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"AND the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation," Gen. vii. 1.

We have here a striking representation of the character of Noah's piety. It was distinguished by singularity and sincerity. If considered in reference to his fellow-creatures, it was singular; if in reference to the Supreme Being, it was sincere. Righteous," says God, "in this generation;" and " righteous," says God, " before ME in this generation."

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Noah had none to accompany him, none to countenance him; but all opposed him. Never was there before, and never has there been since, one so singular in his religion as he-for he not only differed from his neighbours, but from all his nation; and not only from all his nation, but from all the earth. Here was the danger, and here was the triumph of his piety. The force of opinion and example, when on the side of the multitude, is very great indeed. When a man is alone, conscience and reason will sometimes speak; and he will form many a good purpose, especially when trouble takes hold of him, or he

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is laid on a bed of sickness. But when he goes forth again, and again enters the crowd, he becoines another man. His resolutions fail him; his impressions wear off; the course of this world lays hold of him, and the stream carries him down. Many of the Pharisees believed in Jesus, but feared to confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. And who has not been more or less influenced by the smiles or frowns of his fellow-creatures, to act against his judgment and convictions?

It would be well for us, seriously to reflect in private; to search the scriptures without prejudice or partiality; to lay down certain rules of conduct, and go forth in the strength of the Most High, and follow them wherever they lead us, through evil report, or good report. Let us, at the beginning of another year, resolve this shall be our plan, and seek the Divine blessing, the influences of the Holy Spirit, that we may be enabled to persevere. "But I shall be singular." And suppose you are so. In every thing else that is deemed excellent, persons wish to be singular. They would be singularly beautiful, singularly rich, singularly wise. But the righteous, in all these, is more excellent than his neighbour. To be religious among the religious is commendable: but it is far more so to be godly among the ungodly.

But Noah's piety was as sincere as it was singular. "Righteous," says God," before ME in this generation." Much more is necessary to render us religious before God than before men: and frequently that which is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. Human laws are satisfied with actions; but the law of God is spiritual, and regards our principles as well as our practice. The Lord looketh to the heart. Hence we read of " pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father."

Bad goods require dark rooms; and as many articles of merchandise seem valuable till taken into the light, so there are many things which appear fair till they are set in the light of God's countenance. We may come to his house as his people come, and sit and hear his words, and commend the preacher, and with our mouth show much love, while He sees our hearts going after our covetousness. Could many now be seen by their fellow-creatures as he sees them, they would blush to leave their dwellings. To what everlasting shame and contempt must they awake and arise at the last day!

It has been said, a man has four characters: one with his friends; another with his enemies; a third with himself; and a fourth with his God. The two last should agree; and they frequently do agree; and if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God.

Reader! Let your earnest endeavour, THIS YEAR, and every year of your life, be, that you may be righteous before God. JAY.

THE LOVELINESS OF CHRIST.

DR. OWEN, after quoting Cant. v. 15. 66 says, When the spouse (the church) hath gone thus far in the description of him, she concludes all in this general assertion; He is wholly desirable, altogether to be desired, or be beloved. As if she should have said, I have thus reckoned up some of the perfections of the creatures, things of most value, price, usefulness, beauty, glory, here below, and compared some of the excellences of my Beloved unto them; in this way of allegory I can carry things no higher; I find nothing better, or more desirable to shadow out and to present his loveliness and desirableness; but, alas! all this comes short of his perfections, beauty, and comeliness; he is wholly to be desired, to be beloved.

"Lovely in his person, in the glorious all-sufficiency of his Deity, gracious purity, and holiness of his humanity, authority and majesty, love and power.

"Lovely in his birth and incarnation; when he was rich, for our sakes becoming poor, taking part of flesh and blood because we partook of the same; being made of a woman, that for us he might be made under the law, even for our sakes.

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Lovely in the whole course of his life, and the more than angelical holiness and obedience, which in the depth of poverty and persecutions he exercised therein; doing good, receiving evil; blessing, and being cursed, reviled, reproached all his days.

"Lovely in his death; yea, therein, most lovely to sinners; never more glorious and desirable, than when he came broken, dead, from the cross; then had he carried all our sins into a land of forgetfulness; then had he made peace and reconciliation for us; then had he procured life and immortality for us.

"Lovely in his whole employment, in his great undertaking, in his life, death, resurrection, ascension, being a Mediator between God and us, to recover the glory of God's justice, and to save our souls; to bring us to an enjoyment of God, who were set at such an infinite distance from him by sin.

"Lovely in the glory and majesty wherewith he is crowned, now he is set down at the right hand of Majesty on high; where, though he be terrible to his enemies, yet he is full of mercy, love, and compassion towards his beloved ones.

"Lovely in all those supplies of grace and consolation, in all the dispensations of his Holy Spirit, of which his saints are made partakers.

"Lovely in all the tender care, power, and wisdom, which he exercises in the protection, safe guarding, and delivery of his church and people, in the midst of all the oppositions and persecutions whereunto they are exposed.

"Lovely in all his ordinances, and the whole of that spiritually glorious worship which he hath appointed to his people,

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