reflects itself o'er sea or land, but as it were for a moment, and then gone; dispersing, disappearing, is as though it had not been; for who can gather upwho seize who even catch a momentary glance at the shadow that has gone? Such, however, is life-life in its brightest, longest, fullest day.

The apostle Peter, as well as the apostle Paul, was so impressed with this idea of the shortness of life, that he exclaimed, "The end of all things is at hand; be ye, therefore, sober, and watch unto prayer." The apostle James, too, deeply imbued with the self-same truth, asks so significantly," What is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." What can set forth the transient nature of life more than this? Who has seen the vapour sitting for a little season on the crest of the mountain, or alighting on the hill-side, or rising from the meadows on the dewy eve, but its very nature bespeaks its transientness? We are ever wont to regard it as a most uncertain and merest passing visitor. Yet such are the terms in which the Lord, by His servants, has been pleased to treat of life. Yea, the Lord Himself, in one of His inimitable parables, thus rebuked the man who had so foolishly said to his soul, "Thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine case, eat, drink, and be merry," "Thou fool, this night shall thy soul be required of thee: then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided ?" Moreover, reader, does not the fleeting character of life appear to yourself in looking back? Contemplate the changes of a few years. Where are those with whom, five, or ten, or twenty years ago, you were familiar? Walk through a town or a city with whose inhabitants you may have been acquainted, and mark the change its streets and its houses indicate. Withdraw from the busy hives and haunts of the now healthy and the active, and see in the neighbouring grave-yards the names of their fathers or their ancestors transferred from the shop-facing or the door-plate, to the head-stone or the tomb.

Is there any denying these absolute realities-these verities of an ever-varying life? Nay, there is no denying them; and yet men, with these facts perpetually before their eyes, go on from day to day, as though they were exceptions to the universal rule; as though whatever or however others, they themselves were immortal.

It was, then, upon these principles of the shortness and the absolute uncertainty of our tarry here, the Apostle argues, "it remaineth "the conclusion to which, seeing these things are so, is, "that both they that have wives be as though they had none." That is, they should beware lest their hearts should cling too closely to them; they should be watchful in case their affections should entwine too tenderly around them; they must not forget that each is mortal; that they are merely travellers; on pilgrimage; that companionship is not ensured as to its duration; that a severance may come at any moment, and under circumstances least expected. Hence they are to be as tenants at will; not having a freehold nor even a lifehold interest, only as that life partakes of the most uncer tain character. It may be a little lengthened, but must be short at best.

Reader, we know, creatures as we are, how difficult the lesson the Apostle thus inculcates. We are so wedded to earth. We are (at least we know one, notwithstanding all his keen and varied lessons, that is) such creature-idolaters. It is so true, as Dr. Watts has it

"The fondness of a creature's love,

How strong it strikes the sense; Thither the warm affections move, Nor can we call them thence.

"Our dearest joys, our nearest friends,
The partners of our blood-
How they divide our wandering hearts,
And leave but half for God.'

Yet it is astonishing what the Lord can do in and by the faith He is graciously

pleased to bestow. When comforted and strengthened by the Holy Spirit, how marvellous are the triumphs of faith over flesh. What venturing and confiding and depending upon the Lord there is.

Dear reader, with what blessed power the Lord whispered those sweet words into our heart, a few days since, when awaking from a refreshing slumber, after some hours of pain and deep, deep depression: "Leave thy fatherless children; I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in me." Oh, the words were so sweet and so timely. The Lord had seemed, as it were, to stand by one's sick couch; had been watching over one's slumbers; and then with one's first waking moments, whispered words so sweet and so soothing. One had before (in one's wonted cowardice and shrinking from pain) been disposed to ask the Lord that the last conflict might be very brief; that body and soul might be speedily severed; and neither Satan nor death be permitted but a brief moment to triumph; and then that one might be enabled to leave one's family, and all appertaining thereunto, in His blessed hands. These were the prevailing feelings these the heart-expressed desires. And then it appeared so gracious of the Lord to come in this timely, tender way, with those unspeakablyprecious words (we must repeat them), "Leave thy fatherless children; I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in me." Oh, it was so comprehensive; so full; so blessed.

We know and we have long time felt guilty in this respect-that we have been seeking, in the exercise of our poor puny wisdom and absolute shortsightedness, to seek out a course for our children whereby they might be saved the trial and the trouble and the temptation we have had to encounter. Yet at the same time we are compelled, unhesitatingly to say, with respect to ourselves, that "He hath done all things well," and that we would not have anything different. Yet, whilst pleading with the Lord day and night, as we are obliged to do, on behalf of our children, there is—we sensibly feel it—a want of that entire committing them to and leaving them in His hands; that He would lead and guard and guide entirely and absolutely. We have moments of this kind; but again fleshly wisdom and human foresight will interfere; and what comes of it? Nothing but bondage and perplexity. Oh, no; it is "leave thy fatherless children;" there is a sense in which our children are fatherless, even though their father be not dead, in a human point of view; they are fatherless, as to their earthly father's being at hand to counsel and to help. Sometimes, in the providence of God, they are so far removed the one from the other, that of necessity the Lord must direct and devise, irrespective of human help or parental care, or sad indeed were the consequences. And then, oh, how gracious the promise, "I will preserve them alive." And how wondrous-yea, how conspicuous and how marvellous is that preservation. In "deaths oft," it may be ; imperilled to the last degree; but a step betwixt them and death, and yet kept (blessed be His name!) even "as the apple of His eye." Kept even as in an impregnable fortress; garrisoned about by God, even perhaps when not known savingly, or acknowledged; yea, probably the recipients of that most distinguishing mercy, though at the time personally ignorant of the fact:

"Determined to save,

He watched o'er my path,
When (Satan's blind slave)
I sported with death.”

Oh, reader, how precious and how powerful is the sweet word of our God, when brought home with dew and unction and savour to the heart by the Holy Ghost. Although wicked men may rail, and sneer, and taunt, it alters not the mercy.

They can neither gainsay nor diminish aught from this special privilege of the family of God. "It is not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts." "Our Gospel came to you, not in word only, but in demonstration of the Spirit, and of power." And where it so comes, and when it so comes, though devils and men may be up in arms, and strive to their utmost to oppress or dismay or terrify, all, all is in vain. "Where the word of a king is, there is power;" and that power lifts up the heart above all the sorrows of the way; and gives the privileged recipient to experience and enjoy all that is involved in the language of the blessed Kent:

Through fire and flood she goes,
A weakling more than strong;
Vents in His bosom all her woes,
And, leaning, moves along."

Here, for the present, we leave the subject. God bless it, and you, dear readers. Amen and amen.

Bristol, June 16, 1865.

"WHAT IS THY BELOVED?"
"WHAT is thy Beloved?" the question I hear :
The answer is given in faith, love, and fear :

THE EDITOR.

My Beloved is ruddy, most precious, and white;
My heart He hath ravished; He is my delight."
"What is thy Beloved?" ""Tis blessed to tell
That He hath redeem'd me from sin, death, and hell.
My Beloved is Jesus-'mong thousands is chief-
Yes, over all, God; this is my belief."

"What is thy Beloved?" "The Father's dear Son;
All glory and honour are due to His name;
He died to release me from justice and law,

ور

And in living and dying He strength doth bestow."
"What is thy Beloved? "He is God-also Man;
The depth of His glory no mortal can scan ;

He's over all blessed, the God evermore,

And His word and His promise abide ever sure."
"What is thy Beloved?" "A Brother and Friend;
He's Alpha, Omega-beginning and end;
He's a help to the needy, a strength to the weak;
He is food to the hungry, and health to the sick.
"This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend;
And whom He once loves, He loves to the end;
His fulness and riches will never exhaust,
And He-yea, Himself—is the first and the last.
"This is my Beloved, of Him I will sing,
For He is my Prophet, my Priest, and my King;
My Saviour, Redeemer, and Advocate sure,
And I to the end shall surely endure.

"He is the Foundation, the chief Corner Stone,
And precious He is to believers alone;
Himself is the way, the truth, and the life,
And He's all in all to the Church, His own wife.

"Her Maker, her Husband, her strength, and her rest,
And for her He makes all things work for the best.
This is my Beloved; I will rest in His love;

I soon on His throne shall be with Him above."

A. TRIGGS.

WAYSIDE NOTES.

THE COVENANT OF THE BLOOD.

"The precious blood of Christ."-1 PETER i. 19.

I BELIEVE that one of the most painful signs of the times is the dishonour put upon the covenant blood of Christ. When from pulpit or press do we hear of this precious theme, which is the very essence of the scheme of salvation for poor perishing sinners? Indeed, impious theologians of the present day have dared to call such a religion "the religion of the shambles." Be it ours, beloved, to glory in covenant blood, and to sing with dear Joseph Irons

'What mighty sum paid all my debt When I a bondman stood;

"What theme, my soul, shall best employ

Thy harp before thy God, And make all heaven to ring with joy?— 'Tis Jesus' precious blood."

And has my soul at freedom set ?'Tis Jesus' precious blood. Now the blood of Jesus was foreshadowed in the sacrifices of old from the days of Abel. "Not without blood," was the great truth mystically taught by Jehovah to Old Testament prophets and patriarchs-the blood of the slain victim being an emblem of that substitution which Jesus by His atonement had in covenant engaged to make for His people as "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." But the blood-shedding of Israel's multiplied sacrifices could never take away sin; the one death of the Lord Jesus did what all the deaths of the victims of old could never do, viz., His blood was shed for the remission of sins: so that the two grand things that the blood of Jesus has done for every redeemed soul is to make reconciliation for iniquity, and bring in everlasting righteousness. But how do I know that this blood was shed for me? will be the inquiry. Now, if we comprehend rightly and experimentally, it will be simply in this wise. Electing love causes mighty grace to discover to the sinner his state by nature, and his need of a Saviour. A cry is put into his heart for pardon of his sins: he feels that if he dies unwashed and unsanctified, hell must be his eternal portion. Misery is before him; mercy unmerited becomes his only plea. The Spirit unfolds the necessity of the atonement, and he clings to Christ as his only hope. Now all this shows that the blood, which is the life, has already been applied. The concern, the cry, the clinging to Jesus, is all indicative of the new creation; and now faith, not preceding and producing the birth, as many have it, but springing from the quickened soul, lays hold of Jesus as her own, exclaiming, "Lord, I believe; help Thou my unbelief." Thus will it be seen that the whole work, from first to last, is of God, and to Him be all the glory; and that the religion we love is not a religion of do, do, but done, done. And now the blood applied brings a train of blessings: as, for instance, it brings into the presence of God; in Christ, "ye who sometimes were afar off are made nigh." How? By the blood of Christ; for "He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us.” And again, "when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son." And then, while it is the blood that gives access to the throne of grace, it is the blood that makes a way into the holy of holies, and will rend the veil that now separates from the manifest presence of God. "And I looked (saith John) and behold a door was open in heaven, and the first voice I heard was as it were a trumpet talking with me, which said, Come up bither;" and no sooner had he entered through the open door, than he hears the new song which ascribes all to redemption by the blood of the Lamb. And then peace follows the application

of the blood-peace through the blood of the cross. Purity is the result, too. Cleansed by blood is not merely a simple washing as with water, but it is becoming a participator in the death of the Substitute. Hence, believers are said to be washed from their sins in His own blood. Substitution, too, is linked with satisfaction-the very word redemption demonstrating that satisfaction was given to an offended God by the death of Jesus. Indeed, time would fail us to tell of the hallowed blessings that follow the application of the precious blood of Jesus.

Beloved, then, if you are saying, Oh, my sins, how abundant! recollect His blood is superabundant; and, whatever doubts and fears we may often have by the way, it alters not the fact that

"His efficacious blood,

By power divine applied,
Makes perfect all the Church of God→
All that are sanctified."

THE HOLY SPIRIT THE SANCTIFIER.

"Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth."-JOHN xvii. 17.

"They

This was Jesus' precious appeal to the Father on behalf of His blood-bought family, for whom He was about to die, and to whom He had promised to send the Comforter. And we might ask, How is the Holy Spirit a Sanctifier? We reply, 1. Because He separates-which, indeed, is the meaning of the word sanctification. Hence it is written, "But know this, God hath set apart him that is godly for Himself;" and again, "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord: touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you.' 2. Because the Spirit applies the blood of Jesus, which cleanseth from all sin: He is the Sanctifier. Hence it is written, "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all;" and "wherefore Jesus, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate." And the Holy Ghost applying the precious blood of Jesus, the sinner is cleansed; hence it is said, " The robes of the saints are made white (emblem of purity) through the blood of the Lamb." And then, 3. The Holy Spirit is the Sanctifier, because He leads into holiness of life. that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit." So, then, they that are not of the Spirit cannot please God. Thus the Christian is a vessel of honour sanctified and made meet for the Master's use in the Master's house; or, as Scripture asserts, "made meet to be partaker with the inheritance of the saints in light." And then the way in which the Spirit sanctifies is conveyed in the dear words of Jesus, "Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth." Hence it is that the faithful preaching of the Gospel, accompanied by the power of the Holy Spirit, brings rebel sinners to Christ, and we see the means of grace blessed to the conversion of their souls. Woe be to those teachers, then, whom God has not sent, and who, being men pleasers, and fleshly wisdom toads, preach not the truth as it is in Jesus. And then, beloved, we may think that sanctification most certainly leads to glorification; for Jesus is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, and all those who have His name written upon their foreheads, as seen in the conclave of heaven, are said to be redeemed from among men, being the first-fruits unto God and the Lamb for ever and ever.

Dearly beloved, be it ours to glory in the personality of the Holy Ghost as coequal with the Father and the Son; and in these days, when we may well