has fallen, and the fall is of infinite distance, from the throne of Deity's heart to the frown of Deity's displeasure; from the height of moral sublimity of life to the depth of spiritual wretchedness and death.

Is restoration available? Thank heaven, yes; through the sacrifice of the cross. Christ's mediation is the grand lever which elevates the fallen soul to more than its lost estate.

I know that numerous projects have been experimented on, and various systems tried to elevate humanity in the scale of being-civilization, education, legislature, science, literature, art and philosophybut all have proved utter failures, neither has secured the purpose nor accomplished the end, but they have all left man in the same deplorable condition of soul in which they found him. Christianity alone can elevate on high. It is the glory of our holy religion that lifts man up; it does not bring God down, but it elevates man to the summit of the universe covered and crowned with glory.

A life of persistent sin is a life of the lowest order, and he that is steeped in vice, though rolling in earthly wealth and grandeur, is the poorest and most pitiable object in creation. Sin is inseparably associated with meanness, albeit, it is found in the mansions of princes, or the palaces of kings. He who is living in sin is living in possession of the greatest curse, his abode is down among the tombs of the dead, and the ruin and wreck of corruption. But living faith, appropriating the merit and blessings of the Atonement to the soul, invisibly and silently transforms the soul, changes it from the coldness and inaction of spiritual death, into the warmth and vigour, and activity of spiritual life. It raises it on high, far away up from its former baseness and grovelling condition, to the heights of Christain nobility and blessedness, to the mount of God's unchanging love. And as he apprehends and confides in the promises and purposes of God, does his faith ripen into assurance, and his peace flower into "quietness and confidence for ever." There is no character beneath the vault of heaven so exalted as the Christian. He is the highest type of the race, the crowning creature of creation, the loftiest style of man. Notwithstanding, his garments may be threadbare, his home a cottage in the wilderness, his position among the paupers of the earth, yet, he occupies a higher, a more honourable and enviable position than the monarch clothed in fine linen and purple, and who fares sumptuously every day, destitute of the principle and power of godliness. For the Christian dwells "on high"-it may not be high in the estimation of mortals, in the praise of nobles, in the dignities and honours of an earthly court; but, on high, in a

higher and diviner sense, "on high" in the estimation of Jehovah, in the praise and favour of the immortals, in the honours and dignities of heaven's court, high on the throne of Deity's affection, and in the splendid pavilion of His presence and power. "He shall dwell on high."

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH.—ISAIAH XXXIII. 16.

SECOND PAPER.

Associated with the believer's dwelling on high is Healthiness of Soul. It is an admitted fact that living in low marshy places, in deep damp valleys, is injurious and enervating to the constitution. But to live on the brow of some hill, is likely to secure good health as well as a pleasant prospect. While in the valleys the fogs assert their rights, and the mists gather and linger, on the hill-top the healthy breezes are to be inhaled and breathed, which refresh and invigorate the whole material organism. Things in the spiritual bear a striking resemblance to things in the natural world. And the laws which conduce to the bodily health, conduce also to the spiritual health. If you would have a healthy soul, brother, and be a robust Christian, you must live on the mount with your Lord, enjoying uninterrupted communion and companionship with Him. There the preciousness of soul-soundness is preserved by the clearness and purity of the atmosphere. The reason why we have so many sickly, peevish invalids in the Church of Christ is because they persist in dwelling so low down, in living amid the murky mists of the valley of nominalism, instead of dwelling on the heights of exuberant grace, and the bracing balmy influences of the "higher life." Reader, live "on high," in the heavenlies with Christ, for there the richest showers of blessing fall, there the sweetest seasons of fellowship are enjoyed, there the truest earnests of our future home life are given, there the sublimest manifestations of God's glory are vouchsafed, there the music of the upper choir is most audibly heard, there angel-guardians wing their flight and empty their golden censers and scatter the fragrance of heaven and guard the timid, loving, trustful soul. Live there, and you shall enjoy unbroken health of soul, in your Father's likeness you shall shine, in Christ's beauty appear, life will be sweet, death a gain, and eternity a glorious possession. The higher our dwelling place-the nearer heaven-the holier the atmosphere, the healthier the soul; and in proportion to its healthfulness, will be our conformity to the Divine will, our possession of the Divine mind, and our exemplification of Divine principles.

Associated with our moral elevation here is our eternal elevation hereafter. The present is but the prelude to the future. Life here

is in the bud, there it will open into the perfect flower. This world is only the dull portico through which we pass into the great temple of the skies. The present is the disciplinary state, where we are being trained and fitted for the triumphant and perfect state of heaven. And just as we rise here in Divine excellence, purity, and strength, so shall we rise hereafter in the joys of Paradise. And in proportion to our spiritual elevation of character on earth, so will be our exaltation in the realms of bliss, and our realization of the honours of immortality. Shrink not from the elevation of the cross, for it is the way to the crown. Fear not the purging of the fires, for the fiercer they burn the more perfect will be the purifying. Fight manfully the fight of faith, for it is good, and the more numerous the battles the more abundant the victories, and the wealthier the reward. Holiness is linked to usefulness, therefore the more holy we are the more useful we shall be, and the greater our usefulness the loftier our position on the throne. "As one star differeth from another star in glory, so also is the resurrection of the dead." "He shall give unto every man as his works have been." "They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever."

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15TH.-ISAIAH XXXIII. 16.

THIRD PAPER.

The second privilege of the Christian indicated here is Divine Security. "His place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks." This literally refers to a well fortified place. A place whose walls and towers are high and strong, whose fortifications are a magnificent belt of rocks. It is a description of the security of the Jews under the wing of God's protection, when assailed by Sennacherib and his army; and it shadows forth the greater safety of the believer in Christ Jesus.

Property or persons are secure when no harm or injury can befal them. We deem a town or city skirted with the waters of old ocean secure from inundations when high and massive frontiers of rock or cliff beat back the angry roll of waves. And so we consider the man of God safely garrisoned when pavilioned in Jehovah's presence, when guarded by "the munitions of rocks." His life is "hid with Christ in God," therefore it can never be destroyed by any outside enemy, whether of earth or hell. The casket must first be destroyed before the jewel it contains can be injured; and so Jesus, the indestructible Jesus, must be successfully assailed before the life of the believer can be destroyed. "No man can pluck you out of My hand." Christ is the "Rock of Ages," the cleft

Rock, and in the cleft of His side we dwell, and dwelling there are secure. Around that Immortal Rock, like towering frontiers of rock, are the Divine and unfailing promises of the everlasting Word; and engirdling those grand old frontiers of Promise are the "munitions," the invincible fortifications of Divine attributes:omnipotence, omniscience, infinite goodness, infinite righteousness, infinite love and faithfulness. Yes; every attribute in the Eternal Godhead is pledged to preserve the Christian, to keep the feet of the saints. In a word "the Eternal God is our refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." "Courage, my soul, while God is near." A saved soul is a God-exalted, and a God-encompassed soul. He dwells within "Munitions of Rocks." Being thus barricaded no enemy can injure, no infernal force prevail. Shielded by Omnipotence, what dart can penetrate that shield? Dwelling in the secret place of the Most High, behind the ramparts of Infinite promises, what diabolical soldiery, or dynamite of human malignity can loose the foundations, or level the Almighty walls. "God is for us," and He will "never suffer the righteous to be moved." They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion." "As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about His people." Christian brother, thy soul is gloriously secure while thou dwellest on high. Thy safety is complete while Jehovah is thy citadel. "Nothing shall harm you if ye be followers of that which is good." It is only when we quit our dwelling-place, when we leave the munitions of rocks, when we forsake God, that we become exposed to danger. Only when we cease to believe that we cease to be kept by the power of God unto salvation. "If ye do these things ye shall never fall;" if ye continue to watch and pray, to believe and persevere, to obey and serve God, ye shall never fall. No, never! If we are true, God will be true to His covenant engagement. Secure in life, secure in death, and to all eternity.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22ND, ST. LUKE II. 41-52. Several practical suggestions this episode in the boyhood of Christ presents. It is a most real story; so natural in its setting and simplicity, and so charming in its minuteness to the ear of listening childhood, and to sober reflective manhood. (a) To lose Christ is the Supreme loss. He is the crown of manhood, the jewel of the soul, the sun of the system of being; the infinite necessity and satisfaction of the creature made originally in His likeness. Better, infinitely better, to lose everything else than this "Pearl of great price." Hold fast Christ. (b) Strict watchfulness is needed, lest at any moment amidst the multitude pressing on every side, in

pursuit of pleasure, or fame, or wealth, He slip from us. Thousands lose Him solely through carelessness. Unwatchfulness is frequently the inlet of sin, and the outlet of Christ. "Want of vigilance," would be the appropriate inscription to write on the brows of many who once possesed Him, but, alas! are now without Him. To be unfaithful you have only to be unwatchful, and to be found Christless you need only to become careless. Watch diligently. (c) The most earnest and loving search may result in protracted disappointment. Search will be made when the loss is realised, for as the flower seeks the sun, and the river the sea, so the contrite heart seeks Christ. I know it is written "Seek and ye shall find;" but the "seeking" is oft-times prolonged and the "finding" deferred, in order to develop into hardihood and strength certain vital principles, which constitute the very stamina and structure of noble character.

and faith.

God files our prayers sometimes to test our sincerity Filed prayers on His throne are not like unsolicited MSS. in an editor's waste basket, or misdirected letters in the dead letter office, they are to be answered. We murmur in our impatience at not finding, but it is rebellious murmuring, and it never hastens the footsteps of God. Be still. Seek on. Trust and persevere, and in a moment least expected, perhaps, and in a way all His own, the Saviour whom ye seek shall dawn upon thy soul in the rapture and brightness of a glorious vision, and bring in His hands the answers to all thy requests. Patient seeking means precious finding. (d) You will find Jesus not in the crowd of the city, but in the quiet retreat of the temple. The thronged streets of Jerusalem were searched in vain-away, with the few, in one of the sacred enclosures around the temple, the loving, anxious Mary found her Son. The Christ of the Gospels is the Christ of to-day. With the multitude of the gay, the fashionable, the curious, the sceptical, the worldly, the cold and formal, He is not to be found. The real, living, Divine-human Christ alone can be found in the temple of revelation, the sanctuary of Truth. There He still sits "in the midst of the doctors,"-in the midst of the patriarchs, in the midst of the prophets, in the midst of the evangelists and apostles-as pure, as beautiful, as clever, as wonderful as ever; uninfluenced by hoary traditions, untouched by human reasonings, speculations, and conflicting opinions, beyond the reach of theories and things that change and die-THE IMMORTAL CHILD of God, the Deus Homo of the race.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29TH.-ST. LUKE II. 41 to 52.

SECOND PAPER.

Christ here teaches us (a) that to listen well is as dignified and use

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