Lord in his holy temple, cultivate a devotional spirit, be earnest like Jacob, wrestle in prayer when bowing at the mercy seat, and then, like him, you will prevail, "for the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." If your zeal for the Lord of Hosts is great, and you delight in holy fellowship and communion with his people, you will say, when entering the sanctuary, 'How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of Hosts; my soul longeth, yea, even fainteth, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. A day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be

66

a door-keeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness."-Psa. lxxxiv1, 2, 10.

I love her gates, I love the road:
The church adorn'd with grace
Stands like a palace built for God,
To shew his milder face.

My soul shall pray for Zion still,
While life or breath remains;

There my best friends, my kindred, dwell,
There God my Saviour reigns.

The love of God displayed in all temporal and spiritual blessings tends to strengthen faith, seeing he is immutable and unchangeable in his goodness; the weakest believer should not doubt or fear, rather should he rejoice that "his name is written in heaven." "Shew piety at home" would you increase in all the graces of the spirit and be the possessor of that faith which honours God, live near him, walk with him, enter your closet often, shut yourself in with God, be alone with him very often, turn your mind Godward, turn your thoughts

from the world and let them be centered upon Christ, and then your faith will increase, your soul will thrive, you will be made "meet for the inheritance among the saints in light," How sweet and profitable will be your fellowship and communion with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ, one in heart, and one in mind you will be, as nothing will ever be able to separate you from the love of Christ, so that you can say- ·

If Christ and we are one,

What should remain to fear,

If he in heaven hath fixed his throne,
He'll fix his members there.

Let your light shine at home as well as abroad, be sincere, be upright and earnest in all you do and say, let your conversation be as becometh the

gospel of Christ; "let the same mind and spirit be in you which was in Christ Jesus;" have a church in your house and be a saint there as well as in the congregation of saints, wear no false garb, put on the garments of salvation and the robe of righteousness; be no angel of light before men, and angel of darkness in your own home, for thereby you will reap damnation to your own soul. There are some professors of christianity who are worse men in their own families than elsewhere; when unseen by the world they suffer their evil tempers to gain the ascendancy, to govern them, and thereby make the sacred, hallowed home miserable and wretched for all who are dwellers there. So inconsistent is such conduct, that we are ready to ask-Have such persons any grace? Are they really christians, or only nominally? "The fruits of the spirit are love, joy, and peace."

By the fruit a tree bears we distinguish it, and by the general fruit borne by professors we estimate them. If a life is made up of evil tempers and deceitful assumptions it will sow the seeds of corruption, briars and thorns will spring up, tares and weeds, and at last these will be burnt with unquenchable fire. Bring forth the peaceable fruits of righteousness, and you will be judged righteous; if otherwise, whatever your position and pretensions are, rest assured that sooner or later your structure, built upon the foundation of sand, will fall, and you will be lost for ever. "By their fruits ye shall know them." Jesus was meek and lowly, his spirit was one of love; does it not become you and me and all who name the name of Christ to be like him, to cherish such a spirit as harmonizes with the gospel, loving and forgiving one another, even as we hope to be forgiven. How many think lightly of these things, which, after all, are some of the best evidences of a regenerated state. "Old things passing away and all things becoming new." When we become the subjects of a divine change, our evil tempers and dispositions are brought into subjection. Learn of Christ, and you will then find rest unto your soul. So let our lips and lives express, The holy gospel we profess;

So let our works and virtues shine,
To prove the doctrine all divine.

Faith may be strengthened, and happiness much increased, if you often seriously meditate on God's saving attributes, his goodness, mercy, omnipotence, and truth in his promises, and on the all sufficiency of Christ's merits and obedience, which

"Unto

purity, in that state of perfection, where all jealousy and envy will be buried in the grave of oblivion and lost in the ocean of love. him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy," to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever. Amen.

In conclusion, I must say I am deeply conscious how very much I am indebted to Sir FRANK CROSSLEY, Bart., M.P., for granting me special permission to dedicate this volume to himself. For this favour I beg most respectfully to tender my cordial thanks, and also the same expression of gratitude to the following Ministers, for their very kind letters and remarks upon this humble production: the Revs. OCTAVIUS WINSLOW, D.D., Bath; THOMAS ADKINS, Southampton; W. MORLEY PUNSHON, London; and G. I. TUBBS, M.A., Reading. I also sincerely thank other Christian friends who have read this work, and forwarded their kind letters of commendation to their unworthy, but

Faithful friend,

HENRY JENNINGS.

Tadley, near Basingstoke, September 2nd, 1863.

Recommmendatory Remarks.

"HAPPY THOUGHTS FOR LIFE'S

JOURNEY."

This is a most delightful volume, full of graphic picturing. The author clothes his thoughts with much force and beauty of language. Often there are flashes of eloquence and great sublimity. This is a remarkable book, of thrilling interest, by an affectionate, intelligent, and ardent mind. It ought to be placed in the hands of every young person.

JAMES STANLEY.

"HAPPY THOUGHTS FOR LIFE'S JOURNEY" is a very interesting and delightful book, and will form a particularly nice volume for presents to the young.

JOHN HALL.