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in the way of his commandments. Realizing his complete deliverance from the curses of the law, and his everlasting acceptance in the Beloved, he serves "in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter." The Lord's ways are found to be pleasantness, and his paths peace. When drawn with lovingkindness, and strengthened with mighty power, with inexpressible delight does the Christian follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.

Again, where this prosperity is enjoyed, there will be a growth in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ- Sin will appear exceedingly sinful; Christ salvation more glorious; and his several offices and characters exactly suited to the believer's situation. God's grace will be admired, and the immeasurable heights and depths, lengths and breadths of eternal love often contemplated and further explored. things of the Spirit engaging the attention, and the earnest of the future inheritance being enjoyed, the child of God will anticipate the time when he shall " see as he is seen, and know as he is known."

The

Remember, beloved brethren, that this prosperity of soul is the gift of Him, from whom cometh down every good and perfect gift. He has said, "I will bring health and cure." Convinced of the value of the blessing, and taught to know from whence it comes, may we be continually crying, "O Lord, we beseech thee, send now prosperity."

Echoes from the Sanctuary.

CHRIST CHANGELESS.

BY ISRAEL ATKINSON. "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever." Heb. xiii. 8.

PERSONALLY, and respecting all our earthly relations, our condition is ceaselessly shifting. Yesterday, it may have been, that in many important respects we were in a more or less desirable condition than we are to-day; and of to-morrow we may not boast, for respecting our possessions, friends, health, and a multitude of other things which very nearly concern our welfare, we know not what a day may bring forth. But neither should we despair of to-morrow; for it is the Christian's unspeakable advantage, amidst all the changes he may be experiencing, and in view of all those that possibly, or probably, or certainly will affect him, that he has in Christ an immutable good which will shape itself into a countervailing excellency appropriate and sufficient to cover his every loss,

and to meet his every need all the days of his life. Every feature of the mediatorial character of Christ is remedial, and, as such, it is precious to the instructed believer; and the preciousness of the whole is in his mind enhanced beyond thought by its changeless permanence. Although the apostle necessarily includes a notice of the personal divinity of Christ in these words, it is not of this that he directly speaks, but of the immutable abiding of the mediatorial character of Christ; and his testimony may be illustrated by the following references out of many others.

Con

The stability of the church. sidered as a living illustrative example of the mediatorial character of Christ, the continued existence of the church of Christ is a great historical fact. While religious institutions congenial to the sympathies of fallen man, and deeply rooted in his affections have been swept away, the church of Christ, which wars against man's.

wisdom, attacks his most cherished prejudices, disallows his sweetest pleasures, denounces his dearest lusts, and condemns his most coveted gains, abides and grows. She continues and flourishes nevertheless for the hatred of her enemies, the unwisdom of her friends, and the frailty, moral and otherwise, of herself. Against all the opposition of her avowed enemies. Nevertheless for the burden of the oppressor, the tortures of the persecutor, the coarse jests of the vulgar infidel, the refined sneer of the cultured sceptic, the supercilious scorn of the scientist, and all the hatreds of all the haters of Christ which have been brought to bear against her, the church lives and grows. Against all the deadly mistaken kindnesses of her professed friends. Nevertheless for the foolish pamperings with which some have surfeited her, the earthly honours which others with fond folly have sought to cover her, and the pernicious worldly alliances which others have negotiated for her, the church abides and thrives. And against the active energy of every element of disintegration, decay, and death within her. Nevertheless for the law in her members which wars against the law of her mind; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life; the Phariseeism, the lukewarmness, the hypocrisy, the profaneness, and what not beside that is of the world, the flesh, and the devil, with which she may be charged, the church continues, brings forth fruit, and her fruit remains. Churches, indeed,

true

churches, have waxed and waned, and passed away, leaving no trace of their existence behind them, but the church steadily holds on, and extends herself against all the deadening influences and destructive forces of earth and hell.

In the whole of her wonderful existence, continuance, and growth, she is the living outcome of the acquired character of Christ; and it is a glorious illustration of the abiding power of His character that through Him along the world's ages there is derpetually to be found a people justi

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fied, sanctified, redeemed, and saved. She is Christ's correlate, and it is by the abiding force of His character that His name is “continually childed in her. On this Rock the erection of the building proceeds, and the gates of hell prevail not against it. While this Sun withdraws not his light the moon will continue to shine. While this Fountain springs up, the stream will flow. While He, the life and defence of His church, dwells in the bush, though it shall be burned with fire, it shall never be consumed.

The continued power of the ministry of the word. Jesus, when He gave His apostles their commission, gave them this heartening assurance of success "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." The gospel is, indeed, the very wisdom of God; but the means employed for its propagation are of the simplest kind; so simple, indeed, that Paul verily speaks of the "foolishness of preaching." God shines into a man's heart to give light to many; but His lightbearers are but "earthen vessels," and it is remarkable that the most useful preachers have not been by very far the most learned. No sensible person, whichever way his sympathies may lie, can ponder the admitted results of the ministry of the gospel without astonishment. By the simplest possible means the most surprising revolutions of mind are effected. For that by this "foolishness of preaching" men alienated by nature from the life of God have been radically converted to God, and that their conversion is nothing less than a moral miracle, are facts which, however they may be hated, and disputed, or denied, can never be disproved. If, then, the instruments of their accomplishment are so utterly insufficient of themselves, who is the Agent, and what is the power that effects these wonders ? The excellency of the power is of God. Christ is with His servants to-day, as He was yesterday, in the fulness and force of His acquired character, "Mighty to save." Hence these moral miracles. More

over, as, on the one hand, great and good men are insufficient of themselves to produce these things; so, on the other, if bad men are employed to bring these things to pass, they cannot make of no effect, nor in the least degree vitiate, the work done through them.

The continued observance of the ordinances of Christ. In one view of them these ordinances are laws; but the laws of the King are loyally obeyed only because He Himself is to-day, as yesterday, enthroned in the hearts of His subjects. If His subjects of today have not seen Him as those of yesterday saw Him, they yet love Him equally, and with like loyalty and love, run in the way of His commandments. In another view of them, Christ's ordinances, some of them, are emblems. Representing whatever else beside of Christ they may, they especially signify his death, to all observers. But if these emblems of the dying Christ were empty gewgaw ceremonies; if the symbols of the dying Christ were not from day to day filled with the fulness of the living Christ, they would, yea, in the very nature of things, they must, speedily be let fall into disuse by all those who must have a reason for their religion. And, in another view of them, these ordinances are means-means of grace. As such they are not wells without water. While those who slight them may often be seen with their leanness bearing witness to their neglect, those who lovingly frequent them may be seen fat and flourishing in the courts of God's house, and bringing forth fruit unto old age. Where two or three are gathered together to-day, as truly as yesterday, in the name of Christ, there He Himself is certainly present to make the observance of His laws a great reward, the use of symbols a key to substance, and the appointed employment of means the letting into the soul of the fulness of mercy.

The spiritual life of the believer. Originally quickened together with Christ, Christians continue to live

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through their vital union to Him. Separate from Him they could do nothing, could bear no Christian fruit, but must wither and die like branches cut off from a vine. But whatever deadening influence may be brought to bear upon the life of a believer, yea, though his existence may be compared to that of a crucified man, he may yet triumphantly use the profession of Paul, Nevertheless, I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.' Hence the prayer of faith is still heard, the fire of love still burns, the song of joy is still sung, hope still maintains its outlook, and, not the least in importance, the tear of penitence still moistens the cheek of the humbled confessing one. Christ lives. He is the same to-day as yesterday; and men are feeling the force within them, and bearing the impress upon them of His precious character in all its varied and beneficent features. "His name shall endure for ever; His name shall be continued as long as the sun; and men shall be blessed in Him: . all nations shall call Him blessed."

But Christ is for ever the same as well as yesterday and to-day. Subject yourself, Christian, to change, and changing conditions ever surrounding you, a final change as you know awaits you. "Thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away." But whither? No proof is needed that death is not man's end, and none can be established that it is. While all are conscious of leaving off to enjoy profit and pleasure from a multitude of things that are commonly held to be profitable and pleasant, and of a desire for them failing, every Christian can perceive to be abiding in him an undying power of desire for, and a delight in, appropriate objects. But what appropriate objects are there for his desire and delight? His Christ is the same for ever. Yesterday and to-day the remedial elements of the fulness of the acquired character of Christ have, in every condition of the Christian, continued to him the same, supplying all his needs. The satisfying elements of that fulness will pro

ject themselves into every successive instant of the Christian's everlasting future, and will remain the same to gratify his feeling of desire and to content his capacity for delight for ever and for ever. Happy Christian!

Christ and a remedial fulness, enough and abiding for yesterday and to-day! Christ and a contenting fulness, enough and abiding the same for ever and ever!

Expositions, Essays, &c.

CHRIST PRECIOUS.

BY C. MASTERSON.

"Unto you therefore which believe, He is precious."-1 Peter ii, 7.

As expressive of the feeling of our heart towards Him who is the chiefest among ten thousand," can we adopt the language of the poet, and say

"Yes, thou art precious to my soul,
My transport and my trust;
Jewels to Thee are gaudy toys,
And gold is sordid dust."

If so, we belong to that number to whom our text applies; and may we in our meditations realize that He is not only precious, but is increasingly precious; yea, the "altogether lovely."

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Mankind may be divided into two classes,-believers and unbelievers; and of all the things which tend to distinguish these, there is none more decisive than their different views of Christ. To the unbeliever, Christ is a stone of stumbliug and a rock of offence. To the unenlightened, He is as a root out of a dry ground, with no form nor comeliness.' But to the believer, He is most precious. comparison of Him, all other things are considered as worthless. May we now be favoured with the rich anointing of the Holy Ghost, whose office it is to glorify Jesus, while we attempt to dwell upon the preciousness of Christ, and the character of those to whom He is precious

In

I. The preciousness of Christ. Doubtless it would not be out of

place if we were to observe, that Christ is precious in God's esteem. He is the delight both of the Father and the Holy Ghost, called in holy writ, "The Son of his bosom," "The only begotten Son who is in the bosom of the Father;" an expression that implies the preciousness of Christ to the Father; a public attestation of which was given at His baptism. "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." He is so precious, that the Father will accept of none but through Him. And, blessed truth, he will reject none who thus come. God's manifest design in the Gospel is to put honour upon Christ. For he will have all men honour the Son as they honour the Father. All the good he bestows upon sinful man is in and through Him, and Him alone. Had not Christ been precious in God's account, he would not have been appointed as the Redeemer of His people. And does not His present position in heaven manifestly demonstrate, not only that He has finished the work the Father gave Him to do, but that He is most dear unto God.

He is precious to angels. At His birth they tuned their harps and joyfully sang, Glory to God in the highest," &c. And when He bringeth in the first begotten into the world, He saith, And let all the angels of God worship Him." And so they do unceasingly worship Him, obey His bidding, execute His will. As they delighted to attend on the Head in the days of His humiliation, so it is now their joy and delight to attend on each of the members of His body; for, "Are they not all ministering spirits,

'sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation ?"

"How eagerly they wish to know

The duties He would have them do!
What joy their active spirits feel

To execute their Sovereign's will."

Christ is precious to saints. Whether we think of them in their triumphant or militant state, He is the burden of their song, the joy of their hearts, the source, centre, and substance of all their happiness; but more to this point presently. Now specially notice that

1. Christ is precious in Himself.

His person is precious as the embodiment of all divine and human perfections. His Godhead is precious, and was absolutely essential in securing our eternal salvation. To deny this, would be to rob His achievements of their glory, His work of all significance, His blood of all efficacy. But, precious fact, He who died upon the cross of Calvary, was, "God manifest in the flesh." And what a grand and glorious truth is this to the poor trembling, believing, penitent — the absolute Deity of the Saviour. Upon this rock all his hopes are built.

His perfect manhood is precious.

66 He took not on Himself the nature of angels, but the seed of Abraham." A humanity identical with His people in all but its original and actual sinfulness. He knew no sin, and yet what a sin bearer was He! And the transgressions of the elect were upon Him. The assumption of our nature made Him capable of obedience and suffering; yea, of death itself. By this marvelous act of infinite condescension, He was able to obey the law in the very nature in which it had been broken. The law had been broken by man, and by man it must be obeyed. The dishonour must be repaired in the very nature in which it had been inflicted. Man had violated every precept of God's law, and now-precious truth -by the God-man, every precept of that law must be honoured and obeyed. Again. The Saviour, by taking into

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union with himself our nature, He became competent to endure the curse of the same law. The law consisted of two parts, the precept and the penalty. Now as Substitute and Surety of His people, He obeyed the former and endured the latter. Well may we sing with Hart

"'Tis no wild fancy of our brains,

No metaphor we speak;

The same dear Man in heaven now reigns,
That suffered for our sake.

"This wondrous Man of whom we tell,
Is true Almighty God;

He bought our soul from death and hell,

The price, His own heart's blood.""

Oh how precious, then, is the person and work of our adorable Immanuel! Therein we clearly see how that the justice of God is satisfied, the law magnified, the moral government of God vindicated in the dispensation of mercy to fallen man, and all the divine perfections harmonized in the salvation of sinners.

2. Christ is precious in all the offices and relations which he sustains to his people. Precious as the Head, the covenant Surety Head of His people, the fountain of all life, of power, and of every blessing. Precious as the Husband of the church, to whom he is united by the closest and most indissoluble ties. Pledged to pay all her debts, to supply all her wants,-to heal all her maladies,-to bear all her burdens, -to sweeten all her afflictions,-to subdue all her enemies,-to manage all her concerns, and make her a partaker of His eternal glory. Precious as a Friend whose love is boundless, unchangeable, rich, and powerful. His hand is ever able to answer the dictates of His loving, tender heart. Thrice happy is he who can say, “This is my Friend."

Precious as a Brother-bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh; our next of kin, claiming and exercising as such the prerogative of redemption, and proving himself by his timely aid and heavenly succour in all the calamities of His younger brethren to be emphatically a Brother born for adversity."

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