all risks. It is observable that even in the first mention of Demas and Luke the latter is introduced in terms of eulogy; whereas the former is simply called by name. The one is said to be the "beloved physician." Beloved, because he was lovely and loving; and this is the only kind of religion that will stand the summer's heat, and the winter's frost, which will preserve from declension by prompting to diligence. and Let us now improve the facts which we have surveyed, by observing, that time and temptation are the tests of sincerity. How many have promised fair for a time! Saul the son of Kish, seemed at first a very humble and promising young man ; he was among the prophets, he spake fair, he had another heart, and did many things; but ere forty years had rolled over his head, his deficiencies were fully discovered, and his wretched soul, stained with almost every crime, stood trembling over the dread gulf of eternity, into which at length he madly plunged, a despairing suicide. Jehu looked like a man zealous for the Lord, even as he declared himself to be, but a few years showed that his zeal was worthless, and his character defective. Judas sat among the apostles unsuspected, went out with them preaching, and perhaps thought himself sincere; but the treasurership tried him, and proved him to be naught; and still as time rolled on, the vices of lying, treachery, and murder clustered round the parent sin of covetousness, and weighed down his soul to its own dread. place of woe (Acts i. 25). And time would fail to tell of others who once promised fair, and who continued awhile with the cause and people of God; but who at length verified the prophet's words, "Thy goodness is as the morning cloud and early dew," and whose histories have been a fearful comment on the Lord's parable respecting the wayside, rocky, thorny ground hearers. The latter writings of all the Apostles prove that at that time, viz., about thirty years after Pentecost, apostacy was fearfully prevalent, and these writings also refer to a time when this will be still more the case, "That in the last days perilous times should come, when men will be lovers of their own selves, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof." Alas, how many pastors' hearts have bled, and are still bleeding, over those who have disappointed the hopes which they fondly cherished. The blossoms looked beautiful, but they have fallen off, and there is no fruit. Almost all ministers of any standing have their Demas, their Jehu, and some their Judas, who betray the cause which they vowed But then there are those who answer to Luke, who still continue with them. Time has matured their character, and temptation and trial have purified them. Perhaps in the beginning of their christian course they were more timid and retiring than some who have gone back; they did not make much noise at first; but time has proved that their religion was not a land flood, a mere summer brook, but a living spring; a little rill indeed at first, hidden and soft; but now a river beautiful and fertilizing. Without some such cases, how would a minister's heart be weighed down; but these cheer him as loving Luke and faithful Timothy did the weeping Apostle. to serve. Two inferences may properly be deduced from this subject. If time and temptation are the test of sincerity, then it is best not to pronounce too confidently respecting those cases of apparent conversion which cannot be thus tested. Experience has given sad proof, that sick-bed professions are of little worth. Those who have recovered from apparently mortal disease, and whose repentance and faith seemed sincere and strong, have, alas, most of them lived to show that it was all a delusion, and that their hearts were never really changed. This should make us hesitate in speaking too confidently with regard to those who have died, without causing us for a moment to abate our efforts for the good of such. Above all, it should solemnly warn persons of leaving the great concern until the dying bed or declining days. We may also infer, that the religion that will last amid all the changes and temptations of time, must have life in it. If you put a strong post in the ground, and paint it ever so well, it will not last long; but place a sapling by its side, whose root the rains of heaven shall nourish, and you have something that will outlast, not only the sturdy but lifeless post, but which will wave its leafy crown over the graves of many successive generations of men. Love is life, and a religion of love will be a lasting religion. This never faileth. There is a power in it to repel spiritual death, even as the vital principle within us repels the power of decay. Let life depart from the body, and decomposition begins, and goes on until the once beautiful frame is resolved into its original elements; so if love be not within the heart, spiritual decomposition must sooner or later ensue. There is no help for it, even if the outward manifestation of this never takes place (owing to the absence of temptation) in this world; but if the unloving heart continue to the end of life covered with the form of godliness, a time will come when He whom nothing but love can satisfy will say, "I NEVER KNEW YOU." How, then, may we procure and promote such a religion as Luke possessed? The answer must be, By receiving Him into our hearts of whom Luke wrote. If taught to know God as revealed in the beautiful parables which he records from the lips of his Lord,-if led to Him whose wondrous history he traces from Bethlehem to the throne of glory, so that his death becomes our life, his life our model, his spirit our strength, and all he did, said, and suffered, the food of our new life,-then we shall not forsake him, but shall verify the truth of his declaration: "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." Then this deluding world shall be seen as it really is; its smile will be feared more than its frown; and we shall recognise and rejoice in the merciful design of our best Friend. Lord Jesus Christ gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever." RESTRAINTS IN PRAYER. BY THE REV. J. 8. WARREN. "Our Well, my friend, you get on very slowly and very laboriously, you say. With the friction of the world, and the trials of the church, like a dry wheel, you often take fire, and at the best drag on very heavily. Perhaps we can divine the reason of this: you have not stopped to oil the wheels, or you have not used the right oil. I can give you an infallible receipt for a compound which will make your wheels run smoothly, keep them cool, and render your progress comparatively easy. But you must stop every now and then and apply it. You must not go a week without stopping. You must use it every day, and then I dare pronounce it in. fallible. The compound is made up of the Word of God and Prayer. I shall ask nothing for the receipt, because it is invaluable, beyond all price. Try it, my friend; try it. I have tried and found it answer well, and so will you if you try it fairly. "But there are so many hindrances to prayer." Admitted, there are, and very powerful hindrances too. shall try and indicate some of them, and offer a few considerations which We may perhaps, by God's blessing, tend to remove some of them, at least in part; and may the Spirit of the living God teach us to pray! Let us look at some of the restraints which are most commonly, and perhaps most painfully felt. It may seem strange that in so sweet and heavenly an exercise as prayer, many hindrances should be experienced; but so it is; and we need not long be at a loss to discover the reason, and in part the cause. You have often sung, "And Satan trembles when he sees and there is no question but that is true. Satan knows that the stronghold of the christian is his closet and his God, and hence the close watch he keeps, and the many efforts he makes, to prevent the christian from running to the one and depending on the other. Why, Satan would sooner that you ran anywhere than to your knees. He knows you have the advantage as soon as you get there, and hence the determined efforts to divert both sinner and saint from availing themselves of the refuge thus afforded. Indisposition or felt unfitness of mind is one of the prevailing hindrances to prayer. It is perhaps, more than at any other time, when we approach a throne of grace, that we feel the deadening effect the world has had upon us. A consciousness of having indulged in unbecoming words, hasty expressions, light and trifling discourse, or an irritation of mind caused by the numberless trying circumstances and events of life; one or both of these often cause the heart to sink at the idea of prayer, and we are inclined to say, "How can I, in such a frame of mind, come before God?" It would be well for us if we remembered the well-known lines in such cases, "If you tarry till you're better, Incompetency, felt to a painful degree, joined with uncontrollable timidity, are among the restraints felt in reference especially to Public and Family prayer. The present writer can assure you that no one has felt these more than himself. And indeed we may well say, "Who is sufficient for these things?"-these exercises, when we take into account the august Being into whose presence we seek to come. And in any view of the case, we would be far, and ought to be far, from rushing into the presence of God as the unthinking horse into the battle. Your timidity, friend, is not all wrong, and within due bounds your sense of incompetency will do you good. Unworthiness, together with a fear lest we are not of the number of the children to whom belongs the children's bread, often make the trembling hands still more to shake, and the feeble knees still weaker. But consider, my brother, that if God had written over the door of mercy, "None but the worthy are welcome here," then not one of us would ever ap. proach there, not one but must turn tremblingly and hopelessly away. No, blessed be God, the unworthy only are welcome there. Do you feel yourself so unworthy that you have no right to the least exercise of mercy? Do you feel that you are without question wicked? Go at once to the throne of grace just as you are, and you will be sure to meet a welcome reception. Jesus came "not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. Never hesitate on the score of unworthiness. " Let me now present you with a consideration or two which may tend to remove your restraints in prayer. Remember then that each kind of prayer is necessary to fill up the various positions of christian life, and in its sphere is profitable. Public prayer is profitable. "Let your light shine before men,"-let others have the benefit of the light within you, and hear the language of Canaan from your lips. Family prayer has its benefits. "Men do not light a candle to put it under a bed or under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house." If the candle of the Lord shines in your heart he expects the family altar to be the candlestick on which all in your house may see the light and have the benefit of it. Private prayer is indispensable. Without it you do not give evidence to yourself that you are a christian. A christian all publicity is not one at all. Oh, brother, do you want to taste the marrow of christian life? do you desire some of the sweetest fruits of communion with God? you must break the shell of external duties, and get into the very heart of life and love in secret intercourse with God, and then you will realize your desire. Again, Ejaculatory prayer is a calling in help in an emergency, is the puffing off the waste steam of the world, and as much indicates the tenour of the heart as the oath of the ungodly under circumstances of irritation and sudden trial. Take with you into all these the thought, “Thou God seest me,” and pray to God, and not to man. Remember that that which is most acceptable to God, will be most acceptable also to thy fellow.christians. Let the fear and influence of man prevail, and you will please neither God nor man. Lose sight of man, and in the spirit of prayer realise only the God of prayer, and your prayers, even although "The simplest form of speech will reach the ears of God, and will be sure to find an echo in the breasts of your fellow-christians. Čonsider again. Prayer brings with it its own most precious_reward. You think, for instance, "I wonder if anybody is tried as I am? I wonder whether any of my fellow-christians feel as I do? I wonder whether they have my fears? I fear my feelings are not the feelings of God's children ?” Thus you think. You carry your case to God. Still you find no relief. Still depressed you go to the house of God, and there you understand. There you hear some tried brother pour out his soul before God. He tells his fears, his feelings, his doubts, and you see at once that others do see and feel, and are exercised just as yourself. And then what a reviver to our faith is prayer! You must blow the bellows to the dying embers of faith on your knees. "I have had an interview with God; I have told him all my case; all my affairs are in his hands," you will say; and once more your faith revives. Moreover, how is patience assisted at the throne of Grace. "I cannot hold on much longer," you sometimes say; “I cannot pass through any more trying scenes; my patience is almost gone." Is it? Then, my friend, try what prayer will do. Stop and oil the wheels, and then try. Perhaps that harsh grating sound is only the effect of there being no oil on the wheels. Go and tell God again all about your trials, and then see what the consideration,-"My best Friend, my almighty Friend, my Saviour, knows all about me. I have told him every thing. He knows best, and will do best. With his help I can go on," see what this consideration will do. There is a man spread- Once more. Remember the efficacy of prayer. ing a letter before God. He is reading it to God. He is on his knees. Hear him,-“O Lord our God, save us." "How stupid," says the ungodly: "why not bestir himself, and look to his army?" Ah, let the 185 000 dead corpses next morning, and the remnant of the army on their hasty retreat, testify to the prevalency of that believing prayer! Believer! brother! believe more, rely more on the efficacy of prayer, and you shall know for yourself what prayer can do. Whatever else you do, oh, do not restrain prayer before God. Ask the Holy Ghost to remove restraints, to set your tongue at liberty, and to teach you to pray! New Mill, Tring, Herts. THE VEIL. Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil." London. 'Tis but a veil that hangs between The saint and joys divine, Those rays on hearts of darkness fall, When radiance round the martyr's brow The rays that o'er his features glow And hourly doth this veil unfold, The angels bear them, one by one, Those holy sounds we hear not now, When, without veil, we too shall bow E. W. Windsor. THE CHRISTIAN VOYAGER. Calmly I row, Sweetly I go, Over life's stormy seas; The waves may dash, And lightnings flash, Yet is my soul at ease. With Christ in the ark, He makes the ocean shine! And chart shall be, His power is all divine! When winds arise Destruction flies, Threat ning death's fatal doom; I'm still upborne Amidst the storm, And night is turned to noon. Heaven's my rest, Surely 1 m blest, Thither I sail away; S. LILLYCROP. |