and when other blessings are present, they owe all their value to Him. He makes our cup so full that it runneth over, and so he is just what man's insatiable heart requires. It is a fact which all men must acknowledge, that we are never full till we run over-the soul never has enough till it has more than enough; while we can contain, and measure, and number our possessions, we are not quite so rich as we desire. Pauperis est numerare pecus--we count ourselves poor so long as we can count our wealth. We are never satisfied till we have more than will satisfy us. But in Jesus there is that superabundance, that lavish richness, that outdoing of desire, that we are obliged to exclaim, "It is enough - I'm filled to the brim."

How desirable is that state of mind which makes every part of the soul a spring of joys! The most of men have but one well of mirth within them; according to their temperament, they derive their happiness from different powers of the mind-one from bold imagination, another from solitary meditation, and a third from memory; but the believer has many wells and many palm-trees, for all that is within him is blessed by God. As the waters cover the sea, so has Divine grace flooded every portion of his being. He has no "aching void," no "salt land, and not inhabited," no "clouds without rain ;" but where once were disappointment and

discontent, there are now "pleasures for evermore,” for the soul is "filled in Him."

Seek then, beloved Christian reader, to know more and more of Jesus. Think not that thou art master of the science of Christ crucified. Thou knowest enough of him to be supremely blest; but thou art even now but at the beginning. Notwithstanding all thou hast learned of him, remember thou hast but read the child's first primer; thou art as yet on one of the lower forms; thou hast not yet a degree in the sacred college. Thou hast but dipped the sole of thy foot in that stream wherein the glorified are now swimming. Thou art but a gleaner-thou hast not at present handled the sheaves with which the ransomed return to Zion. King Jesus hath not showed thee all the treasures of his house, nor canst thou more than guess the value of the least of his jewels. Thou hast at this moment a very faint idea of the glory to which thy Redeemer has raised thee, or the completeness with which he has enriched thee. Thy joys are but sips of the cup, but crumbs from under the table. Up then to thine inheritance, the land is before thee, walk through and survey the lot of thine inheritance; but this know, that until thou hast washed in Jordan, thou shalt be but as a beginner, not only in the whole science of Divine love, but even in this one short but comprehensive lesson, “ COMPLETE IN HIM."

TO THE UNCONVERTED READER.

FRIEND, We will venture one assertion, in the full belief that thou canst not deny it-thou art not entirely satisfied. Thou art one of the weary-footed seekers of a joy which thou wilt never find out of Christ. Oh! let this chapter teach thee to forego thy vain pursuit, and look in another direction. Be assured that, as hitherto thy chase has been a disappointment, so shall it continue to the end unless thou dost run in another manner. Others have digged the mines of worldly pleasure, and have gained nothing but anguish and despair; wilt thou search again where others have found nothing? Let the experience of ages teach thee the fallacy of human hopes, and let thine own failures warn thee of new attempts.

But hark! sinner, all thou needest is in Christ. He will fill thee, satisfy thee, enrich thee, and gladden thee. Oh! let thy friend beseech thee, "Taste and see that the Lord is good."

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VII.

LOVE TO JESUS.

"Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee."-JOHN xxi. 17.

CHRIST rightly known is most surely Christ beloved. No sooner do we discern his excellencies, behold his glories, and partake of his bounties, than our heart is at once moved with love towards him. Let him but speak pardon to our guilty souls, we shall not long delay to speak words of love to his most adorable person. It is utterly impossible for a man to know himself to be complete in Christ, and to be destitute of love towards Christ Jesus. A believer may be in Christ, and yet from a holy jealousy, he may doubt his own affection to his Lord? but love is most assuredly in his bosom, for that breast which has never heaved with love to Jesus, is yet a stranger to the blood of sprinkling.

He that loveth not, hath not seen Christ, neither known him. As the seed expands in the moisture. and the heat, and sends forth its green blade-so when the soul becomes affected with the mercy of the Saviour, it puts forth its shoots of love to him and desire after him.

This love is no mere heat of excitement, nor does it end in a flow of rapturous words; but it causes the soul to bring forth the fruits of righteousness, to its own joy and the Lord's glory. It is a principle, active and strong, which exercises itself unto godliness, and produces abundantly things which are lovely and of good repute. Some of these we intend to mention, earnestly desiring that all of us may exhibit them in our lives. Dr. Owen very concisely sums up the effects of true love in the two words, adherence and assimilation: the one knitting the heart to Jesus, and the other conforming us to his image. This is an excellent summary; but as our design is to be more explicit, we shall in detail review the more usual and pleasing of the displays of the power of grace, afforded by the soul which is under the influence of love to Christ.

1. One of the earliest and most important signs of love to Jesus is the deed of solemn dedication of ourselves, with all we have and are, most unreservedly to the Lord's service.

Dr. Doddridge has recommended a solemn cove