also to perform. Such faith and love will be found unto praise, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. Resting upon Him, His people have continually "glorified Him in the fires." His Apostles rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. Persecutions did not move them. They counted not their lives dear unto them. It must be so evermore.

The testimony of Jesus will always call forth the sneers and taunts of a world that lieth in wickedness. He that is born after the flesh will ever persecute him that is born after the Spirit. But there is the same Almighty arm, upon which we may lean; and the same unfailing supply of strength, that is made perfect in weakness. There is a cause to be upheld; and there is rich comfort, while we uphold that cause. If a man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed. He ought rather to glorify God on this behalf. If believers be reproached for the name Christ, they are happy. The spirit of glory and of God resteth upon them. On the part of men, the Lord is evil spoken of; but, on the part of His people, He is glorified.

And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell the thoughts suggested by this delightful theme. But I would comprise all service in saying that we may glorify God

By Self-dedication. In one of the Apostle Paul's letters occurs a pithy sentence, setting forth this duty, and showing, at the same time, why we are called to it, and how we may best fulfil it. He writes:

"Ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

The marvellous faculties wherewith our Creator hath endowed us, can find their true development only when consecrated to Him. He would have His kingdom within us. He asks to be enthroned in our affection, in our thoughts, in our hopes, in our desires. He hath bestowed upon us powers that lift us above the lower creatures of His hands; and He