their God-asking the way to Zion, with their faces thitherward, and saying, "Come! and let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten." What were the journeys of old through Palestine compared with the (approaching) national return to Zion? The hopes of mankind are involved in Hebrew history. If the casting away of Israel has been the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

*

"Ensamples" they are, this wonderful Jewish people! So Paul reminds us (I Cor. x. II), when he glances at some prominent events of their history. In their continual journeying to Zion, the Hebrews were but representatives of those children of Abraham by faith, who in life's daily walks may be met with "going up to God" (1 Samuel x. 3). These travellers are easily distinguished; for their backs are to the world, and their faces are heavenward; and gleams of glory, caught from the Divine presence, illumine their way. They are seen

weeping" for their own unworthiness; but the sunlight of heaven soon dries up those tears. They are seen seeking the Lord their God ;" and never said He to them, Seek ye my face in vain! They bind His vows upon their souls, and join themselves to Him in a perpetual covenant that is not to be forgotten. Their characteristics are noticeable, They exhibit:

I. Faith. They are blessed for their strength is in God.

(Psalm 1xxxiv. 5), Not in their own

ability to reach the city of the great King have they set out; but in His all-sufficient grace to help them, and in His strength that is made perfect in weakness. For the day's journey they shall have the day's guidance-the day's help-the day's provision-the day's protection; yea, as their days, so shall their strength be.

They also demonstrate that they journey not by constraint but willingly; for they are actuated by :

2. Love. They are going to God; and in their heart are His ways (Psalm lxxxiv. 5). Having placed their happiness in Him as their end, "they," writes Matthew Henry,* "rejoice in all the ways that lead to Him, all those means by which their graces are strengthened, and their communion with Him kept up. They not only walk in these ways, but they have them in their hearts. They lay them near their hearts; no care or concern, no pleasure or delight, lies nearer than this." So many as have New Jerusalem in their eye, will have the ways conducting to it in their heart.

Discouragements may confront them; but through grace they shall overcome them. Nor shall they, in the hour of trouble, lack :—

3. Consolation. It may be their heavenly Father's will to bring them to Himself "out of much tribulation." The way for them to Zion may lie through the valley of Baca (Psalm lxxxiv. 6); yet in passing through it, they can make it a

* Commentary on Psalm lxxxiv. 5.

well. If the Lord open the eyes, straightway are seen wells in the wilderness. The parched ground becomes a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water. Life-refreshing streams gush up from the arid sand, or leap down in cascades from the opened rock. The Lord comforts His mourners. He gives them garments of praise for the spirit of heaviness. He leads them unto living fountains of water. He wipes away all tears from their eyes.

Their travel tires them not. It more and more proves their sincerity and develops their :

4. Endurance. "They go from strength to strength" (Psalm lxxxiv. 7). As the Israelites proceeded on their way, when going up to the feasts, their company was augmented by the accession of persons from the towns and villages through which they passed; and the numbers swelled more and more, the nearer they approached to Zion. Their own feelings of wonder, love, praise, excitement, and expectation, were proportionately increased, when each day's march brought them so much nearer to the presence and ordinances of their God. So, as ages roll by, the great company of the Redeemed receives accessions out of all nations, and kindred, and people, and tongues; and the Lord is adding to the Church daily such as shall be saved. While as for believers individually, as their home draws nearer to them, instead of wearines,, they find their desire for it all the greater; and they press onward with the more diligence, now that the journey's aim is so well-nigh accomplished.

Lastly they receive of God:

7. Salvation. Through the Divine preservation of their souls, rather than by their own perseverance in the right way, they finally enter heaven; and "every one of them in Zion appeareth before God" (Psalm lxxxiv. 7). None are lost. None are gone out of the way. None are wanting. Of all the bands that set out for Zion, some in childhood, some in youth, some in manhood, some in hoar hairs, appears therein each individual representative. Their Redeemer hath given unto them eternal life ; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of His hand.

*

Blessed are they whose Footsteps have thus accomplished their weary marches and are now at rest. There is for them neither wandering nor disquietude. They have entered in through the gates into the city, and shall go out no more. The presentment of that glorious place arises before my sight; and as, from this side of the flood, I gaze upon its jasper walls, its pearly gates, and its golden street-and remember Who is there, and who are with Him-I can only, when I depicture their blessedness (with Bunyan*) breathe out a longing desire, and "WISH MYSELF AMONG THEM.”

* The Pilgrim's Progress. Part First.

Conclusion.

CHAPTER VI.

ERRING FOOTSTEPS.

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The Pilgrimage of Life-It is done by daily stages-It is as a pageant—The passing crowd-Their Footprints in the sands of Time-They move on to Death-Cardan's Vision-They go through Death to Life-Man's Immortality-For the Journey there are two Roads-How the Broad Way is easily found, and is generally followed--How the Narrow Way is overlooked, and is unfrequently trodden-Innocence was the ancient way to God's presence, but it is now closed up-Departure from it is complete -Footsteps are out of the way "-They are wholly so-Scriptural testimonies to the utter fall of Man-Repugnancy of the heart to this Truth-Backsliding Footsteps--Israel's historyThe Nation's high privileges-Their departure from God—Their punishment-They are warnings and ensamples to us—' -The tendency to backsliding is in our Human Nature-It should not be regarded as a Jewish characteristic-It is commonly seen among professed Christians-Becon's similitudes for Backsliders—Loitering Footsteps-The story of Lot's deliverance-How, through Infirmity of the Flesh, he lingered-How he was "hastened,” and saved "so as by fire"-The Divine Admonitions to him— There must be no looking back upon Sodom-No stay made in the dangerous Plain-It is an Escape for Life, and Safety will be found in the Mountain-Undecided Footsteps-Keenness of the Judgment about Temporal Things—It invariably chooses the Good, and it refuses the Evil-Human Fatuity about Spiritual Things-Necessity for a Choice between Jehovah and Baal-An argument that is unanswerable-The Lord's claims upon Men.

暖

IFE-if we rightly consider it-is but a Pil

grimage; and we are strangers before God, and sojourners, as were all our fathers. We are travellers, accomplishing the journey by daily stages. As for the company-if we desire a similitude-it resembles an Eastern caravan. There, en