path is hedged up with stones? Oh! recollect, the Lord sees the way out, if you do not, and He it is who has promised to work for His people, while He says to you, "Sit still, my daughter, and see how the matter will fall." And, if it fell in such abundance into dear Ruth's lap, why not into yours? His love is the same, and His purpose of favour towards you unchangeable; and, surely, if it be true as He has declared in His Word, that He has gone to prepare a mansion for you, do you think He will leave heirs of glory to perish on the road? Oh! then, do not be afraid to trust Him. Depend upon it, concerning this special need, He will either take you from it or take you through it. He will either lead you into the mansion of glory, or leave you a little longer a monument of His grace. "Found in Him," every need will have its suitable supply in due time. Worry not, but wait His will, and then,

"Found in Him," we shall be learning more of Him day by day. He has greater things yet to show us concerning Himself out of His Word. Do you not find yourself, beloved, grasping at the truth of Scripture, and living upon it as food for your soul? An expression, perhaps, that you have read again and again, and seen no particular beauty in it, now comes home with irresistible power. Herein is the secret, it is the Lord making known more of His love and mercy, person and work, to His own; and we believe that, although the Bible has depths which no human mind can fathom, yet God's dear children become experimentally acquainted with the different parts of it as they journey homewards: and we have thought it is the Lord's will with them to bring them into such discipline as that every part of the Scriptures shall be felt to be applicable to themselves. Sometimes the journeyings of the old patriarchs, staff in hand, just seem to bring out a tracing of our own life's history in the wilderness. At other times the Psalms of David become peculiarly precious to our souls. Sometimes the Canticles open out to us the love of our best Beloved. At other times Job's grief and Jeremiah's lamentations just describe the feelings of our disquieted hearts. And so on with the other parts of the precious Word. We know we shall never comprehend its depths and heights; and there are many things hard to be understood: "Who by searching can find out God?" But, as a dear saint now in glory said concerning these hard things, "I leave it to be cleared up the other side of the river." But, again,

"Found in Him," why should we doubt? Dear fellow Christian, do you doubt your interest in Christ? How about those past revelations of His love? those precious seasons of communion with Him in the byegone? those upliftings of heart when the Word came home with power? Do all these go for nothing? But, still more blessed-to turn even from notable exercises of the soul to Jesus Himself-how about His perfect work of salvation for a poor unworthy sinner like you? His doing and dying; His blood and righteousness; His covenant promises: do all these go for nothing? But do you say, "I know all that, but are they for me?". The former exercises of soul named prove they are. Oh, take Him at His word, and "be not faithless, but believing!" Furthermore,

"Found in Him," we shall be safe in the great day of account. And the secret of this standing is brought out in the continuation of our passage, as we have it in the Word of God. The Apostle says: "Found in Him, not having mine own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.". So, then, the blessed doctrine of the imputed righteousness of Christ is the

basis of our standing complete in Him at the great day of account. Oh, what a solemn day that will be! We have need to examine our position concerning it. If a minister of the Gospel is privileged to preach to some thousands of his fellow creatures, how he must be awed as he beholds their uplifted countenances! But what a gathering that will be when the great white throne stands out, and the myriads of dead, both small and great, appear before God, and the book of life is opened! Oh, my soul! how will it be with thee then?

"When Thou, my righteous Judge, shall come,
To bring Thy ransomed people home,

Shall I among them stand?

Shall such a worthless worm as I,
Who sometimes am afraid to die,

Be found at Thy right hand?"

Yes, I shall; yes, you will, dear reader, if found in Him. Wonderful mystery! Wonderful mercy! May we have a firm hope and an abiding assurance concerning it! And, lastly,

"Found in Him," we shall be found with Him above. When we put off the mortal clothing and put on the immortal, we shall stand complete in Him. What a glorious anticipation!

I have got to die! The fact haunts the worldling, and makes him shudder; but the Christian can view death with the greatest composure of mind, yea, some even with joy and rejoicing of spirit, because they are assured that they shall be with Jesus for ever.

"Sweet truth to me,

I shall arise,
And with these eyes
My Saviour see.'

"Oh, how great is Thy goodness which Thou hast laid up for them that fear Thee, which Thou hast wrought for them that trust in Thee before the sons of men!"

Well, then, beloved, see what precious things cluster around our New Year's Motto, "Found in Him." It marks a blessed and indissoluble union with our covenant Head; it gives a secret source of happiness incomparable; it bids us fear nothing we may meet with by the way; it promises supplies in every time of need, and, drawing from His fulness, tells how we shall learn more and more of Him. It is a fact that tends to banish doubts and fears; it will give us a safe standing in the great day of account, and, if found in Him, we shall be found with Him above. Thus we have a vital hold of a precious Christ; we are clasping a Rock that will never fail us, clinging to a Friend that will never deceive us, and resting in the infallibility of a God that cannot lie. The realization of this fact is faith staying itself upon His almighty arm; it is the anchor of hope sunk deep in the ocean of Jesus' love, which will hold our little craft firm and secure amidst billows and breakers. Seas cannot harm us, for He holds them in the hollow of His hand; waves cannot overwhelm us, for He treads them under foot, and bids them be at peace. While all else passeth away, these are verities that live and abide for

ever.

Beloved, "the end of all things is at hand, be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer." There is an advent not far off when " every eye shall see Him.” May God prepare us for that solemn tune,—

"A little while He'll come again,

Let us the precious hours redeem;
Our only grief to give Him pain,

And joy to save and follow Him.
Watching and ready may we be,

As those who long their Lord to see!"

The writer's uppermost desire, as he steps into the untrodden arena of another year, is to be increasingly "determined to know nothing among men save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified." All else is fleeting and fading. Dear reader, art thou young in years? Our New Year's advice to you shall be: Store your mind with the Word of God, that when by after affliction, which is sure to come upon you, you can neither read it yourself or hear another read it to you, the Holy Spirit may bring it to your remembrance to the comfort of your soul.

Art thou advancing in life? Oh, you will find this a poor, wretched, unsatisfying world. Give up everything for Christ-"a treasure in heaven that faileth not." Art thou tottering on to the grave? If found in Christ, we can say to you concerning the end, "But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are the children of light and the children of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness." In conclusion, putting all these things together, and listening to the seer's inquiry, "Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?" must we not, dear fellow Christian, respond,We think it is far spent; we think the signs of the times are portentious with solemn warning; we think we hear the chariot wheels of the Lord of glory rumbling in the distance, but with uplifted hearts of gratitude we have abounding consolation in the three words that form our New Year's Motto,

Found in Him.

Take them, beloved, as thine own. Press them home to thine heart, as thou steppest into the unfoldings of the year Eighteen-hundred-andseventy-one, and the Lord keep you and me faithful to the end, for the dear Redeemer's sake. Amen.

Woodbury, Wanstead, Essex.

G. C.

A CHILD of God writes in one of his letters: "I am sure, were my outward life free from blame, the disorders and defilement of my imagination are sufficient to constitute me a chief sinner in the sight of Him to whom the thoughts and intents of the heart are continually open, and who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity."

WHEN his friends asked the great physician Boerhaave how he could possibly go through so much work from day to day, and pass tranquil through so many fretting scenes, he told them that his plan was to devote the first hour of every morning to prayer, and meditation on the Word of God.

Pilgrim Papers.

THE ONE BODY.

"And from thence [Rome], when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum, and The three taverns; whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage."—Acts xxviii. 15.

THIS certainly seems like an answer to prayer, and the prayer will be found in the first chapter of Romans, beginning at the 9th verse: "For God is my witness, whom I serve in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end that ye may be established; that is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of and me." What a beautiful spirit Paul shows here!

you

1st. He makes mention of the saints in Rome without ceasing in his prayers to God.

2nd. He makes request that he may have a prosperous journey, if it be the will of God.

3rd. He longs to impart to these saints some spiritual gift for their establishment.

4th. His humility; that he also may be comforted by the mutual faith of both himself and them.

What an example for us to imitaté ! "That every one that is among us may not think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God has given to every one the measure of faith." How important that passage, "And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee; nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body which seem to be more feeble, are necessary.' Some are eyes to the Church, quick to apprehend those things of which they are apprehended in Christ Jesus. Some are ears; they hear and obey the voice of the Son of God, and have a wise and understanding heart, to make known the mysteries of the blessed Gospel. Some are hands to work for the cause of God, and devote all their time and energies to His service. And some are feet, to run the way of His commandments; whose language is, "Here am I, send me." Lastly, some for special purposes appear to have almost every gift combined. How wonderfully does God work by His Spirit! Truly "He is excellent in wisdom, and none can stay His hand, or say, What doest Thou?" Christ's body must be a perfect one, lacking nothing. "Ye are complete in Him."

W.

THE holiest saints may be tempted by the devil to commit the worst sins and the most horrid impieties.

It was said of Leighton that he rebuked faults so mildly that they were never repeated, not because the admonished were afraid, but ashamed to do so.

SIGHS AND SONGS ON PILGRIMAGE.

BELOVED IN THE LORD,-Not at all surprised am I that you should have realized sweetness in transcribing that most blessed paper, which came safely to hand this morning. Indeed it must have been a labour of love; and I feel that anything that I may now write will be extremely poor after so glowing and so glorious a testimony of love, blood, and salvation. May, however, the Lord of all lords, and King of all kings indite some good matter in my heart by His own Spirit, and then I shall be able to once more speak of the glory of His spiritual kingdom, and talk of His soul-inspiring and heart-comforting power. There is not a doubt upon my mind at this moment that power belongeth unto the Lord, and that I have no ability to write for our mutual benefit and the divine glory without the holy anointing of the Spirit of "HIM, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write." If the Father reveal Him not, if He reveal not Himself, and if the Eternal Spirit make Him not known to my mind at this time, my communication will be perfectly useless. Again and again have I been wishful to hold a little communion with you by letter, but hitherto I have not been able to do so; and now I do not feel the springing well of living water in my soul, but the Lord can bid it rise and cause it to soon overflow the low banks of my heart. It is easy for Him to cause the waters of the sanctuary to run into the dry places like a river, making my wilderness to blossom like Eden, and my desert like the garden of the Lord: thanksgiving and the voice of melody will then be heard therein. When the voice of the turtle is heard in the land of the soul; when the power of the Lord is present to heal; when the love of His heart is revealed to the mind; when the blood of the covenant is sprinkled upon the conscience; and when the wind of the Spirit wafts our thoughts and affections to the eternal shores of glory, we are solidly happy, vitally well-pleased, and thoroughly contented with our lot. When He says, "Be still, and know that I am God," we

"Roll all our care on Israel's God,

And trust in Christ's redeeming blood."

We have, then, no will of our own, no way of our own; and all our thoughts are brought into sweet subjection to Him who becomes feelingly and experimentally "chiefest among ten thousand; yea, the altogether lovely.' But how frequently we find the reverse of all this in our experience! How often we go mourning without the sun! How almost continually do the beggarly elements of this sublunary world occupy our thoughts! How rarely are they fixed on Him! Cause, indeed, have we to cry, My leanness, my leanness!" Christ said, in the days of His flesh, that the time should come when the Bridegroom should be taken away, and the effect of His removal should be that they should fast in those days. He said that they should even desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but should not be so favoured, so indulged. We prove that these promises do not stand for nothing in His Word, for verily they have been fully verified in our personal experience. His absence we have repeatedly mourned; for His blest presence we have again and again sighed. How true are the lines—