Christ's presence will detect the deep roots of corruption, the leaven hidden in the corners; and the day-dreams of vanity, the airy visions of our foolish imaginations, and the idle speculations about the future, will fall before the living reality of Christ. But how are we to attain this greatest of present blessings-Christ dwelling in our hearts? The way seems clear: "If My words abide in you," "If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love." "He that hath My commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me; and he that loveth Me, shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him." "Abide in Me and I in you." The word of the Lord must be the ground of all fellowship with Him, and if His word dwell richly in us, He will be with us. His word will be the light to search us, but He is present with the light; and thus, in the very act of searching, we shall have the comfort and peace of His abiding with us, who is Himself the light. The chambers of imagery lie deep, and the prophet had to dig before he could have a sight of that fearful exhibition of evil which was disclosed to him; so must we pursue somewhat heartily the search into ourselves, but the detecting of the hidden evil will prevent its open manifestation; and above all, the fact of Christ's presence with us to aid our enquiry, will of itself give peace and tranquility, as well as power to the soul, which will amply compensate for the trouble, and even sorrow we may have at the discovery

of our own evil. One way, therefore, of cultivating Christ's presence in the heart, will be the seeking, by means of the light of the word, to become acquainted with ourselves, and thereby to overcome our secret sins. Another way, and one inseparable from the former, is the constant eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of Man. Keeping His cross constantly before us. "He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, dwelleth in Me and I in him." Observe, the doctrine about the cross is not enough. Christ's death must be as much appropriated to ourselves individually, and relished by us, as the food we eat for the sustenance of our bodies. This is indeed the never-failing source of our strength, and peace, and joy. What is meant by the Lord coming in to sup with us, and we with Him, Rev. iii. 20, but that He will place this bread from heaven before us, and minister it to us in holy and happy fellowship with Himself? This is the bread and wine with which our great Melchizedek ever delights to strengthen and gladden us. He hath toiled and travailed in soul; He hath been the "Man of sorrows," and hath "poured out His soul unto death," in order that He might give us His flesh to eat. This is meat indeed, and drink indeed. And will it not be a chief joy in the glory, to hear from His own lips the marvellous tale of His own sufferings? Shall we not then sit at His feet and learn how He bled, and sorrowed, and died for our sakes? Will He not repeat to us, and

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explain the depth of the meaning of that bitter cry, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" And shall we not again and again raise the new and eternal song, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing?" It was the Lord's own discourse about His sufferings that made the hearts of the two disciples burn within them, as they walked on their way to Emmaus; and we may be assured, that if Christ is much in our hearts, His cross will be much in our thoughts; and that if we meditate on His sufferings, though it may be very ignorantly, He will soon come and have companionship with us by the way. But may He be found not as an occasional visitant, but to dwell in our hearts by faith. Oh that He may turn in and tarry with us all the night, till "the day break, and the shadows flee away!" With what joy shall we then hail Him as the "bright and morning star?" A true-hearted desire for His presence in us now, is the best evidence that we really long for His appearing. He must be well known and beloved, if we would heartily say, "Come, Lord Jesus." The bride, in the song of songs, was able accurately to describe the graces of her beloved; she could tell forth his beauties, and his features were engraven on her heart. Let us delight ourselves in Him who is "altogether lovely," and seek to walk in His steps of holiness and grace.

FEEDING THE MULTITUDE.

Matthew xiv. xv.

THIS little action has a good deal in it for our meditation. Among other things, it gives us man and God in contrast―the heart that we carry in us, and the heart of Jesus.

In Matthew xiv., the action begins with the disciples. They propose to their Master, that He should send the multitude away, and let them provide for themselves as well as they could. "Send the multitude away," said they, "that they may go into the villages and buy themselves victuals."

As we

This was a wretched motion of their hearts. say at times, (discovering the guile that is practised by us all, if we be not watchful,) 'it was one word for the multitude, but two for themselves; for they wanted to be left alone, and they felt the presence of the people to be intrusive on their ease and retirement with their Master, (see Mark vi. 35, &c.) There was something of hypocrisy and cold-heartedness in this suggestion. It was a sample of the common selfishness.

The Lord's heart was of another quality, as I may say. He speaks, in answer to the disciples, of feeding the multitude, and not of sending them away. "They need not depart," He replied, "give ye them to eat."

And surely it is blessed, as well as humbling, to have our hearts thus rebuked by His heart, when we find that the dark ground of our selfishness, after such a manner as this, sets off the brightness of His graciousness and love.

But the disciples are angry. They have but a few loaves and some small fishes in their stores; how could it be thought that they either would or could spread a table for such a company?

Here was a further disclosure of their hearts. There was no faith in them, as there was no love in them-no proper apprehension of Him, as well as no kindly desire or sympathy towards the people. They knew of nothing but the provision of their baskets, so many loaves, and so many fishes. They did not calculate on the fact, that they had Christ in the midst of them; they had no faith to value such an item as that in the account of their stores, and riches, and resources. But this unbelief the Lord silently rebukes. "Bring them hither to Me," says He; by such words intimating to them, that they had more than loaves and fishes in their company; yea, did their faith but apprehend it, they had among them the very God of the wilderness, who in other days had fed their fathers in a land of drought and barrenness for forty years. And having said this, He proved to them, though without upbraiding, that His arm was not shortened; and He spread the table of the desert again for the thousands of Israel.