Michal? or are there not husbands who frequently evince that they merit the name of Nabal, a churl, a reproach? or where the Christian whose possessions do not prove a temptation and snare, and draw his affections from heaven?

The world is represented as a wilderness, or desert land, a sea of trouble, which the believer, in common with all men, must pass through, but which, in his horizon, contains a prospect full of attraction to his eye, for it is cheering, and capable of infusing into his mind a joyful serenity, that increases with every step he takes on his upward way, until he approaches his journey's end, and in proportion to the nearness of its termination, and as the heavenly prospect brightens on his vision, lights up in his soul a tranquil joy.

The hope which creates and increases feelings such as these accompanies the Christian to the border of the valley that lies between him and the country he has in view; the greater part of this valley lies upon an inclined plane, so that the traveller, who always enters on the elevated side, is propelled forward as necessarily as a ball, which, when rolled from the summit of a hill, rests not until it arrives at its base. The entrances to this valley are many; they bear the several names of the maladies to which mankind are subject. Some of these entrances are situated opposite a gradual slope in the valley; others open immediately upon precipitous projections, over which the traveller is propelled headlong into a stream that bounds the opposite side, the waters whereof wash the happy shore. Christian travellers, whose fate thus hurries them through the valley, enter upon instant enjoyment, but miss the sweet foretastes of the blissful country which those experience who approach the valley by an entrance that causes them to linger by the way.

Human nature experiences much enjoyment from the anticipation of good in the wilderness, and human nature in this respect is still the same when it enters the valley; but there is this difference,-in the former case, the good anticipated must be transitory, and the expectation may be disappointed; but in the valley of the shadow of death-which is a happy valley, and a very happy valley to the Christian-all is certainty; the good anticipated is as stable as the throne of God, it is as perfect as the Redeemer's love, it is as durable as eternity.

What is it to pass through the valley, or, to speak without a metaphor, what is it to die? The act of dying is not terrific to the believer, although, in general, nature seems to revolt at the idea. Most persons have seen the actual separation of soul and body, which is termed death, either in their relatives or friends; this simple act of separation of the one from the other is no more in a man than in a child, and little children pass calmly through the gates of death, while courageous man often trembles at the name. Death and sleep are terms synonymous, for in few cases does there appear to be any very great struggle; generally speaking, to die is nothing more than to cease to breathe; and the soul escapes from its clay tenement with no more, and often with less, effort than a sigh escapes the oppressed spirits of an individual in health. In cases, however, where disease has been but of short continuance, and the bodily powers are not much reduced, and in cases which are called sudden death, there is generally a short struggle, something like a rending asunder, at the instant of the separation of the spirit; this is the act of dying.

As the soul, immediately upon quitting the body, is ushered into the presence of its Judge, it is the dying state to which the metaphor, passing through the valley

of the shadow of death, is applied. The pious Richard Baxter, in speaking of the separation from the body, says, "It is but quitting a troublesome companion, or putting off a shoe that pinches."

What are the sources from whence happiness is derivable in nature's extremity, or what is it that makes the valley of the shadow of death a happy valley? Of course, it must be understood that a good hope of interest in redeeming love is the principal foundation of a believer's joy; then a variety of objects successively present themselves for his contemplation upon entering the valley. There is Jesus, his much loved Saviour, seen standing to afford ready assistance in case the enemy of souls should press too hardly. The martyr Stephen saw the Saviour risen from his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider, doubting believer, what an honour this is, that the Saviour, the Judge of the whole earth, that the Lord of heaven, should rise up to receive you at your entrance into his kingdom. It is an honour that an earthly king does not grant to a commoner, nor even to a lord of his realm; the same love that brought your Saviour down from heaven to smooth the rugged path to death influences him to receive you standing, and whispers peace when heart and flesh doth fail. It is this love which creates a more than meridian splendour in the valley of death. "It is not dark," said a believer, in her last hour," because my Saviour is there !"

Another glorious subject for contemplation while passing through the valley is, the bright guard of angels, the company of the heavenly host, who make the valley to glitter with the splendour of their appearance, and the neighbouring mountains and prominences, which are raised by the believer's doubts and fears, to echo and reverberate with songs of triumph

and shouts of victory. The contemplation of such a guard should make the dying Christian aim at obtaining another laurel to lay at his Redeemer's feet. Let him remember that he has not yet put off his armour, and that it is well he has not; for he must fight to the end against his malicious and cowardly foe. Cowardly, because he renews his attack upon a disabled warrior, who has enough to do in bearing up under the sinkings and languors of nature; cowardly, or he would unstring his bow, as the Parthians were wont to do when their enemies arrived on the borders of the desert.

Exer

The victory is half gained when you know the mode of attack which your enemy adopts: doubts and fears are the last arrows that he discharges from his infernal artillery; raise then the shield of faith, and all will be well; hold on your way, for more are they that are for you, than all those who are against you. cise a holy revenge towards your adversary, reduce him to a state of despair by the strength of faith, say unto him, "Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy; for when I fall I shall arise, when I sit in darkness the Lord will be a light unto me."

"Though to speak thou be not able,

Always pray, and never rest;
Prayer's a weapon for the feeble;
Weakest souls can wield it best.
Ever on thy Captain calling,

Make thy worst condition known;
He shall hold thee up when falling,

Or shall lift thee up when down."

Admire the wedding garment with which you will be fully adorned when you quit the tabernacle of flesh; this is the righteousness which your Saviour wrought, and of which you now partake, but which

then will astonish you with its completeness, in meeting the demands of divine justice in every point, with its adaptation, especially as applied to your case and circumstances, and with its splendour, as reflecting upon you that glory which its author and finisher possesses, and which renders his personal beauty, his united natures, divine and human, so wonderful, that the eyes of every redeemed soul cease not to gaze thereon for ever. A believer, though dying, may conceive of beauty and perfection so blended as to fascinate the eye for a thousand years; and when that period is elapsed, the sense remain still unsatisfied, and so for ever. This splendour will be reflected upon you; it is the robe of righteousness which constitutes the wedding garment; then will your appearance outshine the sun in the firmament, and all conceivable glory. Ye who are fond of fine clothing, aim at being thus adorned.

Another subject for contemplation is, the immediate presence of God, and the surrounding glories of the heavenly world, which neither can colours paint nor words express; but on a theme so glorious, meditation will essay to dwell, although it hath not entered into the heart of man to conceive the exceeding greatness of the glory which shall be revealed.

When the cold hand of death is glazing the countenance, and terrestrial things are fading upon the vision, then, like Stephen, may the believer "look steadfastly up into heaven," and behold the glory of God; and this privilege is a provision prepared for that greatest exigency;-see him seated on his throne surrounded with a rainbow, in sight like unto an emerald; see him clothed with light as with a garment, light so pure that the heavens are not clean, compared with his presence. And as the glory of the