powerful motive be found than here? Often ae we h:..ve partaken of Divine goodness often as we have enjoyed the assurance of Divine forgiveness, we are called upon by th~ fo.vours which nro now every moming to renewed devotion of ourselves to the God of nil grace and forgiveness. IV. NEW OCOASIONB ARE THUS AFFORDED FOR RENEWED PRAISES AND THA~KSGIVINGS, With every new morning nature offers a new tribute of praise to Heaven. Shall man alone he silent and ungrateful? Shall the Christian, who is the chosen recipient of Divine favours, be slow to acknowledge their heavenly source, to praise the heavenly Giver? "New mercies ee.eh returning day," etc. T. Ver. 24.-The Portion of the godly. When the land of promise was divided amon~ the tribes of Israel, no inheritance was assigned to one of the number, viz. the tribe of Levi. It appeared good to Divine wisdom that the consecrated and sacerdotal tribe should be distributed among the population, and that a regular provision should he made for their maintenance. To reconcile the Levites to their lot, it was declared to them by Jehovah himself that he was their Portion. The language here appropriated by the prophet, as his faith and hope revive, is language which every trne servant of God may take to himself. I. THE LORD IB AN INCOMPARABLE AND UNBIVALLED PORTION. Without the Divine favour, the greatest, the wealthiest, the most prosperous, are poor; with this favour, the lowliest and the penniless are rich. For that which pertains to the soul exceeds in value that which is external; circumst:i.nces are not unimportant, but to the just and reflective mind they are inferior to what is spiritual. II. 'l'BE Lonn IB A SUFFICIENT AND SATISFYING PORTION. With what jubilant, triumphant exultation did the psalmist exclaim, "The Lord is the Portion of mine inheritance, and my cup" ! He who made and redeemed the soul can alone fully satisfy and supply it. Well might the apostle assure his Christian readers," All things are yours ; " and well might he reason for their encouragement, " Shall not God with Christ also freely give you all things?" III. '!'BE LORD IS AN ETERNAL PORTION. Whilst" riches take to themselves wings and fly away," whilst" the bubble reputation" bursts, whilst death levels the kings of the earth with the beggars,-the spiritual possessions of the pious remain undiminished in preciousness. In fact, the true value of the Portion of the godly can only be known in eternity. Here the estate is in reversion; there it is fully possessed and everlast- ingly enjoyed.-T. Vars. 25, 26.-Waiting for salvation. It is to most persons easie; to work than to wait. Yet there are possessions, dignities, influence, which even here and now can only be attained by waiting. And religion, which is the highest discipline of the spirit, encourages this attitude and, indeed, in many instances demands it. I. 'l'HE ATTITUDE OF THE PIOUS souL. He who is graphically described in these verses : 1. Seeks God. For we are not called upon to be utterly passive ; we are not led to expect that blessings will come to us without any exertion upon our part. To seek God in our daily life, in the order of his providence, in the pages of his Word, is a reasonable and profitable exercise. 2. Hopes for his salvation. And why not? Has not the Most High revealed himself as a Saviour? And is not salvation the blessing we most urgently need? 3. Quietly waits for it. This beautiful expression implies that the word of promise is believed, and that without doubting the soul expects its fulfilment. A rebuke to those who think that seeking God is accompanied with noise and excitement. II. THE REWARD OF TltE PIOUS SOUL. 1. There is what may be called the reflex influence of waiting. The expectant seeker and suppliant finds the very posture he is led to assume good and profitable. " In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength." 2. The Lord is actually good unto such as wait for him. He is pledged to this. His servants have ever found this to be the case. For the expectation honours him from whom the blessing is expected. The patient are delivered from their troubles, and to those who seek the Lord his glory is unveiled.-T. THE LAMENTATIONS OF JEHEMIA.H. [OR, lll, 1-60,
V!'r. 27.-The yoke in youth. This is not a welcome lesson. It is natnral to all, nnd especially the young, to resist Ruthority, to defy restraint, to resent punishment. Ae t be young ox has to be brought under the yoke, ns the young horse has to be accus- tomed to the bit and the bridle, the harness and the saddle, so the young must learn tbe practical Rnd valuable lesson of endurance and submission. I. 1N Ht'MAN LIFE A YOKE JS IMPOSED UPON ALL. In some cases it is easier ond in others more galling; but there is no escape, no exception. Labour must be under- gone, the daily burden must be borne, restraints must be endured for. the sake of the general good, sacrifices must be made, patience must be called forth and cultivated. lJ. " 1REN FIRST FELT IN LATER LIFE, THE YOKE JS ESPECIALLY HARD TO BEAR. It sometimes happens that youth is sheltered from the storm of adversity, which beats fiercely upon the inexperienced and the undisciplined only in later years. It is well known how severely trouble is felt in such cases; for the back is not fitted t.o the burden, the neck is not bent to the yoke. ] I I. THE DISCIPLINE EXPERIENCED IN YOUTH FITS FOR THE TOIL AND SUFFERING OF AFTER LIFE. This is why it is "good" then to endure it. Many of the noblest characters have known trouble in early life, and have thus learned the wholesome k,sons of adversity which have stood them in good stead in after years. They who .ire afflicted in their youth learn the limitation of their own powers, learn the inexor• nl,lc necessities of human life, and become apt scholars in the great school of Divine providence. IV. RESISTANCE TO THE YOKE IS WRONG AND FOOLISH, BUJIMISSI0N IS RIGHT AND WISF. It is hard to kick against the goads; it is useless to resent the appointments of Divine wisdom. There are cases in which a rebellious spirit lasts all through life, and it is unquestionable that misery accompanies it. On the other hand, if the yoke be borne early and borne patiently, it becomes easier with custom. And those who are strong to suffer are also strong to serve.-T.