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he is called. It was not necessary for the first believers at Jerusalem to lay down rules, to exclude improper characters from their communion-Their purity, their dignity, their majesty, repelled them"And of the rest durst no man join himself to them; but all the people magnified them."

-Yet the shining of the rising light is not mere lustre. It is a source of usefulness, as well as of admiration. It warms and enlivens. It fertilizes the gardens and the fields. It makes the valleys to stand thick with corn, and the little hills to rejoice on every side. And so Jesus went about doing good. And so Christians are blessings in all the places wherein they move. Let us make this image our model in our endeavours to serve our generation. The sun says nothing-It does good without noiseIt shines unasked, constantly, impartially-It rises on the evil, as well as on the good-So may we be

merciful.

But the shining light shines more and more. So does the path of the just. His religion is a gradual and progressive thing. We therefore read of growing in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour. Of the Thessalonians, it is said, Their faith grew exceedingly; and the love of every one of them towards each other abounded. As far as we are stationary in our attainments, we are censured and condemned by the image. But to derive comfort from it, it is not necessary that we should be every thing at once. Nothing in nature reaches its perfection suddenly. The babe proceeds, by slow degrees, into the man. The blade precedes the full corn in the ear. Let us not despise the day of small things. What was the oak once, but an acorn? What is the dawn, to the noon?

But the shining light shines more and more unto the perfect day. The allusion is not taken from a meteor, that blazes for a moment, and then disappears. Nor from the morning cloud and early dew,

that soon passeth away: but from the rising sun, that always attains its end, and completes what it beginsrising upwards-and shining-onwards-till it is day -perfect day.

When did the sun ever make a dawn, and not carry it into full day? Who can drive him back, or stop his course? If it had enemies, and they cursed its beams, the rage would be as vain as it would be unreasonable-" He rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof." So Ishall it be with all those who are set in motion for eternity by Divine grace. "They that love Him shall be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might." There is no enchantment or divination against them. In all opposition they shall be more than conquerors. He who is the author, shall also be the finisher of their faith. They shall soon lose all their infirmities. They shall emerge into perfect knowledge, holiness, and joy-And "then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. HE THAT HATH EARS TO HEAR, LET HIM HEAR."

But who can help recalling the beautiful lines of Dr. Watts, which, though written for the infant mind, are worthy the perusal of angels?

"How fine has the day been, how bright was the sun,
"How lovely and joyful the course that he run;
"Though he rose in a mist when his race he begun,
"And there followed some droppings of rain!

"But now the fair traveller 's come to the west,

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'His rays are all gold, and his beauties are best;
"He paints the sky gay, as he sinks to his rest,
"And foretels a bright rising again.

"Just such is the Christian-his course he begins,
"Like the sun in a mist, while he mourns for his sins,
"And melts into tears; then he breaks out and shines,
"And travels his heavenly way:

"But when he comes nearer to finish his race,

"Like a fine setting sun, he looks richer in grace,
"And gives a sure hope, at the end of his days,
"Of rising in brighter array."

OCT. 5.-"Who is gone into heaven." 1 Pet. iii. 22.

-MANY had gone there before. Abel was the first that entered; and it is encouraging to think, that the first victim of death was a partaker of glory-human nature being found in heaven, before it was seen in hell. How long he was alone there, we know not. But others soon followed: and our Saviour must have found there, a multitude which no man could number.

But though many had gone into heaven before, none of them had gone in the same way and manner with himself. Others had entered without their bodies; but he had entered incarnately. Two had indeed entered embodied; but they did not take their bodies from the grave. Enoch and Elias died not, but were only changed. Jesus died, and was buried; and passed to glory from the tomb. Others entered heaven by mere favour, presenting no claim from their worthiness and obedience: but he entered by merit-He deserved all the glory he obtained-It was no more than the reward of his doing and suffering. Others entered as private individuals; and their entering did not ensure the entrance of others— not even of their friends and relations. Religion is a personal thing: and it could not be inferred, that because the husband or the father was glorified, the wife or child would follow. But he entered as a public character, as the head and representative of his people and because he lives, they shall live also. Hence says the Apostle, "He hath quickened us together with Christ, and raised us up, and made us sit together with him in the heavenly places."

It is expedient for us, therefore, that he went away: and as Joseph's going from the prison to the palace was not only his own advancement, but the salvation of his father's house; so Jesus is gone into heaven, not only to be crowned with glory and honour, but to execute the remainder of his mediatorial work, on behalf of the redeemed. "For if,

when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son; much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." But did he not say, when he expired, "It is finished?" He didand it was finished-and nothing could be added to it. But what was finished? The procuring of salvation only-not the application of it. The former was done upon the Cross: the latter is done upon the Throne. What he suffered to acquire, he is exalted to bestow. He is exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour; to give repentance unto Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Even in his priestly character, it behoved him not only to suffer, but to enter into his glory. The Apostle therefore says, If he were on earth, he could not be a priest; because he could then only have fulfilled one part of the office. For the high priest not only offered the sacrifice, but entered the holy place and sprinkled the blood upon the mercyseat and burned incense-and made intercession for the people. Jesus therefore, after dying for us, entered into heaven itself, there to appear in the presence of God for us. By his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us-"Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."

Here he fought, and overcome. But the Conqueror must have his triumph. He must display his spoils, and enrich the multitude. He therefore ascended on high, leading captivity captive, and received gifts for men, even for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them. "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ."

He was a prophet, by his own preaching. But

how local, how confined, and successless, was his personal ministry! The work was to be done by another ministry. Corporeally, he was to withdraw: "But," said he, "the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak; and he will shew you things to come." Thus he considered his personal presence and agency far inferior to the dispensation of the Spirit. And yet some are looking for his bodily advent again, as if this was to effect what the Holy Ghost could not accomplish. What purpose is to be executed in the spread of the Gospel; or the conversion of souls? or the glorification of the Church? to which the energy of the Spirit is not adequate? Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord.-Were he here in his body, he would be confined to one place at a time, and many would envy the honour of seeing him, in vain. But in his Spirit, he can be everywhere, and enjoyed of all at the same time.

OCT. 6.-"I am a stranger with Thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were." Ps. xxxix. 12.

So life was viewed and felt by David. He was very superior to many of his ancestors. He had wealth, and power, and honour, and reigned the greatest monarch of the East. But no condition can make the heir of immortality a citizen here. Others are strangers and sojourners, as to the transitoriness of their