ing prodigal, freely and fully blot out all his sins, clothe him with His righteousness, and prepare him by the influence of His Spirit for the inheritance of the saints in light.

Let your constant prayer be, if still unconverted, "O Lord, for Christ's sake, give me thy Holy Spirit to convert my soul." F. S. G. Tiverton, Sept. 23rd, 1860.

PROFESSING Christians ought not only to seek to understand something about religion, but to labour to understand as much as possible. They should be, in reference to a knowledge of religion, as some people are in reference to money, they should never think they have enough. They should "covet the sincere milk of the word," as Peter exhorts, and their covetousness should know neither bounds nor end. The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews exhorts the Christians to whom he writes, to "

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go on to perfection;" and he blames them for not having made more progress before. "Ye ought, by this time, to have been teachers," says he, and ye have need that some one teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God." The Apostle Paul exhorts the Colossians "to let the word of God dwell in them richly in all wisdom." prays in behalf of the Ephesians, that they may be able to comprehend, with all the saints, the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, and know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, and be filled with all the fulness of God. The same apostle tells the Corinthians, that in evil he would have them to be children; that is, he would

have them entirely free from that; but in understanding, says he, "I would have you to be men."

What the apostles desired with respect to the churches with which they were connected, is the desire of Christ with respect to His people in all ages and in all lands. It is the desire of Christ that we should all be filled with the knowledge of the truth; that we should understand perfectly the will of God, and have a clear and comprehensive view of the whole of that system of religion which He has given to mankind. He came into the world that He should be a light, and it is His desire that His illumination should diffuse light and glory through our whole soul. He came to manifest the truth. He was full of grace and truth, and He emptied the whole treasury of wisdom before men; and it is His desire that we should not only seek to obtain possession of some small portion of knowledge, but possess ourselves of all the intellectual treasures of the heavenly universe. All the institutions of Christ's church are intended and adapted to this blessed end. Ministers are appointed, churches are organized, the Spirit is sent forth, and the Scriptures are written, not that saints might ob

tain a faint glimmering of heavenly knowledge only, but that they might be perfected, and brought to the stature of Jesus Christ, and thoroughly furnished unto every good work. Paul plants, Apollos waters, and God sends down His blessing, not merely to keep the plants just alive, but that they may rise higher, stretch their branches further, and shoot their roots deeper, and bear abundant fruit. Children are nursed, not merely that they may be kept alive, but that they may grow and come to manhood.

The gardener would be tired of plants that were always little slender shrubs; the nurse would be weary of a child that should always continue a child for ten or twenty years; and Christ must be dissatisfied with those plants in His garden that never reach above the grass; and God will be 'dissatisfied with those spiritual children that never overgrow the helplessness of infancy. He will tear up such plants, and throw them out of His garden, and He will cast such unworthy children out of His family. The more fully we understand the religion of Jesus Christ, the better will we be able to direct our steps. There are many that are sincerely disposed to do that which is right, who nevertheless frequently err in their conduct. They do things which Christianity forbids, and neglect things which Christianity enjoins. In consequence of those errors, they suffer in their own minds, and the cause of religion is injured also. How desirable it is that by an increase of religious knowledge, those persons should be enabled so to order their goings that they might

enjoy the happiness of religion in their own souls, and adorn their profession in the eyes of their neighbours by a blameless and shining example.

A growth in knowledge will increase our ability to be useful. A desire to do good is the very soul of religion, and the exercise of charity is the principal employment of a true Christian. Above all things, professors of Christianity should labour to do good to men's souls. But how ill qualified for usefulness is the man who does not understand his own religion. There a man wishes for instruction, and he cannot give it; another is troubled with doubts, and he cannot solve them. At one time he attempts to instruct his neighbour, and by mixing up error with his instruction, he throws the man into perplexity, and leads him into trouble; and at another time, by ignorantly arguing against Gospel truths, he throws down what he ought to build up. How different is it with the man who is well instructed in the things of God! He opens his mouth with wisdom, and his lips are a well-spring of life. The ignorant inquire, and he instructs them; the doubtful state their difficulties, and he is enabled to relieve them. He answers the gainsayer, he reclaims the wanderer, and by the prudent communication of the pure truth of the Gospel he scatters the seeds of knowledge, and holiness, and joy, wherever it is his lot to move. Who would not wish to be thus furnished for usefulness? Who would not wish to be prepared, wherever he may be, to remove the prejudices of men, and

to impart to all who may seek for instruction at their lips, the truth as it is in Jesus? This is an honour and a happiness which angels might covet, and yet it is reserved for all who shall faithfully endeavour to improve in the knowledge and practice of the religion of Christ.

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LIVING FOR ETERNITY. THE Bible tells us to live for eternity. The wise man obeys this Divine teaching, having implicit confidence in God. He views all the things of time in a proper light. Whether he is made rich or poor, he rejoices in his state, because he knows that very soon as the flower of the grass he shall pass away." His life is not that of a gay butterfly, playing in the sunbeams. As the bee lays up honey in his cell for the winter, so he lays up treasure in heaven with Christ. His heart is there. home is there. He is a pilgrim here, "a stranger on the earth." He does not say, like the unthinking worldling, "Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we shall die." With Paul he exclaims, "To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." The love of Christ constrains him. Death in his view is not annihilation. It is the gateway to glory. It is the door which opens up to his sight his rich treasures.

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Faith that reaches into eternity, and appropriates the promises, is not misplaced. The narrow way leads to joy eternal. You recollect what is said about Moses in the epistle to the Hebrews; how, by faith, he was enabled to look beyond the things of this world, "esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the

treasures in Egypt; for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward." The Christian is not without his reward in this life; and if he is permitted to suffer persecution, he ought to rejoice in it, for the promise is, "If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him." God manifests His abundant mercy and love when He permits any one to suffer in this world for His name. "In hope of eternal life," with joy Paul could date his epistles "in bonds," and subscribe himself the "prisoner of Jesus Christ." The grace of Christ overcomes the world. God does not leave His children alone, but is very near to them when they suffer for Him. Missionaries and martyrs are always happy. Those were loud and heartfelt praises which Paul and Silas sang in the dungeon at Philippi. Though their feet were made fast in the stocks they enjoyed sweet communion with God.

The voice of analogy tells us to live for eternity. In the things of this world we look to the future for our rewards. The husbandman must sow his seed if he would reap a harvest. And as it is often true in nature, so in spiritual things we have the promise-"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."

Some one well observes that wheat, the most valuable grain, lies longest in the ground. "Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many days." Fortunes sometimes turn up in a day, but this is the exception, not the rule. Long

years of steady industry are generally necessary to acquire wealth. The professional man, who has any wellfounded hope of eminence, has laid his foundation deep and strong by unremitted study.

Is not that Christian wise, then, who lives not for this world, but for eternity? And is not this, indeed, the problem to be solved by every one-to find out how and where he can do the most good, for the longest time, to the greatest number of his fellow-men? Blessed will they be in heaven who, when on earth, "sowed beside all waters."

S.

"HOLD FAST TILL I COME." Ir is related that in one of the battles in the late war with Mexico, a company of brave soldiers were stationed to protect & battery, which was capable of doing great execution upon the enemy. In the course of the conflict, the hottest fight raged around this battery; the Mexicans were determined to take it, and despatched a large force for that purpose, and as their cavalry, the picked men of their army, came down with terrific force upon the little band who held it, they showed some signs of faltering. But loud above the din of battle rang out the clarion voice of their brave general, as he swept by to attack the enemy at another point,"Stand your ground till I can reinforce you;" and thus encouraged,

SUFFERING WITH CHRIST.-Shall I not be ashamed of the roses around my brow, when I see Him, and all the princes of His kingdom, with the crown of thorns? -Tholuck.

they held fast, and beat back their foes, though almost ten times their number.

Such is the Christian's position. To his care are committed the batteries of Divine truth; and the great Captain of his salvation has commanded him, "Hold fast till I come." The hosts of sin may rage around him; false doctrine, corrupt practice, the evil propensities of his own heart, and the deep depravities of a sinful world may, each in turn, or altogether, seek to drive him from his position; but high above all the din of conflict is heard the Saviour's voice, sounding out from the heavens, "Hold fast till I come." Thus encouraged, shall he falter? Shall he yield, for a moment, to the assaults of the adversary? No; for He who gives the charge hath passed into the heavens, and is no more liable to be delayed in His coming; and when the power of the foe is strongest, and the fight thickest, He will come, and will rout all His foes, and then the glory of this overcoming faith shall be given to those who have remained firm in the conflict-and to them shall be given thrones and dominions; to them, power over the nations; to them, best of all, the Morning Star,' Jesus Himself, shall be given as their friend, brother, and counsellor. Hold fast, then, till HE, our glorious leader, shall come. J. P.

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SCEPTICISM. -The eyes of the mind are like the eyes of the bodythey can see only to such a distance; but because they cannot see beyond this point, is there nothing beyond it?-Johnson.

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"An infidel, who lived opposite a chapel, was very desirous to attend, that he might hear the organ played. But he did not wish to listen to the Bible, nor hear the prayers. determined to attend, but concluded to stop both his ears during the services. It so happened, providentially, that during the reading of the Scriptures a fly alighted on his cheek-bone, and stung him severely. He bore the pain as long as he could, but was compelled, finally, to unstop his ear to brush him off. At that moment the minister was reading, 'He that hath ears to hear, let him hear!' It made such an impression upon his mind and heart, that he was converted to Christ."

The Christian Intelligencer authenticates the above as a true story, but corrects it in one or two particulars:

"The substance is correct, but not all the details. The officiating preacher was the Rev. Dr. Thomas Haweis, who died in 1820, nearly ninety years old. He was long one of Lady Huntingdon's chaplains, a rousing and successful preacher, and a Christian poet. A number of his hymns are published; among them, 'Dark was the night,' 'From the cross uplifted high,' &c. The man whose ear the fly opened was a coarse, drunken, profane tavern

keeper, living six miles off from the Aldwinkle Church, where Dr. Haweis was rector, and where crowds were in the habit of resorting. His love for music led him to the church, and there God met him in the singular way recounted above. After walking with God for eighteen years, he died, rejoicing in hope, and blessing God for the minister of his conversion."

JOHN CALVIN.

CALVIN was not of large stature; his complexion was pale, and rather brown; even to his last moments his eyes were peculiarly bright, and indicative of his penetrating genius.

He knew nothing of luxury in his outward life, but was fond of the greatest neatness as becoming his thorough simplicity.

His manner of living was so arranged that he showed himself equally averse to extravagance and parsimony; he took little nourishment-such being the weakness of his stomach, that for many years he contented himself with but one meal a day.

Of sleep he had almost none. His memory was incredible; he imme

diately recognised, after many years, those whom he had once seen, and when he had been interrupted for several hours in some work about which he was employed, he could immediately resume and continue it without reading again what he had before written.