he will bring you with him to join in his triumph and share his dignity! How, ye suffering ones, will your trials then appear? more insignificant than the bursting bubble on the rippling stream.

Haste then, and wheel away a shattered world,

Ye slow revolving seasons.

We pine not at your flight, for we know that we shall have anxiety, pain, and care till he come, but everlasting joy and gladness at his appearing. Let us then, through the bars of our prison-house, watch for his approach and join with the Church of old in language of strong desire, "Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly."

THE BIBLE OUR STRONGHOLD.

THE traveller, as he journies, makes frequent reference to his map: he there traces the road he has already gone over; he marks the position of the spot at which he has arrived, and he carries his eye forward with hope and gladness to his ultimate destination: how careful is he not to diverge from the path marked out for him, and which will conduct him safely to his wished-for home. Such an one needs not to be reminded of the treasure he possesses, for he constantly stands in need of direction; he feels practically its importance and value, and knows well, what a poor bewildered wanderer he would become, were he deprived of a resource so indispensable to his condition.

And is not each one of us a traveller? With eternity before us, must not that be of inestimable price which tells us of it, and would fit us for it? Must not that be truly valuable which reveals to us our position, and our responsibilities? and which, while it tells us that our Lord is for a season absent, yet that he will surely return, and will take account of us his servants,-points out at the same time how we may render up our account with joy, and meet our Master with confidence, and not be ashamed at his coming ?-which shows us guilty trembling man, hiding himself from his Maker among the trees of the garden, opens also to our view a way of restoration and reconciliation, by which way

of access we shall be enabled to adopt the language of one in a state of contrast to enmity and dread-" Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me." To the same rejoicing of a hope that maketh not ashamed, we may attain-the Holy Spirit sheds abroad on the heart the love of God,-we love him, because he first loved us, and "there is no fear in love, for perfect love casteth out fear"-and which, while it informs us of one, who,

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as a roaring lion goeth about seeking whom he may devour," tells us likewise of our defence: "Whom resist, stedfast in the faith-resist the Devil, and he will flee from you."

We are well versed in the truths of the Bible, but important as they are, how little do they move us: we have ears, and hear not, eyes, and see not ; the seed often falls upon a stony place, the cares and pleasures of the world rise up, and would choke the growth of spiritual life : the flesh is weak, Satan is busy, we are encompassed with infirmity. Oh! where is our resource, but in our weakness and helplessness-in our folly and ignorancee-in our dangers and temptations-to throw ourselves upon a God of infinite love and compassion and long-suffering ? to show unto him our trouble-to plead his faithful promises, and to ask (nothing doubting) for the abundant supply of the Holy Spirit, who will open our eyes, soften our hearts, teach and comfort us, and guide our feet into the way of peace. We have a throne of grace always open to us, thither we may resort in every time of need, and when is it not a time? when do we not want fresh grace, more succour? When does Satan cease to watch us, to lay his plans, to renew his devices, to prepare his snares ? Surely these four words, "every time of need," supply a copious com

ment on the exhortations, "pray without ceasing”— "continue instant in prayer."

The Israelites were indeed in a stronghold, when the commandments and statutes of the Lord God were bound upon their hand, and were as frontlets between their eyes, and when they were written upon the posts of their houses, and upon their gates. God knew their wants, their temptations, their enemies, and graciously made a provision for their necessities—he clothed them in a "whole armour." With the law of the Lord so constantly before them, they were furnished amidst trial with a defence-"how can I do this wickedness, and sin against God? The Psalmist knew well the security of him who was encased in this armour, for he had proved it-"Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee."

And is our position less happy, less secure than those of old? The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. The Gospel worketh effectually in those that believe" I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy statutes."

The power and the value of the Scriptures cannot be over-rated, and why? because they are the work of the High and Holy One, who has given them to us, that we too may be holy, as he is holy. We have in them a revelation of God's character; they reflect his image, and we, by looking into this "glass," shall be changed into the same image from glory to glory-they are profitable for all things, that we may be throughly furnished unto all good works: there is nothing want

ing, for "the law of the Lord is perfect"-there are no weak points in our stronghold, no crevice through which the enemy may aim his darts. Oh, that we had true wisdom ever to abide where God would have us to be, then should we "dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places !"

But then, in bringing forward the triumphs of the Bible, we are made acquainted with our own nothingness, for we see that its saving power entirely depends upon the blessing of him from whom the bible came. Are imaginations cast down? Is every thought brought into obedience? It is "through God." Does the image change? It is "by the Spirit." Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God; but faith is "not of ourselves, it is the gift of God."

Our stronghold under depression, is in the freeness of God's gifts ;-the uniform language of the Spirit in the bible is, "Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it." There is such completeness and adaptation, and applicability in the Bible, that whatever the source of our discomfort, we may be enabled through the Spirit to say with the Psalmist, "In the midst of the sorrows I had in my heart, thy comforts refreshed my soul, unless thy law had been my delight, I should then have perished in mine affliction." And if we have not, like the Israelites, the word of God bound upon our hand, and if it do not admonish us from our door posts and our gates, we are nevertheless not less fortified than they; for the Lord will graciously put his laws into our minds, and write them in our hearts, that we may be kept from sinning against him. One kind of defence with which the Bible furnishes us, is the recorded prayers of the Saints. What benefit would arise to our souls if we lived in the constant adoption