at the apprehension of danger or of death to themselves. But no! a message of mercy was upon the angel's lip, and he did not leave them to indulge their apprehensions; "FEAR NOT, I BRING YOU GOOD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY, WHICH SHALL BE TO ALL PEOPLE."

Good Tidings of Great Joy.

This is the designation-the glorious, the heart-consoling designation of the gospel of the Son of God. In these good tidings, were the purposes of God in the redemption of mankind most fully developed.

Which shall be to All People.

This must have struck their minds with a deeper amazement. It was counter to all their habits of thought, and to all the pride of their national feeling. The Jews had all along been the peculiarly favoured people of God, to them appertained the 'adoption and the glory,' and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service, and the promises-' whose were the fathers, and of whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ came, who is over all God blessed for ever.' These had been the glories and the peculiar privileges of the Jews. For reasons, the full knowledge of which is hidden from us, God saw fit to pass over the other

nations of the earth, and to confine to them the mighty advantages of a direct revelation. Redemption by the blood of a Saviour was taught in the sacrifices of their law, for they knew that 'without the shedding of blood there is no remission.' Types and figures of the

most varied and interesting character were spread out before them, and 'redemption' was the theme of many a prophet's inspired song. If they understood not the spiritual import of all these, it was owing to the blindness, not of their understandings, but their hearts. But now, no more confined to the Jews, the knowledge of salvation is to become co-extensive with the limits of the world. No obscurity of type or figure, no sacrifice of beast, no prophet's song, bids us look through the long vista of many years. Since the eventful period when the angels told the shepherds the glad tidings of salvation for all people, its knowledge has been rapidly increasing, and within the last half century its stride has been gigantic. That land can now scarcely be pointed out which knows no visitation of the beams of the sun of righteousness. The Bible-the Bible has shed its glories amidst the darkest recesses of heathen ignorance, and wherever the missionary of the cross hath told his message of love and mercy, there have the triumphs of the cross been exhibited. It is true there remaineth much land yet to be pos

sessed,' but there are elements at work which must change the moral condition of the world. God, without whose aid the mightiest efforts would be unavailing, has condescended to stretch forth his arm, and 'not by might nor power, but by the spirit of the Lord of hosts,' shall nation after nation be converted to the faith of Christianity, till the 'knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth.' It should be the prayer of Christians, unceasing, and their endeavours zealously bestowed, that the kingdom of God be speedily established in truth and righteousness through every land which sees the rising glories of the sun, or is visited by the splendours of his setting rays.

A Saviour.

Salvation implies release from the penalty of sin, and release from its power, and glory in the world to come. As a sacrifice for sin, the Saviour takes away its penalty and has destroyed its dominion. By the purchased influences of the holy spirit, he prepares for heaven. An act of pardon to a criminal does not entitle him to the favour and approbation of him against whom he had offended. God requires a change in the heart, and A SAVIOUR is one who saves from the power as well as the penalty of sin. 'Marvel not that ye must be born again.' A Saviour for sinners would by no means

accomplish the object of his mission, unless by the operation of an agency which is supernatural he should qualify them for a state of glory.

Who is Christ.

But

This means the anointed one-the Messiah. there is a climax of extraordinary fitness in the message of the angel-a Saviour, who is Christ

The Lord,

Jehovah. This is a testimony to the divinity of Christ. He is a Saviour of no human contrivance. The Lord of angels and of men, 'Emanuel, God with us.'

Well then, at the annunciation of a truth so important, might the angelic host break forth into singing, and the burden of their song be the raptured strain,

'Glory to God! salvation 's born to-day.'

If we receive this message with our hearts, and accept of this free and full salvation, then shall the glad tidings of great joy, announced by the angel, be for us consummated in a happiness and glory, the full character of which even Gabriel's tongue were incompetent to tell.

THE INSCRIPTION ON THE CROSS.

From the French of Bossuet.

LET me direct your attention to the cross, on which was displayed this inscription, in three languages: 'Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.' It is true that Pilate wrote these words in opposition to the Jews. This complacent judge, who sacrificed the innocent Jesus lest he should offend the synagogue, becomes, of a sudden, obstinately determined to preserve three or four words which he wrote without any design, and which appeared of so little importance. I here behold the secret interposition of God! It was his will that the royalty of Jesus should be proclaimed from the ignominious cross on which he expired. The inscription is written in HEBREW, which is the language of the people of God! It is written in GREEK, which is the language of the learned! And it is