JESUS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

"This is his name whereby he shall be called, The Lord our righteousness."-Jeremiah xxiii. 6.

By nature there is none righteous; no, not one. Of ourselves we never can produce a righteousness to justify us in the sight of God. Yet we must have a righteousness that will meet all the requirements of the law, or God never will, never can pronounce us just. How, then, can we obtain such a righteousness? Jesus produces it by his obedience unto death. The Gospel reveals it for our acceptance. Faith embraces it, and God pronounces it ours. It is imputed to our persons. It is placed to our account. Thus we are made righteous. Then we are pronounced righteous. Then we are treated as righteous. Our righteousness is in Jesus, and being united to his person, we are made the righteousness of God in him. We must never look for the cause of our justification in ourselves, but in Jesus. If conscience accuses, we must plead against its accusations what Jesus did and suffered. If Satan tempts and harasses, we must still look to Jesus. If we think of death, or look forward to the judgment, we must still rest on the finished work of Jesus, and expect to be justified for his sake. By the disobedience of the first Adam we were made sinners, and by the obedience of the second Adam we are made righteous. Christ is now the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. And by him all that believe are justified from all things. To such God will not impute sin. To such God imputeth righteousness without works. In the matter of our justification, it is Christ alone. Not Christ and our experience. Not Christ and our sufferings. But Christ alone. In our justification, Christ is all. He performs the work, and we enjoy the benefit.

DO YOU EVER THINK OF JESUS ?

AT the Saturday evening prayer meeting at the Sailors' Home in Cherry Street, a stout sailor arose, his frame quivering with emotion and his eyes bathed with tears, asking an interest in the prayers of his brethren of the sea, and gave the following account of himself:

"Last Sabbath morning I went down to the wharf with a shipmate who was going to sea, and when I parted with him he gave me money with which to drink his health. After taking a drink I thought I would go up town and see my sister; but before reaching the house drank again and again, and when I came into her presence I was in such a state as she had never seen me in before. She was very much hurt; yet she did not chide me, but only said, in a kind but mournful tone: 'Brother, do you ever think of Jesus ?' Intoxicated as I was, that question went to my heart; and, blessed be God, it has never left me. It has been with me by day and by night. During the week I have tasted no more liquor; I have been at the prayer-meetings; and now I want you to pray for me and for my dear sister that sent that question into my heart, and for my shipmate who asked me to drink his health and a good voyage."

Reader, do you ever think of Jesus when you sin? He died for our sins. He saves his people from their sins. If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

"How sweet the name of Jesus sounds!"

What do you think of Jesus? To them who believe, he is precious. Is it so with you? Learn wisdom, ye that would be wise, from the "meekness of wisdom in a sister's love,

WHAT IS LIFE?

AN aged woman, as she laid her down upon a bed from which she was never to arise in this life, said, "What is this life?"

health and strength, Think of her words

Think of this, you who are full of and expecting much from this life. who, after eighty-six years of it, with an unusual share of vigour and intelligence, even at that advanced age, thus reviews the past; the "vapour" (Jas. iv. 14) was about to waft itself away, no more to be seen for ever.

tr

But, said a friend, "Is not the Comforter with you now ?" With much energy she replied, “ What should I do without him?" A few hours after, her happy spirit was with the Lord. My reader, have you the Comforter? or is your poor, poor position "the pleasures of

sin for a season" ?.

-a season how short!

"Be not deceived, God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap."-Old Jonathan.

THE SHIPWRECKED WIDOW'S SON.

In a small village in the north of England, an officer of the navy, after serving his country for many years, took up his abode. He had a pious wife and six children. The eldest, a boy of fourteen years, seemed determined to profit neither by love nor instruction. He mingled with wicked boys that infested the village, and would have been as bad as the worst of them, but for his father, who restrained him from rushing into the excesses of wickedness. But the father died, and left his widow alone to correct the idleness of her boy. The son grew more ungovernable after his father's death, and the afflicted widow wept with a broken heart. It was resolved, in course of time, to send him to sea, where the severe discipline of a ship might humble his proud spirit, and lead him to reflection. A ship was obtained for him. The bustle of preparation began, and was soon over. Unknown to the youth, the mother placed a Bible in his chest, with a secret hope that its light might lead him to her heavenly Father, when far off on the deep blue sea. Many were the prayers the mother offered for her son, many the counsels that she had given him from the fulness of her heart. The day of separation came. Oh, it was a day of trial to all,¦ but especially to the boy. Many were the tears the mother shed, as, pressing him to her bosom, she bade him farewell, and commended him to God. Many years passed, and the wanderer had not returned. The ship was lost, and the widow mourned her son as dead; and what was worse, she trembled for the safety of his never-dying soul. Could she have been assured of his safety in a better world, her heart would have been at rest. But she wept ever him as doubly lost.