THE

CHRISTIAN'S DAILY COMPANION, A

PRESENTING AN

ENTIRE VIEW OF DIVINE TRUTH,

IN A

SERIES OF MEDITATIONS

FOR

EVERY MORNING AND EVENING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

BY THIRTY-ONE CLERGYMEN

OF

THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND.

BLACKIE & SON:

QUEEN STREET, GLASGOW; SOUTH COLLEGE STREET, EDINBURGH; AND

WARWICK SQUARE, LONDON.

MDCCCXLIII.

PREFACE.

Is presenting this volume now complete, it is gratifying to state, as affording the hope of its usefulness, that its first design was suggested by many who were the devout readers of its predecessor-the "Family Worship." That work, penned by upwards of 180 ministers of the Church of Scotland, is now well known to the Christian public, who have testified their sense of its value as a help to family devotion. And this, now offered as a fit associate and auxiliary to the former, has been accomplished by a more limited number of clergymen, whose names are given in connection with their several allotments; and who being distinguished for talents and learning, for piety and evangelical views of divine truths, as well as pains-taking and experience in applying the words of eternal life to every rank and condition of their flocks, must afford a sufficient guarantee for the worth and faithfulness of those instructions which they have been called in the providence of God thus to convey.

Whilst the former work has its place in ministering to the family altar, this is calculated to assist in the equally important duties of the closet. We say equally important; for certain it is, that the devotions of the household will dwindle to a cold formality, unless there be a serious and constant regard to those which are personal and secret, in the observance of which it is felt that the soul has singly to do with its Creator and Redeemer. With what livelier heart do the inmates come together, when, morning and evening before assembling, they have severally held communion with God by a prayerful meditation on his word! Or, on leaving the family altar, what nobler preparation for the duties of his calling will each one find, when he retires for a few moments to ask a blessing on the service past, and learn for himself a special lesson from the lips of that great Lord who came to be the light and

life of the world.

And who can fail to own the necessity, or, when trial is made, to reap the fruit of secret communings with his own heart! "Come my people, enter thou into thy chambers and shut thy doors about thee." This is no unwelcome task to those who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity; who have sought a hiding-place in his pavilion, and have tasted of the hidden manna. And if there be any who have no relish of such heavenly communion, let them inquire how far they are prepared " to meet their God," to go through the valley of death, or even to endure a night of solitary sickness. How should they be prepared for the great reckoning? if they have not learned to meditate alone and pray alone, while there is nothing external either to soothe or to distract; to call self to an account; to penetrate the recesses of the heart, and from the depth of its discovered iniquities to cry unto God. To the darkest of these depths, though there be a wall on every side, there is light above; a space of open sky and a memorial there, "The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious." "If thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee that thou shouldst be feared; with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption." And if this secret communing with the heart be so essential, we doubt not the brief doctrinal and practical discourses of the CHRISTIAN'S DAILY COMPANION will be found eminently conducive to that end; serving to improve and endear those retired hours, which, though taken from the world, will yet add to its stores, and enrich the soul by treasure laid up in heaven.