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sight; but in the other, the whole universe, and eternity itself, are in impenetrable night.

How are the eyes of the multitude holden, so that they cannot see the supreme Divinity of Christ? While Scripture reveals Him as the Creator of all things, visible and invisible, worshipped by angels and men as such; possessing and exercising all the attributes of the Almighty; the love, omnipotence, omniscience, wisdom, truth, and knowledge of the Father, there is as thick a veil over the hearts of many when they read of Jesus, as that covering the Jews when Moses is read. A vain philosophy shuts out from the soul the revelation of fact; hypothesis is exalted to the exclusion of a reality verified by the experience. of all, who, praying to Christ as God, have found Him to be so.

So with Christ's Word, which, while many read, they need a querist like Philip to ask, "Understandest thou what thou readest ?" Alas! no; for reading with sense-bound eyes, its treasures of knowledge lie concealed till He anoints them from the ivory palaces; then comes a revelation indeed, and the reader exclaims, "Wonderful, wonderful!" Like a mysterious cabinet with secret springs, new openings into things beautiful and rare are seen; and the doctrines, promises, commands, analogies, nay, hints of the holy book, are so comprehended in God's sunlight, that the inward man is aglow with a Divine enthusiasm.

The eyes of many are so holden that they cannot see the Saviour in the labours of His servants; the world knows them not because it knew Him not. When Wickliffe, Huss, and Luther arose, they were branded as antichrist. And when William Carey and others established missions in India, Sydney Smith and the reviewers laughed at them as visionary fanatics. How often has the Saviour been crucified in His servants! The Jews did not know that in persecuting the apostles they were fighting against God.

It is equally bad when men fight against Christ in His providences. The holy Rutherford declared that he had got a new Bible while in the furnace; and it was there that the

Hebrew children saw the Son of God.

The fact is, that multitudes are so bent upon their perverse ways, that He

allows them to fall into the valley of darkness, the vale of sorrow, the house of death, or the abode of temporary despair, in order to save them. They think they are going where no ray of hope will shine; but when in another mind, the eyes are opened, they find themselves in a chamber of beauty; the atmosphere of heaven breathing around them; celestial sounds breaking upon their ears, and letters of love from the Saviour lying upon the table.

Shall He be before

"Sirs," said the inquiring Greeks, "we would see Jesus." The central figure of all history; the subject of inquiry among the highest order of minds; the mover of all events; the rewarder of all candid investigation, is the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us be blind to the allurements of earthly prosperity; blind to honour, wealth and fame; but never blind to Him who is "the way, the truth, and the life." Shall He pass by, and we not see Him? us, and we not apply to Him? Shall the time of our visitation come, and we not know the things which belong to our peace? Let us cultivate religious observation, pious sympathy, devout sensibility, so that, when good comes, and our salvation draws near, we may be ready to welcome them. To see truth is the greatest glory of man; and in Christ we have its embodiment. In Him its richest secrets are laid open-the secrets of wealth, usefulness, and the highest happiness.

Self-communings.

T was the close of the quarter. For several days I had been very busy with my accounts, being anxious to reduce my outstanding debts, and also to know how I stood with the world; not that I feared I was unable to render every man his due, but to ascertain what progress my business was making.

On the day in question, I had been in my office nearly the whole day, and though weary of my work, my mind was in that state of activity and restlessness which close application to figures produces.

Suddenly, though quietly and calmly, with the open ledger before me, I fell into a deep reverie. These accounts want collecting, and then, altogether, I think I may say, "very satisfactory;" the amount of trade increases very pleasingly; and the book debts, with a few exceptions, are reliable. I am certainly making money-slowly, it may be, but surely, and I am very well satisfied with the progress I am making. I am diligent in my business, rise early, keep things straightforward and orderly, pay all men honestly and uprightly, and, according to all appearances, when next year I open my new branch-but there, it is no use building castles in the airI may be dead by next year-humph! but I may. Ah! dear me, I am laying up treasure-but where ?-not up aloft. No.

I don't know how it is, but I have had some strange misgivings lately. Why is it? I go regularly to public worship on Sundays, and if sometimes during the sermon my mind does wander away upon my business-well, I daresay it is the same with other people. Then, I am upright and honest in my business transactions, and endeavour to do to others as I would be done by. Yet somehow, notwithstanding all protestation, I am not satisfied with myself. "What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Whatever I may be doing for this world, it is certain I am not laying up treasure in a better: I am living for this world, and for this only. And is it only to make money, that I, an immortal being, spend my days and years? Is this the great business of life? Is this the highest, noblest purpose for which I live? To make money, that may at any moment take to itself wings and fly away"-money, that I cannot, and do not want, to take with me to another world— money, that I must leave when I die, perhaps for some young spendthrift to squander in as many months as it has

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taken me years of hard toil to gain? And yet I fear the charge is too truly made. Ha! how differently did my sainted mother regard wealth. She, model of wisdom and piety, looked upon money only as a means to an end-to make life happy and to do good with. She had no foolish views concerning wealth. I cannot forget how anxious she was about my education being of such a nature as is necessary in business, nor do I forget her solicitude as to my choice of a trade; but I shall ever remember with deepest affection her farewell on my leaving home for commercial life. How earnestly she sought to enforce upon me the keeping of wealth in its proper place, and not allowing it to consume my life-how she advised me to "honour the Lord with my substance, and with the firstfruits of all my increase -how she besought me, above all things, to "lay up treasure in heaven, where neither thief approacheth, nor moth corrupteth "-telling me that every kind word and action, every penny given to the poor and destitute, every relief offered to the sick and suffering, every denial made for the cause of religion or charity, was so much treasure laid up above.

And well do I remember how, not long after, just before departing for "the better land" (as she termed the unseen world), calling us all around her bedside, she bid us sing—

"One family, we dwell in Him;

One church above-beneath;

Though now divided by the stream,

The narrow stream of death;"

and how, after taking leave of all, my turn as youngest came. Never shall I forget those few moments. I was a young man then, just entering upon a commercial career, but the floodgates of my soul were opened, and I almost longed to go with her to her heavenly home. Earth would be no home, thought I, without a mother. "William, my dear William," she said, "may the Lord bless and prosper you! But mind, do not 'set your affections,' upon wealth and prosperity. Remember that it is only for this world. But live for a higher, nobler purpose. Be a Christian, William,

• Seek

first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.' Live to do good, and if the Lord should see fit to entrust you with this world's goods, use them for His glory and the benefit of your fellowmen; so that hereafter He may say, 'Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful in few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.' Good-bye, William, good-bye." Her voice faltered; and I was choking with sobs and tears; but never shall I forget her dying words. And she was right. And I am wrong. Yes, I am making my home here; heaping up riches, just like the fool in the parable. Yes, I am wrong. I have been setting my mind too much upon this world, little thinking of the world to come. I see my error, thank God. Henceforth, I will seek, above all things, "to make my calling safe, and my salvation sure." I will honour the Lord with my substance and with the firstfruits of all my increase. I will remember Jacob's vow. I will" seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness," trusting and believing that therewith all other things will be added. Yes, from this time, I will endeavour to find my way also to that brighter, better world.

The Christian's Inner Life.

HE greatest and hardest work of a Christian is least in sight, which is the well ordering of his heart. Some buildings have most workmanship under

ground; it is our spirit that God, who is a Spirit, hath most communion with; and the less freedom we take to sin here, the more argument of our sincerity, because there are no laws to bind the inner man, but the law of the Spirit of grace, whereby we are a law to ourselves. A good Christian begins his repentance where his sin begins, in his thoughts, which are the next issue of his heart.-Sibbs.

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