hins robes and his far-reaching blaze of majesty ; how he drank our

water, and ate our bread, and shared our human griefs and glad12nesses; how he lived a divine life on earth ; how he died for us, T and rose again, and ascended into heaven, where he dwells to-day

in unimaginable glory, and is our friend still. That old sweet story lets us know Jesus Christ; lets us in to the glory of his person and the matchless love of his heart; draws us to him in trust and penitence. Wonderful is its power to enchain the attention and affect the heart.

Dr. Livingstone states that, in beginning to speak with those who 3 have never heard of Christianity, the great theme which interests, if

anything will, is the fact of the Son of God having come down to die for us. Missionaries from the lanes and alleys of our great cities, and from all parts of heathendom, tell us the same thing. Many years ago, for example, when the Moravian missionaries first went to Greenland, they taught the Greenlanders about God, his existence, spirituality, unity, perfections, and with apparently no result; their hearts remained as cold as the ice-blocks around. One day one of the missionaries had a number of the people gathered about him, and after reading a portion of one of the gospels to them, he described with much force and feeling the sufferings of the Redeemer, especially his agony in the garden of Gethsemane ; and you remember how poor Kaiarnack stepped up to the table, and looking wistfully into the missionary's face, exclaimed, “How was that? Tell me that again, for I too would be saved.”

You observe it is not said to be life to know God or Christ, but "God and Jesus Christ.” And there is a reason for this conjunction. You cannot know the one without knowing the other also. Nay, it 18 in knowing Jesus Christ that you come to know God. You will never know God as you need to know him, and as he wishes to be known, unless in Jesus Christ whom he has sent. It is not in the Starry heavens, or the wondrous structure of the human mind, that the knowledge is treasured up, but in his Son.

What is the knowledge of God that we get in Jesus Christ? I cannot tell. Human language could not express the wondrous sum. We put down a few words in a catechism, and say, There w an account of God. Let us not forget that the very most we can know is but the bare rudiments of the knowledge. There still remains an infinity behind. A young child, who has hitherto fancied that the rim of the sky rests on the earth a few miles away, and that The whole world lies within that circle, sails down the Forth there, and sees the river-banks gradually widening, and the river passing into a frith. When he comes back, he tells his young companions now large the ocean is. Poor boy, he has not seen the ocean ; only the widened river. Just so with all creature-knowledge of

vod.. Though all the archangels were to utter all they know, there 13 would still remain an infinity untold.

But though it be impossible to tell all that may be known of trod in Christ, it is easy to see how the knowledge may be gathered. And first of all, view Jesus Christ as the Revelation of God. He the Son of God, God manifest in the flesh, the image of the isible God, the brightness of the Father's glory and the express

image of his person. “He that seeth me, seeth him that sent me." “ He that hath seen me hath seen the Father. Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?" Christ Jesus expresses what God is. We cannot conceive of pure spirit ; our knowledge is shadowy and unsubstantial ; we find it very hard to have real intercourse with a spiritual being : God has revealed himself in a man, that we may know him and come near him.

Again, Jesus is the Gift of God ; you see the giver in his gift. You do so in ordinary cases. You see something of a man's heart in his gifts. It is just this thing that makes a gift precious and valuable to us,—this faculty that it has of telling us what is in the giver's heart. Now look at God through his gift. Many gifts he has given us, all excellent; but this is his peerless and allinclusive gift; this is his unspeakable gift; this is his gift which assures us of all else, for “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things ?" See his love in his gift. See his regard for worthless man. See the largeness and liberality of his heart. See the absolute boundlessness of his mercy.

Again, Jesus is the Messenger of God," whom he hath sent." He is the apostle as well as the high priest of our profession. He speaks the words, and does the works, of God. You want to send a messenger on some business in which you feel very deeply interested. You do not send anybody. You look out one who in his spirit and feelings shall well represent you. So has God done. Now see what He is,-through his messenger. Take the works of Jesus,—they all tell us of the Father. Take the words of Jesus, such words for example as these, “ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,” or any other you may think of; the words do not merely express what was in the heart of the man Christ Jesus, but reveal to us the heart of God.

Once more, Jesus is the Lamb of God. You see him bearing sin through life, and expiating it upon the cross. All that, again, shows what God is. Nowhere else has he revealed himself so fully. See there his absolute righteousness; the quenchless opposition of his boly nature against all evil. See his infinite compassion, love and mercy. See how really he cares for you and desires your salvation. See him revealed “a just God and a Saviour.” I do not pursue the thought farther; let it lie and germinate in the mind.

I shall close by describing a scene such as has been often witnessed with joy by holy angels, and known with joy afterwards by saints on earth. A poor sinful creature feels himself unhappy. He cannot tell much about it. He knows he has departed from the Father in heaven. He feels that all his own righteousnesses are as filthy rags. He has proved his own weakness in conflict with temptation. He cannot look cheerfully to the future. The throne of God seems covered by a dark and threatening cloud. Old words of despised mercy, heard by his mother's knee long ago, are like molten metal in his memory. When he lets himself reflect, he feels his heart sinking down and down toward black, fathomless ut labysses. He enters his closet ; takes his New Testament on his

knee ; reads about the Lord Jesus Christ ; reads perhaps some of his gracious words, such as the story of the son who was lost and found again. As he reads (through the grace of the Divine Spirit) a new light breaks in upon him. He sees that Jesus Christ cares for his sinful soul. He sees how God has loved him in sending his Son. He sees how God has mercy even for the like of him. He sees how God is not a stern exactor, but a free giver. And, beginning to know God in Christ Jesus as he really is, and not as his heart fancied him to be, he begins to trust him, and his bosom begins to warm as if a glowing coal lay at his heart. There-the very moment when the sinful man begins to get the right knowledge of God into his heart,--there is the new life begun, to develop throughout eternity.

Stirling.

thirty-two you

ONE WANT OF THE TIMES.

BY THE REV. JAMES SMITH. "And they slew every one his man."-1 Kings xx. 20. SRAEL had sinued, and were under God's frown. There was

edness in the palace, and idolatry throughout the land. Yet den. proud Benhadad, the King of Syria, came blustering and wasting against them, the Lord sympathised with them, sent a

pret to them, and promised to deliver them. The young men
ale princes of the provinces were selected to conquer the foe, and
of the laurels of victory. It is nothing for the Lord to save,
der by many or by them that have no might. Here is proud
adad, with thirty and two kings to help him, with a most
ous army; on the other hand, here are two hundred and
Two young princes, with a small army, and yet the victory
eirs. What a subject to strengthen faith, excite hope, and
crage effort in the Lord's cause! May the Lord give us a few
able thoughts, while we meditate on this subject.
Te is A NOBLE ARMY. Made up of princely young men. Just
as we need in the Lord's cause now. Young men of education,
ut of God. Led by the Spirit into the truth. Men who know

uselves and the Saviour; the salvation that is by grace, and why it; their own weakness, and where their great strength lies.

are taught to use the Lord's armour, to wield the sword of the pit, and the powerful weapon called “all prayer.” O for an any of young men taught of God! Young men of influence-influ

acquired by character, and employed for God and his glory.

character that gives weight. When young men are deeply

cual, well read in God's word, devoted heart and soul to God's dance, and in the world exhibit truthfulness, honesty, industry,

don, and activity in God's cause, they acquire an influence that
Lost invincible. O for an army of young men of influence.
ag men of power-power with God in prayer, which gives them
in the church, the school, and the world. If we have power

decision, and act!

is almost in

1

Young men of por
power in the church, the

with God, we shall be sure to have power with man. Jacob first prevailed with God, and then Esau's heart was subdued, melted, and transformed. It is in private, when alone with God, that the battle is won. Those who pray well will fight well. Those who succeed with God, will be sure to overcome their fellow-men. O for an army of young men who have power with God! Young men of purpose, who are determined to do something noble. Who live for à noble end, and live by a noble rule. Whose minds are made up, in God's strength, to subdue themselves, and then to subdue others. To bring the body into subjection to the soul, and the soul to the obedience of faith ; and then to consecrate both soul and body to Jesus and his cause. O for an army of young men of determined purpose! Young men thoroughly decided for God, wholly devoted to God, and determined to employ all their time, strength, and talents for God. Such are princely young men, young men whom God will delight to honour, and to whom he will give the victory.

Here is A NUMEROUS FOE. Benhadad and thirty-two kings with him, backed by an army almost innumerable. Just so we have a world lying in wickedness, led on against God and the Saviour's little flock by the prince of the powers of the air and all his infernal associates. Or, nearer home, we have a kingdom to conquer for Christ, the inhabitants of which are in enmity against him, and are daily saying, “We will not have him to rule over us." Or, nearer still, we have a town, with its streets, lanes, and alleys, to win for the Prince of Peace. Or we are called to do battle with principles which are opposed to the rights of God, the honour of Christ, and the eternal happiness of man ; with practices which are alike injurious to God and man, violations of law, and indications of opposition to the Lawgiver ; with persons who are in rebellion against God, ignorant of God, and refusing to accept the mercy of God. Those principles we must subvert, those practices we must change, and those persons we must convert from the error of their way. Here is work for noble minds, daring spirits, loving hearts, for princely young men. O to see a host of them coming forth to the help of the Lord—to the help of the Lord against the mighty !

Here is, then, A TERRIBLE CONFLICT. It must be hand to hand, foot to foot, heart to heart. Each one must kill his man, not so much by might as by mercy ; not so much by skill as by kindness. The victory may be gained, but the conquest is not easy nor quick ; it calls for stern, determined, persevering conflict. We must take to ourselves the whole armour of God; we must take the Lord with us to the work ; we must have our hearts glowing with love to man, burning with zeal for God, and panting to bring honour to the great Captain of our salvation. Then, relying on the promises of eternal truth; then, expecting the all-subduing influences of the Holy Spirit; then, throwing our whole souls into the work, as if all depended on us, and yet looking to the Lord, knowing that all depends on him, we shall conquer, we shall overcome, we shall triumph! O to see the whole Church, every member of it, engaged heart and soul in this desperate conflict! Then, then we should soon see glorious things !

Here is COMBINED ACTION. “They slew every one his man ;” but they acted in concert, they fought together, they encouraged each other, they proved that union is strength. This is just what we want. We want our princely young men to act together, to form one glorious phalanx, one determined combination, one noble, indomitable band. If all who profess faith in Jesus were rightheaded and right-hearted, and would only act together with this one sole object in view-to win souls, to conquer for the Saviour, relying alone on the promised presence and power of the Holy Spirit, they might be called “THE INVINCIBLES." Cromwell's Ironsides would be mere children to them. O to see our young men meeting to pray together, until they be endued with power from on high; to plan together how they shall best commence, carry on, and persevere in the work to its completion ; and to fight together, determined to conquer or to die! We need more hearty union, more combined action, more persevering efforts to conquer the world for Christ.

Here is UNIVERSAL VICTORY. “They slew every one his man." There was not one coward, one deserter, or one who missed his mark. Each slew his man, and thus all conquered. Syria was humbled, and Israel was exalted. The victory was gained with comparative ease. But how many professed soldiers we have in our ranks who have never slain a man, or taken one captive for Christ! How can ye live? How can ye enjoy one moment's comfort? How can you bear yourselves, who have never been the means of the conversion of a soul ? What, have you professed Christ for years, and never gained one single victory for him-never brought one penitent rebel to his feet? Yours is an experience we cannot preach, a condition We would not be in for the world. O for grace that, with a princely spirit, with indomitable courage, with steady perseverance, we may engage in the great conflict of subduing the world to Christ!

Brethren, see the want of the times-princely young men. Young men deeply taught of God, using acquired influence for God, obtaining power from God, and with an iron purpose engaging with the enemies of God. We want you to throw your hearts into the work of God. O how much remains to be done! Look at the state of the world, the apathy of the Church, the activity of God's enemies, and come forth and engage with all your hearts in this glorious enterprise. We want you to co-operate together. Individual action is good, but combined action is better. You can stimulate, stir up, and encourage each other. Stand not aloof from each other then : have you not all one glorious Captain ? do you not belong to one and the same army? do you not hope to receive a crown from the same gracious hands? Then unite-unite-unite, to do battle with the world. We want you TO DO NOBLE DEEDS. Deeds that will never be forgotten throughout eternity. Deeds that will be published from the judgment-seat of Christ. Deeds that will bring glory to God, honour to Christ, happiness to man, confusion to devils, and eternal credit to yourselves. Arise, then, to conquer for Christ, to win souls for Christ, to raise an army for Christ, and to live solely or principally for the glory of Christ !

Cheltenham.