before their enemies, and the precious Ark of the covenant taken by the uncircumcised enemies of the Lord. It is indeed an awful story; but if it serve to stir us up to regard God's Sacrifice with more holy reverence and fear, and to beget in us watchfulness against the workings of the untrue charity of nature, it will not be without profit to our souls. Let us never forget these statutes of the Lord, "Them that honour Me, I will honour; and they that despise Me shall be lightly esteemed."

ALL SAINTS.

It is the peculiar privilege and portion of God's children to have the love of God shed abroad in their hearts, by the Holy Ghost which is given unto them. They know that they have passed from death unto life, because they love the brethren. None else can truly say, that they have experienced a saving change of heart. All who love God love the brethren also. There may be various degrees of this divine love, but still God's love is "shed abroad" in the heart. Jesus only, has fully manifested its boundless extent. "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." What searching words are these!" He that loveth-not knoweth not God; for God is love." Again, "For he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen." The absence of this would shew the absence of the knowledge of God.

This being so, how important it is that the children of God should exhibit this divine love in an unmistake

able manner. The love of the Father includes all the redeemed. True brotherly love embraces all the brethren. Such is the compass and quality of Gospel love. We should guard against the counterfeit, and any feeling that would hinder our giving the right hand of fellowship to all the brethren of Christ. The language of Ruth to Naomi was, "Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God." Jesus said to Mary, "Go to My brethren and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father and your Father; and to My God and your God." When the flowing forth of brotherly affection is confined to narrower limits than these, so that we cannot take into our hearts all that know and love Christ, we may well apply to ourselves this question, "How dwelleth the love of God in him?" If we love any because they belong to our party, and follow us, it is not a divine emotion, and, to say the least, is too impure to be worthy of the name of love. It is love in the flesh, having no heavenly character. "If ye love them that love you, what reward have ye?" We should regard and value our brethren, not on the ground of attainment, relative, or church connexion; but because they belong to Christ. The name of Jesus is above every name, and has the first claim on our hearts (See Matt. x. 40—42; xxv. 35—46).

How amazing is this divine love! It amounts to this, the Father loves the children as He loves His only begotton Son (John xvii. 23). Jesus loves them as the Father loves Him (John xv. 9). What a mystery! What infinite depths are here! Truly the love of God passeth knowledge! Should we not, in the words of Paul, salute all the holy brethren-"Grace

be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity." Such, indeed, should be the abiding atmosphere of our souls. In Paul's Epistles he carefully maintains this universal brotherhood: he was emphatically the Apostle of unity. James enquires, from whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence even of your lusts that war in your members? Paul salutes all Saints, and sends love from all saints to all saints (See Rom. xvi. 15; 2 Cor. xiii. 13; Phil. iv. 22; Heb. xiii. 24). He thus keeps up an unbroken family link. Though many failures existed among them, yet they were Christ's sheep, and to be loved for His sake. He thus exhorts the Ephesian Saints, "Praying always, with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all Saints." He ceased not to give thanks for them, when he heard of their faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the Saints (Chap. i. 15). He thanks his God, that Philemon was endowed with these two cardinal fruits of the Spirit which are so sweetly linked in scripture,-faith in the Lord Jesus, and love to all Saints. He also thanks God for the Colossians, that they possessed them (Col. i 2). Christ and His sheep are inseparably one. Our love to Him is measured by our love to them. "If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us" (1 John iv. 12). By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another." Again, "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another: as I have loved you, that ye also love one another (John xiii. 34).

Our lack in these days of true brotherly affection is

very great: hence our lack of testimony to the world, our loss of blessing within, and the root of most of our sorrows, divisions, and shame. In early days it was remarked how much the Christians loved one another. The union of Christ's sheep is very dear to His heart. It was the substance of His memorable intercession (John xvii.) just previous to His death. The care and feeding of them also filled His mind on the eve of His ascent to glory-"Feed my sheep❞— "Feed my lambs," &c. &c., He pressed three times on Peter. The three epistles of John breathe the spirit of His Master. May the deep consciousness of our failures send us to the throne of grace, there to supplicate Him who is love, that we might be filled with love. He giveth more grace. He giveth liberally. Let us ask in faith, deeply feeling our need of this family affection. As we grow in love we rise above our differences and party walls. Then do we discover a beauty and value in the weakest lamb of Christ's fold, which endears him to our hearts. Were we to regard God's people more in relation to what they are in Christ, and less in relation to what they are in themselves, we should find our love so kindled and stirred up, that it would freely flow and entwine around all the beloved family. There is nothing more precious than brotherly love, and to experience these words of the Psalmist," Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" (Ps. cxxxiii. 1). I conclude with these remarkable words of the beloved John-" And this commandment have we from Him, That he who loveth God love his brother also" (1 John iv. 21).

PSALM LXXIII.

In this precious Psalm the man of God looks on the world around through the windows of his sanctuary, i.e. through the eyes of Christ. And this, beloved, is our only safe way of contemplating all around, and ourselves as amidst it all. The true light then shines on all. The spiritual man discerneth all things.

But looking out of the window is not our only, or our chief employ in our blessed sanctuary. There are holy treasures within which should engage and fill our hearts and minds. The Father, His counsels, and His love-Jesus, His grace, and His glory-the family of God, with all the peace, joy, and love of the fellowship of saints. What heart can trace, what tongue can tell the blessedness of the objects found within! Praise, intercession, prayer; the word, too, and that Holy Anointing pervading all, even the Spirit of God Himself, who interpreteth all to our souls in love!

Oh! let us then live amidst these holy things, supping, dwelling with Jesus. And when He leads us to look outward on the scenes around, we shall do so in fellowship with Him. Then shall we anew bless Him for that word-"They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." Anew praise Him for having reedemed us to God by His own blood, and made us kings and priests unto God and His Father!

In all these things we should seek to be led by His word; seeking to read it all in communion with Him whose word it is. Not making a Bible of our own out of a part of the word, but reading it all as "written" and at the feet of Jesus, taught by His Spirit. Then shall

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