tributes of God, every soul, both of saint and sinner, would be drawn by Him into the bosom of his love. But, whilst his love would draw all into himself, his attributes of holiness and justice repels the sinner. But with man, tainted with the effects of sin, the case is different. Charity, in him, hopeth all things; because he has found, that, "To him that believeth, all things are possible;" therefore he hopes that others will believe also. hopes, too, just as the farmer who cultivates his ground. He manures the soil, plows it carefully, keeps down the weeds, trims the trees of decayed and superfluous branches, and reasonably hopes for a fruitful harvest. So does he, in whose bosom glows the flame of charity, look for the fruits of his Christian labors, from the soil of those hearts who were committed to his care.-1 Cor. 10: 24.

He

In the storms of life, when its mighty ocean foams under the fury of the gale, and its billows break over the fragile bark of life, charity rides buoyantly over those waves; and, though the night be dark, her smiles cheer the tempest-tossed soul amidst the flashes and the roaring of the thunder; and pointing onward, with the lantern of faith in her hand, Look! says she, Do you see that vessel? We see it. There is Christ your Deliverer; "And there was a great calm."-Matt. 8: 26.

"And now abideth faith, hope, charity; these three; but the greatest of these is charity."

1C 12. 19

THE CROSS OF CHRIST.

"THEN said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me. For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it and whosoever will lose his life for my sake, shall find it."—Matt. 16: 24, 25. To deny self, or self-denial, is the first step in the spiritual life, and is the only entrance into Christ, who is "The door into the sheepfold. He that entereth not by this door, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber." -John, 10: 1. This denying of one's self, therefore, and taking up the cross and following Christ, is to lose one's life for Christ's sake, that he may find it again. That is, the life of self must be given up, in order that Christ may live in us. We must be enabled to say, with Paul, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."—Gal. 2: 20.

This losing one's life for Christ's sake, includes also a willingness even to lay down our natural life, rather than to offend him.

Our blessed Lord bore the cross during his whole life; not for his own sake, but for ours; that in all things, he might be our example.

Selfishness was the fall of our first parents in

Eden. From thence came death, and all our miseries. Now, we can never rise to a spiritual life in Christ, till this selfishness, which is the cause of death, be crucified.

"We preach Christ crucified," (said the great apostle of the Gentiles,) “unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ, the power of God, and the wisdom of God."1 Cor. 1: 23, 24.

Christ crucified is the power of God, because it is there that we feel our weakness, and "That no flesh can glory in his presence."-Ib. 29. And, in the profound annihilation of self, God raises the edifice of his own glory.

Christ crucified, is the wisdom of God; because man, left to the deceitfulness of his own heart, would never think of denying himself and taking up his cross; therefore, God in his wisdom, sends him the cross as the only hope of his salvation.

"The preaching of the cross is to them that perish, foolishness; but unto us who are saved, it is the power of God."-Ib. 1: 18.

It is our heavenly Father's will that we be perfect. "Be ye perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect."-Matt. 5: 48. Even our Lord Jesus Christ, "The Captain of our salvation, was made perfect through sufferings."-Heb. 2: 10. How then, can we, poor, fallen, sinful crea

learned he obedience by the things which h fered."-Heb. 5: 8. How, then, can we obedience, but through sufferings?

Some may, perhaps, feel in this way: I d expect to become perfect. I aspire not to p tion. No one is perfect but God, and no one become perfect. I shall be satisfied if I can g heaven, whether I am perfect or not. To th would answer, we are commanded to be perfec Matt. 5: 48, and whatever is commanded, is att able. Job had attained this perfection; for read, that "Job was perfect and upright."1: 1. "Noah, also, was perfect—and walked w God."-Gen. 6: 9. So was David also, before death.-2 Sam. 22: 33.

"There was in the days of Herod, the king Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, and 1 wife Elizabeth," (the parents of John the Baptis "and they were both righteous before God, wal ing in all the commandments and ordinances of th Lord blameless.”—Luke, 1: 5, 6. He was also perfect man; for had he not been perfect, he coul not, in the sight of God, have been blameless. Now since all these holy men became perfect, and "Wer made perfect through sufferings," we also by the grace of God, can be made perfect in the same way, if we are willing. "All things are possible to him that believeth.'-Mark, 9: 23.

Not to aspire to perfection, but just to become holy enough to enter into heaven, is the servile

of a child of God. O! what would you think of a child who would love you only for the sake of the bread that you gave him? You expect more than that of your child; and so does God expect more of his children than that they should love and obey him, only for the sake of the reward they would receive, You expect that your child will love you because you are his father; even if you were unable to give him a crumb of bread. So does our heavenly Father expect that his children will love him, even if he had no bread to give them, and no heaven with which to reward them. To love God for his own divine perfections alone, is the love which is his due; and no other love but that will ever enable us to deny ourselves, and take up the cross and follow a crucified Savior. It will be found, in the day of trial, that the mere hope of heaven, or fear of hell, will not be a sufficient stimulus to buoy us up, when, in anguish of heart, we are forced to cry out with David, "All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me."-Pslm. 42: 7. Nothing, then, but the pure love of God can sustain the soul. This love of God is found only where there is obedience to his blessed will. "If a man love me, he will keep my words."John, 14: 23.

When I think of the trials of God's dear children, my heart yearns toward them. Let me say unto them, as Paul formerly said in his epistle to the Romans, "We know that all things work together for good,

that love God to them who are the called