conservative and tendeth to safety-is vigilant and watches against the first abhorred approach of ill-is consistent and in all vicissitude, whether circumstances frown or smile, whether sin is difficult or can be committed with impunity, preserves its equal recognition of the great Invisible-is brave, and alike in Nebuchadnezzar's furnace, or Darius' den, or Herod's dungeon, or Nero's presence-chamber, flinches not from its strong-souled and fearless heroism; and this fear of the Lord is the characteristic quality of his chosen people.

"And that thought upon his name." They have the sublimest subject of contemplation. "His name -boundless Power-eternal right-wisdom that cannot err and needs not to amend its plans-truth dazzling in its lustrous brightness-goodness essential and rejoicing in its own manifestations-love, fathomless, unsearchable, draining its own heart and pouring out its life-blood in sacrifice for the lost world-these are the glorious letters which spell out "his name;" and upon these they think and ponder, intenter than rapt student of the mysteries of Isis-more absorbed than decipherer of cabalistic lore. "That thought upon his name ; and by the thought were lifted from the common to the royal, were enraptured and transformed; "that thought upon his name," until they heard it inspoken, and their whole being thrilled beneath the syllables of its grace and power-" merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth;" "that thought upon his name," until, assimilated by the wondrous meditation, they felt the fingers of the forming hand writing it upon their own

hearts the new name-and rejoiced, in that, their second and inner christening, "with joy unspeakable and full of glory."

Have you, brethren, in possession these qualifications, or are you seeking them in diligent and earnest search? Then come with us and we will do you good, for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel." We invite you on the assumption that, by your hatred of sin and your desire for pardon and holiness, you are seeking to "flee from the wrath to come." We ask not you the careless-nor you, the selfish-nor you, the formalist-nor you, the profane. Alas! that we have such hearers in the house of the Lord. Your adhesion to us would only bring the plague into our borders; and the union of the church, if such were its members, would be but the union of the sepulchrewhere all is quiet enough and brotherly-but dead. We wish your welfare dearly, and yearn over you with tenderest yearning; but we dare not ask you into our fellowship as you are. There can be no deadlier curse than an unconverted church. Come to Christ. Realize salvation through him-or even seek it with earnestness and tears-and we will receive you with open arms, and summon the angels, who are more skilled in minstrelsy than we, to lead off the thanksgiving-hymn over the returning prodigal.

But there are some-nay, many-in our congregations, who are serious, and thoughtful, and decided for the Lord's service, but who have not yet grasped, with the warm clasp of alliance, the hand of the church-and it is to them we make our appeal. What are your objections? Let us hear them. "Professors are

so inconsistent; they do not live out their profession; so many of them are frail and erring, and bring disgrace upon the cause they espouse." It is unhappily too true. We are not what we ought to be that is certain. But there is the greater need for you amongst us, who see the danger so clearly, and would, by your own consistent living, do much to remedy the evil. If you are waiting for a perfect church, we despair of being able to accommodate you. None of the seven churches of Asia would avail for your lodgment-for there was something against them all. The church at Corinth must shut her doors, for there were carnal walkers in her midst. Nay, even the primitive apostles would fail to furnish you with a fellowship sufficiently holy-for Peter was recreant, and James ambitious, and Jude, his brother, inquisitive, and John hot-tempered, and Thomas unbelieving-not to mention Judas the betrayer. To urge this objection is but a shallow evasion of a plain duty, which sincerity will not urge, and which candour should blush to name. "But the church is so divided. There are so many different and often warring sects—I know not which to choose." Yes you do. You know that which is Yes--you the nearest to your convictions-which touches your heart-strings with a warmer preference-where you can find what seems to you practice the most accordant with New Testament teaching. You know which you prefer; and if I were not closely and personally pressing you, you would be fluent to tell it. I wantagain I declare it to make no proselytes. I would not descend from my high vantage-ground on so mean an errand. This pulpit is my throne; and, as a king,

I should demean my dignity were I to make a raid upon the subjects of another. But I do adjure you to preserve this neutrality no longer for neutrality now is opposition. If you are not Christ's servants, you are Christ's foes. Some of you have accorded to us your free, voluntary, intelligent preference. You are haunted by no scruples as to the soundness of our doctrines, or the validity of our ordination. If we are not apostles unto others, yet doubtless we are to you; for the seal of our apostleship are ye in the Lord." Then come into our church. We are glad to see you in the sanctuary; but we want more-we want the lifelong intercourse, the active hand, the sunny smile. It is cold work, standing outside-'mid stormy skies and in inclement weather. Come to the hearthstone, where the household lamp is lighted, and the fire is brightly kindled, and the loving family gathers. You will not find elsewhere greener pastures, nor stiller waters, nor a more rich and resting influence of God-than we enjoy. Therefore, "come with us and we will do you good, for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel."

XXXV.

THE ACCEPTABLE SACRIFICE.

"For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise."-Ps. li. 16, 17.

How

OW marvellous is the adaptation of the Scripture to the race for whom it has been revealed! In its pages all the conditions of human experience are reflected, as in a mirror, and in its words every plaint and struggle of the heart can find appropriate expression. It is absolutely inexhaustible in its resources for the conveyance of the deepest feeling into language. It puts a music into the speech of the tuneless, and rounds the periods of the unlettered with an eloquence which no orator can rival. It has martial odes to brace the warrior's courage, and gainful proverbs to teach the merchant wisdom. All mental moods can represent themselves in its aptitude of words. It translates the doubts of the perplexed, and articulates the cry of the contrite; fills the tongue of the joyous with carols of thankful gladness, and "gives sorrow words, lest grief, that does not speak, should whisper the o'erfraught heart, and bid it break." Happy we, my friends, who, for all the varieties of our religious life,