clusion they hear a thousand voices crying, "Come, and help us." They see that "the fields are already white unto harvest :" they know that "the harvest is great ;" that "the labourers are few ;" that the season is short; that the weather is uncertain; and the consequences of negligence, not only incalculable, but remediless.

Christians, however, should get as much leisure for the Closet, as they are able. And in order to this, they should guard against the waste of time; they should economise time; they should redeem time from indecision, and trifling, and especially from the vile and wretched consumptions of unnecessary sleep. David mentions three times a day: "Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud." Daniel observed the same rule: "He went into his house; and his windows being opened in his chamber towards Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime." This was a custom much recommended, and observed by many of our forefathers: they thought, and they wisely thought, that a few moments of retirement in the middle of the day, as well as morning and evening, tended to check temptation and vanity, and to keep the mind in the things of God. But twice a day, at least, the Christian will withdraw. Less than this will not surely keep us in the fear of the Lord all the day long"-and for this, the morning and evening will be deemed the most suitable periods. Under the law, a lamb was offered every morning and every evening. How much is there in each of these returning seasons to excite and to impress!" It is a good thing," says the Psalmist, "to give thanks unto

the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High. To show forth thy loving-kindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night."

As to the particular hour, this must be a matter of discretion only it should be as early as possible both in the morning and evening, to avoid disturbance in the one, and drowsiness in the other. I will put amusements out of the question. But if you return late from visiting, it is better to retire even late than not at all. Yet in many of these cases would it not be preferable to retire a few moments before you go? Would you be less prepared for company? Would you be less safe? Would you be less edifying?

What may be done at any time, is often done at no time and while we have no plan or purpose, we are open to every casualty that may seize us, and turn us aside. It is therefore necessary to have appointed seasons for retirement; and desirable to adhere to them as invariably as we can.

There are also occasional and extraordinary calls to private devotion, when more than usual time should be allowed, that the mind may be effected with the event, and obtain the peculiar assistance the case requires. I should have a poor opinion of that Christian, who would not employ more than common retirement, when going to change his residence, his calling, his condition in life; or to take any important step, the consequences of which may affect not only his comfort, but his conduct and character for ever. When Jacob was going to meet his exasperated brother Esau, who was coming against him with four hundred men, he was found alone wrestling with the Angel. When our Saviour was going to ordain his twelve Apostles, "He went out into a mountain

to pray; and continued all night in prayer to God." And when his hour of suffering was drawing near, we find him in the garden of Gethsemane, and retiring three times even from his selected disciples, and praying.-Let us,

III. Consider this Retirement with regard to its

ENGAGEMENTS.

Many retire; but the Tradesman retires to cast up his accounts, and to plan his schemes; the Statesman, to enjoy his relaxation and ease; the Philosopher, to pursue his theories and experiments; the Poet, to rove among the aspects of nature, or to lose himself in creations of his own-and perhaps God is not in all their thoughts. So far from inviting him into their solitude, when they apprehend his approach, they repel the impertinent intruder; and say unto God, "Depart from us; we desire not the knowledge of thy ways." But we are speaking of religious retirement. The Christian withdraws for three purposes.

First, He is engaged in Reading. This enlarges his views, and impresses his mind, and furnishes him with aid to devotion. But what does he peruse? Principally the Scriptures. I say principally, because other books may be occasionally read to advantage, and we have a plenitude of excellent works for the closet. Yet, I confess, the Scriptures alone appear to be the best reading in retirement, especially for the poor, and those who have little leisure. They are the fountain; other books are streams, and streams are seldom entirely free from something of the quality of the soil through which

they flow and who would not draw the water of life for himself from the spring-head! They come immediately from God, and lead immediately to him! There is a boundless variety and fulness in them. They are always new. They entertain, while they teach; and profit, while they please. There is alway something in them that bears upon our own character and condition, however peculiar it may be. "They are profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." I would recommend, generally, a regular reading of this sacred Volume: for every word of God is pure and whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning; that we, through patience and comfort of the Scripture, might have hope. But "let him that It is better to peruse a paragraph with attention and reflection, than carelessly, and without observation, to run over several chapters.-For,

readeth understand."

And,

Secondly, He is engaged in Meditation. my Brethren, it is desirable that you should employ your own powers; for you will be more affected and benefited by the efforts of your own minds, than by the thoughts of others. The faculty will be improved and increased by exercise; and cannot be acquired without it, any more than a man can learn to swim by never entering the water. And surely you cannot be at a loss for subjects. If your reading does not supply you immediately with materials, there are the seasons of the year, the state of the world, the condition of your family, your own individual circumstances, temporal and spiritual.

Two subjects are always at hand-your own depravity and unworthiness, of which fresh proof is given every day and every hour; and, the "love of Christ, which passeth knowledge." In his sufferings and glory, the angels always find enough to attract and engage their profoundest thoughts; and shall these be less interesting to you,-to whom they are not only true, but important; not only wonderful, but infinitely necessary? They are all your salvation; let them be all your desire and say, with David, "My meditation of Him shall be sweet; I will rejoice in the Lord."-" My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips, when I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches."— "How precious are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand. When I awake, I am still with thee."-Whatever the subject of your meditation may be, content not yourselves with considering it generally and abstractedly; but take some particular view of it, and bring it home to yourselves. "Is the Lord thy portion, O my soul? Dost thou hope in him? Art thou an heir of this promise? Dost thou stand in the way of this threatening? Art thou living in the performance or neglect of this duty? Say not, and what shall this man do?' but, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do ?" "

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Thirdly, He is employed there in Prayer. This is the special design of it. This is what our Saviour here enjoins: "Enter into thy closet; and when thou hast shut thy door, pray." If ever you are at a loss to meditate, surely you can never be at a loss to pray! How numberless are your wants! How