Imatges de pàgina
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LET this be a year of greater spirituality. As the holy Joseph Alleine wrote from Ilchester prison to his flock at Taunton: "Beloved Christians, live like yourselves; let the world see that the promises of God and privileges of the Gospel are not empty sounds, or a mere crack. Let the heavenly cheerfulness, and the restless diligence, and the holy raisedness of your conversations, prove the reality, and excellency, and beauty of your religion to the world."" Aim at an elevated life. Seek to live so near to God that you shall not be overwhelmed by those amazing sorrows which you may soon encounter, nor surprised by that decease which may come upon you in a moment, suddenly. Let prayer never be a form. Always realize it as an approach to the living God for some specific purpose; and learn to watch for the returns of prayer. Let the word of God dwell in you richly. That sleep will be sweet, and that awaking hallowed, where a text of Scripture, or a stanza of a spiritual song, imbues the last thoughts of consciousness. See that you make progress. See that, when the year is closing, you have not all the evil tempers and infirmities of character which presently afflict you; but see to it that, if permitted to set up the Ebenezer of another closing year, you may be able to look back on radiant spots where you enjoyed seasons of VOL. V. No. 1.] [JANUARY, 1868.

spiritual refreshing, and victories over enemies, heretofore too strong for you. Happy New Year! if its path should prove so bright, and its progress so vivid, that in a future retrospect your eye could fix on many a Bethel and Peniel along its track, and your grateful memory could say, "Yonder is the grave where I buried a long-besetting sin, and that stone of memorial marks where God made me to triumph over a fierce temptation, through Jesus Christ. Yonder Sabbath was the top of the hill where I clasped the Cross and the burden fell off my back; and that Communion was the land of Beulah, where I saw the far-off land and the King in His beauty."

My dear friends, it is a blessed thing to know the Saviour, to feel that your soul is safe. You have been in a ship when it entered the harbour, and you have noticed the different looks of the passengers as they turned their eyes ashore. There was one who, that he might not lose a moment's time, had got everything ready for landing long ago; and now he smiles and beckons to yonder party on the pier, who, in their turn, are so eager to meet him that they almost press over the margin of the quay; and no sooner is the gangway thrown across than he has hold of the arm of one, and another is triumphant on his shoulder, and all the rest are leaping before and after him on their homeward way. But there was another, who showed no alacrity. He gazed with pensive eye on the nearer coast, and seemed to grudge that the trip was over. He was a stranger, going amongst strangers; and though sometimes during the voyage he had a momentary hope that something unexpected might occur, and that some friendly face might recognise him in regions where he was going an alien and an adventurer; no such welcoming face is there, and with reluctant steps he quits the vessel, and commits himself to the unknown country. And now that every one else has disembarked, who is this unhappy man whom they have brought on deck, and whom, groaning in his heavy chains, they are conducting to the dreaded shore? Alas! he is a felon and a runaway, whom they are bringing back to take his trial there; and no wonder he is loath to land.

Now, dear brethren, our ship is sailing fast. We shall soon hear the rasping on the shallows, and the commotion overhead, which bespeak the port in view. When it comes to that, how shall you feel? Are you a stranger, or a convict, or are you going home? Can you say, "I know whom I have believed"? Have you a

Friend within the veil? And however much you may enjoy the voyage, and however much you may like your fellow-passengers, does your heart sometimes leap up at the prospect of seeing Jesus as He is, and so being ever with the Lord?

The Lord send you a happy, a holy, and a useful year! *

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"BELIEVE On the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." The first part of this verse we may here pass over; all are satisfied with the stability of this word. If we believe in the Lord we shall be saved; He hath said it. Well, is it not the same voice who adds, "and thy house"? Are these what are called by men "words of course"? Have they no real meaning? Is it a general invitation, not expected to be accepted? No, this is not the way of our God, He means what He says.

"He

Here is a silver cord let down from the throne above; let us grasp it,-"thy house." He who "setteth the solitary in families, the God of the families of the earth," seems here to show His willing. ness that the whole household should share in the blessing. shall tell thee words whereby thou and thy house shall be saved." Let us plant our foot firmly on this portion of the inheritance. Let us plead that, as He has given us to believe, He will add what He hath promised, our salvation and that of "our house."

The Lord's invitation or command to Noah also encourages us," Come thou and thy house into the ark." While those

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