must be sought by Eving a life of holiness and obedience, to the rules and precepts of the Gospel; by which, through the grace of the Redeemer, we may become every day more and more reconciled unto God; and thus only may we hope that "his righteousness” will be imputed

to us.

To every true believer in Divine revelation, to every expectant of "a better country," religion must surely appear to be the grand business, and the only real interest, which ought to engage the attention of sinful man.

If the Scriptures did not assure us of the momentous truth, our own feelings and our own observation must tell us, that “here we have no abiding city ;" and that, therefore, it behoves us to be constantly on the look out, from the watch-towers of faith and hope, for that city "whose builder and maker is God."

But, when we are exhorted by the word of God not to set too great store on the things of this world when our Saviour himself bids us "take no thought for our life; nor yet for our body;" we must not mistake our blessed Lord's intention, and suppose that we are entirely to disregard and neglect every thing of a tem

poral nature.

But we are to understand him, as wishing to condemn that over anxiety and undue concern for worldly matters, which is at once inconsistent with the Christian character, and might be the means of causing us to fall short of that "great Salvation," which is proclaimed to all sinners, but attainable only by those, who are willing to renounce "the pomps and vanities of this wicked world;" and who, putting off concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts of the flesh, and being renewed in the spirit of their mind," are desirous to "put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.'

66

We have a very strong instance recorded in the Gospel, of our Lord's disapprobation of a too zealous attention to the petty transactions of life, in the memorable account given by St. Luke of his gracious visit to a "certain pious woman named Martha." "And she had a sister," says the Evangelist, "named Mary, which also sat at Jesus's feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her,

therefore, that she help me.

And Jesus an

swered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful about many things. But one thing is needful: and Mary has chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from her '."

Here was conveyed a severe, though affectionate, reproof to Martha for evincing that unbecoming anxiety about the trifling arrangements of the table, while she shewed such little desire to improve the blessed opportunity of the Redeemer's visit to sacred purposes. She felt naturally honoured and gratified by her Master's great condescension, and was desirous, no doubt, of paying every mark of respect to her illustrious guest. But this, should not have interfered with the more momentous consideration of gaining spiritual instruction, by hearing his heavenly conversation. Thus, when she presumed to complain of her sister, who had been "sitting at Jesus's feet," and devoutly listening to the "word" of truth and Salvation, for neglecting to assist her in the business of the entertainment, our Lord at once arrested her complaints, by assuring her that one thing was needful," beyond all

"

1 Luke x. 39-42.

other things; and that to this Mary had principally directed her thoughts, which "good part," therefore, "should not be taken away from her." Similar to this Divine assertion, as also to the injunction in the text, are those words of St. Paul to the Colossians, "set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth'."

Alas! my Christian brethren, how much do we stand in need of being repeatedly reminded of our disregard to this plain, and important language of Scripture! How regardless, for the most part, are we of the one thing needful! How disobedient to that Spirit which tells us to "set our affections on things above!" How deaf to the voice which warns us to "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness!"

It is lamentable to reflect, what vast numbers there are in the world, who completely set at nought the word of the Almighty; who, instead of endeavouring to "walk worthy of the vocation wherewith they are called," and " giving diligence to make their calling and election sure," suffer" the cares of this world and the deceit

1 Col. iii. 2...

fulness of riches," so to engross their time and thoughts, as scarcely to allow themselves to think of, much less to "work out, their salvation!" It is, indeed, almost incredible, that, with the shrill and piercing notes of the Gospel invitation ever sounding in their ears, and summoning them on the one hand, with the tenderest accents of love to rally round the standard of the Redeemer, and on the other, warning them with unsparing denunciations of vengeance on the part of heaven, lest they should be so bold as to desert from the Holy Cause, and prove themselves, like Judas, traitors to the cross of Christ; -it is marvellous to think that, with every possible inducement, thus held out to them by a God of compassion to follow after righteousness, and to embrace the salvation offered in the Gospel, men should still be found walking in the broad road that leadeth to destruction!

But though this is a problem apparently difficult to solve, it is, alas! too true; and only verifies the words of the Prophet, and which our Saviour himself cited, when lamenting the woeful unbelief of the Jews; "their heart is fat, and their ears heavy, and their eyes are shut, lest