altar, with fresh sacrifice of the body and blood of Christ,-by a human priest, in a highly decorated dress; and that these are all parts of acceptable Christian worship. No! Christ is the only priest. His body, "once offered," the only true sacrifice. His cross the only altar. As under the law it was said God would only meet and bless those who sacrificed in the place where He recorded His name, (Deut. xii. 13, 14.) so now the only one way to the Father, is through Him who has said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me." (John xv. 6.) Prayer through His name is sure of acceptance, and sure to be heard and answered. No fresh sacrifice is needed. By His one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." (Heb. x. 14.) What we want in our places of worship is the inward adornment of meek and quiet spirits met together in the name of Christ the Mediator, to pray for one another and themselves, and to "offer up the sacrifices of praise to God continually, that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." (Heb. xiii. 15.) Our chief ornament in our assemblies must be the presence of Christ.

Let us then now ask what is this truth to us, and how are we making use of this most blessed and glorious promise," In all places

where I record my name, I will come unto thee and bless thee." This was the promise of the law. The Gospel promise, we know, is like unto it, "wheresoever two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matt. xviii. 20.)

Do we know the value of this promise? First, in the house of prayer, the assembly of saints on the Lord's day, and at other times, do we go up with the multitude expecting to find the Lord present, and to be blessed by Him, according to His promise? It is not the presence of the minister, nor of a priest, nor the bare assembling of persons in their best dresses on the Sunday that brings a blessing, but seeking Christ and finding Christ there; hearing His voice in the Scriptures, addressing Him in our united prayers, and singing praises with understanding, and with the warm feelings of gratitude for his mercies; this it is brings the fulfilment of this promise in all its blessedness, "In all places where I record my name I will come unto thee and bless thee.'

But then further, do we know the privilege of this promise as it may be fulfilled to us more privately? "Two or three " met together may be sure of reaping this special blessing. United prayer is not only a great privilege, but one of the greatest sources of obtaining help and

blessings of any kind, besides the good effect. it has of binding together hearts, and causing them to feel one for the other. The parents and the children should thus meet and join their prayers and praises. The husband and the wife should thus sanctify and strengthen their union with one another, and raise their affections to spiritual things. The friends, the brothers and the sisters, all in fact who are wont to unite for other purposes, should above all for this, that they may agree touching what they will have done for them by their Father which is in heaven, resting assured of the faithfulness of Him who hath said, "In all places where I record my name, I will come unto thee and bless thee.'

Lastly, never forget, that one of the places where God records His name is the closet of him who goes in secret to worship Him who seeth in secret and rewardeth openly. Yes! "I will come to thee and bless thee," proclaims God's willingness to give to every one that seeketh in the name of His dear Son, by His Holy Spirit to come and bless them with those blessings secured by the covenant he hath made with them in Christ.

PRAYER.

O LORD God Almighty! Thou hast promised that in all places where Thou hast recorded Thy name, Thou wilt come and bless Thy people. Come Thou at this time and bless me. I am not worthy that Thou shouldest come under my roof. No! not the most beauteous temple on earth is worthy Thy presence, but Thou art pleased to record Thy name in the temple of Thy dear Son. Towards that holy temple do I look, and according to Thy promise plead for blessings.

Lord fulfil Thy promise, and come, and by Thy Spirit dwell in my heart. Let my body be a temple of the Holy Ghost.

Cast out all that is unholy in this temple of my heart, and take Thou possession of it. Be Thou alone exalted in that temple. Let all idols and images be thrown down and cast out, that Jesus may reign supreme. I am unworthy of, alas! at times unwilling, for this great honour. But do Thou by Thy mighty Spirit purify my desires, and by the blood of Jesus cleanse my heart. Record Thy name in my heart. Seal me with the spirit of promise unto redemption, and come and bless me for Jesus, His sake. AMEN.

THE SERVANT'S EAR BORED.

"Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them.

"If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.

"If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him.

"If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself.

"And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:

“Then his master shall bring him unto the judges ; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him for ever." EXODUS XXI. 1-6.

THE law is not contrary to the Gospel. Neither were any of its rules touching duty to God or to man, different in spirit from what the Gospel enjoins. "Thou shalt love the Lord with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy mind, and with all thy strength, and thou