Thus, in these chapters, this child of nature is shewn to us in different lights, or through different actions and circumstances -in youth, in manhood, and in old age. At times he appears even to advantage, and persuades us that his generation must have much esteemed him. But he is the same Esau throughout; it is the one man who is before us from beginning to end; and whether amiable in the eyes of man, spirited and courteous, or otherwise, in all he does or purposes he is equally without God. He is "profane" Esau. This is the characteristic feature. He is in every thing the despiser of the birthright, the "profane person." The youth of pleasure among his sporting companions-the vindictive hater of a brother-the man of courtesy-the easy, honourable head of a prosperous family, passing away full of honours and riches-he is totally and throughout void of Christ, of any care about Him, or desire towards Him. "God is not in all, i. e., in any of his thoughts." The mouth never speaks of Him, for the heart was empty of Him.

And what is the admonition from all this to us, but to nourish that mind which takes Christ into every scene and every circumstance. We should look diligently, lest the profane or Christless mind of Esau get in, and form the character in any wise. Heb. xii. 15, 16. And we should use this diligence in the oversight one of another. And O! the happiness that it should be to us to know, that our Lord is willing to bear us company all the way.

"THOU ART MY HIDING PLACE."-Ps. xxxii. 7.

THOU faithful, great I AM

Thou God of matchless grace, Proclaim'd in the atoning blood, "Thou art my hiding place!"

Should twice ten thousand wrongs,
Or troubles sorely chase;
Thou'lt compass me about with songs:
For "Thou'rt my hiding place."

And when for Thy dear name,

I'm branded with disgrace,

With trembling joy I sing the same-
"Thou art my hiding place."

When storms of sorrow roll,
And grief beclouds Thy grace;
Or Satan harasses my soul,
"Thou art my hiding place."

When hellish thoughts intrude,
And faith would fain give place;
I always find my strength renew'd,
When "Thou'rt my hiding place."

The flat'rer's artful spell,

The worldling's pleasant race,
And carnal lusts, I oft repel,

With "Thou'rt my hiding place."

And when in flaming fire

Earth shall behold Thy face;

While rebels fall before Thine ire,
"Thou art my hiding place."

Before assembl'd worlds

Thy faithful love and grace,

Will then confirm those precious words—
"THOU ART MY HIDING PLACE."

PRIVATE THOUGHTS.

I KNOW nothing of the indwelling Spirit, but as I am kept by Him looking unto Jesus.

I know nothing of Jesus but by the written word. I know nothing of the written word, but by the teaching of the Holy Ghost.

We may have fellowship with Jesus without the Lord's Supper, but that is not the Lord's Supper in which there is no fellowship with Jesus.

Seeing how sharp and how severe a matter it is to be tried myself, how careful should I be lest I bring trial upon others. This I may do in many ways, such as by actual offence, or by inconsistency of life; by unkind words, or unlovely acts. Let me rather seek to help others in their trials than add to them.

If I judge sin in myself, I shall be able morally to judge it in my brother; but if I judge sin in him without judging it in myself, it will CERTAINLY be an injury to me.

An error committed, a mistake made, a sin indulged, may be forgiven, and even overruled by God, but the effects may be lastingly experienced. See 2 Sam. xii. 13, xxiv. 10, &c. "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall."

It is most easy to detect an evil in another of which we ourselves are guilty; so we often see wherein others are wrong, though we do not the right ourselves: this is humbling, and a great hinderance to united growth in grace. The best way to teach others is by our lives; and oftentimes evil is most effectually reproved by a godly and holy consistency. A prayerful and humble spirit and walk live down prejudice and ill-will, and will be a lasting testimony to the power of God's grace in us, and consequently a means of much blessing to others. We can, each one, probably remember how we have been cheered in trial, reproved in evil, supported in difficulty, helped in danger by the consistent life of some "MAN OF GOD." His words may have proved a blessing to us, but His life, how powerful a sermon it has preached!

Let each one of us, through grace, seek to be this "MAN OF GOD."

SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE HISTORY OF JOSEPH.

Genesis xxxvii.

THE FLESH IN JACOB AND JOSEPH. THE RESULT; JOSEPH SOLD, AND JACOB'S SORROW.

THE ways of our God are very wonderful; whether we regard the skilfulness of His love in dealing with His own saints, and causing all things to work together for their good; or whether we mark His patient forbearance with the wicked, and the wisdom with which, (whilst apparently permitting their evil to pass unheeded,) He so controls and directs all things, as to insure thereby one blessed result-His own glory. The intricate, and seemingly tangled web of human events, is all wisely and accurately adjusted by Him; and the little links that fasten one circumstance to another, and serve to complete the wondrous chain, are ordered according to His unerring will, as distinctly as the most important occurrences. The Lord has also bound up the life and fortunes of each, with those of many others, so that in dealing with one, He causes many to feel His discipline; and the blow that lights more immediately upon one individual, spreads out as to its effects to the

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