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'^•li'iim^^l

BIBLE PALM-TREES;

OR,

CHRISTIAN LIFE ILLUSTRATED.

Mm,„ . II 1 7 *'""=^'""y on their pruud heads. The

hou.eof the I ord h rfl"- \^"''' "•*' "^ P'"'"««' '" 'he

-Hu iiic naoits of this nob e trwe w th u/K ,.k .» j
ku sacred ode.'— Dk THoiianiT 7^ *^"' «'h«-h to adorn

BIBLE
PALM-TREES;

OR,

Cferistran fife |IIustratxir.

SAMUEL G. PHILLIPS,

/tu/Aor o/'« Sacred Names," ''Modern Prodigal Son •
or, the Lost Found,'' &c., &-c.

•th ft-rth^'if .^'.'..^„"m* ' *'** ^^V"^ "y *"« ^"""^ "' ^t«r. that bring.

THIRD EDITION.

TORONTO :
/--V HUNTER, ROSE & CI

i</«

^ MONTMAL : F. B. GRi^OH.

gy*~0>.

/5.fp^^-'

'-^..^^..^.

^jMkd^t^^^^^ ^*^

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■^

.V >

PREFACE.

pIE Author's design is, not to pre-
sent to his readers a critical sur-

vey of doctrine, but to suggest

thoughts for the edification and comfort of
Christian hearts, and to inspire a constant
effort for the higher life of holiness ; and if
his readers are unconverted, to induce in
their hearts a desire for the most valuable
of all treasures— Christian Life.

If this little messenger of good should be
instrumental in the conversion of souls to
Chriut, and the sanctification o! Dei.evers,
its work is done.

* Come, Holy Ghwt, our hearts inspire,
Let us thine influence prove,
Source of the old prophetic fire,
Fountain of light and love. •

i I

CONTE]>^TS.

PART I.

Christian EMBBLusFMCNTa^
Faith,
Love,
Ubeciiei.ce,
Patience,
Meekness,
Courage,
Gratitude,
Truth,
Hope,
Juyfuloess,

PART II.

Christian Fruitfulness,

The Christian ever a Fruitbearer. !
Hi»i.ruiti»Lifc'£tcrnaJ, .

PART III.
Christian PsRritcTioN,
Interrogations,
Its Nature explained,
Proved, . .

rAGB

»7
•5

34
41
4y
57
66

•1

99
S9>

. 10$

. 107
• 109

Pli

CONTENl^S.
PART IV.

CHRISTr/»N R»I.AT,ONSH»P8.

To (Jod^

T'> the Church Militan^,

loihe Church rritjii,«uat,'

PART V,

CKRrSTIAN PRrvrtEGES.

PlHiired by the River of Life.

Plained, . '

The Christian a Tree of Gods Plant,

PART VI.

Christian Dutv and Succbs*.
Christikn Labour, ,
PfouwKsd Prosperily, \

ing,

PACE

• "4
. 174

» r4«

•

»47

•

.,»5«

• 166

3^^0*i^^^-@^?^

PART I.

CHRISTIAN EMBELLISHMENTS.

»i,*.^°'' ^''^^ ^« »" « »■•« planted by the waters, and
that s, readcth out her roots by the r.ver, and shall not see
when heat cometh l.ut her leaf shall be gr.en ; and shall
not be careful .n the year of Hr.,ught, neither shall cease
fruni y.eld.ng fmit.'—jHH. xvii. 8.

l-Jk^^r^^J' "1^ '"'"' P'^'*'''*"' ^" '*'°"' O love, for de-
lights! Ihis thy stature is l.ke to a palm-tree. I
said I will go up to the palm-tree, I wll take hold of the
boughs thereof. '—boi.oMON'sSoNCJVii 6 -. 8

•I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be
jovful ,n my God ; for He hath riothed me with the gar-
^lents of salvation, He hath cove ed me with the robe of
righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself w.th orna-
ments, and as a bride adorncih hei. elf with her jewels '-

ISA. LXI. lo.

HE palm-tree of the Bible was
beautiful, lofty, and fruitful,— life-
receiving, life-retaining, life-giv-
ing ; the symbol of the true, the beautiful,
and the good. It was the symbol of the
beautiful The beautiful invariably inspires

■I,

EMBELLISHMENTS.

■n the humane mind the sensations of plea-
sure and delight Its philosophy is a most
».eres.,ng study. But amidst the scen« oj
the beautiful, Christian life occupies an m-
portant and prominent position, and can™,
be contemplated without the most pleasur
able emofons. Dear reader, we inv'e your
attention .0 a few Christian Embelush
MHNTs : faith, love, obedience, pa it ce"
m^lcness c„u,.ge, gratitude, .;,.!;, ^^^
and joyfulness. Faith first; for fafth
I.es at the ...,«/,/,. From theVj/o^t
palm-tree comes all its life and beauty its
wide-spreading boughs, its beautiful lelv

ftf a the root of all the graces of the
Chns.,an.,ife;Uis.hecomme„ceme„tor

FAITH.
•Stephen, a man full of faith. '—Acts ti. 5.

HE faith of this first CHRISTIAN
MARTYR had its nature, and its
nature was trust; it had its ob-
ject, Jesus was its object ; it had its end, and
salvation was its end. In that faith Jesus
was all. Stephen trusted in Jesus ; and Jesus,
in whom he trusted, poured upon him all the
blessings of his full salvation.

In the man full of faith there is no room
for doubting ; the doubting Christian is never
happy, and never successful. The counte-
nance of the man full of faith is always
radiant with joy ; he seems to breathe a
different atmosphere to the doubting sons
and daughters of earth. By faith he lives
loose from earth. Christian ! this world
M'as nothing to Stephen ; he lived above
it, or he would not so readily have gone

to the martyr's death. I have seen a

CHRISTIAN

pictonal representation of a man strong
IN FAITH, standing on the globe, hoFding
in one hand the Bible, and in the other the
cross. Can anything more lovely be con-
caved, than a man having under his feet

ie!.r :,"!•!,' "'' P'-^^P^-ty and adversity,
health .nd affliction, joy and sorrow ?

• Thus with the Chnstian filled with faith divine
Above the world he soars in heavenly cSme '

The Book of Truth his guide from day to day •
The man full of faith is always successful.
Theres mighty power in faith, as well as
beauty Christian ! have you many weak-
nesses? Do you make many failures? Do
you often come short of the mark ? It is
because of unbelief Jesus said unto his
d.saples: 'Verily I say unto you, //^,
havefatth as a grain of mustard- seei ye
shall say unto this mountain. Remove hence
to yonder Place, and it shall remove; and
nothing shall be impossible unto you: Are
there mountains of sins in your way to holi-
ness? If you have faith as a grain of mus-
terd-seed you shall say to those mountains,
Remove hence to yoixder place, and they

EMBELLISHMENTS. 13

shall remove, and nothing shall be impos-
sible unto you. Read the nth chapter of
Hebrews, and see the faith of the elders,—
of Abel, of Enoch and Noah, of Abraham
and Sarah, of Isaac and Jacob, of Joseph
and Moses; also of Gideon, Barak, Samson,
Jephtha, Samuel, and the prophets ; * who
through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought
righteousness, obtained promises, stopped
the mouths of lions, quenched the violence
of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of
weakness were made strong, waxed valiant
in fight, turned to flight the armies of the
aliens.*

Faith has ever been the sufferer's and
THE MARTYR'S shield, and has added lustre
to his brow ; so that he appeared beautiful in
torture and in death. One of the beauties
of faith is, that all can possess it,--the king
or the peasant ; and the more simple, it is
the more beautiful. I have read of a king
of Sweden, who some time before his death
was impressed with the importance of spiri-
tual RELIGION. He asked to see a peasant
whom he knew to be a person of singular
piety ; and the peasant being admitted to

CHRISTIAN

% \

the king's bedside, the king asked hfm what
he thought to be the nature o{ saving faith t
He, answering simply, exemplified its nature.
by speaking the language of the believing
soul ; and thus spoke much to the kin-'s
comfort and satisfaction. As the king neared
death his doubts returned, and he frequently
' expressed those doubts to those around him
His attendants advised him to send for the
Archbishop of Upsal, who, coming to th- king
gave a very learned and logical disquisition
and scholastic definition of faith, lasting one
hour. When he had done, the king with
much energy exclaimed, 'All this is ingeni-
ous, but not comfortable ; it is not what I
want. Nothing, after all, but the farmer's
faith will do for me.'

Christian ! be not content without liv-
ing faith. If your faith die, all your graces
' languish ; with faith they live, and without
U they die. The faith of the timorous Peter
gave way when he attempted to walk to his
Master on the sea, and he began to sink.
Lose thy faith, Christian, and thou arr in
instant danger; the gulf of dark damnation
lies beneath thy feet Let your prayer be,

EMBELLISHMENTS. 15

* Lord, increase my faith ;' ' Lord, I believe,
help Thou my unbelief.*

Fellow-Christian ! spread thy wings
of faith, soar upward in thy grandeur : thou
art the loved child of Jesus, who is the

* fairest among ten thousand, and the alto-
gether lovely.' Soar upward daily to thy
Father ; until thou art permitted to dwdl
with Him, and see Him as He is.

• Tlie thing surpasses all my thought z
But faithful is my Lord ;
Through unbelief I stagger not,
For (jod hath spoke the word.

Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees,

And looks to that alone ;
Laughs at impossibilities,

And cries, " It shall be done.*

Obedient faith, that wails on The«,

Thou never wilt reprove ;
But Thou wih form thy Son in me,

And perfect me in love.'

• 1.0 f on the eastern summit, clad in gray.
Mom, like a horseman girt for Iraye! comes
And from his tower of mist
Night's watchman hurries down.

t$ EMBELLISHMENTS.

The pious man
In this bad world, where mists and couchant

storms
Hide heaven's fine circlet, springs aloft in faith
Above the clouds that threat Iiim, to the fields
Of ether, where the day is never veiled
"With intervening vapours ; and looks down
Serene upon the troublous sea that hides
The earth's fair breast, that sea whose nether face
To grovelling mortals frowns and darkens all ;
But on whose billowy back, from man concealed,
The glaring sunbeam plays.'

I1&NRY KiRKE Whits.

rs.

man

and couchant

■^^^^e-fSK

aloft in faith
to the fields
eiled
aks down

hides
ise nether face
darkens all •
an concealed,

E White.

LOVE.

'And thou Shalt love the I,ord thy God with all thtne
heari. and w.th all thy soul, and w.th all thy miglu _
Deit. VI. 5. * ■

' Bu' th,.u shall .ove thy neighbour as tb»-S€lf: I am
t^e Lord '—Lev. xix 18.

'Though I speak wih the tongues of men and ofanpftis
■nu t:..ve n„t charity, I am become as suund.rg bra«. o. a
tinkl.Mg cymbal. And though I have the gif. .,! -j^

. V '"'.! "''''-^'^t'-id all mvMeries, and all knowledge:
ami .hough I have all fa,th. so that I could remove moun-
tams. and have not chanty, I am nothmg. And though
I bestow an my goods to feed the poor, and though I
g.ve my body to be bnrned. and have not char.ty, .t pro-
fiteth me nothmg.'— i Cok. xiii. 1-3.

'Love is a clear stream which flows with gentle mur-
nuir.ngs over the surface of other pa.ss.ons. Allow ,t to
keep ,ts own channel, and its glassy bosom holds a heaven
« unT h'" '?''*"'■''• *"^ " ""^^'^ 'trough muddy
SXt?:./^" """ '" '^^'^""" d.stastefui.J

THKEH . R, T THE GKEATEST OF THESE IS CHAKITY.'-
I ^>OK. XIII. l^

[ELIGION IS A TREE, of which
faith is the root, love is the body,
and obedience, truth, hope, pa-
tience, and peace are the branches.

!i )

r I

CHRISTIAN

WiTHTN the Christian's bosom there is a
voice ; it bids him hear the helpless in their
hour of woe : it is the voice of ,)ure Christian
charity.

Faithful Christian friend ! allow me
to present before you this adornment, not
to excite pride, for pride is unholy; but
rather to induce thankfulness to the Giver
of all good, that He has seen fit so de-
lightfully to EMBELLISH CHRISTIAN CHA-
RACTER. Christian perfection is said to be
perfect love; and perfect love is love to God.
It IS SINCERE.— Christian ! if thy love
is that of mere pretension— hypocritical— it
is not perfect. ' Jesus said unto him, Thou
Shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy
heart, and with all thy soul, and with all
thy mind' (Matt. xxii. ^j).

It IS PROGRESSIVE— It admits of being
stronger and purer. The more you know
of God, the more you will love Him ; the
more you enjoy of his heavenly presence,
the more you will love Him ; the more and
brighter are the manifestations of his love
to )'ou, the more will your love elow fnward.i
Him.

EMBELLISHMENTS.

5om there is a
Ipless in their
)ure Christian

ND ! allow me
ornment, not
unholy J but
to the Giver
;n fit so de-

ISTIAN CHA-

is said to be
love to God.
! if thy love
jocritical — it
him, Thou
vith all thy
■nd with all

its of being
; you know
; Him ; the
y presence,
e more and
of his love
,ow towards

It is constant.— It is not transferable
to others. Such is unsanctified love, and
not the perfect love.

It is superlative.— Love in the highest
degree. He who thus loves is beautiful,
and all beauty has its special lines of de-
marcation. The beauty of the stately palm-
vree is seen in its height, the form of its
boughs, the colour of its leaves and flowers,
and the richness of its fruit.

Reader, we here present to you a few of
the marks of perfect love : — u/, A desire
to be like God. It is natural to imitate and
to resemble, as far as possible, the Being we
love. This is the '- .son why thou art called
godly, godlike, which means like God.

idly, Delighting in communion with God.
The Church in Solomon's Song is repre-
sented as saying, ' He brought me into his
banqueting-hojtse, and his banner over me
was love.* The gospel is a feast of com-
munion and love ; and one of its chief in-
ducements to fallen men to come to Christ,
is the promise of communion with Christ :
* Behold, i stand at the door, and knock :
if any man hear my voice, and open the

CHRISTIAN

door I will come in to him, and will sup
with him, and he with me.'

Dear Reader, art thou unconverted?
Jesus IS now knocking at your heart. Open
unto Him, and He has promised to feast with
you ; and the feast shall be everlastmg love
Earnest Christian Fkiknd! how
sweet is communion with God here ' But
this is only the earnest money-the foretaste
01 the more blessed communion of heaven.
•And if our fellowship below

In Jesus be so sweet,
What heights of rapture shall we know
When round his throne we meet 1'

Idly, Perfect love is manifested in a sacred
regard for the house, ordinances, and wor-
ship of God. It says, ' A day spem in thy
courts is better than a thousand. I had
rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my
God, than to dwell in the tents of wicked-
ness.'

Christian ! if you have no lottgings for
the Sabbath, no special delight in the ordi-
nances of religion ; if you carelessly disregard
those wellsprings of life and salvation ; if
your pew IS olten vacant in the sanctuary

EMBELLISHMENTS. 31

and your place in the social and prayer
. circle empty ; if family and private prayer
is neglected day after day,— then you DO
NOT POSSESS this perfect love.

^thly, It is manifested in a sense of grief
when Jesus hides his face. There are hours
of darkness as well as sunshine in the Chris-
tian's life ; then, like his Master, he ex-
claims, ♦ My God, my God, why hast Thou
forsaken me ?' ' O that I could find Him
whom my soul loveth ! ' As you peruse these
pages, is your heart desolate and sad ? If
sin has not brought the cloud, Jesus stands
behind it, and smiles still, and says to you,
'Cheer up, tempted child of heaven;
darkness endureth but for a night, and
joy Cometh in the morning.' Then we might
add to this confidence in his promises, obe-
dience to his will, and love for his truth
and people. ' ,

The Christian's love is love to man :
' Thou Shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.'
The angel of love looks up to God with
gratitude and adoring wonder for the hea-
venly blessings dropping upon her pathway;
and, with smiling benevolence, gathers them,

in ^

1(11
'III

CHRISTIAN

and bestows those blessings upon the needy
on every hand. To the poor, drinking the
dregs of the cup of poverty ; to the afflicted,
Iy«ng on beds of languishing ; to the sin-
stained and sin-cursed, drawing them out of
the m.re, and setting their feet upon the
Rock of Ages,' snatching them from hell, and
raismg them to heaven. Perfect love must be
manifested toward foe as well as friend. Said
the beneficent Jesus : ' I say unto you, Love
your enemies.' Is there any religion in the
world that can make man so glorious?
Not any. This religion is distinguished
above all others as a religion of pure, uncor-
Zmt '^'''"'^'^'^^'*' *"^ self-sacrificing

Charity is the very climax of all Chris-
fan graces. It < sufTereth long, and is kind ;'
It IS not over-sensitive, is not easily offended,
is not' easily provoked.' Some people are
so sensitive, that a look, a gesture, a word
spoken without being intended, will make
them enemies for life. There can be no
stronger proof of that soul being totally
destitute of Christian love or chant. . ^
chanty thinketh no evil,' and will not 'take

EMBELLISHMENTS.

jpon the needy
R, drinking the
o the afflicted,
I ; to the sin-
ig them out of
feet upon the
from hell, and
:t love must be
5 friend. Said
i^to you, Love
eligicn in the
► GLORIOUS?
distinguished
"pure, uncor-
If- sacrificing

of all Chris-
and is kind ;*
»ily offended,
J people are
:ure, a word
, will make
can be no
?ing totally
:harifv • fpi.

''ill not take

offenre without the most positive evidence
that offence was intended. ' Charity envieth
not,' — is not jealous. Jealousy is cruel as the
grave ; but chanty is kind, and loves to see
anothcrs good. Envy is selfish : * charity
seeketh not her own.' Cliarity is pure:
'rcjoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in
the truth;' ' Beareth all things, believeth
all things, hopeth all things, endureth all
things.'

* But true reHfrion, spnUig from God above.
Is like her fountain — full of cliarity ;
Embracing all things with a tender love,
Full of goodwill and meek expectancy,
Full of true justice and sure verity
In heart and voice : free, large, even infinite;
Not wedged in strait particularity.
But grasping all in her vast active sprite-
Bright lamp of God, that men would joy in thy
pure light.'

* Til' love appear, we live in anxious doubt ;
But smoke will vanish when that Fame breaks
out.

This is the fire that would consume our dross,
Retme and make us richer by the loss.
Could we forbear dispute, and j)raciise iove^
We should agree as angels do above.

^'^BELI.ISHMENTS.

Both Faith and Hon ?'"' ''^y ''='""i
Of mora, vinues""^; '"" "" ""> ">=>"« "ato
Love only enr„t' ^""^ '■^''in-

Forb„7i„"hi':'''°"f'-V'>ere,

Weak thoughTie ,1°," ■""■• ^'J'"™ ^"''■

Unruly passions, whose ^ffi.^*
Than thorns and fM fi ^'^ ^°''««

awe.' ^^ '^'^"^ ^P""^ing from the

TENTS,

ce alone does find
les stay behind.
'I the meaner train
I" remain,
there ;

JUt sojourn here.
• 's no hard task,
Heaven does ask :
St and temperate

rs, for his sake,
fertile ground,
ust with weeds

are worse
inging from the

OBEDIENCE.

•Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength,
that uo h.s coinmandineHts, hcarken.ng unto the voice of
his word.'— Ps. cm. 20.

* As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves accord-
ing to ihe tur.„er lusts ,n your .gnorance : but as He which
hath called you .s holy, so be ye holy m all manner of

ZyZTll;. T:^T " """"' ""^ '' '"'^ ■ '"' ' ^'"

♦.,* ^! ^! \^'^^'^^^S and obedient, ye shall eat the good of
the land: but if ye reluse and rebel, ye shall be de-

spTe'n .I'-lt. rt 'o.'"' ""' """^ °^ ''^ '-' ^^^
Faith, love and obedience are sister graces. This Mad
stands side by s,de, and hand m hand, and all are ne-
ces.sary e.nbell.shments of Christian life; indeed, without
obed.ence. ta.th .s worthless, and love <s noth.ng. ' Faith
wuhout works .s dead.- And iove ^ the fulriLg of the
law, which IS perfect obedience.

So LIKEWISE YE, WHEN VB SHALL HAVE DONE ALL
THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE COMMANDED VOU SAV Wh
ARE UNPROFITABLE SERVANTS: WE HAVE DONE THAT
WHICH WAS OUR DUTY TO OO.'-LUKE XVII. ,o.

|N this passage the Christian sees
his heavenly Father robed in

majesty. He hears his call ; in

answer to that call he traverses the mighty
deep, braves dangers without r^'oining, and

CHRISTIAN

overcomes life's most mountainous difficul-
ties, and says, 'I am an unprofftable ser-
vant: I have only done that which was my
duty to do.'

Christian ! only think, thy Bible name
IS Servant ; and what God requires of thee
is to be a servant true. N ot an eye-servant.
If It IS that the eye of Jesus is looking upon
you that only inspires obedience, thy soul
may forget the present Jesus, and rebel.
Perfect is that Christian heart that
cuU.vates obedience when Jesus hides his
face. The true servant ever waits his mas-
ter's bidding, is near by his master's side.
The Christian is found often in prayer. It
IS his meat and drink to do his heavenly
Master's will. Christian ! if you do no-
thmg for Jesus, nothing to bring men to
Him, nothing to replenish his church or
advance his kingdom, you are not a faith-
ful servant ; and cannot expect by and by
to hear the welcome sentence, « Well done
good and faithful servant.' '

The true servant labours in his mas-
ter's cause. Christian Brother ! there is
a work for you. *VVork the works of Him

EMBELLISHMENTS.

y Bible name
quires of thee
1 eye-servant,
looking upon
nee, thy soul
i, and rebel.

HEART that
us hides his
lits his mas-
laster's side.
I prayer. It
lis heavenly

you do no-
ing men to
• church or
not a faith-

by and by
Well done,

in his mas-
ER ! there is
ks of Him

who hath sent you while it is called to-day ;
for the night cometh, when no man can
work.' * Work out your own salvation with
fear and trembling.' First, then, you are to
secure your own salvation, and then there is
other work for you to do : precious souls for
whom the Saviour died are perishing, and
Jesus calls upon you to labour for their con-
version. You are not to say, like selfish
Cain, * Am I my brother's keeper V You are
to remember that * he who converteth a sir
ner from the error of his v ays. shall save a
soul from death, and hide a multitude of sins.*

The faithful servant seeks his master's
glory. One of the highest Christian aims is
the GLORY OF God. Then,

Christians! think of your sacred duties
as the sons of God. All living intelligences
in the universe should obey God, because
He is the Parent "of all. But there are higher
motives for Christian obedience. The Chris-
tian is God's by creation^ providence^ and
adoption; — created by Him, providentially
preserved by Him, and adopted into his
family, through the atonemeni of our Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ. The son's love

'TTfT

I (

I II

CHRISTIAN

for the parent should be perfect ; and per-
fect love will produce perfect obedience.

Christian ! your obedience should be
personal. You cannot serve God by proxy;
another, however devoted, cannot offer your
prayers, or substitute his faith for your faith,
or give alms to religious or benevolent ob-
jects for you : your prayers, faith, and sacri-
fices must all be your own.

Your obedience should be sincere, not from
impure motives, such as self-interest. If your
obedience requires self-sacrifice, you must be
prepared to make it. The blessed mar-
tyrs OBEYED UNTO DEATH : you may not
be thus circumstanced ; but yet you are
called upon, in self-sacrijice, to follow them
even as they followed Christ.

Your obedience should be affectionate^
from love, not from slavish fear. The fet-
tered slave serves his master from a dread
of him ; but the Christian serves his out of
love to Him. Your obedience to God should
be active. 'Fervent' and 'zealous' are terms
employed to denote the manner of perform-
ing your solemn Christian duties.

Your obedience should be universal It

:t ; and per-
edience.

should be
d by proxy;
)t offer your
r your faith,
levolent ob-
1, and sacri-

^re, not from
2st. If your
you must be

iSSED MAR-

ou may not
et you are
bllow them

Tectionate —
. The fet-
)m a dread
i his out of
God should
5' are terms
if perforni-

'versal. It

FMB ELLIS HMENTS, 39

is not sufficient that you obey God in part.
Vou may serve and worship God on the Sab-
bnth ; yet if you do work therein, or violate
the Sabbath in any other way, you are not
obedient. You may not kill, or commit adul-
tery ; yet if you dishonour your parents, and
bear false witness against your neighbour,
you are not obedient. • He who breaks one
of these commandments is guilty of all.'

Your obedience should be conspicuous.
*Ye are the lights of the world,'— 'a city
set upon a hill that cannot be hid.' Your
obedience is manifested in the performance
of all your Christian duties. My fellow-
traveller TO HEAVEN, there are great ad-
vantages in obedience. It gives a settled
peace. There is something delightful in the
thought, • I am performing all my religious
duties in the fear of God.' On the other
hand, if we can think of important duties
often neglected, how much have we to reflect
upon ourselves ! and, under those circum-
stances, if the conscience is tender, the
mind cannot be at ease. Is the closet ne-
glected ? Has the family altar fallen down?
Is the sanctuary forsaken .? Is the heart shut

*> cnjirsT/Aiv

against benevolent necessities ? Then th.™
can be no settled peace. Again J. s ,e„ce"

these Chnstmns l,ve, and love one another i-
In the truly obedient Christian, 1 see a
man smmming against the tide, overcoming
obstacles, braving dangers, resisting tlr
t.on opp„s,ng sin,_in a word, serving God
aga„ „pp„,„, ,„, counteractin^g'^r

h,fr,^. ""T^^ ■ ""^'■'^"■' <•" 'he other
hand the danger of disobedience. Those
who disobey are enemies to God, and caT
no. escape his frown,- m..y pCLT.

are hurled against the disobedient
In the interesting and fruitful land of

Palestme a certain man owned a vineyard
He was not one of the richer class, who le
out thetr vineyards to husbandmen but one
whose sons perform the daily toi „f e„l!

'r™-'"- had two sons,- and 'he sad
«nto the firs., My son, go work this day in
myvmeyard' The son replied, ', win n'ot"
but afterward repented and went He saii ■
also unto the second, • My son, go work this

EMBELLISHMENTS, 31

day in my vineyard.' The son replied, ' I
go, sir,' and went not. Was the course
pursued by either of those sons laudable?
No, NEITHER. Both were rebellious, ami
rebellious against a loving parent. Is re-
bellion against love proper.? NEVER, NO
NEVER. Christians ! you are the sons and
daughters of the MOST HIGH ; and He
has a spiritual vineyard, in which He has
commanded you to work. You are to work
for your own and others' spiritual benefit.
Perhaps from the very first you have been
rebellious J you have said, */ will not:
Allow me to remind you, you have rebelled
against the best Friend of man, against in-
finite love, against the Author of your being, •
against Him who has surrounded you with
good from the very beginning of life— good,
temporal and spiritual. He has supplied
your table with its dainties, clothed you, and
shielded you in danger ; but more than this,
He has redeemed you by the death of his
only begotten Son ; respecting whom the
poet hath sung :

* He paid the price amazing to compute,
Archangels fail to cast the mighty sum :

CHRISTIAN

Heaven that hour let fall a tear;
Heaven wept that man might smile.
Htaven bled that man might never die.'

Then He has surrounded you with all the
benefits of that death ; has instituted in
your midst the means of grace. The river
OF L,FE flows at your very feet; and the
wells of salvation are found along all the
pathway to heaven ; and the tree of life
grows by your dwelling-place, offering you
shelter, shade, food, and medicine. And
He who has surrounded you with so many
favours is the Being against whom you have
rebelled ! But, perhaps, you have been like
the second son ; you have said, ' I go sir*
and went not. You have promised 'your
HEAVENLv Father often that you would
commence the work. Perhaps that promise
was made under an impressive sermon, ap-
plied by the Spirit to your heart ; or by the
bedside of a lovely child, or a beloved
partner, changing time for eternity. But
HAVE YOU kept THAT PROMISE? I ask you'
in the sight of God, and under the immediate
eye of Heaven, have you kept that promise ? •
if you nave not, you have been positively

EMBELLlJSiHMENTS. 33

guilty of hypocrisy, deception, and false-
hood; and your case is worse than that of
h.m who said, '/ will not: but afterward
repented and went ; for by him the work
was done, though at a late hour. But you
answered, ^ I go, sir,' and by that means
inspired confidence, and then allowed the
necessary work to remain undone. The
course pursued by neither is proper ; but
his is preferable to yours.

' The God of love^his creatures calls,
His word and precepts to obey :
Some readily respond, " I will,"
And, thoughtless, turn from Him away.

The course pursued bv him.

Who, repentant, turns to'christ,
Though late as may be seen,

The path he takes is best.''

• A charge to keep I have,
A God to glorify,
A never-dying soul to save, }

And fit it for the sky. ^

To se^re the present age,

My calling to fulfil •
O may it all my powers •flgage,

To do my Master's will.'
C

-^--^

PATIENCE.

' Hut let patience have her perfect work, that ye may
l»e perlect and entire, wanting nothing.'— J as. i. 4.

'Knowing th.s, that the trying of your faith worketh
patience.'— J AS. I. 3.

'And not only so. but we glory in tribulations also:
knowing that tr bulation worketh patience.'— Rom. v. 3.

' Wherefore, seeing we al.so are compassed about with
so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight
and the sin wh ch doth so easily beset us, a..d let us run w.th
patience the race that is set before us. lo .king unto Jesus
the author and finisher of our fa.th.'— Heb. xii. i, 2. '

' The patient Christian, surrounded with affliction does
not despair, nor even repine. He knows the coming hour
may br ng him relief, and over-pay all his suflering.s with a
tide of joy. He beholds w.th pat .nee the past and present
nor presumes to arraign Providence, whose disposals are
most wise. Patience under afflction is the greatest magna-
nnnity: a true Christian Adornment.'— l/niwrsa/ Ma^.

•I KNOW THY WORKS, AND THV LABOUR. AND THY PA-
TIENCE; . . . AND HAST BO.<NE, AND HAST PATIENCE
AND FOR MY NAME'S SAKE HAST LABOURED, AND HAST
NOT FAINTED.'— Rev. II. a, 3.

N the reign of Mary, when so
many in England suffered death
for their religion, there was a
devoted woman brought on trial before
Bonner, Bishop of London. The bishop

EMBELLISHMENTS, 35

said to her, ' I will take away thy husband.'
The woman replied, 'Christ is my hus-
band.' Then he returned, ' I will take away
thy child.' This brought from her, ' Christ
is better to me than sons and daughters.'
Said the bishop, filled with rage, 'I will
strip thee of all thy outward comforts.'
Then replied that noble woman, ' But Christ
is mine, and you cannot strip me of Him.'

Here is the very picture of pa-
tience. A pious female deprived of hus-
band, children, and all earthly comforts,
not repining, nor feeling her lot to be a hard
one, because she still possessed Christ.

This lovely Christian grace is not stoical
indifference nor spiritless insensibility. It
implies calm endurance, or bearing with
equanimity all evil, affliction, pain, and
painful labours, or envious provocations.
The patient lamb is its symbol.

There are many things to try this special
grace. Do you want evidence of this.? I
ask you to visit the chambers of suffering.
Some are tortured on the rack of anguish
for months and years, and every bodily
ailment is theirs. When their physician

CHRISTIAN

describes their state, he says there is a com-
plication of diseases. When their friends
speak of them, they say it would be better
for them to depart and be with Christ, they
suffer so much. But what do they say.?
They say, * All is well.' ' These light afflic-
tions, which are but for a moment, shall
work out for me a far more exceeding and
eternal weight of glory.' * I was never so
happy as now. My pathway is radiant.'
Then there are many provocations. It is
proper for the Christian, as well as the man
of the world, to cherish a due appreciation
of self, and to guard as much as possible his
own and family interest. In the family, in
the workshop, at the mart of business, and
in the world, he must necessarily meet with
many persons and things that will clash

WITH HIMSELF AND INTEREST. He has tO

contend with thoughtlessness and ignorance,
with perverseness and malice, with the
scorpion tongue of the backbiter, and the
secret, silent slanderer and with the way-
ward tendencies of his own nature. Per-
haps before his conversion he was proud,
irritable, and inclined to retaliation ; but

EMBELLISHMENTS. yf

unc'-r the influence of grace, he looks with
calmness and peace upon them aU. Do the
thoughtless, ignorant, and foolish taunt?
He smiles a heavenly smile. Do malice
and revenge seek to strip him of all earthly
good, and to deprive him of the most sacred
of all earthly possessions, his reputation?
He may mournfully think, ' He that steals
my purse, steals trash ; but he that robs me
of my good name, robs me of that which
not enriches him, but makes me poor in-
deed.' But he looks with holy fortitude
and with patient resignation to heaven, and
says, 'Lay not this sin to their charge.'
He may be informed with regard to the
efforts of the backbiter, and the secret, silent
slandeier; but he feels as calm ind tran-
quil as though the scorpion sting had never
pierced him. He is the stately palm-tree,
deeply rooted by the river of life ; the storms
and hurricanes of years might beat upon
^im, but yet he stands immovable-MAjES-
fiCALLY PEACEFUL —amidst the rage ot

men and fif^ri- '^v- ,

— „!u nciiGo. xhc persecuted David

exclaimed, ' They rewarded me evil for good •

but as for me, when they were sick, my

CHRISTIAN

c.?othing was sackcloth.' The first of the
martyr train, under a shower of stones, ex-
claimed, * Lord, lay not this sin to their
charge.' And, behold, a greater than David
and Stephen is here. Behold Hna, who
was King of kings, Lord of lords, very God
of very God, condescending to take to him-
self our human nature, and live a sufferinff
life, and die the shameful death of the cross
for our salvation, and with his last breath, his
murderers before Him, exclaiming, * Father,
forgive them ; they know not what they do.'
Dear Reader ! here are a few reasons
why you should cultivate the grace of pa-
tience. First, your own ignorance of your
real need. If you suffer from pain and
disease of body, from the decay of your
corporeal frame, how do you know which
will best subserve your real good, health or
affliction "i David said, * It was good for
me that I have been afflicted, else I had
gone astray.' If you suffer under adverse
circumstances, how do you know which will
best subserve your highest good and true
interest, riches or poverty .? And so through
all the multiplied relations of life.

EMBELLTSHMENTS. 39

Then think upon some of the perfections
of Christ your Saviour.

His immutability. Your sufiferings are
all in accordance with the immutable will
of Christ. When He wills their continu-
ance, you cannot shorten them; and when
He wills to release you, your most mali-
cious enemies cannot prolong them. ' In
Christ we live, and move, and have our
being.' Therefore, to complain or to repine
under suffering, is to repine against God,
AGAINST Christ. Do not forget, if you
suffer, Christ wills it, and for your good,
that you might reign with Him.

Then the holiness of Christ. In
Him there is no evil passion, no evil design,
no impure motives, no unrighteousness.
Your chastisements are all in accordance
with the rectitude of his own nature and his
ETERNAL LAW, Man might cause a fellow-
being to suffer merely to gratify an evil
passion. Not so with Christ. He who died
an ignominious death upon the cross to save
man from, suffering, will surely not cause
man to suffer more than is necessary to
promote his real good.

^MBELLrSHMENTS,

Think also of the divine BEvrpr

CENCE OF Chrtqt. .1. . ^^^^Vl'

Ob (.HRiST; ,t never intends ill to

any creature, but goo., in all its designs

and acts Christ, in his beneficence, ly

see that ,t would be better for you to^isl
through fi.e and water, through 'deep ac-
tion, or through great suffering, that you may

be meet to receive and enjoy a full reward

With lamb-hke patience arm my brelst •
When grief my wounded soul assails, '

. In lowly meekness may I rest.

Close by thy side still may I keep,
Howe er life's various currents flow •

With stedast eye mark every step, '
And follow Thee where'er Thou go.

Alone Thou hast the wine-press trod •
In me thy strength'ning grace'be shov^':
Oh may I conquer through thy blood !

^V5'"nT ^^°" "^^^^ «h^Jt «tand,
Sl,^n T K 1'"^"'"'^ '^"^^ ^d°^^ ^heir King
Shall I be found at God's right hand/ ^'
And, free from pain, thy glories sing.'

}'^cO •"^^^•■5*5 '"Ti-^ ,

MEEKNESS.

* He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty ; and
he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.' —
PrOV. XVI. 32.

' But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is
not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit,
which is in the sight of God of great price.' — i Pet. hi. 4.

' To this man will I look, even to him that is poor, and of
a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.' — IsA. Lxvi. a.

' This grace is another among the many adornments of
the Christian's life. It brings glory to God, and contributes
much towards promoting peace on earth. It makes man
happy within himself, and agreeable to all about him.
Mild of temper, not proud, not easily provoked, soft,
gentle, quiet, humble and modest, submissive, unresisting
and forbearing.' — Worcester.

' Blessed are the meek : for they shall inherit the earth.'
—Matt. v. 5.

* For thus saith the high and lofty One that
inhabiteth eternity, whose name is holy ; i
dwell in the high and holy place, with him
also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to
revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive
the heart of the contrite ones.' — l-a. lvii. x5.

HRISTIAN MEEKNESS is a calm,
serene temper of mind, not easily
ruffled or provoked to resent-

Is manifested in being slow to

ment.

anger ; in ruling the spirit

UM i.'ll!

<^^i^r.sr/AN

When Christ reiVns ,n h t.

power to do so. The meek "l" ^"^ '""
'^not easily offended ; ,aS h ! Vi "°'™°
of small offences, s:,>b,3 „' '""^-otice
»83, passes thLmt; ""h'";''""'""^-

t.eI.menfo7those wioT ■" ^''""•°"««

»ame position w^h ° , ""' ""^^"P^ ^e

Should no. disda": the "of ==• ^"^ ™h

'"vy .he rich. We sh„ "Ih""' ** f °°^

">« all come from Th. "'" ^^W

">-' all are made of .r*"' "''"" ^'''^ '•
Wood; and all are fa.t""?''"'' and

■"^ «he san. preciouVwtd' oTch"'"""'

-rd:x^i--s;s--

PinessormiseTrhttrr"^"^^
relatmn to each other in !,, '" """"al

rich cannot say t„ tZ ""' ''"'•W- The

•herich/,har:„'ted'':?th°^''=''~^*°
n«d the labours of ^h! ^^^ '^''^ "ch

fte wealth of :he„*h''°„°:'r"'^P°"
'he poor, or envies the ri'ch. d ern;'""'"^
CW.an meekness,, „t,,:--P--

EMBELLLSHMENTS.

others with love and esteem, irrespective of
station or outward circumstances.

It is manifested in the proper treatment
of our brethren and sisters in church-
fellowship with ourselves.

In the case of supposed Cw^^Jness or ne-
glect, said a member of a Christian church,
' He passed me by without noticing me or
speaking to me. I am as good as he is,'
Both these sayings indicate the absence of
meekness. The person referred to may not
have seen the complainant, or may have
been so hurried as not to have had leisure
to stop ; and the fact of his not speaking
was no indication of a want of respect, or of
kindness. In this case the complainant is
obviously destitute of Christian meekness.
There are instances in which persons dis-
dain their brethren in church-fellowship be-
cause of their social position, forgetful of the
truth, that * every good gift, and every per-
fect gift, is from above, and cometh down
from the Father of lights, in whom there is
NO variableness^ neither the shadow of turn-
ing! Reader ! perhaps you are the very
pel son : if so, yoc hc^ve nothing to boast of

CHRrSTlAN'

'" is He iiJZTlr '"'"' '=°<'-
weahh.' >^°" power to get

« too fanatical' Cor ,"'"■''•■ "■« °"^
you possess as much 'rf .t '"^- '""""' "»
"«s as you .hould r A, o! """ °' '"^"'■
» question or two wtansTh'"'*^""
ward about your Chrl^L r th;;,"?,"""

i^ew::rt:orHr'°"^--''-' S":

Christ, and to doV /""" "'' '^'"''' «'

Boyounot';^ To'^^'^ftrr""'^-'

abour to acco„p„3h as much lo', 'Th "'
'f you possessed the spirft "f rh "'
meekness, you would nof fcel 1„ """■
complain; bu, you would ttllc r'T, °'
'he work is done by some 1? r '' "'*'

POOR r.„.x.„^,^4°r. - . 2« "you.

proof that you yourself I e„r„r",'
devoted to God ? If , sufficiently

"oly Christian'you wo mT m""' ^"''

"ith you. fare h,en and I. ' '" '''^'■

en, and love in them all

EMBELUSHMENTS.

that is true and pure and good. How many
contentions have arisen in the Christian
church from the want of the spirit of meek-
ness !

This spirit is not natural to man. It is
the fruit of grace ; a true Christian adorn-
ment. Only when a man has power over a
once turbulent spirit to subdue it, so that
he, who was envious and suspecting, be-
comes loving and confident ; or when the
man that was bitter in spin"' ad revengeful,
loves his enemies, and does good to his
most malignant foes, he exercises a power
which he received through Christ alone.

This spirit is productive of the highest
peace to its possessor. The Christian who
possesses thi'^ spirit in its perfection is
happy. Sorrows do not depress, reverses
ot fortune do not , discourage, nor affliction
casit a gloomy shadow athwart his pathway :
he has the blessing of Jesus, * Blessed are
the meek ;' and the promise that * he shall
inherit the earth.*

The hurrying and worrying of the pas-
sionate shortens life, and brings him down
prematurely to the grave ; whilst peaceful

CHRISTIAN

meekness adds to the days of the year, of
man s earthly pilgriniage. '^' ^'^^'^ °^

EjpTto'f '^ "' -t together from
Bo^h -^ T"'^ '° ^" ""known land

Koth were ;v.;J, possessed of herdmenlt

ZT!'' ^"' ''-'^ -^ ^ strife bL:;t

meTandTh? ^°^^. ^^ --'^ -d ho v
men and the one said to the other, ' I et

thyhtrn:^or^T."eTrU^^^^^

sell, I pray thee, from me If .!,„ -,
take .he left hand, thenlwi / ' " T

r^h. j or if ,ho„ depart ,0 .he right ha/
then I will go to the left ' rr^ •■■ I ^'

An^fk '"/neielt (Gen. xin. 8, o).

Another patriarchal company ^ched
their tents in the valley of Gerar .JT?
there. And they digged a weH . f^'

found a well of Lrn! ' ^""^ ^^^^

. , weii 01 spnngmg water. 'And fh^

nerdmen of Gerar H.h o< • . ^

savino- Tk ^ ^^"^^ w'th them

no h? V''" '■' °"^^- ^"d they dig'S
another well, and strove for that also And

they removed from thence, and d "d an
other well ; and for that Ihe^. .. '^f

^^-ame of that well was ^c:;;::^:;;::

EMBELLISHMENTS.

both, — The Lord hath made room for us'
(Gen. xxvi. 19-22). Here are two beautiful
illustrations of Christian meekness. The
pious Bishop Wall often said, * I would
suffer a thousand wrongs rather than do
one ; I would suffer a hundred rather than
return one ; and endure many rather than
complain of one, or obtain my right by con-
tending ; for I have always observed that
contending with one's superiors is foolish,
with one s equals is dubious, and with one's
mferiors is mean-spirited and sordid.' Suits
at law may be sometimes necessary; but
he had need be more than a man who can
manage them with justice and innocence.

' Oh arm me with the mind,

Meek Lamb, which was in Thee ;
And let my knowing zeal be joined

With perfect 'Charity.
With calm and temper'd zeal

Let me enforce thy call,
And vindicate thy gracious will,

Which offers life to all.

Oh do not let me tnist

In any arm but thine !
Humble, oh humble to the dust,

This stubborn soul of mine.

48 KMBELLfSHMENTS,

A feeble thing of nought,
With lowly shame I own ;

The help which upon earth is wrought
Thou dost it all alone. '

Oh may I love like Thee !

In all thy footsieps tread :
Thou hatest all iniquity,

But nothing Thou hast made.
Oh may I learn the art,

With meekness to reprove,
To hate the sin with all my heart,

But still the sinner love,*

COURAGE.

' For God hath • ven us the spirit of fear ; but of
power, and of lo jfa sound mind.'— 2 Tim. r. 7.

'Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that
IS in Christ Jesus. . . , Thou therefore endure hardness,
as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.'— 2 Tim. ii. 1-3.

' I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus
Chnst, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his
appearing and his kingdom ; preach the word ; be instant
in sea.son, out of season ; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all
long-suffering and doctrine.'— 2 Tim. iv, i, 2.

' Who Cometh like the strength of rivers
When their crowded waters glitter to the moon.
Like an eagle he mounts aloft,
And trembles not at the squally wind.
Above the sailing vapours, he shines forth
Bright as the rainbow upon the waters.*
• Moral courage is a great virtue. It is that firmness of
principle which prompts and enables a person to do what
he deems to be his duty, although it may subiect him co
severe censure, or the loss qf public favour.'— Wokcestf.r.

For I AM NOW ready to be offered, and the time

OF MV DEPARTURE IS AT HAND. I HAVE FOUCJHT A
GOOD FIGHT, I HAVE FINISHED MV COURSE, I HAVE
KEPT THE FAITH.'— 2 TiM. IV. 6, 7.

HERE are many kinds of courage.

Bfuvcry, valour, and prowess are
terms used to denote the courage
of the soldier. In time of war, to serve his

CHRISTIAN

country, he rushes into the very jr.ws of
death ; he turns not from any war-weapon,
however deadly. Intrepidity is firm and
enduring courage ; gallantry is adventurous
courage ; heroism is heroic. CHRISTIAN
COURAGE INCLUDES ALL THESE.

The Christian is brave, and no bravery is
equal to his. He faces death, and views it
with calm and patient eye. Not like the
soldier, hurried on to death amidst the thun-
dering of cannon, the martial strains of
music, and the clash of arms. The Chris-
tian's death may be lingering and painful,
yet he shrinks not. No trembling warrior
is he.

During one of the first persecutions, a de-
voted bishop was dragged by the feet through
the streets of Heraclea and scourged. In
his mutilated state he was brought before
the governor, who charged him with obsti-
nate rashness in continuing disobedient to
the imperial decrees. But he heroically
replied, * My present behaviour is not the
effect of rashness, but proceeds from my
love and fear of God, who made the world,
and will judge the living and the dead,

^EMBELLISHMENTS. 5,

whose commands I dare not transgress I
have hitherto done my duty to the emperors,
and am always willing to comply with their
just orders, according to the doctrine of our
Lord Christ, who bids us give both to Casar
and to God their due ; but I am obliged to
prefer heaven to earth, and to obey God
rather than man.' The governor, on hear-
in- this speech, immediately passed sen-
tence on him to be burnt ; and the martyr
expired, singing praises to God in the midst
of the flames.

The Bible heroes of ancient times were
said to have ' subdued kingdoms, wrought
rig^ teousness, obtained promises, stopped
the mouths of lions, quenched the violence
of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out
of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant
in fight, and turned to flight the armies of
the aliens' (Heb. xi. 33, 34).

Valour, intrepidity, and mighty heroism
are combined and exhibited in the life of
the Apostle Paul. Timorous Christian, r-ad
the following : ' In labours more abundant,
in stripes above measure, in prisons mor^
frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five

,.M

CHRISTIAN

times received I forty stripes save one.
Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I
stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night
and a day I have been in the deep ; in
journeyings often, in perils of waters, in
perils of robbers, in perils by my own
countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in
perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness,
in perils in the sea, in perils among false
brethren ; in weariness and painfulness, in
watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in
fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Be-
sides those things that are without, that
which cometh upon me daily, the care of all
the churches' (2 Cor. xi. 23-28).

Yet this same apostle could say, ' For
our light affliction, which is but for a mo-
ment, \/orketh for us a far more exceeding
and eternal weight of glory* (2 Cor. iv. 17),
* For I reckon that the sufferings of this
present time are not worthy to be compared
with the glory which shall be revealed *in
us' (Rom. viii. 18). 'But in all things ap-
proving ourselves as the ministers of God,
in much patience, in afflictions, in neces-
sities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprison-

EMBELLISHMENTS.

ments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings,
in fastings ; by pureness, by knowledge, by
long-suffering, by kindness, by the Holy
Ghost, by love unfeigned, by the word of
truth, by the power of God, by the armour
of righteousness on the right hand and on
the left, by honour and dishonour, by evil
report and good report : as deceivers, and
yet true ; as unknown, and yet well known ;
as dying, and, behold, we live ; as chastened,
and not killed ; as sorrowful, yet alway re-
joicing ; as poor, yet making many rich;
as having nothing, and yet possessing all
things ' (2 Cor. vi. 4-10).

The same brave and heroic apostle could
say, ' Who shall separate us from the love
of Christ ? shall tribulation, or distress, or
persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or
peril, or sword ? (As it is written. For thy
sake we are killed all the day long ; we are
accounted as sheep for the slaughter.) Nay,
in all these things we are more than con-
querors through Him that loved up. For I
am persuaded that neither death, nor life,
nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers,
nor things present, nor things to come, nor

CHRISTIAN

rii:i

'ill

height, nor depth, nor any other creature,
shall be able to separate us from the love
of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord'
[Rom. viii. 35-39).

Reader ! think of the names of earth's
most courageous statesmen. Has the his-
tory of the world ever furnished courage
equal to this? Let pass before you the
world's mightiest heroes of past ages. Be-
hold their might, their deeds of valour : you
crown them with glory, and echo their tri-
umphs to all lands. But say, ye sons and
daughters of earth, was there ever heroism
like the Christian's ? No, never. Said a
doubting sceptic, ' I have seen a Christian
man who was incompetent to overcome
difficulties.' Doubter! that man's name
was not Christian. It was either
Faintheart or Timorous, whom Chris-
tian met in his pathway to the celestial
city. They were running back toward the
City of Destructi n, from whence they came,
for they said they had seer\ lions in the
way; but Christian passed the Hons by,
and turned not from his path because of
them,

EMBELLISHMENTS.

Pliny, in his famous letter to Trajan,
speaks of certain persons brought before
him accused of being * Christians ;' but
when examined before him, denied that
they were so, and cursed Christ. Pliny
says, * None of which things, it is said, can
any of those who are really Christians be
compelled to do!

Christian ! courage should be thy pet
word, ever upon thy lips. Art thou not
clad in mighty armour? Thy helmet is
salvation, thy breastplate righteousness,
thy shield is faith, and thy girdle truth; and
thou hast in thy hand the sword of the
Spirit, which is the Word of God.

* Faint not, poor traveller, though thy way

Be rough, like that thy Saviour trod ;
Though cold and stormy lower the day,
This path of suffering leads to God,

Nay, sink not ; though from every limb

Are starting drops of toil and pain ;
Thou dost but share the lot of Him
, With whom his followers are to reign

Thy friends are gone, and thou alone
Must bear the sorrows that assail :

M:i

56 EMBELLISHMENTS. -

Look upward to the eternal throne,
And know a Friend who cannot faiL

lifar firmly ; yet a few more days,
And thy hard trial will be past ;

Then wrapped in glory's opening blaze,
Thy feet will rest on heaven at last.

Christian ! thy Friend, thy Master prayed
When dread and anguish shook his frame.

Then met his sufferings undismayed :.
Wilt thou not strive to do the same ?

Oh ! think'st thou that his Father's love
Shone round Him then with fainter rays

Than now, when, throned all height above,
Unceasing voices hymn his praise 1

Go, sufferer ! calmly meet the woes

Which God's own mercy bids thee bear|

Then, rising as thy Saviour rose,
Go, his eternal victory share,*

-^.'^^^-fSfe

GRATITUDE.

' It is good to give thanks unto t.ie Lord, and to sing
praises unto thy name, O Most High.'— Ps. xcii. i.

' In everything give thanks ; for this is the will of God
in Christ Jesus concerning you.'— i Thess. v. i8.

' Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the
Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.'— Ehh. v. 20.

' I will offer to Thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and
will call upon the name of the Lord.'— Ps. cxvi. 17.

' What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits
toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon
the name of the Lord.'— Ps. cxvi. 12, 13.

' How sweet, how lovely, how amiable, is the temper of
gratitude ! It is the noblest principle of manhood ; it is a
sense of benefits received, and a desire to make some suit-
able return. Its language is, I have received much, O
God : what return shall 1 make to Thee ? It was felt by
man in a state of tnnocency, and it is that which now in-
spires the redeemed host in heaven to sing their loud
Hallelujahs to the Lamb, for his having redeemed
them to God through the -spilling of his most precious
blood.

'OlVING THANKS TO GoD AND THE FaTHER BY HiM.'—

Col. III. 17.

F all the creatures of God on earth
and in heaven, the sanctified

^ Christian should manifest the

most thankfulness to God, for he has the

11... ^1

hi'i

i'i ■ i;

"i-

■llilli!

1 d, 1,1

,|iJli

5«

CHRISTIAN

most to be thankful for. The gifts received
by the highest orders of created beings, the
angelic hosts, are all spiritual ; and the
gifts received by unregenerated men are all
temporal, for the spiritual they reject. But
the saint of God through all life's scenes
receives good, both temporal and spiritual,
and has the promise of the spiritual for
ever.

Thankfulness. This is another of
the adornments of 'Christian life.' The
gloomy, sullen, repining, and fault-finding
professor of religion is not a perfect Chris-
tian. His imperfections cast their shadows
athwart the pathway of many pilgrims. He
lives in the shadow, and his life is shadowy;
whereas the perfect Christian lives under
the sunbeam, and his life is radiant with
thankfulness.

You visit the hovel of the wretched ; you
find, lying upon a bed of straw, a poor ema-
ciated creature, possessed of none of earth's
comforts— friends, clothing, food, or medi-
cine ; you drop the tear of sympathy ; you
remove him from his miserable hut and
convey him to your own comfortaljle home ;

EM BEL USHMENTS

you give him the best medica adenda ce,
you clothe and feed him, and h's ealth . nd
strength return. But there comf not A^ith
it gratitude for his benefactor ; ht feels no
thankfulness, he expresses none ; indeed, he
becomes your enemy. Do you see anything
beautiful in such a character ? A foul blot
has cast its filth over his debased manhood.
Complaining and unthankful Christian,
Thou art the man ! He brought thee
up out of the horrible pit, out of the mire
and clay, and set thy feet upon a rock ; and
He has surrounded you with a million com-
forts,— blessings both temporal and spiri-
tual; and you have never been thankful,
NO, NEVER ! * He saw thee cast out into the
open field, polluted in thy own blood, and
no eye to pity, and no arm to save ; and his
eye pitied, and hi^ arm brought salvation
down ;' and yet you have never felt grateful
to the Giver of all good ! The grateful poor
will crowd their blessings upon their bene-
factors, and with tears running in quick
succession, will pour forth from an overflow-
ing soul expressions of thankfulness. The
blessings which excite their gratitude are

CHRTSTTAN

onl> temporal ; whilst God has blessed you
with all the riches of grace, and has pro-
mised to do for you * exceeding abundantly
above all that you can ask or think.'

Yet you have not felt thankful, or made
any return to God for favours bestowed
upon you ! Christian brother, art thou
rich in this world's goods ? Then thou hast
much to be thankful for. God has com-
mitted to thee important trusts. Thou art
one of the Lord's stewards. Art thou a
faithful steward.? God has set before you
the poor to clothe and feed. Do you send
them empty away? Then there are many
institutions which God has given to man,
which are the very wellsprings of life and
happiness ; they are streams flowing from
the River of Life irrigating the thirsty
land ; they are the branches cf the tree of
life giving food and medicine to millions of
precious souls. I ASK YOU, Do vou help
those life-giving streams to flow on to the
ocean of eternitv ? Do you help to scatter
the fruit of the tree of life to millions ?

Dear reader, God's claims arc upon you ;
and if you are grateful to God for blessings

P.MBELUSHMENTS.

past bestowed, you will make the necessary-
return to Him in the support of all benevo-
lent and religious enterprises.

Art thou poor? Thou hast much to
excite gratitude to God ; for thou hast
escaped many of the temptations which
have assailed thy richer brethren, and
brought not a few of them down to perdi-
tion, — temptations to covetousness, and a
misappropriation of the Lord's money.
God our Father requires of them sacrifices
which they are not prepared to make. Said
our Lord to the rich young man, * Sell all that
thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou
shalt find treasure in heaven.' The heavenly
treasure was spiritual, was infinitely more
valuable than all earthly good ; yet he was
not prepared to make the change. * He
turned and went aWay sorrowful;' which led
the Master to say to his disciples, * How
hardly shall they who have riches enter
into the kingdom of heaven ! It is easier for
a camel to go through the eye of a needle
than for a rich man to enter into the king-
dom of heaven.'

Are you poor in this world's goods, but

CHRISTIAN

1 • iHfi

tilled with Christ ? Is ' Christ in you the
hope of glory?' Then you have much to
excite thankfulness ; for you are rich— rich
IN FAITH, and in the Holy Gnost. The
wealthy formalist says, * I am rich, and in-
creased in goods, and have need of nothing.'
But Heaven says concerning him, * Thou art
poor, and wretched, and blind, and naked,
and miserable.' But it is otherwise with
you : you are poor in this world's goods.
But Heaven says thou art rich. * I
know thy |ribulation and poverty, but thou
art rich.'

Christian ! thy state is paradoxical.
Thou sayest, * I am poor ; ' men say thou
art poor ; devils say thou art poor. BuT
Jesus says thou art rich. Thy name is
Royal. Thou art son and heir of the King
of kings ; and a few more years at most, and
thou shalt be crow d with life. A noble-
man in the north of England once said to a
gentleman who accompanied him in a walk,
' These beautiful grounds as far as the eye
can reach, those majestic woods on the
brow of the distant hills, and those exten-
sive and valuable mines, belong to me.

tMBEUJSHMENTS.

Yonder powerful steam-engine obtains the
produce of my mines, and those ships con-
vey my wealth to other parts of the king-
dom.' * Well, my lord,' replied the gentle-
man, * do yo'j see yonder little hovel that
seems to be but a speck in your estate?
There dwells a poor woman who can say
more than all this, for she can say, " Christ
is mine." In a very few years your lord-
ship's possessions will be confined within
the scanty limits of a tomb ; but she will
then have entered on a far nobler inherit-
ance than your lordship now possesses ;
"an inheritance incorruptible, and unde-
filed, and that fadeth not away,"—" reserved
in heaven for those who are kept by the
power of God through faith unto salvation."'
The rich man in the Gospel was said to be
clothed with purple and fine linen, the
raiment of kings, and fared sumptuously
every day ; he died and was buried ; and in
hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torment.
He was poor indeed. While he lived there
sat at his gate a poor beggar, and he de-
sired only the crumbs which fell from the
rich man's table ; moreover, the dogs licked

f!:rr

CHRISTTAN

his sores. He died, and was carried by
angels into Abraham's bosom in heaven.
' He Avas rich.' Come, rich but faithful
Christian ! Come, poor in this world's
goods, but rich in Christ ! Come, ai :• tod,
from the couch of suffering ! Come, lowly,
tempted, forsaken, and persecuted one !
Come, ye world's neglected ones ! enter
with me the golden gates of the Temple
OF Gratitude, and hymn for ever the
praises of your merciful Benefactor.

' When, all thy mercies, O my God,
My rising soul surveys,
Transported with the view, I'm lost
In wonder, love, and praise.

Thy providence my life sustained,

And all my wants redress'd,
"While in the silent womb I lay,

And hung upon the breast.

To all my weak complaints and cries

Thy mercy lent an ear,
I're yet my feeble thoughts had learn'd

To form themselves in prayer.

Unnuniber'd comforts on my soul

Thy tender care bestow'd,
B<.'fore my infant heart conceived

From whom those comforts flow'd.

EMBELLISHMENTS. /

When in the slippery paths of youth

With heedl ss steps I ran,
Thine arm, unseen, conveyed me safe,

And led me up to man.

Through hidden dangers, toils, and deaths,

It gently cleared my way ;
And through the pleasing snares of vice.

More to be feared than they.

Through every period of my life

Thy goodness I'll pursue ;
And after death, in distant worlds.

The pleasing theme renew.

Through all eternity, to Thee

A frrateful song I'll raise •,
But O eternity's too short

To utter all thy praise l'

'V •!

'Ij'llil I

^4(1

TRUTH.

'Now then W « i'esr the Lord, and serve Him in sin-
cerity and in ti •;;.'! '--J( -.li XXIV, 14

' Only tear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all
your heart; forcoisu'.i how great things He hath done
for you.' — I Sam. >r>' i.i.

' Let not nifrcy ai; J truth forsake thee : bind them about
thy neck ; write tiieni upon the table of thine heart.'—
Prov. in. 3.

'The lip of truth shall be established for ever; but a
lying tnr^ue is but for a moment.' — Prov. xii. 19.

' Truth, in an evangelical sense, is all-important ; it gives
character to an individual more than all other qualities
put together. It is of itself a rich inheritance, of more
worth than mines of silver and gold. It is more ennobling
than the highest titles conferred by princes. Everybody
loves to be respected ; but an individual, to be loved and
respected, must be known. He only can be known ivho
speaks the truth from his heart, and acts the truth in his
life : we may guess at others, but as we do not know, we
cannot respect them ; for, like pirates, they often sail
under false co\o\us.'~ Scri/iure Emblems and Allegoriet.

'Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is
TRUTH.' — John xvii. 17.

HERE is no characteristic of the
Christian more important, and
no adornment more lovely, than
Christian truthfulness. Said John
to the elect lady, 'I rejoiced greatly that

E^BELLt^HM£NTS.

67
I found of thy children walking i„ truth,
as we have received a commandmen

'ruth abounds, t adorn <; it.

throughout the universe 'I , T'"''°'

of Npt„„ • '"^'^^- In all the works

1 h 7' T"" ^"^ '""ni'nate, there
are but few blemishes, and they are Z

.™ettrw?t;r^^"- ^^'^^-^-

through enrat'Sr;,,;:™

<iev,at,on:'Thesuntoru.ebydIy'ard
the 'moon and stars to rule by ^iXl

The endless varieties of the animal LX

continue unchanged throughout succeTsiv"

generations , the las. generation possesXg

Wood The '^""""' "' ^^"^ ""h »d
«r . ' ''"'"'' *= ^ame mental
states and „e influenced in the same man
ner by the same connections and circum
tauces Among the millions of si ct
throughout the vegetable world, there a e .1

tT.:zT '■'""^'■"•fr- thVsurei;

forest tree, down to the smallest flower or
\^°' ^'''.' growing up to adorn th,
vation. The stately ehn or the majesti.

ik )j

4 'I:

!| I,

CHRISTJAlsr

oak, and trees of all names, have their
special lines of demarcation, and may be
distinguished in all lands, so true are they
to nature. Then contemplate the beauties of
the flower-garden : you will see every flower
has its peculiar form and distinctive colour-
ing. The tulip is never like the violet, nor
the rose like the lily ; for all things are true to
nature, and being true to nature is nature's
best adornment. Truth is an adornment
of man only when he is a regenerated
Christian. We admit that an uncon-
verted man may act with strict uprightness
toward his fellow-man, may always aim at
speaking the truth, may abhor falsehood ;
but truth as an adornment of man includes
far more, and is exemplified in many more
things than this, and in perfection adorns
only the Christian. A man, to be true, must
be true to his name. The unregenerated
throughout the world are denominated sons
of God, because of their creation, preser-
vation, and government un'^er Divine Pro-
vidence. But are they true to that
name? No, verily. And what may be
proved with regard to name, may also be

EMBELLISHMENTS. 69

made manifest from all the relations they
sustain to God the Father, Son, and Holy
Ghost.

Christian ! if thou art true, thou art
true to thyself. To be true to thyself, is to
be true to thy nature. Art thou what God
intended thee to be.? He created thee to
love, serve, and honour Him, and dwell
with Him for ever. God is holy ; heaven,
thy future abode, is holy ; and God says to
thee, ' Be ye holy.' Art thou holy? If so,
then thou art true. To be true to thyself]
is to be true to thy name. Christian!
thou hast many nan.es. O yes ! precious
names ; and if thou art true, thou art true
to them. Thy name is 'Believer.- Hast
thou faith in God ? Thou art named * Be-
loved of God.' Art thou lovable.? Thou
art denominated ' Children of God,' ' Chil-
dren of the Lord.' Art thou worthy ? The
Scriptures designate thee, 'Children of
Zion,' ' Children of the kingdom ;' that
kingdom is spiritual. Art thou a true citi-
zen .? Thou art further named ' A chosen

generation,'

< n

■hosen

ones.' What art tJ:o- and what hast thou

I ;■ k\

CHRISTIAN

done, tha* thou art chosen among thousands?

What more than others hast thou deserved?

Yet God has given thee more. Art thou

true to thy Benefactor? Thou art named

* Faithful; * Faithful of the land.' Brethren

in Ciinst, these titles will not apply to the

fickle or wavering Christian,— one who

is easily turned aside from Christ to serve

idols. If thou art faithful^ thy lo e and

obedience to God are both perfect. Thy

name is * Friend,' ' Friends of God.' A

true friend will seek to please the object of

his love. God names thee * Godly,' ' Holy

brethren,' * Holy and mighty people,' * Holy

nation,' 'Holy priesthood,' * Holy seed,*

* People near unto God,' * People prepared

for the Lord,' ' Peor '- saved of tli- Lord.'

I ask thee, in the sigiit of pure heaven, art

thou true to thy titles? Glorious, tri-

UMPI) ANT, MIGHTY ;ilLES ! Thcu art
called lights of the world and salt of the
earth. Dost thou reflect light and ' Mig
forth fruit? I ask you to carr his little
book into your closet, and open :br you
the blessed Bible, and turn to ti. pas. ..^{»es
containing these many glorious names,

EMBELLISHMENTS. f\

then ask yourself the question, Am I true
to all these? GoD help you.

I'here is a French maxim, that nothing
is beautiful but truth. This is a popular
error. All the graces of the Chris >n's life
are beautiful. Truth, as one of these graces,
embellishes persons of every age. It is the
shield of youth, the garb of manhood, and
the glory of age. It is essential to security,
hapr»iness, and influence here, and to end
less iife hereafter. The untruthful are never
knovv never loved, never believed, never
sought ; hile the truthful are the favourites
of ean and heaven. The greatest men
of the past h been men of truth. The
first thing that Jyrus learned was to tell
the truth ; and Zorobabel regarded truth as
more powerful than the king, wine, or
woman. Solomon declared that * lying lips
are an abomination unto the Lord ; but
they that deal truly are his delight.' I can-
not close these examples without presenting
before you one whose equal the imiverse
cannot furnish. 'Jesus saith unto him, 1
am the way, the truth, and the life' (John
xiv. 6). ' And the Word was made flesh, and
dwelt among us, (and we behold his glory.

CHRISTIAN

the glory as of the only-begotten of the
Father,) full of grace and trath.*

Dear reader ! man's most perfect and
glorious pattern was a pattern of truth. ' All
the earth calleth upon the truth, and the
heaven blesseth it: all works shake and
tremble at it, and with it is no unrighteous
thing. Wine is wicked, the king is wicked,
women are wicked, and such are all their
wicked works ; and there is no truth in them ;
in their unrighteousness also they shall perish.
As for the .truth, it endureth, and is always
strong ; it liveth and conquereth for ever-
more. With her there is no accepting of
persons or rewards; but she doeth the things
that are just, and refraineth from all unjust
and wicked things; and all men do well
like of her works. Neither in her judg-
ment is any unrighteousness; and she is
the strength, kingdom, power, and majesty
of all ages. Blessed be the God of truth '
(i Esdras iv. 36-40).

* Hard by Truth's temple
A lovely being stood ;
Arrayed in white,
The symbol of her God,

EMBELLISHMENTS.

The unholy throng pass'd by,

And stood aghast ;
Said, Let me be like her,

And on they pass'd.

There's beauty in that form

Not elsewhere seen ;
It's in her name and nature,

And her stately mien.

Her name is Truth,

A lovely Christian grace;
Among heaven's mighty

She ever holds her place.

The earth shall pass away.

The stars shall fall,
The heavens roll together

Like a parchment scroll j

But Truth shall live for ever,
And through endless ages give
Her blessings to the sainted,

And fail them never, never.'

HOPE.

' Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both
sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the
veil.' — Hkb. VI. 19.

ut let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the
breastplate of foith and love ; and for an helmet the hope
of salvation.' — i Thess. v. 8.

' And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in Thee.' —
Ps. xxxix. 7.

' Who against hope believed in hope, that he might be-
come the father of many nations, according to that which
was spoken, So .shall thy seed he.'— Rom. iv. 18.

' Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and
labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus
Christ, in the sight of God and our Father.'— i Thess. 1. 3.

' Hope sprinj, . eternal in the human breast ;
Man never is, but always to be blest.'

Pope.
* Auspicious hope ! in thy sweet garden grow
Wreaths for each toil, a charm for every woe.*

Campbell.

• Hope thou in Goj.'— Ps. xlii. 5.

[LEXANDER, when he proposed
to make many princely presents,
was asked what he intended to
reserve for himself, and he replied, ' Hope.'
The Christian may be bereft of all his earthly

EMBELLISHMENTS.

possessions, — property, relatives^ friends, and
health, — and retain his hope in God ; for his
hope is desire joined with faith, and patient
waiting.

Christian traveller to heaven ! in
life's pathway there are many trials, but
hope thou in God. Art thou dispossessed
of all thy earthly wealth ? Art thou drink-
ing the dregs of the cup of poverty? A
short time ago you were numbered among
earth's rich men, but now you are poor;
many more faithless than you have increased
their earthly possessions : * Fret not thyself
because of evii-doers, because of the wicked
who pi ospereth in his way j ' but, * hope thou
in God.'

CHiUSTIAN mourner ! what meaneth
that dark cloud of sorrow on thy once
happy face.? Why are those big tears drop-
ping in quick succession to the ground ?
Why do you wear tjiose weeds of woe?
Has some loved one gone to the spirit-
land ? Let me ask you, but not abruptly,
Was it a beloved partner ? I ask you not
to increase your grief, but to offer you the
words of consolation. Did that fair one

1^1

i*-."!

CHRISTIAN

die in Christ ? You say you know not, and
this adds very much to your sorrow. Tried
ONE, I can conceive of nothing more sor-
rowful than this. Heaven grant that you
may leave a better testimony. But is there
not ' Hope ? ' May not a silent prayer
have been offered to the throne of God
and brought the blessing down .? The
dying thief prayed, 'Lord, remember me
when Thou comest into thy kingdom ;'
and did not the Lord respond, * To-day
Shalt thou be with me in Paradise.?' His
repentance and faith were both exercised
amidst death pangs, and yet he found favour
in the sight of God. It is very possible
that when the gloom of death was settling
upon thy dear departed one, she offered up
the publican's prayer, * God be merciful to
me a sinner,' and went to her heavenly
home saved, but not rewarded. But how-
ever that may be, you are not to le e re-
pentance to the dying hour ; for y u may
not be thus favoured. Nor are you to live
for ever in grief for the unknown destiny
of thy departed one. Your duty is obvious.
Leave her spiritual state with God, and

^^'

EMBELLISHMENTS. 77

make your own salvation sure. * HOPE
THOU IN God.'

Perhap", thy dear departed one ended a
life of suffering with a triumphantly happy
death. Here, then, there is much that's
soothing to thy sorrow : she is not lost, she
has only ended a little sooner than you her
pilgrimage for home, — sweet, happy, eter-
nal HOiME. A few more years at the longest,
and that loved one will meet you on the very
brink of the river of death, and you will part
no more for ever.

* Our day of dissolution, name it right,
'Tis our great pay-day ; 'tis our harvest rich,
And ripe. What though the sickle, sometimes

keen.
Just scar usf as we reap the golden grain ?
Life lives beyond the grave.
Death the great counsellor, who man inspires
With every noble thought, and fairer deed I
Death the deliverer, who rescues man !
Death the rewarder, wlio rescued crowns I
Death is the crown of life.
Were death denied, e'en fools would wish to die.
Death wounds to cure,— we fall, we rise, we

reign :

us more t'

was

len Id?.!

Are you a father, and has death taken

"^■■I'lt

CHRTSTIAN

from your home a loved and only daughter ?
You regarded her as the fairest plant in
your domestic garden, as the chief joy of
your declining years ; but God took her.
Yes ; and when He took her, He stretched
out the hand of beneficence- and love.
* Hope thou in God.'

Perhaps thou art a widowed mother, and
the loved one taken from thy embrace was
an only son^ the only stay of thy life, and
from this time thou art thrown upon the
cold charity of strangers. Oh no ! thy state
is not so sad and desolate ; there is an arm
stronger than the arm of flesh. 'Hope thou
in God.' Hast thou lost thy last earthly
relative ? Then ' hope thou in God.'

Perhaps when wealth and relatives and
friends are all gone, God takes away your
health, and you are cast mto the bed of
affliction ; perhaps upon a bed of straw, in
a lonely garret. Yet there is for you both
light and peace. * Hope thou in God.'

How amazing is the contrast betvvfeen the
Christian and the unsaved man of the world

: i-L ,...1 i_ u f

£:■_: J

English noble-

man, ' I die in state. I languish under a

EMBELLISHMENTS.

gilded canopy; a numerous retinue of friends
wait around my bed ; my wife drops tlie tear
of sorrovv ; my friend as dear as life mourns
my death ; in a day or two at most my life-
less form will lie in state, and my spirit will
stand trembling before God.' From his
soul, ' Hope, the last refuge of the wretched,'
had vanished. Say, ye sorrow-stricken
AND hopelesf; sons of wealth. What is
the value of all earthly good, without Hoi'e ?

* Who Jesus' sufferings share.
My fellow-pris'ners now,
Ye soon the wreath shall wear
On your triumphant brow :
Rejoice in hope, rejoice with me,
We shall from all our sins be free.

The word of God is sure.

And never can remove j
We shall in heart be pure,
And perfected in love :
Rejoice in hope, rejoice with me,
We shall from all our sins be free.'

* Hope sets the stamp of vanity on all
That men have deemed substantial since the fall,
Yet has the wondrous virtue to educe
From emptiaess itself a real use j

> 1

EMBELLISHMENTS.

And while she takes, as at a father's hand.
What health and sober a^^^,etite demand,
From fading good derives,* with chemic art,
That lasting happiness, a thankful heart.
Hope, with uplifted foot, set free from earth,
Pants for the place of her ethereal birth,
On steady wings sails through th' immense abyss.
Plucks amaranthine joys from bowers of blisi.
And crowns the soul, while yet a mourner here,
With wreaths like those triumphant spirits wear.
Hope, as an anchor firm and sure, holds fast
The Christian vessel, and defies the blast.
Hope ! nothing else can nourish and secure
His new-born virtues, and preserve him pure.
Hope ! let the wretch, once conscious of the joy,
Whom now despairing- agonies destroy,
Speak,— for he can, and none so well as he,—
What treasures centre, what delights, in thee.
Had he the gems, the spices, and the land
That boasts the treasure, all at his command;
The fragrant grove, the inestimable mine.
Were light, when viewed against oue smile oi
thine.'

■^-^e.

JOYFUL NESS.

•They joy before Thee according to the inv ,•„ .,
and as men rejoice when they divide tSe sno P '" ^'^"»'

'Again, the kingdom of heaven i, iVu ^ ^^^- '"• 3-
in a field ; the which when a m.n I J'.""'" ''^^'''"' '"^
and for joy thereof 1^1"^,? u^'^, ^°""^' ^^ '"d^'h.
buyeth Jhat fieldlliitT X, " "f '" ''^' ""' '''^' «"^

'And they, continuing daily with ' nn» o j • .
temple, and breaking bread frmr,), f'^''"''^ '" "^«

their meat with gladness an H" ?"" *° ^°"'"' ^^'^ «»
II. 46. e'adness and singleness of heart.'-AcTS

'A Christian is the highest style of man.

Exalts and sets him nearer to his God
Rejo.ce for ever,-Nature cries. Rejoice !
And dnnk to man in her nectarious cup,
M,xed up of delicates of every sense. ^'
To the great Founder of the bounteous feast
Drinks glory, gratitude, eternal praise •'

J YouNa

• Rbjoice evkrmorb.'-, Thhss. v. ifi.

HESE were the words of the very
I prince of apostles. Reader, art
rh~ '^ 'T^^ ^ DisciPLE OF Jesus?
These words are for thee. The gloomy,

CHRISTIAN

shadowy, and fretful Christian does not dis-
play this beauty. The symbols of his state
are the blasted flower, the withered branch,
and the blighted fruit-bud. Thou art to
show by thy countenance that thou art the
possessor of an inward peace, and that
continually ;— in afflictions as in health, in
adversity as in prosperity. Says the truly
happy Christian, *I feel so joyful, I
cannot express the joy I feel.' No, you
cannot ; there is mystery in that joy. There
are, however, a few things concerning this
joy that you can understand. Your joy is
not mere animal excitement; and this
thought is an unspeakable blessing to
thousands.

Afflicted one nearing the gate of
HEAVEN ! it is a blessing to thee. Thy
strength is nearly gone ; thou art so feeble,
thou canst not bear much physical excite-
ment ; and yet thou art ' filled with joy un-
speakable and full of glory.' Thy joy is the
joy of heart. There are elevations of mind
produced by good health and pleasant cir-
_..™„*«.,y»oc Kir 4-Vio rliciTiorp nf «;pasons and

the clearness of the atmosphere ; but this is

EMBELLISHMENTS. 83

not Christian joy. There are pleasures to
be derived from the world, its riches, hon-
ours, and amusements ; but this is not reli-
gious joy : religious joy does not proceed
from anything of an earthly nature. ' It is
the gift of God,' who is the God of peace.
He bestows it. He is the Fountain from
whence flows that river, 'the streams whereof
make glad the city of God/

This joy is progressive in its nature
It IS first felt when a man is justified.*
Bemg justified by faith, we have peace
mth God through our Lord Jesus Christ '
It IS then the joy of faith ; and as the Chris-
tian advances in holiness and in the fear of
God, It becomes the joy of love, obedience,
nolmess, and heaven.

Dear Christian reader, it is delight-
fully possible for you to enjoy that state of
felicity here as to be favoured with glorious
foretastes of the joys of heaven The
Apostle St. Paul speaks as though he had
already entered the peariy gates, and had
walked Jhe golden streets of the celestial
c'-y : x.ut ye are come unto Mount Sion
and unto the city of the living God, the

■'■"I

CHRISTIAN

heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable
company of ange-s, to the general assembly
and church of the first-born which are writ-
ten in heaven, and to God the Judge of all,
and to the spirits of just men made per-
fect, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new
covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling
that speaketh better things than that ol

Abel.'

Young rnsciPLE, you cannot compre-
hend the k' '. y that awaits you in the future.
See the nsir.g >un. He sends forth his dim
rays in dawn of day; but as he rises in
grandeur, his light illuminates all creation.
*The Sun of righteousness' is just
shining upon your heart. You say you feel
the light ; yet it is not to be compared with
that light which shall shine forth upon your
heart when you walk with Christ in holi-
ness.

Aged Christian, is not this your
brightest day? Said an aged Christian
minister, * I am now the bright side of
seventy.' O yes ! he was the heaven side
of seventy ; for with the Christian, as life
advances, his happiness is increased.

EMBELLISHMENTS. 85

Do you ask, What means are to be em-
ployed to secure this increase of joy ? The
means are as glorious as the end. First
a contemplation of God,— his names, attri-
butes, and works. Then a contemplation of
his word. That word is a light to the be-
liever's feet, and a lamp to his path. The
Old and New Testaments are angels of
mercy and truth sent down from God, to
guide heaven's pilgrims through the wilder-
ness of this world to their happy home
above.

Then a contemplation of Christ,—
his divinity and his humanity, but more espe-
cially his mediatorial work. Tiie disciples
upon the mount of transfiguration were so
filled with heavenly joy, that they desired
to abide therefor ever. In another instance,
after delightful companionship with Christ,
they exclaimed, ' Did not our heart burn
within us as He talked with us by the way,
and opened to us the Scripture ?' So it ever
fills the believer's soul with love and joy to
think of Jesus. If you desire to increase
your joy, think of Jesus.

Think often of heaven. Lift the veil

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'•iH

CHRISTIAN

which hides heaven from the view of earth's
benighted sons and daughters. To think

OF HEAVEN IS A SOURCE OF JOY. And

no truer source, whatever be your state,
or whatever be your circumstances.

Are you a stranger in a strange land, fai
from home and friends ? Perhaps the tinif
is fast approaching when you are to return
to that most desirable of all earthly dwell-
ings. In the land of strangers your toilo
may have been excessive; and when you
reach home, you expect rest. Or you may
have been surrounded by malignant foes.
Rude enemies have beset you behind and
before ; they have compassed you about like
bees ; they have stung you hke scorpions.
But you expect soon to be among friends.
Ah, DEAR READER ! He who has suffered
most from cruel adversaries best knows how
to appreciate friends.

Perhaps your trials have been varied.
You have been called to drink a mixed cup
of woe. You have been troubled with many
rude alarms, tossed, tempest-beaten ; clouds
of dust and fire from the volcano's mouth
have surrounded you, and dropped their

■:H *i

EMBELLISHMENTS. ty

fiery ashes upon your pathway; and you
trembled in the shock of the earthquake,
far from home and friends. But you joy in
the thought of home, that there is security
and rest. You may have been surrounded
with robbers and murderers. Cheer up,

TRIED ONE ! HOME IS IN THE DISTANCE,'

and thy redemption draweth nigh. Then, '

* Not a wave of trouble shall roll
Across thy peaceful breast.'

CHRISTIANS OF ALL NAMES, do you not

see here something to increase your joy?

This world is not your home,-you are but

* strangers and pilgrims, as all your fat/urs
were.'

This life to you has been one of toil. But
do not murmur : the Master has appointed
you your work, and then has promised you
SWEET REST IN HEAVEN. Said Wilber-
force, whose life had been one of toil, ' My
chief conception of heaven is, that it is a
place of rest.' ' There remaineth therefore
a rest to the people of God.'

'Jerusalem, for ever bright,
Beauiifui land of rest I

! n

W CHRISTIAN

No winter there, nor chill of night,
Beautiful land of rest !
The dripping cloud is chased away.
The sun breaks forth in endless day.

Jerusalem, for ever free,
Beautiful land of ,t !
The soul's sweet ho > of liberty,
Beautiful land of rest I
The gyves of sin, the chains of woe.
The ransomed there will never know,

Jerusalem, for ever dear,
Beautiful land of rest !
Thy pearly gates almost appear.
Beautiful land of rest 1
And when we tread thy lovely shore,
Will sing the song we've sung before/

Then you have many adversaries : the
world, the flesh, and the devil. The swearer
is your adversary ; the dr'tnkard is your
enemy; the adulterer, the Saubath-breaker,
the secret, silent slanderer, are all your
enemies. Be not dismayed, you have much
to encourage you. The sainted dead, the
noble army of martyrs, the glorious com-
pany of angels, God the eternal Father, and
his only Son and Spirit, are all your friends.
You have the friendship of the most glorious

EMBELLISHMENTS. 89

beings in the universe, and that friendship
is not uncertain. Men are sometimes fast
friends to-day, and bitter enemies to-morrow.
Not so with your heavenly friends ; their
friendship is eternal.

Dear Christian friend, is your life a life
of trial ? Are thy trials many and varied 1
This life is short ; it will soon terminate :
then will come the glorious life eternal :
^ But the righteous into life eternal.' If
you desire to increase your joy, think of
heaven.

And further, if you observe the directions
of God's Word, you may rejoice for ever.
Yes, for ever ! You may possess the two
seemingly opposing states of mind, at the
same time sorrowful, yet always rejoicng.
The Christian's joys are not like the sun's
rays, easily intercepted by the passing
cloud. * Nor like the morning cloud, nor
the early dew, which soon passeth away.'
They are abiding, like the Rock of Ages ;
they will continue as long as the soul en-
dures.

Rejoice evermore, said Paul to the
Thessalonians. Christian, these words were

CHRISTIAN

not only intended for them, ' they are for
you.' Rejoice in health and in affliction,
in prosperity and in adversity, when Jesus
smiles and when Jesus hides his face, in life
and in death. Says James Angell James :

* The children of God should be like as many
happy spirits dropping down from paradise^
and ever bending their way back to it again
— ever carrying about with them the springs
of their own felicity.'

We say to the physically and mentally
oppressed, Rejoice ; — to the tempted, against
whom earth and hell are combined and set
in battle array. Rejoice ; — to the persecuted,
against whom hurricanes of persecutions
have raged, Rejoice ; — to the afflicted, who
are called to pass through deep waters and
consuming fires. Rejoice ; — to the dying,
entering the dark valley. He may converse
with you as a dying man only can. He
may say, * I AM READY, I AM READY.
But oh ! that solemn moment ! — THAT MO-
MENT !' What moment? 'That moment I
plunge into the river of death.' Say to him,

* Happy soul, fear not ; there are angel
hands to hold thee up, and heaven is on the

EMBELLISHMENTS.

other side.

REJOICE.'

I say unto thee, Rejoice,

* Oh happy they who reach that place
Where sorrow coipeth never ;
Who rest within his loving arms
For ever and for ever !

Since I have found a Saviour's love,
To Him my hopes are clinging ;

I feel so happy all the time,
My hea; t is always singing.

A light I never knew before

Around my path is breaking,
And cheerful songs of grateful praise

My raptured soul is waking.

I feel like singing all the time,
I have no thought of sadness ;

When Jesus washed my sins away,
He tuned my heart to gladness. '

•And thou, to whom long worshipped nature

lends
No strength to fly from grief or bear its weighty
Stop not to rail at foes or fickle friends,
Nor set the world at naught, nor spurn at fate :
None seek thy misery, none thy being hate.
Break from thy former self, thy life begin ;
Do thou the good thy thoughts oft meditate.
And thou shalt feel the good man's peace within,
And at thy dying day his wreath of glory win.

EMBELLISHMENTS.

Rouse to some work of high and holy love
And thou an angel's happiness shalt knowl
Shalt bless the earth while in the world above :
Ihe good begun by thee shall onward flow
In many a branching stream, and wider grow ;
The seed that, in these few and fleeting hours,
1 hy hands unsparing and unwearied sow,
bhaxl oeck thy grave with amaranthine flowers,
And yield thee fruits divine in heaven's immorul

lim

3^o;*s^e»»S4^

/i^^i

3ve;

nv;

irs,

'ers,
artal

PART II.

CHRISTIAN FRUITFULNESS.

! ^«:'J'««' shall cease from yielding fruit. '-Iru. wm »
Ne.ther shall the fruit thereof be consuriiea : ,t shaU
bring forth new fruit according to his months. '-EzEK.
XLvn. 12. ^

' The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life ; and he that
winneth souls is wise.'— Prov. xi. 30.

' What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are
now ashamed ? f.,r the end of those things is death But
row bemg made free from sin, and become servants to
God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end ever-
lasting life.'— Rom. vi. 21, 22.

' He shall bring forth his fruit in his season.'— Ps. i. 3.

•There it stands (the palm-tree), looking calmly down
upon the world below, and patiently yielding its large clu.s-
ters of golden fniit from generation to generation. " Thev
shall bring forth fruit in old age. '"-Dr. Thomson. LaZi
and the Book.

*ThKY shall .still BRmc FORTH FRUIT IN OLD AGB ;
THEV SHALL BE FAT AND FLOURISHING.'— Ps. XCII. I4.

|E live in an age of profession, when
the sons and daughters of men

are dazzled with symbols,— when

tlic crucifix is dearer to the heart than

^\'

j. •

CHRISTIAN

Christ. True, the name Christian is popu-
lar ; and the opponents of the Christian
cause are regarded as atheist, unworthy of
public esteem and confidence; and tens of
thousands enlist in the Christian cause, and
fight under Christian banners. But are all
fruit-bearing Christians ? Alas ! there are
thousands who scarcely exhibit Xht freshness
of the living tree, and of fruit they bear
none. If all professing Christians bore fruit
to , God, what might we not expect ? We
might expect soon to see the wilderness and
the solitary places made glad and blossom
as the rose, yea, blossom abundantly, and
the desert become as the garden of the Lord.
Millions of spiritually lifeless professors
would become perfect men and women in
Christ, and bring forth fruit unto holiness.
There is no fruit borne to God by the spiri-
tually lifeless, indifferent, prayerless, and
faithless Christian, any more than in the life
of the sinner. In both cases we might say,
* What fruit have ye in that whereof ye are
now ashamed ? for the end of those things
is death.' God's faithful ones ^ bring forth
fruit in its season.' What does this mean ?

FRUITFULNESS.

There is much implied in the words, * in

ITS SEASON.'

The Christian brings forth fruit in pros-
perity. The wicked, under the sunshine of
prosperity, are forgetful of their heavenly
Benefactor, and become proud, boastful, and
arrogant : as they meditate upon their pros-
perity, they say, * Thus and thus have I done.'
They forget that sirtw^h^ physical and men-
tal, is the gift of God, and He who gave can
deprive them of that gift ; and they might
both plant and water, and if God give not
the increase, their labours would be for
ever in vain. * Paul planteth, and Apollos
•waterethy and God giveth the increase!

Christian reader ! if you live under
heaven's smile, if your sun be never clc ':^d,
then be not lifted up ; think of your
HEAVENLY BENEFACTOR. If a man is
taken from his rags and poverty by another
possessing wealth and opulence, and placed
in circumstances of comparative comfort, he
has nothing to feel proud of : his elevation
is the gift of another. Christian ! God took
you from the filth and poverty of sin, and
has given you a name and a place among

CHRISTIAN

the kings and princes of his people ; yet you
have nothing to feel proud of, but rather to
thank for ever your merciful Benefactor. If
you * bring forth fruit in its season,' it is
meekness and humility.

Are you in adversity ? Are you often meeting
with reverses of fortune, such as make men's
hearts quail, and often drive ihem to deeds
of desperation ? * In thee is thy fruit found ;*
and that fruit is patience and long-suffering.
Have you many enemies? Human nature
says, Revenge ; Satan says, Revenge ; unsaved
men say, Revenge; but Jesus, your heavenly
Saviour and Master, says, * Likewise I say
unto you, Love your enemies ; do good to
them that do spitefully use you and perse-
cute you, and shall speak all manner of evil
against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice,
and be exceeding glad; for great is your
reward in heaven : for so persecuted they
the prophets which were before you.*

Christian ! the righteous are always
FRUIT- BEARING TREES. They begin in
childhood, and they 'bring forth fruit in

old age.'
Young Christian ! are you labouring

i'lWITFULNESS.

to promote the interest of Christ's cause, by
winning souls to the Saviour? Then you are
bearing fruit, and that fruit is life to many.

Aged Christian! the palm-tree of Pales-
tine bore rich clusters of golden fruit after
generations had passed away. So you, after
years of trial and care, prosperity and adver-
sity, health and affliction, are still bringing
forth fruit in old age. You have many spiri-
tual sons and daughters, and by pious ex-
ample and godly precept you are still bring-
ing souls to Christ. Happy art thou, O
honoured and useful Christian ! To you it
shall be said, * Well done, good and faithful
servant : because thou hast been faithful over
a few things, I will make thee ruler over
many things ; enter thou into the joy of thy
Lord.'

• What matter whether pain or pleasure fill

The .swelling heart one little moment here ?
From both alike how vain is every thrill,

While an untried eternity is near !
Think not of rest, fond man : in life's career,

The joy and grief that meet thee dash aside
Like bubbles, and thy bark right onward steer,

Through calm and tempest, till it cross the tide;

Shoot into port in triumph, or serenely glid«,'
G

FRUITFULNESS.

* Come ! let us arise, and press to the skies ;
The summons obey,
My friends, my beloved, and hasten away.

The Master of all, for our service doth call,

And deigns to approve.
With smiles of acceptance, our labour of love.

His burden who bear, we alone can declare

How easy his yoke,
While to love and good works we each other
provoke.

By word and by deed, the bodies in need,

The souls to relieve,
And freely as Jesus hath given to give.

Then let us attend our heavenly Friend,

In his members distrest,
By want, or affliction, or sickness opprest

The prisoner relieve, the stranger receive ;

Supply all their wants.
And spend and be spent in assisting his saints.'

THE CHRISTIAN EVER A
BEARER.

FRUIT-

neuher sha,i cease fron, yiel^Tt" '"1!^ °'^''''^''''

H's eaf also shall not withef 'S>. 7" ' *^"- ^•

Wealth and riches <ih;>li k • T- '• 3-

<^ousness endureth trter ^f, 'V^ ^"« '• -^hisHght-

|>ven to the poor • his r^h^ ^^'^ dispersed, he hath

Ps. cxn. 3, 9'; °'^' *"' "ghteousness endureth for ever/-

As it IS Written H i^ i.
given to the poor- k Hchf ^'sperscd abroad; he hath
» Cor. XX. 9. ' ^'' "8'>'«=ousness remaineth fo^ ever.'-

and S^tlnVsTeneJ^^ ^"nbeani cast on lovely flower,

to make brighter and more n! . T''' ^'^'^^'^ '« beauty

^°: In old age it is a runbelm "^ l'' ^'"'^^ ^^ «'^«4

--d arches.-bea„t;"added .nT..'^"- '— anj

-ned archerA::„V"a"dde7tn T ^^"^ '°---
in deam it is a Qnnk •,! oeforinity and <Jera«.

RLAS, alas ! how far /i«^ r .

rhr.-..- °° professing

II ^nristians come -h'^~- -^ 1

_ they should be! Whv »re Tr

- -en„,. Y„„^3a, .her^r;*:

} I'

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CHRISTIAN

converted. That does not necessarily fol-
low : they might have been even saintly,
but are now fallen. Noah was said to be
perfect in his generation, yet he committed
the sin of drunkenness. The pious Lot, for
whom Heaven interposed and saved him
from the burning cities of the plain because
he was righteous, yet committed the double
sin of drunkenness and incest ; and David,
said to be a * man after God's own heart,'
committed "both adultery and murder. And
the prophet Ezekiel has said, * If a righteous
man turneth away from his righteousness,
and committeth iniquity, all the righteous-
ness that he hath done shall not be remem-
bered, but in the sin that he hath sinned
shall he die.'

Fellow-Christian ! these are fear-
ful EXAMPLES of the possibility of a decay
of piety, intended not to discourage you in
the way of righteousness, but as marks of
admonition. They unite in saying, * Waf^'h
and pray, that ye enter not into temptation!
They are the MARKED rocks on which the
mighty of the past have fallen. The care-
ful mariner will watch for the marked

FRUTTFULNESS.

lor

ROCKS on which many a noble vessel has
been wrecked.

That spiritual life, of which you were made
the partakers when you were born again,
IS called Eternal Life, because, if faithful
you will enjoy it for ever. As the palm-tree
commences to live, and grows until it be.
comes stately and beautiful, so with the
Christian from the time he commences
spiritually to live, he grows in grace : en-
lightened by divine truth, influenced by the
examples of the pure and good, and watered
by the Spirit of life, he becomes purer, more
like Christ, more heavenly-minded, until,
npe ^^.th age and holiness, he enters the
gate of heaven to live for ever. Christian !
be faithful, earnest, and settled. Let your
piety shine not only on the Sabbath and in
he church, or in the society of Christian
fnends, but carry it with you into the family,
o the exchange, to the mart of business, to
the market-place, to the place of pleasure,

and to the house of mourning ; and go not
without your spirituality. Where you can-
not carrv vnnr r-"!' '

Satan

igion, there go not ; it is
s ground, on which you are liable to

. 1

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I02

CHRISTTAN-

be led captive, and make shipwreck of faith

and of a good conscience.

Christian / see the man of the world, how

faithfully he performs the daily duties of life !

He leaves not for to-morrow what should be

done to-day. Why is it that men are more
fickle in religion than in anything else;
and, sad to say, in that which is most im-
portant? But all this mdicates a want of
true piety : where that is enjoyed, there is
consistent stability.

The aged Christian looks back with plea-
sure upon the past, and forward with glorious
triumph to the future. His light never
shone as brightly as now, and his life never
appeared so glorious. He is nearing heaven,
and he dies like the setting sun, casting
golden rays of beauty and grandeur on all
around him. As a venerable patriarch, he
calls around him the several members of his
family, and gives them his last blessing, and
commends them to God.

* Lift not thou the wailing voice,

Weep not,— 'tis the Christian dieth |
Up, where blessed saints rejoice,
Ransomed now, the spirit flieth.

FRUITFULNESS.

High in heaven's own light he dwelleth.
Full the song of triumph swelleth ;
Freed from earth and earthly failing,
Lift for him no voice of wailing.

Pour not thou the bitter tear ;

Heaven its book of comfort opeth,
Bids thee sorrow not, nor fear.

But as one who alway hopeth.
Hurnbly here in faith relying,
Peacefully in Jesus dying,
Heavenly joy his eye is flushing,—
Why should thine with tears be gushing?

They who die in Christ are blessed :
Ours be, then, no thought of grieving I

Sweetly with their God they rest.
All their toils and troubles leaving.

So be ours the faith that saveth,

Hope that every trial braveth.

Love that to the end endureth.

And through Christ the crown secureih | *

103

PART III.

' Pi-

CHRISTIAN PERFECTION.

' Thou Shalt be perfect with the T^ord thy God.'— Deut
xvni, 13.

• It is God that girdeth me with strength, and makcth
my way perfect.'— Ps. xvm. 32,

' Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the
measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.'— Eph. iv. 13.

Christian Perfection ! You say nothing in this changing
world IS perfect. True, in the absolute sense of the term •
nevertheless, perfection is often attributed even to created
thmgs. Our Almighty Creator, in the dawn of worlds
wrote perfection on all the works of his hands ; and a.s
each was finished, ' He saw that it was good.' Thus it
may still be said of the palm-tree of Palestine, which was
and IS the most perfect of trees : neither the heat of sum-
mer nor the cold of winter could mar or destroy it • it
retams its verdure the year around. Christian! the
palm-tree is the sywSoI of thy most spiritual state, thy
relations and destiny.

• Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Fathrf

WHICH IS IN HEAVEN IS PERFECT.'— M ATT. V. 48.

HRISTIAN ! is thy name enrolled

among the churck's names?

More is required of thee— that thy

sicime be written in heaven. Art thou justi-

104

(^ffRrSTTAN PERFECTION, 105
fied regenerated, and adopted into God's
. famaly? More is required of thee : grow in
grace and in the knowledge of our Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ. Art thou a ser-
ZVlIr' ^-'-^^"-d of thee:
Do you ask, Is there such a thing as
Christian perfection? Did there ever exist
a perfect „.an? And what is perfection ?

EarnU '• '"''' ' '^'''^^' perfection?

Earnest inquirer, retire to your closet, fall
upon your knees, ask wisdom from God

open the Bible, and read the following pas-'

sages -Be perfect' (2 Cor. xiii.„)^^Le,
us therefore, as many as be perfect hn ^^.
minded' (Phil, iii ,.> ixsjT ' ^ '^"'
^ '* "'• '3;- Whom we prearh

warmng every man, and teaching eve^ man
m all wsdom that we may presence""

•Thar; '" ^"=' -f""^' (C°'- '■ =8)
That the man of God may be perfect

hro„gh,yf„r„ishea„n.oan'goodrot^^^
(2 T.m. „,. ,7). . Make you perfect in every
f°f 7* '<> do his wi„, working in y„T

hat wh,ch is well-pleasing in his sigh,

-- -'-••'' -n^K^t; to whom be plorv

for ever and ever. Amen' (Heb. ^i.^t^

io6

CHRTSTIAlSr

Do you still ask, Is there such a thing as
perfection? If so, I fear the day is not
very far distant when you will be prepared
to write upon the covers of the most infal-
lible book in the univere, Fiction. Dear
reader! by your doibts you demonstrate
that you are not perfect with God. The
perfect man does not question whether there
is such a thing as perfection ; the perfect
man is a man of faith ; and

* To him that in thy name believes,
Eternal life with Thee is given ;
Into himself he all receives,
Pardon, and holiness, and heaven.

The things unknown to feeble sense,
Unseen by Reason's glimmering ray.

With strong commanding evidence,
Their heavenly origin display.'

Idly, Do you ask, Did a perfect man ever
exist .? Read : ' Noah Was a just man, and
perfect m his generation ; and Noah walked
with God' (Gen. vi. 9). 'Perfect and up-
right, one that feared God'. (Job i. 1).
'Mark the perfect man, and behold the
upright : for the end of that man is peace'

tfll III!!
m

PERFECTION. ,07

(Ps. xxxvii. 37). Did a perfect man ever
exist? Yes; millions. All who have peopled
heaven in the past, and all who are now
waitmg m triumphant expectation for the
church above. A glorious host of ancient
worthies are represented by Paul as inherit-
ing the promises, for which this perfection
IS the preparation. John, too, in the soli-
tude of Patmos, saw in vision the heavenly
state. He beheld happy beings arrayed in
white robes, and was reminded by one of
the bright inhabitants of that holy place
that the white-robed beings were once the
sons of earth, * who came up out of great
tribulation, and washed their robes, and
made them white in the blood of the Lamb '
Brethren ! one of the most blessed pro-
mises made to us by our Saviour is, ' that
his perfect ones shall walk with Him in
white, for they are worthy ;' and one of his
most solemn warnings is, that 'nothing
unholy or unclean shall ever enter there '

Zdly, You ask, What is Christian perfec-
tion ? It is not absolute. It admits of
degrees of change-from glory to glory.
It IS not indefectible; it may be lost. The

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perfect Noah fell into sin, and the perfect
and patient Job once gave way to repining.
Yet of both had been said by the most
holy Being in the universe, that they
were perfect men. It is not angelic per-
fection ; for the angels never sinned. They
have ever, from the morning of their crea-
tion, retained their spotless purity. Man is
a fallen being, and is on this account liable
to err, and, through error, to sin ; but not
so with the angels. Learn hence, that it is
important in the highest degree, that you
should watch and live near to Jesus, the
true light that lighteth every man that
cometh into the world, and the source of
*hat HOLY LOVE that is admirably fitted to
keep you spiritual. It is easier to be holy
hard by that pure and spiritual fountain
than elsewhere. When you walk in the
path of holiness, the spotless Jesus is ever
near you, and then only.

It is not Adamic perfection. When
Adam sinned, he brought upon himself and
posterity disabilities from which fallen man
cannot extricate himself in this present
world. These disabilities are of a physical

PERFECTION.

109

and mental nature. He is liable to disease,
pain, sorrow, and error of judgment, even
when made perfect morally.

Brethren ! I have shown you what
Christian perfection is not ; I now proceed
to disclose to you what it is.

Christian perfection, with regard to
sin, is freedom from its guilt, power, pollu-
tion, and its very last remains. Do you
still feel you are in the bondage of sin ?
or, in other words, do you at any time
voluntarily perform what you know to be
sinful ? Then you are not * perfect with
God.'

With regard to God, it is supreme love to
God, and a restoration to the image of God ;
FOR God is love. If this is your state,
the terms righteous^ godly, and godlike will
apply to you. But are you afraid you do
not reflect the fulness of these names ?
Then pray to God to conform you more
fully to his image, and God will fulfil your
desires. If you are a perfect Christian, you
will love God supremely, — that is, with all
your heart, mind, soul, and strength ; and
will manifest perfect obedience to his com-

CHRISTIAN

•"** ^-=--

. ^ i!»l'iiijj
'' ^^t

mandments ; ^for he who breaks one com-
mandme7it, is guilty of all.*

With regard to your own nature, every
part is made blameless. The apostle prayed
for the Thessalonians : ' The very God of
peace sanctify you wholly ; and I pray God
your whole spirit, soul, and body be pre-
served blameless unto the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ' Christian render ! think
of that word blameless ! How much mean-
ing there is in that word blameless,— irre-
proachable, unblemished, unspotted, fault-
less ! < Be diligent, that ye may be found of
Him in peace, without spot, and blameless'
(2 Pet. iii. 14).

With regard to your Christian profession,
it is perfect sincerity : where there is hypo-
crisy, there is not Christian perfection.

Some feeble Christians think this happy
state is not attainable in this life. How
misguided or mistaken ! Is not the babe
as perfect as the man ? Study his physical
orgai.'-rition : is it not as perfect as man's?
Kis PC- ' ; ti . 1 admits of growth, and so
does 'i-s ,'hn'':'i»ian's most perfect state
admit oi ii, pravement \ 'aence we say to

PERFECTION. m

the most advanced Christian, * Grow in
grace.' The palm-tree is perfect : it has its
root, stalk, branches, leaves, and fruit ;
it is first small, but it grows until it be-
comes a stately tree. The Christian here,
compared with those i« heaven, may be a
babe ; but if freed from the guilt, power,
and pollution of sin, if he renders obedience
to God's laws with all his heart, if he is
sincere in his Christian profession, if he
loves God supremely, and his neighbour as
himself, then he is a perfect Christian. I
humbly pray the Giver of all good, that
these few words may induce many Chris-
tians to seek higher attainments of the grace
of Christ. 'Be ye holy;' 'Be ye perfect,
even as your Father in heaven is perfect.'
Cod is perfect; Christ our Saviour is per-
fect ; the Holy Ghost, the third Person in
the glorious Trinity, is perfect ; the angels
are perfect ; heaven, the abode of the blessed,
is perfect; and all who enter that happy
plac2, and join that holy company, must be
perfect.

i iH

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CHRISTIAN

' O God, most merciful and true I
Thy nature to my soul impart ;
Stablish with me the cov'nant new.
And write perfection on my heart.

To real holiness restored,

On let me gain my Saviour's mind •
Aiid, in the knowledge of my Lord,

Fulness of life eternal find.

Oh that with all thy saints I might,

By sweet experience, prove
What is the length, and breadth, and height.

And depth of perfect love ! '

* Let me gain my calling's hope ;

O make the sinner clean !
Dry corruption's fountain up,

Cut off th' entail of sin.
Take me into Thee, my Lord,

And I shall then no longer ruve ;
Help me, Saviour, speak the word,

And perfect me in love.

Thou my life, my treasure be.

My portion here below ;
Nothing would I seek but Thee,

Thee only would I know.
My exceeding great reward.

My heaven on earth, my heaven above I
Help me, Saviour, speak the word,

And perfect me in love.

PERFECTION.

Grant me now the bliss to feel

Of those that are in Thee ;
Son of God, thyself reveal,

Engrave thy name on me.
As in heaven, be here adored,

And let me now the promise prove
Help me. Saviour, speak the worn.

And perfect me in love.'

?>■»->-£:

PART IV. .

THE CHRISTIAN'S RELATIONSHIP
TO HIS GOD.

' Beloved, now are we the sons of God ; and it doth not
yet appear what we shall be : but we know that, when He
shall appear, we shall be like Him ; for we shall see Him
as He is.'~i John hi. 2.

' Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins
in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto
God and his Father ; to Him be glory and dominion for
ever and ever. Amen.' — Rev. i. 5, 6.

' An heir of glory ! a frail child of dust ;
Helpless, immortal ! insect, infinite !
A worm ! a god ! I tremble at myself.*

' The mind that would be happy must be great-
Great in its wishes, great in its surveys :
Extended views a narrow mind extend ;
Push out its corrugate, expansive make.
Which ere long more than planets shall embrace.
A man of compass makes a man of worth ;
Divine contemplate, and become divine.'

Young.

'And we know that we are of God.' — i John v. 19.

jHINK of the unspeakable dignity
of that man who can bow before
the King of kings, and say, ' I
am thy son ! ' The unsaved cannot say this ;

i»4

RELA TIONSHIPS.

they arc his enemies. * He that gathereth
not with Christ, scattereth abroad.*- We
should not regard Christ's enemies as weak
and helpless, as not being able to help
doing what they do, and being what they
are ; but as responsible for their sins.
No, VERILY ! for every man, woman, and
child capable of sinning, before they are
brought into reconciliation with God, are
the enemies of God, the enemies of Christ.

Reconciliation. That happy state
supposes two \\i\x\<g%~deliverance and re-
storation. In the same passage we read of
the * spirit of bondage ' and the * Spirit of
adoption.' 'For ye have not received the
spirit of bondage again to fear ; but ye have
received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we
cry, Abba, Father. The spirit itself beareth
witness with our spirit, that we are the
children of God' (Rom. viii. 15, 16). It is
the same Spirit which brings the soul into
bondage, and frees it from that bondage,
and bestows the blessing of adoption. This
happy Christian state is very important: it
is the turning point in human life ; it is the
GATE OF BLISS. As man enters it, he looks

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CHRISTIAN

, 'i '-i

back with sorrow upon the life of sense, and
forward with joy to a life of full fruition.
It is a blessed state to be one of God's
adopted.

Because you are delivered from the * spirit
of bondage. — The ' spirit of bondage ' is the
spirit that binds you, or the spirit of slavery;
and slavery produces fear ; the fettered
slave is always fearful. But why does this
state precede adoption .? Because it is the
state of an alarmed, convicted penitent.
The impenitent has no fear ; he is as careless
as he is callous j he slumbers on the brink
of ruin. His own fearful condition calls
upon him to arouse to energy and to action,
and yet he slumbers. The state of millions
of souls perishing without Christ calls upon
him to arouse, and yet he slumbers. The
necessities of the church call upon him to
arouse, and yet he slumbers ; and he may
slumber on, until he awakes to sleep no
more in the dreary regions of the lost.

Dear reader ! it is far better to be
an alarmed, convicted penitent, having the
' spirit of bondage,' than to be the slumber-
ing REPROBATE. And why? Because this

RELA TIONSHIPS. 1 1 7

is the way to a higher and more glorious
state—that of adoption. What is the nature
of that adoption ? It is the taking and
treating a stranger as one's own son. Chris-
tians are named adopted, because God treats
them as children ; they are the subjects of
his fatherly care and prgtection. Says
Jehovah : ' I will spare them as a man
spareth his own son that serveth him.'
Then He supplies them with all they need,
temporal and spiritual, for time and eter-
nity. Said our divine Saviour : * If ye, being
evil, know how to give good gifts unto your
children, how much more shall your heavenly
Father give his Holy Spirit to them that ask
Him.?' (Luke xi. 13).

Then He administers to them fatherly
instructions and corrections. 'Whom the
Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth
every son whom He recefveth.' ' Now no
chastening for the present seemeth joyous,*
but grievous; nevertheles.s afterward it
yieldeth the peaceable fruits of righteous-
ness unto them which are exercised thereby.'
He manifests fatherly atiections toward
his children. Said Jesus : * For the Father

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CHRISTIAN

himself loveth you, because ye have loved
me ; and have believed that I came out
from God.' And because He hath loved
his people, He hath constituted them his
heirs—* heirs of God, and joint heirs with
Christ.'

Christian reader ! here are many im-
portant lessons for you. Your adoption is
the fruit of grace, of infinite beneficence, of
unparalleled love, of unmerited mercy. You
had no claim on God ; you had forfeited his
favour, and effaced his image.

* Oh to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be I '

Has God conferred all this honour upon
you ? Then do not forget there are divine
claims resting upon you. You are to mani-
fest towards God YOUR Father the true
SPIRIT OF SONS,— love, confidence, and obe-
dience ; and all these to perfection. ' But
as many as received Him, to them gave He
power to become the sons of God, even to
them that believe on his name' (John i. 12).
* F.phraim shall say, "'Vhat have I any more
to do with idols ? I have heard him, and ob-

RELA TIONSHIPS.

119

served him. I am like a green fir-tree : from
me is thy fruit found.' Adopted one ! you
have worshipped many idols in the past.
You have worshipped at the shrine of earth's
pleasures ; scenes of gaiety have been your
gods — the theatre, the ball-room, the gam-
bling saloon ; perhaps you have been the
slave of Bacchus ; or you may have wor-
shipped at the shrine of honour ; you have
sought a place and a name among the
mighty and renowned ; riches may have been
your god. But now you are adopted, and
your language is : * What have I any more
■o do with IDOLS?' ' Other lords have had
dominion over us ; but by Thee only will we
make mention of thy name.' * Whom have
I in heaven but Thee t and there is none
on earth I desire b.eside Thee.' * Thou art
my portion, saith my soul : therefore will I
hope in Thee.'

Art thou adopted ? Then many are thy
privileges. Thou art raised to dignity and
honour, above the unconverted sons and
daughters of men. Thou shalt possess all
things. Says the Apostle Paul : ' All are
yours, whether Paul, or ApoUos, or Cephas,

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CHRISTIAN

or the world, or life, or death, or things pre-
sent or things to come : all' are yours.'

Then thou art happy and secure. ' Thou
Shalt dwell in a peaceable habitation, and
m sure dwellings, and quiet resting-places.'
You shall have delightful access to God
Vou may come to his throne at all times!
and under all the varied circumstances of
hfe. You may come direct into the Holy of
HOLIES ; the sceptre of love is ever held out
to you. Not only the high priest, but all
Oods adopf^d ones,-learned or illiterate
COME r^""' ^^^'^ °' white,-ALL MAY
If you are adopted, you have continually
the evidence of that adoption,-the witness
of your own spirit, and the witness of God's
bpint • 'Because ye are sons, God hath
sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your
hearts, crying, Abba, Father.' What a de-
hghtful privilege to be the sons of God, and
to know it ; to be travelling to heaven, and
nave the evidence of it !

In one of our Lord's most beautiful simi-
litudes, the chief character was a nak.d
siarvmg, desolate prodigal, in a strange'

RE LA TIONSHIPS.

I2t

land. He carried with him from his father's
house wealth enough ; with carefulness and
industry he might have added to his posses-
sions ; but when far from parental restraint,
*he spent his substance in riotous living,
and was reduced to want.' In his extremity
he engaged in the base drudgery oi feeding
swine, ' and would fain have filled his belly
with the husks which the swine did eat, for
no man gave unto him.' When brought
into this state of want and wretchedness, he
came to himself; his thoughts were first
turned to his father's house, and he said,
• How many hired servants of my father have
bread enough, and to spare!' His thoughts
were then turned to himself: * I perish with
hunger ; ' and he resolves to return to his
father's house, and confess his wanderings.
'And when he was yet a great way off, his
father saw him, and had compassion, and
ran to meet him, and fell upon his neck, and
kissed him ; and commanded his servants to
bring the best robe and put it on him, to
put rings on his hands, and shoes on his
feet ; and to kill for him the fatted calf,'~or,
in other words, to treat him as a son. His

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CHRISTIAN

past wanderings are not mentioned— he is
now a son ; or, if mentioned, they are only
mentioned by his elder brother, which drew
in return the parental reproof : ' It was meet
that we should make merry and be glad : for
this thy brother (he is thy brother) was dead,
and is alive again ; was lost, and is found.'
Reader! you have here illustrated, man's
sinful state, his return to God, and his re-
ception.

' Wliere shall my wandering soul begin ?

How shall I all to heaven aspire ?
A slave redeem'd from death and sin,

A brand pluck'd from eternal fire !
How shall I equal triumphs raise.
Or sing my great Deliverer's praise.?*
Oil how shall I the goodness tell,

Father, which Thou to me hast show'd ?
That I, a child of wrath and hell,

I should be call'd a child of God ;
Should know, should feel my sins forgiven,—
Blest with this antepast of heaven ! '

' When gathering clouds around I view,
And days are dark, and friends are few j
On Him I lean, who, not in vain,
Experienced every human pain.
He sees my griefs, allays my fears,
And counts and treasures up my tears.

RELA TIONSHIPS.

If aught should tempt my soul to s
From heavenly wisdom's narrow way,
To fly the good I would pursue,
Or do the thing I would not do ;
Still He who felt temptation's power,
Will guard me in that dangerous hour.

If wounded love my bosom swell,
Despised by those I prized too well.
He shall his pitying aid bestow.
Who felt on earth severer woe ;
At once betrayed, denied, or fled,
By those who shared his daily bread.

When vexing thoughts within me rise,
And, sore dismayed, my spirit dies.
Yet He, who once vouchsafed to bear
The sickening anguish of despair.
Shall sweetly soothe, shall gently dry,
The thro&bing heart, the streaming eye.*

Sir Robert Gkamt,

1 "

% . Il

» ^ *

THE CHRISTIAN'S RELATION TO
THE CHURCH MILITANT.

' God is greatly to be feared in the as.;emKl„ „r .k

And 1 turned to see the voice that spake with 1 In 1
be,ng turned, I saw seven golden candlesSs and
the nndst of the seven candlesticks one 1 ke the ^ "r
.nanclothed with a garment down to th fLt Ind '^irt
about the paps with a golden girdle. '-Rev , ,. i" *

:;:ss;tt-sr^----^"-^er?t
■^i\TuraTSTdroVrrchr^"«-T

making men like Christ, earth I^e heaved th T"'J '"'
of the world the kingdom of Christ .-dTakwouu"""'"

' '^z ^'^H-r^ous sHALr^z^;;;;;;ri^KE the pa,.m.tree ■

HE SHALL GROW LIKE A CEDAR ,N LEBANON ThoL'
THAT BE PLANTED m THE HOUSE OK THkIoHo"!!^
KLOUR.SH ,N THE COURTS OP OUR Gou.'-Ps xc,L .^,3'

HE church of Christ militant is
the Christian's home on earth.
^ The earth is his wilderness, the

cuurch his own HAPPV, GLORIOUS HOME.

RELA TIONSHIPS.

135

The terms employed to represent that
church are, 'Saints,' ' Upright,' ' God's Heri-
tage,' * Habitation of God,' ' Mountain of
his Hohness,' * Pillar and Ground of Truth,'
'Golden Candlestick,' 'Spiritual House.'
These names are as many representations
of the church's purity; and we learn from
these that righteousness is the support of the
Messiah's government ; and as gold is the
purest of all metals, so the sanctified Chris-
tian is the purest being upon earth. Much
religion in the heart consumes the dross
and tin of sin, and leaves no room for sin.
Christ dwells in the Christian's heart ; and
Christ and sin cannot dwell together. The
Spirit of Christ fills the Christian's heart ;
hence there is no room for sin. In the
holy city 'there is, nothing that defileth.'
*The mountain of his hohness' rears its
summit near to heaven. In the spiritual
house there are no sin stains.

Christians! you are related to the most holy
church on earth. Are you holy .? You are
said to be gold ; and in gold there is no alloy,
no mixture of baser metal. Are you pure ?

Christ's church is precious—' God's pecu-

126

CHRISTIAN

liar treasure.' * Now, therefore, if ye will
obey my voice indeed, and keep my cove-
nant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure
unto me above all people ; for all the earth
is mine.' Here is a glorious promise— a
promise that God would appropriate the
church to himself, and regard her with
peculiar pleasure, and bestow upon her joy,
and a rank of higher honour and tenderer
endearment in his regard than any other
people. They are to Him a treasure of
which He is peculiarly choice — one on
which his heart is set, and which He
neither shares with nor commits to the
care of others. Just glance for a moment
at a few of Heaven's declarations :

* For the Lord is the portion of his people '
(Deut. xxxii. 9).

'For thou art an holy people unto the
Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath
chosen thee to be a special people unto
himself, above all people that are upon the
face of the earth ' (Deut. vii. 6).

'For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto
himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure'
(Ps. cxxxv. 4).

RELATIONSHIPS. 127

' But ye are a chosen generation, a royal
priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people ;
that ye should show forth the praises of
Him who hath called you out of darkness
into his marvellous light : which in times
past were not a people, but are now the
people of God ' (i Peter ii. 9, 10).

* Members of the body of Christ!'
Branches of the living vine ! * God's chil-
dren!' THINK OF HEAA^EN'S ESTI-
MATE OF THEE. Select, valuable, pre-
cious, endeared, loved and prized jewels ;
exceedingly prized, and preserved with an
immaculate Father's care.

The church is the most desirable place
on earth, because the church is Jehovah's
dwelling-place. He dwells in her, not as a
transient guest, but for ever, while the heart
IS pure. And his' presence makes the be-
liever's paradise; and where He is, is
HEAVEN. ' For thus saith the high and lofty
One, that inhabiteth eternity, whose name
is Holy; I dwell in the high and \io\y place
with him also that is of a contrite and
humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the
humble, and to revive the heart of the con-

■'!!

^Hiiitii.k

,28 CNR/ST/ AN

trite ones' (Isa. Ivii. 15)- A reference is
not here made to the celestial city, the
metropolis of the universe, but to the
church of God on earth. And God says,
I DWELL. This is God's message.

Dear 'devoted friend ! you tell us you
have a delightful sense of the Divine pre-
sence ; that God is with you; 'that He
brought you into his banqueting-house, and
his banner over you was love.' Yes, you
felt his hallowed presence in the public
ordinances, under the ministry of the word,
as deep and solemn truths were applied to
your heart by the Holy Spirit. And you have
felt that presence in the domestic circle, as
you gathered around the altar of prayer the
several members of your family. But you
have felt that presence more especially in
the retirement of the closet : yes, you have
held sweet communion with Him there.
You bear testimony that you have felt that
presence often : your testimony is only that
of man ;' it is nevertheless true, and can be
relied upon, for it is corroborated by the de-
claration of the God of truth ! ' I dwell with
him who is of a contrite and humble spirit,*

RELA TIONSHIPS.

129

O Christian ! honoured and glorious are
thy relationships ! It is not said, I dwell
with the proud and pharisaical. No! for in
the terms, I DWELL, there is implied friend-
ship and love ; and God hates the lukewarm
and hypocritical, and has threatened to
* spue them out of his mouth.' Then, Chris-
tian, thou art highly favoured above many
thousands, to bask in the sunshine of Jeho-
vah's presence, and receive the warming and
comforting smiles of his favour — the heaven
of his presence. And oh ! the infinite con-
descension of God, to dwell, not with the
rich and mighty — not with kings, princes,
and potentates— with statesmen, warriors,
and poets— but only as they become humble
and contrite. The poor, if humble and con-
trite, are as much the friends of God as the
mightiest monarch. The seven churches of
Asia Minor are designated ' golden candle-
sticks,' and Jesus is said to walk in the
midst of them. Yea, Jesus might say, as
God the Father said, ' I dwell.'

Christian ! you are a companion of the
Pnnce of Life, and the most spiritual of all
the sons and daughters of earth.

130

RELATIONSHIPS.

^ir.

♦ Lord, I would clasp thy hand in mine,
Nor ever murmur or repine ;
Content whatever lot I see,

Since 'tis my God who leadeth me.

And when my task on earth is done.
When by thy grace the victory's won,

Even death's cold wave I will not Hee,
Since God through Jordan leadeth me.

How i^ileasant, how divinely fair,

O Lord of Hosts ! thy dwellings are \

With strong desire my spirit faints
To meet the assemblies of thy saints.

Blest are the saints that sit on high,
Around thy throne of majesty ;

Thy brightest glories shine above.
And all their work is praise and love.

Blest are the souls that find a place
Within the f.emple of thy grace ;

Here they behold thy gentler rays.

And seek thy face, and learn thy praise.

Blest are the men whose hearts are set
To find the way to Sion's gate ;

God is their strength, and through the road
They lean upon their helper, God.

Cheerful they walk with growing strength,
Til! all shall meet in heaven at length j

Till all before thy face appear,

And join in nobler worship there.*

THE CHRISTIAxN'S RELATION TO
THE CHURCH TRIUMPHANT.

• But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city
of the hvmg God, the lieavenly Jerusalem, and to an in-
numerable conipany of angels, to the genera! assembly and
church of the first-born, which are written in heaven' and
to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men
made perfect, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new cove-
nant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better
things than that of Abel.'— Heb. xii. 22-24

' In my Father's house are many mansions : if it were
not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for
you. —John xiv. 2.

' ''Behold I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man
standing at the right hand of God." Thus spake the first
martyr m expectation of death. And in all ages there
have been those, across whose vision in the dying hour
similar scenes of blessedness have passed : as orbs of light
meet our gaze when the darkness of nightfall covers the
earth .so do scenes of glory appear to the Christian when
the shadows of evening close his day of life. The eve
grows dim in the light of the celestial city, and tne ear dull
a. the strains of the richest melody ; the warmth of the body
is, as It were, fanned gently away by the wings of angels.'

' But ratheh rejoice, because your namks arb

WRITTEN IN HEAVEN.'— Ll'KE X. 30,

HILE you sojourn here below,
heaven is your home ; while you
__ are surrounded with temptation
and sin, heaven is your home; while you

132

CHRISTIAN

are surrounded with error and the erring,
heaven is your home. * Here you have no
continuing city; you seek a city out of
sight, whose builder and founder is God.'
What is it, then, that binds your souls to
earth, and to the things of earth ? You are
bound to earth by no stronger ties than
those of humanity : a change in nature, a
touch of disease, the finger of God, is suf-
ficient to break the brittle thread of life.
Then your free and intelligent spirit will
breathe an atmosphere never breathed be-
fore, and feed on manna never fed on before,
and drink of the living fountains of water,
and shall dwell in the presence of the
infinite, and pure, and good, for ever.

Thy name is written in heaven. Some
have names among kings and princes,
among statesmen, warriors, and poets.
Their names are written in the catalogues
of earth's great men, and are heralded
through all nations and empires on earth.
But thy name is written in heaven;
and that name will be read in the solemn
day (^judgment --^-■-* --^ *'-■-

XJU

tA.

L4fe/ iti th^ pt^e

/ 1-:

RE LA TIONSHIPS.

133

and shall give you a title and a place among
the redeemed and sanctified in heaven ; for
the ' church militant' and the ' church tri-
umphant' are one family.

* Come, let us join our friends above,

That have obtained the prize,
And on the eagle wings of love

To joys celestial rise.
Let all the saints terrestrial sing

With those to glory gone ;
For all the servants of our King

In earth and heaven are one.

One family we dwell in Him,

One church above, beneath,
Though now divided by the stream,

The narrow stream of death.
One army of the living God,

To his command we bow ;
Part of his host have crossed the flood,

And part are crossing now.

Ten thousand to their endless home

This solemn moment fly ;
And we are to the margin come,

And we expect to die.
His militant embodied host,

With wishful looks we stand,
And long to sec that happy coast,

And reach the heavenly land,'

'34

CHRISTIAN

They are characterized by the same
nature ; they stand in common relationship
to each other, are surrounded by the ^ame
influences, and appointed to the same happy
destmies. ^

They are characterized by the same
nature. God is a spirit; angels are spirits ;
and man possesses an immortal spirit, not
perfect to the same degree, not possessing
equal d.gn.ty : the one absolutely, the other
only comparatively perfect ; and He who is
absolutely perfect is the Parent of them all.

• He, that great Father, kindled in one flame the
world of rationals.'

'One spirit poured from spirit's awful fountain,
Poured himself through all their souls, but not
in equal stream.'

Christian ! thou art son of the King
of kmgs ; and the Son of God, the second
person m the glorious Trinity, and equal
to the Father and to the Holy Spirit, in all
his attributes, perfections, and offices, is thy
Elder Brother. The mighty archangel in
heaven is thy brother ; the most powerful
seraph before the throne of God is thy

RELA TIONSHIPS,

«35

brother; the glorious company of angels
are thy brethren ; and the martyr host who
* washed their robes and made theni white in
the blood of the Lamb' are all thy brethren.
What Jacob saw in vision, all true Chris-
tians may see by the eye of faith,— earth
AND HEAVEN UNITED, a Ir.dder reaching
from earth to heaven. Jacob, the represen-
tative of the church militant, lay at its foot,
and God his Father stood above it ; and the
angels ascended and descended upon the
ladder ; they came down with messages of
mercy from God to man, and carried back
spiritual tidings from the church on earth
to God. That ladder was not removed
when Jacob awoke. When he slept, he saw
it in vision ; when he awoke, he saw it by
faith. Oh yes ! and that ladder connects
earth and heaven ,still, and the blessed
angels are still ascending and descending
upon the ladder. * Are they not all minis-
tering spirits, sent forth to minister to them
who shall be heirs of salvation V * Bless the
Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength,
that do his commandments, hearkening to
the voice of his word.'

136

CHRISTIAN

And IS there care in heaven, and is there love
In lieavenly spirits to these creatures base,

Ihat may compassion of their evils move?
There is, else much more wretched were the
case

Of men than beast. But oh I th' exceedin.r
grace
Of higliest God, that loves his creatures so •

And all his works with mercy doth embrace,
1 hat blessed angels He sends to and fro
To serve to wicked men, to serve his wicked foe ! '
How oft do they their silver bowers leave.

To come to succour us, that succour want ?
How oft do they with golden pinions cleave
The flutmg skies, like flying pursuivant,
Against foul fiends to aid us militant ?
They for us fight, they watch, and duly ward,
And their bright squadrons round about 'us
plant.
And all for love, and nothing for reward :
Oh ! why should heavenly God to maii have
such regard?'

Mourning Christian ! here is comfort
for thee. I see by faith thy attendant
angels ; they are always by thy side. Have
you many foes? They cannot pass your
mighty angel guide, however malignant.
They cannot harm thee.

.\rt thou one of God's afflicted ones?

RELATIONSHIPS. j-vj

Shining angels are standing around thy bed,
watching the motions of disease and the
approach of death,— -waiting to waft thy
happy spirit to mansions of eternal light.

Art thou in temporal want? Is the
world's cold frown casting its shadow
across thy heart, chiiling thy very vitals ?
God's ancient people fed on angels' food,
and the angels are sent forth to minister to
thee. Art thou a penitent mourner t Then
thou art at this moment exciting the wonder
and admiration of the blessed angels. Said
your heavenly Master: 'Likewise I say
unto you, there is rejoicing in the presence
of the angels of God over one sinner that
repenteth, more than over ninety and nine
just persons which need no repentance.'

The church on earth and in heaven are
one ; are possessed of the same heavenly
principles — /&«^«//^^^^, purity, and love.
The angels of God in heaven, and the saints
of God on earth, bask in the same sunlight
of the Lamb ; * for the Lamb is the light
thereof.' The same Lamb, who is the light
of the celestial city, is the bright * SUN OF
Righteousness/ shining forth upon the

f i\

" frfl

»38

CHRTSTTAN

millions of his saved and sanctified ones on
earth.

The great multitude in heaven, which no
man can number, are pure as well as happy •
and purity is the necessary preparation for
heaven, as nothing unholy or unclean can
ever enter that holy place. God is love •
the angels love ; the love of Christ brought
Him down to man ; and this is the chief
motive power, inducing Christian zeal, toil
and self-sacrifice. Of purity and love we'
shall treat more fully hereafter. The church
on earth and in heaven are appointed to the
same happy destinies. Heaven is the abode
of all.

•And let this feeble body fail,

And let it droop and die ;'
My soul shall quit the mournful vale,

And soar to worlds on high ;
vShall join the disembodied saints,

And find its long-sought rest
(That only bliss for which it pants)

In my Redeemer's breast.

Oh wliat hath Jesus bought for me !

Before my ravish 'd eyes
Rivers of life divine I see,

And trees of paradise.

RELATIONSHIPS.

They flourish in perpetual bloom,
Fruit every month they give ;

And to the healing leaves who come.
Eternally shall live.

I see a world of spirits bright,

Wlio reap the pleasures there ;
They all are robed in purest white.

And conquering palms they bear.
Adorn'd by their Redeemer's grace.

They close pursue the Lamb ;
And every shining front displays

Th' unutterable name.

They drink the vivifying stream,

They pluck th' ambrosial fruit,
And each records the praise oi Him

Who tuned his golden lute.
At once they strike th' hainionious wir^

And hymn the great Three-One :
He hears, He smile , and all the choir

Fall down before his throne.

Oh what are all my sufferings here.

If, Lord, Thou count me meet
With that enraptured host to appear

And worship at thy feet !
Give joy or grief, give ease or pain.

Take life or friends away ;
I come to take them all again

In that eternal day.'

139

PART V.

CHRISTIAN PRIVILEGES.
PLANTED BY THE RIVER OF LIFE.

the'^ftv of V^oH^r' ^^f ''?""* ^^^'^"^ ^J^^" -"^ke glad

; As rivers of water in a dry place. '-Isa. xxxii. ,.
Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters that ,en,l
forth thuher the feet of the ox and the assZlsI' xxx„ To

midst" the" ,7"" '; ''^' P'^"^' -d fountains in the

water, and the dry land springs of water. '-Isa. xli. i8.

rivir nf^.t"''''"''' P':'^''«g«^« are great. Planted by the

^r ^mtxZ"'"-V'u''' ""'^ °f ^"'l'^ "g"^' hand plant-
ng. His lot might have been cast in the dark ages and

never beamed, and where thought never soared bevond
the grat^cat,on of the animal appetite; where like the
beasts, they live, and lie down in death.' 'Thy hnes hive
fallen^to thee .n pleasant places, and thou has'tTgoodi;

• He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of

WATER.'— Ps. I. 3.

T is upon the banks of the River

of Life that you are planted, O

Christian ! and upon the banks

Of the same river are planted Christians of

140

PRIVILEGES.

every name and age, colour and nation,
under heaven. That river has many wind-
ings and turnings, and many branches,—
spreading out hke the many ramifications
of a tree, and meeting again in the same
parent waters. The streams of that river
flow through all the means of grace, public
and private, and replenish the wells of sal-
vation, from which the people of God draw
water with joy.

Blessed are the people of our large cities,
towns, and villages, where many magnificent
temples have been erected for the worship
of God ; and the river of life flows through
them all. The faithful never enter without
drinking of its waters, and are satisfied.
Then there are many who have the name
Christian, who go merely to pass away
a leisure hour. They go not as to a foun-
tain ; they walk not as by a river ; they are
perishing, whilst the life-giving stream flows
rapidly by, because they neglect to drink
of its waters. Oh the multitudes which
throng God's solemn temples on the Sab-
bath-day I They come, they go, and are
yet unsaved, while the river of salvation

142

CHRISTIAN

flows at their very feet. Tell mcj, ye unsaved
millions of Christendom ! why your present
insecure and unhappy condition ? Why are
you heedlessly going to ruin and perdition ?
Jesus died for you ; the Holy Spirit has been
poured upon you; rivers of grace have
flowed past you continually. Oh ! if you
perish, you perish by your own hand ; and
upon no other being than yourself will you
ever be able to cast the odium of your
wretched destiny. What would you think
of a man perishing with thirst, and a well of
springing water at his feet, or a river pass-
ing him by .? You would say. How insane,
how foolish ! Reader ! art thou not the
man?

Christian ! think of your privileges.
The palm-tree planted by the river is ever
fruitful ; the waters of the river of life will
help to holy living, and dying. But you
must drink daily. It is not sufficient that
you drink now and then; but daily, yea,
hourly. In the morning when you rise, and
through the day with all its varied engage-
ments, and as you retire to rest at night.
How much you can meditate, pray, and

PRIVILEGES.

»43

praise. At the close of every day you
should examine yourself, and propose to
yourself the following interrogations : * How
have I been living this day ?' ' What have I
done that I should nc have done?' and
'What have I J :» , ^jone that I should
have done?' 'V ; ,: ,,ave I done this dav
to promote the interest of the dear Re-
deemer's kingdom?' 'Have I been seeking
larger and richer grace to ripen me for
glory?' 'Have I been striving to win souls
to Christ, and thus save them from the
destroyer and his hell?' 'Have I, like my
divine Master, by precept and example,
gone about doing good ? '

' These self-inquiries are the road
"Which leads to virtue and to God.'

The streams of the river of life flow not
only through the public means of gracef but
wherever there are Christian hearts and
influences in the pious family circle.

• Blest are the sons of peace,

V/hosc hearts and hopes are one ;
Whose kind designs to serve and please,
Through all their actions run.

<44 CHRISTIAN

Blest is the pious house,

Where ze 1 and friendship meet ;

Their songs of praise, their mingled vows,
Make their communion sweet.'

It flows through the retired closet. It is
found in the wilderness as in the city ; in
the closet as in the sanctuary. The dying
and the living alike can drink of its waters.
O Christian ! if you finally come short of
the prize, HOW foolish, how wicked,
planted as you are by the river of the water
of life !

* Ho ! every one that thirsteth, come ye
to the waters, and he that hath no money :
come ye, buy and eat ; yea, come, buy wine
and milk without money and without price '
(Isa. Iv. i). 'The Spirit and the bride say,
Come. And let him that heareth say,
Come. And let him that is athirst come.
And whosoever will, let him take the water
of life freely ' (Rev. xxii. 17). These blessed
invitations are intended for all classes of
Christians ; and the waters of life are in-
tended to bless all : to elevate the youthful
spirits higher ; to give strength, solidity, and
intelligence to manhood; to support and

PRIVILEGES. " ,45

bless old age ; to comfort the isolated and
lonely, and to cheer the social board • to
give the day-labourer strength and courage
to perform the arduous toih of life, and men
in more opulent circumstances intelligence
to transact the most important business of
time. It cheers in prosperity and in adver-
sity, m health and in affliction, in life and
m death.

* Awake our souls ! away our fears !
Let every trembling thought be gone ;
Awake, and run the heavenly race
And put a cheerful courage on. '

True, 'tis a strait and thorny road,
Ard mortal spirits tire and faint •

But they forget the mighty God, '
That feeds the strength of every saint.

O mighty God, thy matchless power
Is ever new and e- er young ;

And firm endures, while endless years
Their everlasting circles run.

From Thee, the evenlowing spring,
Our souls shall drink a fresh cupnly

mjle such as trust their native strength,
bhall melt away, and droop and die
J

146 PRIVILEGES,

Swift as the eagle cuts the air,
We'll mount aloft to thine abode j

On wings of love our souls shall fly,
Nor tire along the heavenly road.

There is a stream, whose getitle flow
Supplies the city of our God,

Life, love, and joy still gliding throug};.
And watering our divine abode.

This sacred stream, thy vital word,
Thus all our raging fears controls ;

Sweet peace thy promises afford.
And give new strength to fainting souis.

Sion enjoys her Monarch's love.
Secure against the threatening hour ;

Nor can her firm foundation move.
Built on his faithfulness and power.*

PLANTED.

' For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will
bring thzm aga.n to this land : and I will build them, and
not pull tnem down ; and I will plant them, and not pluck
them up.'— Jer. xxiv. 6.

^ Those that be planted in the house of the Lord*haH
flourish in the courts of our God.'— Ps. xcii ij

'Yet I had planted thee a nobie vine, whol>y a rirht
seed : how then art thou turned into a degenerate plant of
a strange vine unto me ?'— Jer. ii. ai.

'For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters.'-

JER. XVII. 8.

..nl°,* I'll'* ?" ^?"i *=*'* "P°" *•'" ^°""d and trodden
under the foot of the ox, and afterward springing up.
becomes a great t.%e. Nor like the forest tree, growing
spontaneously without care or cultivation. Planted suiJ
poses careful toil, with some end in view. The tree b^
the nver .s planted there either for beauty or fruit. The
Christian is planted by the river of Ufe for both ; yes for
beauty and fruitfulness. '

|AN Y men of the present generalion
are trying to live by their own
native strength : hence they sig-
nally fail. Man, at best, when left to him-
self, possesses but little strength— not enough
to enable him to overcome in moral con-
flicts. Satan and sin are more powerful

. 148

CHRISTIAN

}'Al

than he. Says one whose besetting sin has
been falsehood : * I shall never be untruthful
again. No, never ! Falsehood is so
odious in the sight of Heaven, and so de-
structive ot man's influence. The liar can
never be believed— can never be trusted.
I will never speak a falsehood again.' This
vow is made, and is often repeated. Is it
kept ? Oh no ! It was made in the strength
of man, whose arm is flesh, and his strength
is feebleness. He passes on, and so long
as he wanders from the river of life,
his character is stained by falsehood. Per-
haps his besetting sin is profane swearing.
He has often promised ifever to swear
^gain, never to use profane words any more.
Those promises, though made with mean-
ing, are seldom ever kept, because made in
human strength. He may have been given
to drunkenness ; and after the wretched hour
of his besotment has passed away, and con-
sciousness is restored, in deep agony he
exclaims, *I will never drink again that
body-killing and soi. destroying poison-
that destroyer of domestic bliss and indi-
vidual happiness.' Does he keep his word ?

PRIVILEGES. ,49

But a short time at most, and he drinks of
the same cup which made him to feel sor-
rowful ; ' He returns as a sow that was
washed to her wallowing in the mire'
(2 Pet. ii. 22).

Has he been addicted to violating God's
Sabbath ? The sacredness of the Sabbath
has often moved his heart to make promises
of keeping it holy. But his very first temp-
tations to pleasure and sin have led him
captive. How weak is man without Christ,
while he drinks not of the river of the
water of life !

Christian! thoq art strong-not in
human strength, but strong in the strength
of Jehovah, in the might of the Holy One.
Jesus is y<jur strength, and you are rooted
and grounded in love ; and he who grows
in love, grows in strength. Napoleon is
reported to have said, that there was an
empire that would outlive his own : for his
had been gathered by the force of arms,
and founded on human strength; but
that had been gathered by love, and is
founded on love. Love is stronger than
armies or navies, however powerful. The

ISO

CHRISTIAN

religion of the Bible is a religion of love;
and Jehovah's empire is an empire of love,
and therefore will endure for ever. The
weakness of all things human is written on
the pages of the past. Thrones have been
overturned, nations have been uproched,
emperors and kings have been destroyed,
and the most powerful nations and empires
of the past have sunk into oblivion. Where
is now the influence of Nimrod and Nebu-
chadnezzar, and their successors on the
Babylonian throne? Where is now the
influence of the Persian king, who reigned
from India to Ethiopia. over a hundred and
twenty-seven provinces .? Where is now the
influence of Tyre or Carthage, whose mer-
chantmen were princes, and whose^traffickers
were the honojjrable of the earth .? Where
is now the influence of Rome, once the mis-
tress of the world? It is gone for ever.
But the Saviour's has increased, is still
increasing, and it will increase its influence
among all classes and nations of men on
the face of the globe^ because its mighty
warriors are nourished by the waters of the
river of life.

PRIVILEGES,

I5«

There are many Scripture figures illus-
trating Christian strength and stability,
and often in contrast with past weakness
and helplessness : * He took thee out of
' the mire and clay, and set thy feet upon a
rock.' When you were in the mire and
clay of sin, every struggle sunk you deeper
and yet deeper still ; and you were unable
to help yourself. No effort of your own
co-uld save you. 'Hell and destruction
were open before you, without a covering.*
There were no earthly means of escape.
Then your heavenly Parent stretched out his
hand of mercy to your rescue. He took
you out of the * mire, and set your feet upon
the Rock' of Ages. Then you need not
fear: waves of trouble may roll on, but
above their bilbwing crest you are seated
upon the eternal * Rock.'

Grounded in love. The idea couched
in this figure is that o{ a building based
upon a sure foundation. Christian ! you
are one of the living stones in Jehovah's
temple. Its walls are built up to heairen—
that edifice of which * Christ is the foun-
dation.' ' And the Lamb is the light

152

CHRISTIAN

thereof.' It is spiritual in its nature,
and mighty in strength. Armies of wicked
men have gone up against it ; they have
employed their mightiest weapons; they
have said, < Rase it, rase it; even to the
ground ; they have employed their strength,
time, money, and influence against it • yet
Its polished walls stand up as gloriously as
ever. Foul fiends from the bottomless pit
have employed their arts and strength to
destroy it ; ' but the gates of hell shall not
prevail against it.'

Planted and rooted are also terms
employed. The tree planted and well
rooted by the river side will stand in the
most terrific tempest, while the tree growing
up spontaneously, rooted near the surface of
the ground, is easily rooted up and cast
down to the ground.

Christian ! you are planted and deeply
rooted by the river of life. Satan has
made many attempts to cut you down ;
but Jesus held the arm of thy malignant
foe, and his axe fell useless to the ground.
1 he fhunders have roared, and the forked
lightnings have dashed around you, and

PRIVILEGES.

t53

many a tree, as stately and beautif. as
yourself, has been split asunder, a\d its
life and beauty for ever destroyed. .ut
you are fair and beautiful as ever. \'''e
whirlwind has swept by thee, rooting up
many trees, and carrying away everything
before it, like a winged demon from the
depths of hell ; but you are still standing,
not a bough is broken. The earthquake
has convulsed all nature around you— has
overthrown cities, towns, and villages.
But you are still standing. The volcano
has burst out very near you ; its black ashes
have passed over you like clouds of death,
and its fiery particles have dropped around
you on every hand ; and your leaf is yet
green, and in you is your fruit found, be-
cause you are * planted by the waters of the
river of life.'

Christian! how many have been your
trials ! You have met with reverses of
fortune ; you have been brought down from
affluence to poverty ; you have had many
afflictions, personal and domestic ; you have
been bereaved of many relatives ; you have
been subject to many persecutions ; a host

»54

CHRISTIAN

have encamped against you : but yet you are
stedfast and immoveable, always abounding
in the work of the Lord. Said a patient
Christian sufferer : * There was a time when
I was both prosperous and happy. I pos-
sessed wealth, relatives, and health, and I
was thankful and happy. Then my heavenly
Father took my wealth from me ; yet I re-
tained my relatives and health, and I was
thankful and happy. Afterwards He took
my relatives from me; yet I possessed
health and life, and I have felt thankful and
happy. He then took my health from me,
and brought me to the bed of death j and
I bless the Lord I yet feel thankful aad
happy.\ Why.? Because he was planted
by the waters of the river of life.

'God is our refuge, our strong tower,
Securing by his mighty power,
When dangers threatened to devour. '

Thus armed, no fears shall chill our blood,
Though earth no longer stedfast stood,
And shook our hills into the flood ;

Although the trouoled ocean rise*

In foaming billows to the skies,

And mountains f ' . ike with horrid noise.

PRIVILEGES.

Clear streams puH from the crystal spring,
Which gladness to Cod's city bring,
The mansion of th' eternal King.

He in her centre takes his place ;
What foe can her fair towers deface,
Protected by his early grace ? •

Tumultuary nations rose,

And armed troops our walls enclose.

And his feared voice unnerved our foes.

The Lord of hosts is on our side ;

The God of Jacob magnified ;

Our strength, on whom we have relied.

He makes destructive wars surcease ;
The earth, deflowered of her increase,
• Restores with universal peace.

He breaks their bows, unarms their quivers.
The bloody spear in pieces shivers,
Their chariots to the flame delivers.

Forbear, and know that I the Lord
Will by all nations be adored —
Praised with unanimous accord.

The Lord of hosts is on our side ;
The God ^f Jacob magnified ;
• Our strength, on whom we have relied.'

155

• fi f

THE CHRISTIAN A TREE OF
GOD'S PLANTING.

heriI'''.7T^5 f ° '''^" ^ ^" "Shteous: they shall in-
hent the land for ever, the branch of niy planting, the
work of my hands. tHat I may be glorified. A little one
shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation :
J ^ Lord will hasten it m his time.'-IsA. lx 21 22

■To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto
them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the
garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness ; that they
might be caUed Trees of righteousness, The planting of the
4.ord, that He might be glorified.'— Isa. lxi. 3.
The Christian a tree of God's planting
The Christian is not m.-n made ; his origin is higher
nobler, and more glorious. The votaries of all systems of
religion under heaven, a.ide from the religion of Christ
are made so by man. And those religions benefit men'
only in the society of men ; but the Christian is redeemed'
convicted, saved, and sanctified by ' Juhovah God.'

• Thev are the seed WHTrH THE Lore hath

BLESSED.'— IsA. LXI. 9.

HE world is a wilderness ; men in
a state of nature are wild trees in

t^at wilderness; and God with

his own hand takes them up, and trans-
plants them by tiie waters of the river of Jjfe.

PRIVILEGES. 157

Christian ! you have here vour two-
fold §tate described,— your state when you
grew up wild in a confused wilderness, and
when transplanted into a paradise ; your
state by nature, and your saved state. And
that happy change was effected by God
himself. In the forest, everything is wild
and unsightly. There are many kinds of
trees : some appear dwarfish ; but if brought
out to the sunlight, and planted by the
river, they may yet become tall and stately :
others seem to droop thei.- heads, as pressed
down by the weight of age, though they are
yet young and tender ; they may yet flourish
and become beautiful ; but, to develop that
beauty, they must be transplanted.

There are other trees covered with branches
and leaves from the root to the uppermost
bough, and all in wild confusion. There is
something repulsive in the sight ; but cut
off its superfluous branches, and transplant
It, and it will yet excite the admiration of
the passer-by.

Some are partially dead, and have many
leafless boughs ; but, if transplanted, ma-
yet live for ages. * ' '

:i<:

158

CHRISTIAN

There are many large and well-formed ;
but where they stand they are useles^s, and
serve none of the purposes of their being ;
they afiford neither shelter, shade, food, nor
medicine ; but, when transplanted, they be-
come useful as well as beautiful.

Christian ! you have he'e illustrations
of what you were, what you are, and what
you may be. In your wilderness state you
were dwarfish, morally and intellectually;
but now, transplanted by the river of the
water of life, you may become great and
glorious. Just think for a moment of th
wonderful effects of these life-giving wat-rs !
It finds you guilty, lying under the con^
demnatory sentence of God's broken law :
'The soul that sinneth, it shall die;' 'The
wages of sin is death.' It finds you cor^
rupted by sin, sin-stained, and sin-cursed :
* The whole head is sick, and the whole heart
faint. From the sole of the foot even unto
the head, there is no Soundness in it ; but
wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores :
they have not been closed, neither bound
up, neither mollified with ointment.'

Cast out into the open field, polluted in

PRIVILEGES.

'59

your own blood, through drinking of .hese

.fe-g,v,„g waters .our sins are forgiven

the sentence of condemnation is removed '■

you are washed, and made clean '»;

spnnkled Clean water upon you, and ma"
you clean ; from all your idols, from all
your filthiness, He cleansed you '

aJat ,"h? '''"' j"'° "" ^"^= y°"' »d 'ook
away the stony heart out of your flesh and
gave y , „, ,^^^ , J^ ^^^"h. d

w.th a robe clean and z.^,fe, and has made

SHALL WALK WITH HiM IN WHITE FOR
VOU ARE WORTHY,' • ""E,TOR

Before drinking of these waters, your will

d™7" "'-''-bellious.itis'Lsr

eniott^rT'"""''"''""'"''"^^'^"-"-
enjoy the most sacred emotions. Your affec-

ttons w^e vitiated ; they were placed upon
objects from unworthy motives-sometime"
from a love of self. I„ .his way men some

..mes love their friends, relatives' and neigh,
bours , they are connected with them in their
merest and sympathy, in family assoc"
t.ons, and domestic endearments ; thev love
ihem because they love themselves : iti fact,

i6o

CHRISTIAN

loving them is loving themselves. But if
this (3 the only motive to direct human affec-
tion-, It is not as high as it should be, to
gpvern the alv- .tions of an infelligent and
immortal being, ihc blessed religion of
Jesus instructs its ] :- ssessors to love their
friends and relatives in God ; not to have
that blind and stupid affection for them
which connives at their sins against God,
and the dishonour they bring to God and
his cause, but that which produces the
most sacred joy, when friends are turning
from *sin to hohness,|pd from Si. n to God.'
The affections of men are sometimes ex-
cited by worldly enterprises and heroic
actions. When they hear of the deeds of
warriors, and the seas of blood through
which they have passed, they love them.
But when influenced by the Christian reli-
gion, they look at war as one of the most
terrible catastrophes that could possibly
happen to our world ; and they love not so
much the spiUer of blood, as he whose
blood is spilt. They love the martyr who
spilt his blood in martyrdom, more than the
mightiest warriors who have spUt the blood

PRIVILEGES. ,5,

of multitudes. The Grecians loved to ex-

hff 'i ^''''■•"'^i'' ■■ how much more to
be loved are those who spilt their blood in
the defence of the cause of Christ '

In your wilderness state you drooped
your he,d in sullen gloom, when you came
mto the presence of your God, you could

grace. And why ? Because you felt a

sens,„fg„„, A guilty creature will shrink

nto a corner, rather than come into the.pre-

sence of h,m against whom his crimes have

been commuted. Do you feel guilty !■ Doel

your hear, smite you? Doef you spin

eproachyou? I. is better that ^ou shS "

^.h the bold"' "^* "^''P'"^ ''«^' 'han
w th the boldness of self-righteousness. The
pubhcan could not so much as lift his eyel
toward heaven ; bur he smote upon h"

=• Brg^pi-rrtrLtrTf

'■fe. you can lift up y„„ ^^^ ,^^
iiame now is nnf Fmi-,*,, ».^ ^-.-
have become his friend. ^ ^

!rP

,' 'i?

l63

CHRISTIAN

i#i.

Lift your heads, ye friends of Jesus,
Partners m his sufferings here •

Christ, to all believers precious, '
Lord of lords shall soon appear.

Mark the tokens
Of his heavenly kingdom near.

With what different exclamation,
Shall the saints his banner see '

By the tokens of his passion,
By the marks received for me.

All discern Him ;
All with shouts cry out, * 'Tb He ! *

Christian reader ! your dignity and
glory consist in the possession of a spiri-
tual nature, and the glory of your spiritual
nature consists in the resemblance it bears
to God. The capacities of your immortal
spirit are vast beyond description. By its
power you can soar to worlds unknown, and
in an mstant of time can explore the bound-
LESS UNIVERSE ; can hold sweet communion
with the Deity and the blessed inhabitants of
the spirit-land ; and at the same ^ime, sweet
fellowship with the church militant.

In your wilderness state, perhaps yotl
possessed a commanding appearance ; but
you were useless. You served not the pur-

PRIVILEGES,

163

poses of Jehovah, nor answered the design
Of your creation or redemption, y„„„eS

«hl rT T '"'''"''™- "o^ 'ha. of
™ ,"' "''" ^°" ^^"'°«" BENE.

»« that 'He might be glorified.' 'The

•hat I m,ght be glorified, saith the Lord '
How can you best glorify God? Bv

h,nn,ng the ranks of Satan; by removing
told ;V°""''"°"^=''y building up
Ind^ ■r'"'' '"" S'O"""' <=hurch here

with shouting, 'Grace, grace unto it'

ones " aTt "'"""^ °' ^°^'^ --^'^ed
ones, past, present, and future, shall be

gathered int. the New Jerusalem,' they shal
smg, Amen: glory, honour, praise and
Power^be unto our Cod Tor eL '^^L

But God has given you more.'

W:.

1 64

CHRISTIAN

' Oh that men would praise the Lord for
his goodneps and for his wonderful works to
the children of men !'

' Come all whoe'er have set

Your faces Sionward,
In Jesus let us meet,

And praise our common. Lord ;
In Jesus let us still go on,
Till all appear before his throne.

Nearer and nearer still

We to our country come,
To that celestial hill,

The weary pilgrim's home ;
The New Jerusalem above,
The seat of everlasting love.

The ransomed sons o. .~od,

All earthly things we scorn ;
And to our high abode,

With songs of praise return.
From strength to strength we still proceed.
With crowns of joy upon our head.

The peace and joy of faith,

Each moment may we feel ;
Redeemed from sin and wiath,

From earth and death and hell,
We to our Father's house repair,
To meet our Elder Brother there.

PIUVrLEGES,

1(55

for
to

Our Brother, Saviour, Head,

Our all in all is He ;
And in his steps who tread,

^ We soon his face shall see-
Shall see Him with our glorious friends ;
Auc! then m heaven our journey ends.'

-^vt«J>»fe.

PART VI.

[^.*-

CHRISTIAN DUTY AND SUCCESS.

• And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and
that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand.'

— OEN. XXXIX. 3.

' The keeper of the prison looked not to anything that
was under his hand ; because the Lord was with him, and
that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper. '-Gen
XXXIX. 23.

'Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord ; that walketh
in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands :
happy Shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee '—
Ps. cxxviii. I, a.

'On minds of dove-like innocence possessed,
On lightened minds, that bask in virtue's beams,
Nothing hangs tedious, nothing old revolves ;
Their glorious efforts, winged with heavenly hope.
Each nsing morning sees still higher rise,
Advancing virtue in a line to bliss-
Virtue which Christian motives best inspire,
And bliss which Christian schemes alone ensure.'

YOUNO.

'And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.'— Ps. i. 3,

HIS book, from the beginning to

the end, contains many illustra-

,^=,=^=,^^1 ^'®"S of Christian duty as well as

privilege. Illustrations of Christian privi-

166 *^

CHRISTIAN DUTY. 167

leges are always welcome to all hearts ; but
not so with illustrations of Christian duties.
They often excite sorrow, and shade the
human countenance with sadness and gloom.
But why this contrast of emotions in Chris-
tian hearts ? Are not Christian duties as
essential to the spiritual life and happiness
of the Christian as his privileges? Yes
VERILY ; Uhe path of duty is the pathjf
safety: If you win the prize, you must run
with patience the race set before you, look-
ing unto Jesus. If you become a conqueror, \
you must fight manfuUy the battles of the
Lord ; and if you desire to hear at the la^t \
the welcome, ' Well done, good and faithiSh -- ^
servant,' you 'must work the works of Him\
that sent you while it is called to-day; for <
the night cometh, when no man can worlfc^ "
Christian ! you are invited to consid«>s
THREE woRDS,-.words full of meaning/
truth, and comfort: Whatsoever, doeth,
prosper.

DOETH FiRST.~Work is nccessary to
success. Without it, there is neither faith,
love, nor obedience. Faith is seen in works.
Said James, 'Show me thy faith by thy

168 CHRISTIAN DUTY

works ;' also, ' Faith without works is dead.'
The man that loves will serve the being
loved, and will think no labours too arduous
when performed in favour of the loved one •
and no man can obey without much labour!
or God claims of man the whole labour of
iife ', Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do
all m the name of the Lord Jesus: ' What
soever thy hand findeth to do, do it with
thy might ; for there is no work, nor device
nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave'
whither thou goest.' '

'Whatsoever thou doest shall
PROSPER.' Bdiever! there is fulness in
this promise ; it expends to things temporal
and spiritual.

You ask, How is it that the efforts of
Christians so often prove failures .? Ther
look for prosperity, and behold adversity •
for health, and behold affliction. And these
failures are often seen, not only in the spiri-
tually lifeless professor, but in Christians
who enjoy the privileges, perform the duties
and possess the embellishments marked out
in this book.

;* ' "1

There may be two reasons for

esc

AND SUCCESS.

169

failures : \st, What is done may not be done
in the name of the Lord Jesus, nor for the
glory of God. 2dly, May not serve the
true interest of those who do it. Whatso-
ever the Christian does, should be done
in the name of the Lord Jesus. Chris-
tian ! through all the varied engagements
of life, you should examine yourself, and
ask yourself the question : Can I do this in
the name of the Lord Jesus.? If so, the
work must be pure, and the motive that in-
duced it pure.

In temporal things, you may be called
upon by men of the world to sacrifice
Chiistian principle. They will say this and
that is ^.t wrong; you are not doing it for
yourself. You may be expected to over-
reach a little in trade, or perform unneces-
sary labour on the holy Sabbath-day ; but
do not forget you cannot do either in the
NAME OF THE LORD JeSUS ; and such
doing will fail of success. You may be
called upon to participate in scenes of
gaiety and sin. Men may tell you certain
amusements are not sinful. Perhaps they
will sav there is no sin in going to the

»7o CHRISTIAN DUTY

theatre. Dear reader ! you cannot go to the
theatre in the name of the Lord Jesus. It
IS a school of infamy-a nursery of vice.
ihe very moment you enter that cursed
house of woe and shame, sin and death,
Christ will forsake you. And, let me
tell you, many thousands have learned there
the first lessons of a sin-cursed life a
wretched death, and a miserable eternity.
Said Plato, ' riays raise the passions and
pervert the use of them, and of consequence
are dangerous to moralit)'.' Aristotle de-
clares that seeing of comedies ought to be
forbidden to young people, until age and
discipline have made them proof against de-
bauchery. Tacitus advises German women
to be guarded against danger, and preserve
their purity by having no playhouses among
them. Ovid to Augustus advises the sup-
pression of theatrical amusements, as he
regarded them as a great source of corrup-
tion. And soon after the declaration of Inde-
pendence in the United States of America,
Congress passed the following resolution :
Whereas tme religion and good morals
arc the only foundation of public libertv

AND SUCCESS. ,7,

and happiness : Resolved, that it be, and
hereby is, earnestly recommended to the
several States, to take the most effectual
measures for the encouragement thereof,
and for the suppression of theatrical enter-
tainments, horse-racing, gaming, and such
other diversions as are productive of idle-
ness, dissipation, and a general depravity of
principles and manners.'

The infidel philosopher Rousseau adds
his testimony to the many others. He
says, 'It is impossible that an establish-
ment (the theatre at Geneva) so contrary to
our ancient manners can be generally ap-
plauded. How many generous citizens will
see with indignation this monument of
htxury and effeminacy raise itself upon the
ruins of our ancient simplicity! Where
would be the imprudent mother who would
dare to carry her daughter to this dangerous
school? And what respectable woman
would not think herself dishonoured in
going there ? In all countries the profession
of a player is dishonourable, and these who
exercise it are everywhere contemned.'
Men addicted to earthly gaiety will lay

172 CHRISTIAN DUTY

that there is no harm in dancing, and
often designate it an innocent amusement.
Name that innocent which has corrupted
and desolated many innocent and happy
hearts! Name that innocent ^.hich has
turned thousands from virgin purity to base
prostitution ; that which has ruined many
famihes, and destroyed for ever domestic
happmess ; that which has brought thou-
sands prematurely to death and the grave •
and that which has helped more than any.'
thmg else to people hell ! Innocent amuL
mens ! Foul as hell ; dangerous as death ;
contagious as leprosy ; venomous as the ser-
pent There is no stain it has not pro-
cJuced ; no aspirations it has not chilled •
no hope It has not vanquished. Ah ' could
you behold on earth and in hell that martyred
host of unhappy souls agonizing in despair,
wailmg in never-ending misery, you would
hear, coming up from the very depths of
wretched hearts, the fearful confession • The
fruitful source of all this woe is dancing i

In the beautiful village of , in the year

^«5% <-od graciously poured out his Spirit
upoa </4e of two churches. Amono- .j,^ _,,„,

AND SUCCESS.

ber of converts was a lovely maiden, thirteen
years of age. She was the daughter of a
pious mother and a godless father. She
Decame the subject of earnest piety. After
a brief period, her holy mother passed to
her glorious reward. Her daughter, aS a
Christian, was now left alone in the
domestic circle. She scon began to show
the marks of consumption. Her physician
recommended her removal to a warmer cli-
mate : she made a change, and God gave
his blessing; the result was her recovery
After the winter had passed away, she re-
turned to her home. Her proud father was
glad to receive her back, and soon told her
he desired to introduce her to her friends
by givmg a mag^iificent ball. She hesitated.>>^ »

but yielded. The night came, and she\ "^^ !

■omed m the giddy dance. The next morn- \
ing she was taken iir, and in four short days "
passed into eternity; and those who stood
by heard her say, in hopeless despair,
Hear, O heavens / and give ear, O earth r
The revelling dance slew her, and her father
was her tempter.
Dear READER J 'what

«74 CHRISTIAN DUTY

are to do in the name of tht ^.ord Jesus.
You cannot dance in his name ; to say that
^vould be profane. Where dancing is uni-
versal, Jesus is not known; and where
Jesus reigns, dancing is a failure.

Christian ! you may have many other
tempters and temptations ; but you have a
safe rule : * Whatsoever ye do, do all in the
name of the Lord Jesus.' Then it is pro-
mised, ' Thou Shalt prosper.'

■idly, Success may not serve the true
interest of those who seek it. Many there
are who seek earthly hrnour; and God
knows \i that end could be attained, it would
be destructive of true piety. Others thirst
and strive for earthly riches ; and riches, i
secured, would soon become their god.
Christians sometimes fail in their under-
takings ; and God knows it is better for
them that they should fail—better both for
time and eternity. I think, whilst God's
promises to his people sometimes extend to
temporal things, they more frequently refer
to spiritual things. The foithful Christian
»s always a SUCCESSFUL Christian. While

thousanHs! f\'WY\ rtaXAp. t,^ :_ .^mi /•_ ■. . .

.»,!Ctc, nc :3 still louna in tne

AND SUCCESS, ,75

path of holiness. And why? Because his
every circumstance in life is brought before
the mercy-seat of Christ. His language is
'Nothing is too great or small fo bH^g
before my heavenly Master.' He suffers no
pams, endures no hardships, meets with no
reverses, enters upon no enterprise, without
brmgmg all before the mercy-seat

He is a man of prayer; and a praying
man is always a spiritually successful man
He needs much, and his desires are many ;
and before he ever presents them, Jesus
knows them all, and waits to bless. The
praymg soul cannot fail of success; for
Jesus has said, ^ Ask, and ye shall receive •
^'^k, and ye shall find j knock, and it shall
be opened unto you: Millions have come

LfT 'V^' P^''' P^'"^'"^ t^^* promise ;
and they have not been turned empty away
They said, as they came, ' Blessed Saviour,
Thou hast promised, and now I come to
Thee to receive the blessing Thou hast pro-
mised. And Jesus said, ' Thy sins are for-
given thee.' Then the blessing was given.

CHRISTIAN! if vou dP«J.! .,..:„_.

prayer, there are many things to be con-

176 CHRISTIAN DUTY

sidered. You are to perform more than lip-
service. It is not sufficient that you bend
the knee before God, and allow the mind to
wander to the ends of the earth. Oh no !
Your prayer must be soul-work, heart-work :
' Unto T}ue, O Lord, do I lift up my soiii:
Said Jeremiah, ' Let us lift up our hearts
with our hands unto God, who is in the
heavens.' Said David, 'Pour out your
hearts before Him ; God is a refuge for us.'
Successful prayer is 'calling upon the
name of the Lord,' 'drawing near unto
God,' 'beseeching the Lord,' 'seeking unto
God,' 'crying unto heaven.' Then suc-
cessful prayer must be offered in the Holy
Ghost, 'in the full assurance of faith,'
'with the preparation of the heart,' 'with
a true heart,' 'with the whole heart,' 'with
the spirit and the understanding,' 'with
humihty,' with deliberation, with submission
to God, with 'confidence in God,' with
'unfeigned lips,' with holiness and truth,
with a desire to be heard and answered,'
with boldness, earnestness, and importunity,'
without ceasing, night and day, everywhere,*
;^-""-s>— »"i oicssings temporal and

AND SUCCESS. • ,77

spiritual ;-.should be accompanied with re-
pentance self-abasement, confession, weep-

CHRISTIAN! you have much encourage-
ment thus to pray. The promises of God's
covenant, God's faithfulness, God's right-
eousness, God's mercy, the death and inter-
cession of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ. You should pray in private, in the
family, and in the sanctuary

SUCCESSES ATTEND THEE. Do you

atld^'^-'^^^- ^--s helps ar
afforded you in answer to the prayer of
faith. Do you desire to see your relatives
easily brought to God? Thy many prayers

have th :'' '' '"^""^'' ^"^ *h°" «halt
have the happiness of seeing thy children

and fnends become the children and friends

Dost thou desire the conversion of thy

fe'th, thy neighbours are born to God
CilRiSTiAN ! when thou prayest, Gcd is
honoured, souls are saved, Christ's church

178

CHRISTIAN DUTY.

M ■

^tf I

is replenished with i^s members, and his
kingdom extended. Oh pray ! pray as you
have never prayed before. God says, * Prove
me now herewith, if I will not open you the
windows of heaven, and pour you out a
blessing, that there shall not be room
enough to receive it.'

' Ere the morninc;'. hnsy ray
Calls you to yc'K work away,
Ere the silent i; vciiirii; close
Your wearitvi eyes* m sweet repose,
To lift your heaii <i\d voice in prayer,
Be your first and latest care.

He to whom the prayer is due.

From heaven his throne shall smile on you ;

Angels sent by Him shall tend,

Your daily labour to befriend,

And their nightly vigils keep,

To guard you in the hour of sleep,.

When through the peaceful village swells
The music of the Sabbath bells.
Duly tread the sacred road
Which leads you to the house of God :
The blessing of the Lamb is there,
And God is in the midst of her,'

his
you
ove
the
: a
lom

Beantiftil Gift Books to a Friend.

Sacred Names:

Vontmuinn OlMce Vkw. 0/ the Mamj Char-
acttrutka of VLrutian Life.

BY THE REV. S. Q; PHILLIPS

•u:

^gliahCIoth. White Edges, 81.25 J EngM Cloth,
out Edgesj $1.50; Imitation Morocco. $2 00.

RECOMMENDATIONS.-«Rbv «i r p,„,
I regard your 'Sacred Names' an >S"-"vP^*'' ^ir.
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Schuyler Smith; vd^^:f^:^l,lZl'lhZ^^y'''--

"Ifor'e^SvrKs;?, I a oT" * n ^^> -^^ ^-

Can ada. Among those who r5n "^ ^^°^ Published in
W. M. Punshon M A T r n '^ - itare:-Rev
and Metai,hysi(»)- Rev A ^y (^^''ofessor of Logic. Ethics
of Modern Ei'mf^r;,,^- ?' ?^J'T? M.A.. Wofel'r
/ D. .Kica, D.l>, ; "Rev T p"^ J^^g^'s" Literature) ; Rev. S
nuwJ^ol4e4di,^j^^;„^i«f''"^«'*«>n. M.A, and a lll^e

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Br THE SAME AUTHOR.

THE MODERN PRODIGAL 80N;

OB,

THE LOST FOUND.

12mo. pp. 175. Toned Paper, Bound in Fine Cloth, Gilt
Edges, extra Gilt Title, 75ota. 18mo. SOcts.

PART I.

THE WANDERINGS OF THE MODERN PRODIGAL.

Chaj). Ist.— Glimpses of Home Life in the Wanderer's early
days.

!! ^"f ~1}^^ Wanderer inquiring into the Nature of Sin.
3rd.— Ihe Wanderer's resolve to leave Home.

" 4th.— The Wanderer's first step. He goes from home
among Strangers.

" 6th.— The Wanderer's second step. He runs into
Riot.

" Cth.— The Wanderer mis8i)ends his substance, illus-
trating the consequences of Wandering.

" 7th.— The Wanderer Homeless and in want.

" ath.— The Wanderer vainly attempts to remedy hia
condition.

PART n.

THE PRODIGAL REPENTANT RETURNS TO HIS

FATHER'S HOUSE, AND IS RECEIVED

IN PEACE.

Chap. 1st.— The M'anderer's Reason Restored.
" 2nd.— The Wanderer's Pcnitentiiil Resolutions.
" 3rd.— The Wanderer's Penitential Sorrow and Con-
fession.
" 4th.— The Meeting and Reconciliation,
" 5th.— Home Joys on the Wanderer's Return,

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