"THE HEART'S DESIRE AND PRAYER."

ROMANS X. I-4.

"BRETHREN, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved." Observe, it begins with the "heart's desire," and this issues in a prayer.

The source of the prayer is in the recesses of the heart, and the prayer that has not its source there, however beautiful, is nothing but mockery.

I appeal to you, as a dying man, speaking to dying men and women, "Are you saved?" Has that religion you profess given you peace with God? Has it brought you to know Christ as your Saviour? Many have just enough religion to make them miserable. Search and see what yours is. Has it brought you to Jesus?

"I bear them record, they have a zeal for God" -a noble testimony! Oh, to have a zeal for God! Would that we saw more of it. Would that there were less stagnation. But mark how the text goes on-" but not according to knowledge." Do you not see it is possible to be very zealous about religion, and yet ignorant of God? Here were

people who bore the high and holy name of Israel; people very religious, excessively zealous, and yet without God. How awful to think of religion without Christ; religion without a broken heart for sin; religion that has never taken man out of self into Christ. Religion without God-this is the terrible nightmare of multitudes. A zeal for God, but ignorant. What is your religion? Have you taken it from the word of God? The only true way of finding what God is, is from His Word. Have you sought it there? scales drop from your eyes. let me not be under a cloud." -what I am, what Thou art.

Ask Him to make the "Lord, open my eyes; Show me Thy Word

"They

And what is the result of this ignorance? being ignorant of God's righteousness "—Christ, the righteous One, coming into the world to take the place of the unrighteous one-"they being ignorant" of this, "go about to establish their own righteousness." Man feels his need of a righteousness. He is not fit to stand before God. So he "goes about" his good deeds to quiet his conscience; he" goes about" his thoughts, comparing himself with an unreal standard. And what for? That he may get a righteousness on which he may rest. He tries to get a resting-place, but he cannot. And why?

Because "they have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God." "Submitted"—it is the bending of the soul to something it never had before. It is accepting, as a little child, Christ as

our righteousness, and renouncing for ever every other trust.

"Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." Here is the remedy. The first word answers it all-Christ. Christ is the end of the law, the end of everything. Come and take Christ, and then you have it. Christ is a great Saviour. Take this Saviour as yours; and do it now. Submit yourself. "Come, and He will in no wise cast you out." Take this Saviour as yours; take His precious blood to pardon you, His righteous robe to cover you. My earnest desire and prayer to God for you is that you may be saved.

I have a Saviour-He's pleading in glory

So precious, tho' earthly enjoyments be few;
And now He is watching in tenderness o'er me:
But oh! that my Saviour was your Saviour too!
For you I am praying-I'm praying for you!

I have a Father-to me He has given

A hope for eternity, precious and true;

And soon will my spirit be with Him in heaven:
But oh! that He'd let me bring you with me too!
For you I am praying-I'm praying for you!

I have a Harp in those regions all-glorious-
Away, far away in that ocean of blue;

And there shall it breathe out its music melodious:
But oh! could I know one was tuning for you!
For you I am praying-I'm praying for you!

I have a Crown-and I'll wear it for ever-
Encircled with jewels of heavenly hue;

'Twas purchased by Jesus, my glorified Saviour:

But oh! could I know one was purchased for you!

For you I am praying-I'm praying for you

I have a robe-'tis resplendent in whiteness,-
Awaiting, in glory, my wondering view;

Oh, when I'll receive it, all shining in brightness,
Dear friend! could I see you receiving one too!
For you I am praying—I'm praying for you!

I have a Rest-and the earnest is given,

Though now, for a time, 'tis conceal'd from my view; 'Tis life everlasting-'tis Jesus-'tis heaven :

And oh dearest friend, let me meet you there too!
For you I am praying-I'm praying for you!

I have a Peace-and it's "calm as a river,"-
A peace that the friend of the world never knew;
My Saviour alone is its Author and Giver:
But oh! could I know it was given to you!
For you I am praying-I'm praying for you!

For you I am praying-for you I am praying!
For you I am praying-for you, yes, for you!
And soon shall I hear you rejoicing and saying-
"Your dear, loving Saviour is my Saviour too!"
And pray'r will be answer'd for you-yes, for you!

And when He has found you, tell others the story,
How Jesus extended His mercy to you;

Then point them away to the regions of glory,

And pray that your Saviour may bring them there too!
For pray'r will be answer'd-'twas answer'd for you.

Oh, speak of that Saviour, that Father in heaven,
That Harp, Crown, and Robe which are waiting for you,—
That Peace you possess, and that rest to be given !
Still praying that Jesus may save them like you!
And pray'r will be answer'd-'TWAS ANSWER'D FOR YOU.

S. O'M. C.

"EVERY MAN WALKETH IN A VAIN

SHOW."

PSALM XXXIX. 6.

LOOK at the world in its best garb, and see whether it forms an exception. We are passing through one of the squares in our great metropolis. You see the stream of carriages drawing up to that noble mansion. The figures step out one by one, and enter the spacious hall. It is the ball-room. There is the music, the song, and the dance; the glitter of the gay, the brilliant, and the beautiful on every side. "Surely," you say, "there is no sorrow there." Ah! it is a gilded mask. There is the gnawing worm and the broken heart underneath that beautiful exterior. There lie shrouded envyings, hatreds, pride and vanity, disappointment and vexation, and all the other miseries of a heart not at peace with God. Yet this is the world in its fairest garb. This is the world's best antidote for a bleeding heart, for stifling the rebukes of conscience, or drowning the deeper sorrows of the soul. And what a spell is there for the youthful heart! Yet what a sad scene! The light step is there,

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