that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. James iv. 11. Meditate on the sin of bearing false witness, and of evil-speaking. Pray to be kept from these sins, &c. MAY 26. To me belongeth vengeance and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste. Deut. xxxii. 35. The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thess. i. 7, 8. Meditate frequently on that day when Christ shall come to judgment. Pray for preparation for that awful day. MAY 27. Every one shall die for his own iniquity. Jer. xxxi. 30. For every man shall bear his own burden. Gal. vi. 5. Reflect on your own personal transgressions. Pray to God in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that you may not die eternally. MAY 28. Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. Job xiv. 1, 2. Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: but the rich, in that he is made low; because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. James i. 9, 10, 11. Consider the short duration of life, &c. MAY 29. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? Mal. iii. 2. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. Matt. xxv. 13. Meditate on the awfulness, and uncertain time, of Christ's coming to judgment. Pray for watchfulness, so that that day may not come upon you unawares. MAY 30. Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Jer. viii. 22. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. Acts v. 30, 31. Reflect on the exalted Saviour, &c. Pray to him who is the only true Physician that can cure you of the malady of sin. MAY 31. The fig-tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. Song of Solomon, ii. 13. And he spake to them a parable: Behold the fig-tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. xxi. 29, 30, 31. Luke MEDITATION. As spring advances, the more I perceive there is to be learned by the contemplative mind. The trees, which lately were destitute of leaves, and to all appearance dead, are now in leaf and full of vigour. How like to human nature! Yes, the tree or plant, which to all appearance was dead during the cold months of winter, is now quickened and revived by the warm beams of the sun : just so the sinner, who is "dead in trespasses and sins," continues in that state, till he is quickened and renewed by the Sun of righteousness. Have I experienced yet this change? If not, let me entreat the Lord to grant it me before I die; for I read in Scripture, that unless this change takes place, I cannot enter into the kingdom of God. This revival of the vegetable creation is also a striking resemblance of the resurrection of the dead; for as the trees bud forth and reanimate in the time of spring, so will the ashes of those who have long slept in the dust resume their former vigour, and come forth at the voice of Christ; "they who have done good, unto the resurrection of life, and they who have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." Awful thought! Certain reality! May I, while life continues, do my utmost endeavours to obtain the favour of God, and finally a resurrection to eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord! |