eil your eyes to behold his love and goodness, put out. and take God's hand held out to you by Jesus the friend then war a good warfare against the flesh, the world, ersary; then, then you shall be able to love him who hates ind to him who is unkind to you, and to act friendly and o him who wrongs and abuses you. It is thus we would he unconverted regarding this matter, but the same not applicable to us. We profess to be already in Christ; aving passed away and all things become new. We say temples of the living God, for, as God hath said, 'I will m, and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they y people.' What then? Shall we who have such a continue to do evil? What evidence is there of our loption, if we are not only free from doing evil to our but also 'zealous of good works? If we are separated from let there be a broad, clearly defined, distinct mark beonduct and theirs, and that line of distinction, that eviversion, that mark of regeneration, can only be seen in ness to Christ, in our sanctified deportment, in our living - harmless, blameless life.

th up (receiveth) a reproach against his neighbour.' 'The ise seeketh knowledge,' says the sage: let us remember to hear and slow to speak' is an alliterative which conadvice. But I am sure every one of us must have felt that pleasant nor profitable to listen to all that is spoken. m speaks the attentive listener shall receive instruction ue, it is life; riches and honour come of it, yea, durnd righteousness. Its fruit is better than gold, yea, than d its revenue than choice silver.' But there is an inhich causeth to err from the words of knowledge,' that is Co which every godly man and woman should turn a deaf professing Christian to talk unkindly of his brother, to imperfections, and to slander his character in the minutest s most un-Christ-like. Now there are many ways of one calls attention to the white robes of another's charpes (?) significantly that they are not borrowed, creating he mind of his listeners. A second spies rents or stains ich lessen the value of the wearer's love or labour, and gests that they do not fit gracefully. That is to say, must see something wrong, and if they cannot say such rother is a hypocrite or an inconsistent professor, they Fancy, and hint to their confidants, that his manner is disis bearing unbecoming, or something else equally dispaery one sees such conduct is not charitable. For even were d correct, 'charity covers the multitude of transgressions,' 1 things (good), hopeth all things.' Every one sees there m in such a course, for he that hideth hatred with lying that uttereth slander, is a fool.' There is no peace-makbehaviour, for the words of a tale-bearer are as wounds, er separateth chief friends.' If, then, such disgraceful re mentioned in our hearing, dear brethren, let us shut hem, remembering that he that beareth false witness neighbour is a sword and a sharp arrow.' Let it be far

from us to raise or listen to a reproach against our neighbours; let us, if possible, live at peace with all men, and walk holily, for ‘without holiness no man shall see the Lord.'

'He that putteth not out his money to usury.' The apostle in writing to Timothy (1 Tim. vi. 9, 10,) says, 'they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition, for the love of money is the root of all evil,' and Solomon says, he that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, shall gather it for him that will pity the poor,' and 'he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent;' and so it is, beloved brethren. Just as the glorious gospel of the blessed Jesus is either the savour of life unto life, or of death unto death to all who hear it, so all the gifts which a bountiful God has given mankind, become to them either blessings or curses. God intends them all for blessings, but man often turns them into curses. Used aright they are blessings and comforts, abused they are curses and miseries. Is not reason a priceless gift? yet we can pervert it, and lead ourselves into error and unhappiness. Are we not blessed with spirits fitted for the purest and holiest enjoyment? yet, if we refuse the direction of the Great Spirit for our salvation, then this greatest of all our many gifts becomes to us an eternal, inconceivable, infinite curse. So money is one of the blessings which God has given man, and though it may and should be made a blessing, it is too frequently made a curse. Money was given not to be hoarded up and gloated over and worshipped, not that its possessors might ruin others to fill their own coffers, not that the rich might lord it over, despise, and oppress the poor. O, no! if God's people have money, let them recollect that they are only stewards, and their Father will require a balance-sheet when the account is finished. He wills not that it should be made the instrument of extortion and unjust gains; his will is rather that it be used in such a way as shall best further the cause of his beloved Son. His will is that by it want and destitution may be banished from the commonwealth of Israel; his command is that it be put to interest in the greatest of all enterprises, and thus return him a revenue of glory as the first and only giver.

'Nor taketh reward (bribe) against the innocent.' There is always something in innocence which fills one with a desire to assist and protect instead of to oppress, and many and awful are the denunciations of judgment against the false witness and the oppressor. Example, Job. xx. 19 to end. If, brethren, that man is cruel who would needlessly set foot upon a worm, if he is hard-hearted who would put the knife into the tiny lamb as it frisks upon the grassy lea, if he is a monster who would destroy the little babe who knows no good nor evil; he is surely no less depraved who could take a bribe against the innocent or oppress the unprotected. Relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow,' says Isaiah by the command of Jehovah, and the apostle James speaks thus: 'pure religion, and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.' Surely, brethren, no temptation could succeed in making any of us oppressors of the innocent! Could any allurements make us so far forget ourselves as to omit our

advocacy in behalf of the fatherless and unprotected? If it is so, how dare we expect that the great Advocate now seated at his Father's right hand, pleading the cause of his people by his presence there, will any longer plead our cause? We trust it shall never be said of us that we have given indulgence to back biting, nor to doing evil to our neighbour, nor to receiving reproaches against our neighbour, nor that we have unjustly sought after money, nor taken a bribe against the innocent.

In conclusion, please mark the confidence with which the psalmist speaks in the closing verse of the psalm. After drawing the portrait of the man who shall abide in God's tabernacle and dwell in his holy hill,' he adds most emphatically, he shall never be moved.' What a transcendantly glorious position for the child of God! "Though the earth be removed, though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea, though the waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swellings thereof," God is the refuge of his people, therefore, O christian brother, fear not, thou shalt never be moved. Jehovah is thy friend, thy rock, thy fortress, and thy high tower, and what evil can succeed against thee? The Lord of hosts is thy protector, and what arm so impious as dare to cope with Omnipotence? Only be stedfast in the graces of the man of God, and thou shalt never be moved. O, brethren, let us set the Lord always before our face, let us have him also at our right hand, so shall we never be moved. Then shall we joyously exclaim with David, Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table for me in the presence of mine enemies; thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and 1 hall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever!'

Edinburgh.

J. W. S.

APOSTOLIC EXHORTATIONS.

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord,' Heb. xii. 14.

A MAN's prosperity and well-being, whether temporal or spiritual, greatly depend on the nature of his pursuits. Sinners pursue whatever their evil hearts lust after, but saints must follow after things which make for peace, and constantly seek for conformity to the holy character of God. So this apostle says elsewhere, If it be possible as much as lieth in you live peaceably with all men.' And again, Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of love and of peace shall be with you.' An Israelite indeed is a man of peace and purity. Perfect peace can never be enjoyed but in a holy spirit, and the fruits of righteousness are only sown in peace of them that make peace. Follow peace, therefore, brethren, Lot only with friends, but as far as possible with all men. Leave off contention; meddle not with it. Let nothing be done through strife, and shun whatever has a tendency to gender that foe to happiness. Remember that its beginning is like the letting out of water, small

indeed, but afterwards it comes in like a flood. Beware of provoking one another. Let your words be pleasant, for a soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger. Be not tale-bearers, for their words are as wounds that go down into the innermost parts of the belly. Be courteous in your demeanour. Let your actions be always kind and gracious, your countenance smiling, not sullen. Be gentle, meek, forbearing, and ready to forgive. Such are some of the things which make for peace, and must be followed after if we are to escape wars and fightings, strifes, contentions, and tumults, which are not Christ-like, but earthly, sensual, devilish. Whatever occasions bad feeling or inquietude should be strictly guarded against by brethren, for if we fail to do so the world shall be the worse, rather than the better of our influence.

The exhortation of the apostle is to follow peace and holiness. We well know that we ought to be holy, for God is holy, but through the deceitfulness of the human heart, and the wiles of the devil, we are too apt to forget this. Could we not, brethren, be more diligent in seeking after God-like perfection? Is it not lamentably true of us that we are disposed to content ourselves with a mere form of godliness-a profession of Christianity, attending to the ordinances of the church of Christ more as matters of routine, as if they were tasks imposed upon us, rather than with pure, grateful, loving, adoring hearts, yielding sweet submission to our good Lord and Master? Could we not exercise more of the Spirit of Christ in our deportment and dealings one with another? Are there no proud looks we may bring low? no vain, sinful thoughts we could extirpate from our minds? Is there no lust to crucify? no rebel passion we might chain? Are we withdrawing from the friendship of the world. seeking to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness! Is it our increasing delight to live uprightly, providing for things honest not only in the sight of God, but also in the sight of men? Do those in business grow in detestation of unjust, fraudulent dealings, knowing that we are commanded not to go beyond or defraud our brother in any matter, for God is the avenger of all such? Does our hatred likewise wax stronger against the froward mouth and perverse lips, at the same time keeping our own tongue from evil, and our lips from speaking guile? Are we conscious, brethren, of departing from all iniquity, and pursuing holiness? Are we individually walking with God, experiencing more and more uninter rupted fellowship with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ! If not, we have forgotten this apostolic exhortation, for it is sin which severs us from the Deity: our iniquities cause him to hide his face from us here, and if unrepented of, and not forsaken, they shall ever be as a great gulf fixed between us and his holy presence. Without holiness no man shall see the Lord. Let these words sink deep into every heart, and where would be our confidence in forms and ceremonies? What reliance could we place in religious obser vances apart from a holy life? How should then the thoughtless professor consider, the giddy become sober-minded, the pleasureseeker cherish the joys of a pure heart, the proud become lowly, the contentious grow peaceable, and foolish talkers, tatlers, and busybodies study to be quiet and mind their own business. Were we all to strive more to exhibit such traits of character as God will approve,

chaviour acting in a manner becoming the gospel, amforn the doctrine of God our Saviour by holy and blameless should we be able to look with far more confidence on each low-heirs of eternal life and glory. It is not alone at we meet one another at the table of the Lord. Pure ed religion consists infinitely more in keeping oneself com the world, than in merely observing rites and cereis possible to deceive our brethren. Lord's day after we may come to the meeting of the saints, and sit there ople sit, and yet after all be nothing better than whited full of all uncleanness. But the Lord knoweth them 'The churches shall know,' says Jesus, that I am he th the reins and hearts, and I will give unto every one o his work.' Let us then examine ourselves whether faith, for none shall ascend unto the hill of the Lord to have clean hands and a pure heart. When once this be baptized in flaming fire, and from its ashes shall arise n earth, when from above the New Jerusalem shall dethe tabernacle of God shall be with men, and he shall them, and be their God, there shall in no wise enter hing that defileth, neither whosoever worketh abominaeth a lie, but they only who are written in the Lamb's

A. D.

THE BABE OF HEAVEN.

I love God?'

ion came from a sweet pair of lips. Opposite sat a of a striking exterior. The man and the child were trastage coach. The latter sat on her mother's knee; her eautiful beyond description, looking out from a frame of -work. For four hours the coach had been toiling on ual road, and the child had been very winning in her isping songs, lifting her bright blue eyes often to her ›, then falling back, in a little old-fashioned contented nother's arms, saying, by the mute action, ‘I am happy

than an hour the dear babe, scarcely yet entering her d been answering the smiles of the young man, who had with her beauty. He had nodded his head to her little ad offered her his penknife to play with; and at last his ver to her as every glance of a holy love and a trusting is pulses leap with a purer joy; and as the coach rategan to wish the end of the journey were not so very

had been sitting for the last fifteen minutes regarding an with a glance that seemed almost solemn, neither s caresses, nor smiling in the dear face that bent above ightfulness seemed to spread over the young brow that t been shadowed by care; and as the coach stopped at ', and the passengers moved uneasily preparatory to