of them as our own. What holiness of life would ensue from the abiding wish for the fulfilment of the petition, "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer." What comfort would spring from the assurance which would follow the prayer, "Lead me in thy truth, and learn me. Send out thy light and thy truth; let them lead me, and bring me to thy holy hill, and to thy habitation." And what heights of spirituality should we gain, were we to be instant in using for ourselves the prayers of St. Paul, which he sent up for believers in his day: “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, being filled with the fruits of righteousness, that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, that ye being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the height and depth and breadth and length, and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God."

The word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword; and this we should find exemplified in the case of countless, numbers now in glory who, once living according to the course of this world, workers of iniquity, were arrested in their headlong course, led to see the error of their way, and to fly for refuge, from an accidental sight of perhaps a few detached words of the Bible. May the same Holy Spirit, who wrought effectually on

these, be sent upon

us, so that by looking into the Scriptures we may be directed to some good word applicable to our case.

Of what overwhelming importance, and how calculated to quicken are many passages of the Bible, taken unconnectedly and without reference to what precedes or follows. The attention is often arrested, self-examination is suggested, and the result is a happy one. "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." It is related of one who was once a blasphemer and injurious," that he was led to feel the awfulness of his position, from reading the fifth chapter of Genesis, which contains a list of Patriarchs with their respective ages; and closes the allusion to each of them with these striking and solemn words" and he died."

And there are many recorded instances of bitter opposers of the truth who, in their earthly wisdom have sat down with the determination to disprove revelation, have risen changed men, convinced of the truth which they had hoped to injure and destroy. This truly is "the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes." "But every man in his own order, Christ the first fruits, afterwards they that are Christ's at his coming." In this passage there is a simple statement of truth, no comment, no warning, no exhortation; the primary intention was to reveal the order of the resurrection. And yet what do not the words Christ's at his coming, bring before the mind? What will not be involved in that "coming?" All things dissolved, the elements melting with fervent heat-man vainly seeking refuge amidst the fall of rocks and mountains. But it will not be so with all-the exception will be to those who are

"Christ's."

Does not the inquiry occur, am I Christ's now, that I may be found his in the day he maketh up his jewels?

Again in Rom. viii. 29, a doctrine is stated; there is no practical duty enforced, but conformity to the image of God's Son is spoken of as the spot of his children. What an image was his,-holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and seeking not his own glory, but his Father's, pleasing not himself; but though he were rich, yet for our sakes he became poor, that we through his poverty might be made rich. Always going about doing good, submitting every thing to his Father,

"Not my will, but thine be done." And this was uttered under no trifling trial, no partial cup of bitterness; his sweat was great drops of blood, so intense was his agony. Have we any thing of such a mind? Are we not awfully guilty in this matter of conformity ? May Jesus' precious blood wash away our stains: may we obtain pardon for our omissions, and may we have grace and strength to strive more after the beauty of holiness, to amend our lives according to God's holy word, to tread in the example of Christ's steps, being filled with his Spirit. Our old man must be crucified. We must cease to fulfil the lusts of the flesh; and where our risen Saviour now ever liveth, thither may we in mind and heart ascend, our affections being set on things above, and not on things on the earth-dead to sin, but alive unto righteousness, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Bible is the incorruptible seed by which souls are born again : of his own will begat he us unto the word of truth. It is a light which shines in a dark place, piercing through the thick clouds of superstition and ignorance with which the world is enclosed, and

causing truth to spring out of the earth; it disperses the darkness and gloom in which we are by nature sitting, and brings comfort and peace and joy. It comes to each with authority from God, accompanied to each with the command, "Search the Scriptures." It is the power of God unto salvation unto every one that believeth,-the spring of wisdom and hope and truth and light and understanding. Considering these things, how awfully presumptuous a sin against Godwhat injustice and cruelty towards man-what an injury to the world is it, in those who would deprive us of it, and would so arrange themselves in a contracted circle around the light, as to exclude all beyond their limited ring from feeling the warmth and benefit of its cheering beams.

The world is a dark place, notwithstanding the boasted enlightenment of the education of its advanced age: the Bible is the only light which shines. There are many truths of Scripture that we must take by faith; but this is a fact that has had its actual illustration in our own land. What was the state of England with the Bible in an unknown tongue, with its possession known only to a few, before the providential invention of printing scattered its blessings, and shed its light far and near? What is to prevent thick darkness from again covering the people, should the enemy make void God's law? A striking evidence have we, in the attempt to suppress the circulation of the Bible, of the workings of Satan. The Devils believe and tremble; and they know full well that their evil devices and interests are best answered when the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, is kept in its scabbard. No! the Bible as it comes from God has no scabbard; but man would give it one, and keep it sheathed.

But to us Protestants belong the words, "While ye have the light walk in the light, that ye may be the children of light." Let not our free possession of the Bible be an empty boast, a vaunt of words; but let us give evidence in our lives to its effectual working, in much love to God and man, showing ourselves strong in faith, giving glory to God, filled with all joy and peace in believing, abounding in hope through the Holy Ghost, full of goodness, filled with all knowledge. (Rom. xi. 13, 14.) "The lines are fallen unto us in pleasant places; yea we have a goodly heritage: what can become us better than the sacrifice of praise continually, the fruit of our lips giving thanks unto God's name?" The Bible is our heritage for ever: gratitude should be ours, not only on account of its contents, its glad tidings of great joy, and its strongholds, but also for our great and happy enjoyment in its possession. Naboth's sad tale has often been re-acted; and numbers who claimed the Bible as their heritage, and who faithfully protested against giving up their father's inheritance, have brought down upon their devoted heads, the fatal stones of persecution. What a contrast does our happy position afford to theirs? "Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the honour and glory for ever and ever.

only true God, be Amen."

S. S.