world, nor of the princes of this world, that cometh to nought; but 'the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world unto our glory,' and which 'God hath revealed unto us by His Spirit.' Personal contact with the Son of God, close cleaving unto Him, and that blessedness of absolute and unlimited trust in Him at all times, whatever betide us,—these are those best gifts which our souls earnestly desire and follow after. 1. O my soul, learn to view men and matters in the right and true light. The vain imagining and babblings of science, falsely so called, cannot shake my faith, which rests on personal experience, nor the display of power move my allegiance to the great King. Their pride shall be laid low, and their tumults hushed into the silence of destruction. But how ofttimes, alas, does my imagination wander, and how sadly am I brought under the influence of mere outward power and pomp! A man is not wise for his learning, if he lacketh true knowledge; nor rich for his wealth, if he have not the pearl of great price; nor powerful for his circumstances, if he have not the ear of the Almighty, and dwell in His secret place. O my soul, fain wouldest thou be found in the bundle of life; thou earnestly desirest to be of those that 'trust in Him.' And good cause hast thou to trust the risen Jesus for His love and for His grace. Many are the things which stagger thee, both within and without. But there are spiritual realities, and exceeding great and precious promises. Keep, then, all the closer by Him. Lord, Thou knowest how rebellious my heart is-this day, in the peculiar circumstances in which Thou hast placed me; under the peculiar cross which Thou hast laid upon me; in the peculiar work which Thou hast given me to do; in the peculiar trials and temptations which beset me. But I will keep all the closer by Thee, my risen Lord, in the storm which besets, and in the night which gathers around me. I will trust Thee all the more fully, and cleave to Thee all the more earnestly, and that in those very things which threaten my peace and my safety. 2. Thy holy hill of Zion.' Never let me forget that Zion is His hill; not mine, nor thine, but His. Who art thou that judgest thy neighbour? If thou canst not praise with him, pray for him. My neighbour's sins and shortcomings are calls to prayer for myself as well as him—all the more when I realize, however faintly, the awful future of the rebellious. Moreover, let me increasingly feel that His hill is a holy hill. Holiness for ever becometh His house and people. Let me watch the gates of my heart—nay, rather the throne of my heart. This day, and in view of the enemies arrayed against me, Lord, help me by Thy grace: work Thou in me, that I may work out my own salvation with fear and trembling. 3. The Lord has died-despond not. The Lord is risen -doubt not. The Lord is exalted-fear not. The Lord reigneth hesitate not. The Lord returneth-delay not. Believe, and that with all simplicity and with all joy. Believe, and bring before Him the wants of thine own heart and daily life; the daily requirements of thy soul: trust, and look upwards. Believe, and bring before Him the wants of thy friends-both for body and soul: trust, and look up wards. Believe, and bring before Him the wants of the Church: trust, and look upwards. Believe, and bring before Him the wants of the world; and still trustingly look upwards. 'The night cometh, and also the morning.' Soon the Lord shall return, and thou shalt welcome Him-thou and all saints; nay, earth itself, and all that dwell therein. Then occupy till He come; and if, before that day dawn, thou art called to rest, lie down to sleep in hope of the blessed resurrection, and of the coming of the Lord with ten thousands of His saints. Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly. J. S. HEAVENLY city, city blest, HILDEBERT. I I I. EVERLASTING HELP. I LORD, how are they increased that trouble me? many are they that rise up against me. 2 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. 3 But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. 4 I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. 5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked: for the Lord sustained me. 6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people that have set themselves against me round about. 7 Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God! For thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek-bone; Thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. 8 Salvation belongeth unto the Lord thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.-PSALM III. A PRECIOUS morning song of faith this, after a dark night of trial and affliction. He knows in whom he hath believed. Having understood the principles of the Divine government in the covenant of grace (Ps. i.), and its mode of administration through Jesus Christ (Ps. ii.), he straightway applieth it to his own case and wants. He taketh God by His word, pleads the promise in prayer (vers. 3, 4), and then calmly looks up for an answer (vers. 5, 6, 7), giving glory to God (ver. 8). And this is the nature of faith, to make personal application and appropriation of what God has declared in His Word. All that God hath spoken, I receive as spoken to me: I turn it into prayer (for faith is not knowledge, but implies grace to the needy and lost), and then in answer expect the promised blessing—all praise being due to Him; praise not only for this one instance of His faithfulness, but for the spring and source of all grace-His covenant-love in Christ Jesus our Lord. Let us, then, ever keep before our minds these three elements of faith-personal application, on the ground of God's offers and promises; prayer, on the ground of that personal application; trustfulness, peace, and expectancy, on the ground of such prayer. I credit God's word, and therefore I take it home to myself: I take it as applying to me; and therefore, as a needy sinner, I plead with God for its realization by grace. Having so prayed believingly, it were nothing short of infidelity to doubt the answer. Therefore, having cast my burden upon the Lord, I am unburdened. This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.' Yet from first to last is all the glory due to Him who 'worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure,' ' and the work of faith with power.' The first requirement of a soul weighed down with care or sorrow is to have it rolled away, to be freed from its crushing pressure. For this there is only one way-to bring it straight to God (ver. 1). This applies not only in strictly spiritual, but, as in the present case, in outward troubles. Oh the delightful relief of having poured all our complaints |