duties here set forth are practical and comprehensive. They cover broad ground; — the individual heart; home influence; the nurture of childhood; Christian rites; the tender and Christian interest of fellow-believers in each other's welfare; Christian fidelity in all business and social relations; and union of effort "for the advancement of Christian righteousness in the world." The "Regulations" provide for that sort of co-operation with the minister in his work so essential to church life, and point to Christian activities in benevolence, and in watchful care of the young, which will return in manifold spiritual blessings upon the church that is faithful to them. The provisions for church committees are taken substantially from the "Articles of Organization of the Church of the Disciples" in Boston, — a band of Christians distinguished for the prominence they give to the primitive idea of the Church, as "one body with many members," and distinguished also, as we judge, for their church love and church life. This is what we want in all our churches, love and life. We do not suppose that any organization, however faultless, will produce this. "It is the spirit that quickeneth"; a body without a soul is no better than unorganized dust. But neither does a soul without a body seem exactly fitted to this mundane sphere. And the better suited the body is to the character and spirit of the indwelling soul, the more effectually it may accomplish its mission.

But, after all, we gladly admit that the organization is a secondary matter. The essential thing for individuals and for churches is a deeper baptism of the Christ spirit, and a clearer vision of the work to which that spirit calls. Do not our ideas of the Church, its character, its high and sacred mission, lack clearness and tangibility? Is there a grander object for which men or angels can associate, than that of laboring together for the upbuilding of the heavenly kingdom in their own hearts and in the world? How far it transcends in importance all the secular and transient objects for which men are so ready to labor and sacrifice! What

a mighty power for good resides in every Christian church, if faithful to its trusts! How much it may do for the growth of the Christian spirit, for the nurture of faith and hope and love, for the strength of Christian principles, and the doing of Christian work in the world, — how much to keep the great objects of life distinctly before the soul, and to stimulate men to labor for them with undivided hearts!

Let us look a moment at such a church, embracing, not, as now, only a small part of a given congregation, but all who believe in Christ and are sincerely seeking the Christian life. See them laboring together, harmoniously, lovingly, for a better knowledge and a purer practice of Christianity; helping each other to a brighter faith and hope; keeping the golden chain of Christian fellowship bright and burnished; feeding the lambs of the flock; bringing them early to the baptismal font, and consecrating them to God in that touching symbolic rite; seeking to nurture them with the Christian spirit, to store their young minds with Christ's truth, and warm their hearts with his love; young men and maidens coming reverently to the communion, and gladly to every Christian work, feeling no shame at being thought religious, but a sacred joy in seeking to become more thoroughly Christian in heart and life; men and women in mature life, in the midst of harassing cares and wearying duties and fierce temptations, seeking to apply the sacred principles of the Gospel to all life's experiences; old persons, full of years and Christian wisdom, bringing the fruit of long experience to counteract the erratic tendencies of youth, and chasten too sanguine hopes; all looking to Christ as the way, the truth, and the life, all, as individuals, and as a body, laboring together for the overthrow of wrong and evil, and the establishment of the right and the good, for the promotion of purity, peace, liberty, holiness, and love, — the kingdom of God on earth.

Is not such a church worthy of our reverence and love? Was it not something akin to this in spirit and aim, that

Paul had in view, when he said, "Christ loveth the Church, and cherisheth and nourisheth it"? Such a church must be loved by Christ, since it is animated by his spirit, and is seeking to do his work in the world.

Have we such churches? Do we need them? What may we do to build them up in all our parishes? May the Spirit of Truth help us to answer these questions wisely.

W. P. T.

LETTER ON SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE.

You have asked my aid and guidance in the spiritual life. So far as it lies in my power to bestow it, it shall be yours; only remember that every individual soul has its own peculiar wants, trials, and discipline, and that there may be difficulties in your path against which you must struggle alone, seeking only the Divine aid. Yet there are mutual needs and trials, in which, as disciples of the same Master, and learners in the same school, we are sacredly bound to aid one another, and to lend the helping hand to those who need the sympathy and aid which we may have craved, at times, in vain.

Your difficulties are neither strange, nor altogether peculiar to yourself, as you seem to imagine. You can hardly truly have studied the inward life of Paul, or that of any earnest Christian, without learning that it must be through these secret conflicts, these hours of darkness, these moments of clouded faith, these deep struggles with inward sin and restless longings to be freed from its power, that the spirit, true to itself, is finally led to its true rest, the repose of the Saviour's breast.

I rejoice to see these feelings at work within you. I know you cannot, will not, rest where you are; and even these hours of darkness give the promise of a brighter, clearer

day, than the dull, cold light of self-satisfied indifference. You must press forward! The stake is too great, the prize too glorious, for you to yield to heartless apathy, or ready discouragement, because the clear, full sunlight dawns not at once upon your path. First the cross, then the crown! First the effort, the struggle, the conflict, then the reward of a childlike faith, the hand consciously resting in that of the Redeemer!

You say, "I do long and pray to be Christ's true disciple. I have sacredly chosen the path of life. In the secrecy of my soul I have solemnly consecrated myself to my Master's work, but I do not find that I grow in Christian attainments. Selfishness still rules my spirit, indifference creeps over me, hasty words are uttered, passion gains the mastery, and I fear that I have deceived myself in ever thinking that I have been spiritually renewed."

But let me ask, Do not these very sins trouble you more, make you more restless, than they once did? Are you not more awake to their power? Do you not desire more truly to be freed from them? Is not conscience more quick and active? Do you not hate sin, the sin within you, as never before?

Believe, then, that your first steps are in the right path, and that by patient endeavor and earnest prayer the victory will yet be yours.

But you say again, "I cannot realize my Saviour's love and presence as I wish, and often in prayer God seems a mere abstraction, afar off, and a veil I cannot remove or pierce clouds my spiritual vision. I strive to pray, but the words rebound lifeless upon my own heart, and my spirit seems shut in by walls, which the most earnest longing for faith cannot surmount. At such seasons, could I but for one moment look upon the Saviour's countenance, and in and through him see the Father, could I but kneel at his feet, and, with the poor, blind beggar of old, exclaim, 'Lord, that my eyes might be opened!'-could I but see one glance

of that eye of love and pity resting upon me in rebuke or encouragement, I could not, would not, again distrust; I would press on through any conflict, any trial, and the most rugged path would seem bright and joyful.” "Could I but see!" Ah, my young friend, here lies your very struggle, and the field for your true victory! Had we "the open vision, for the written word," we should no longer need to walk by faith. But God, in his unsearchable wisdom, chooses this way to test the reality of your faith, and the fulness of your obedience. To be faithful in duty, watchful for opportunities of doing good, gentle and kind in speech, self-denying in conduct, persevering in prayer, even when no answering voice whispers peace and encouragement to your soul,- to do, to act thus, simply because you know God commands it, that it is his will and law, and so to strive, earnestly strive, to trust his love,—do not such endeavors evince a more loyal, obedient, childlike spirit, than if your pathway were constantly lighted by the brightness of an unclouded heaven and the clearness of a sunlike faith? When tide and winds are in our favor, and a favoring breeze fills the sails, we may seem, indeed, to make more rapid progress; but little effort is required, and therefore little personal strength is gained. But if the winds rise, and the waves beat, and amid the darkness we steer our path, with the eye fixed steadily on the distant beacon-light that guides us homeward, our nerves are braced, our powers are strengthened, our whole being invigorated by the required effort and toil, and home seems doubly dear, after the tempest and the danger are past, and we rest in the haven of peace.

And has not God given you, at times, an answer to your prayers, though not in just the way you desired or asked? Has he not strengthened you for duty, quickened your conscience, elevated your desires, given you the very longing that leads you to seek to know him more truly, to love him. more fervently?