God, a life that nobody but himself and God knows, that inner life, that constant communion, whereby he draws strength from God; and then he can live the outer life before the world, adorning the doctrine of Jesus Christ."

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.-1 THESS. v. 18.

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.-EPH. v. 20.

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.—2 COR. ix. 15.

February 28.

THE LORD'S SECOND ADVENT IN ITS PRACTICAL BEARINGS.

ROM a misunderstanding of the apostle's words, after

FROM

wards made clear to them, many in Thessalonica were led to expect an immediate coming of the Lord from heaven, or rather to think that the day of Christ was already present; and the thought so excited them, that apparently they were ready to drop interest and effort in all usual occupations. They thus fell into a great practical error; for even should the Lord come, as they expected, and find them with the sweat of toil on their brow, they would suffer neither loss nor shame thereby. Nay, rather, "Blessed is that servant whom the Lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing." If we are really in Christ and saved, we could not be found in a better state for his coming than just faithfully discharging the daily and ordinary duties of life.

About a hundred years ago, there was in America a day of such unaccountable darkness, that it was supposed by many that the day of judgment had come.

The

Legislature of Connecticut was in session, and its members shared in the general awe and terror. Some one, in the consternation of the hour, moved an adjournment. Then there arose an old Puritan legislator and said that, if the last day had come, he desired to be found at his post, doing his duty, and therefore moved that the candles be brought in, so that the house could proceed with its business. In this he judged rightly; for our Lord's express command is, "Occupy till I come," a command applicable to every department of duty.

It is important to note that, in correcting the error of the Thessalonians as to the absolute immediateness of the Advent, never did the apostle cast any doubt on the event itself, or speak of it as if, after all, it might turn out to be a mere myth and not a reality, a fancy and not a fact. Nor did he ever speak of it as so certainly distant and remote as to deprive it of all immediate and practical influence on the hearts and consciences of men. How could he, when our Lord's words are so express: "Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the Master cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at cock-crowing: lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping." Nor, further, did he ever suggest that, to avoid undue excitement, it should be a theme rarely dwelt on. On the contrary, he not only invariably gave it a place in his teaching, but spoke of it as "the blessed hope," and made constant and impressive use of it in rousing the heedless and in stimulating and cheering believers in all the duties and conflicts of life. It was the same with the other apostles.

The biographer of Mr. Hewitson says of him: “The 'blessed hope' took its place, not only in his understanding, but in his heart. He not only believed in the speedy

'appearing;' he loved it, waited for it." 'Faith," we find him saying, "looks to the cross, and is at peace; it looks forward to the crown, and pants for glory. Oh, to have more of the life and power of such a faith!"

That blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.-TITUS ii. 13.

Unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.-HEB. ix. 28.

Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.-JAMES V. 8.

Therefore be ye also ready for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.-MATT. xxiv. 44.

March 1.

DEATH MAY BE EARNED, NOT LIFE.

S it is through men's own working death comes to them, they often imagine that life and salvation must become theirs in a similar way; forgetting that, though all may readily be their own destroyers, not one can ever be his own saviour. The first is easy; the latter is impossible. Even one man may let in the sea, but millions cannot drive it back again. The whole teaching of Scripture shows that life and death are not similarly obtainable. Death comes as wages-wages out and out earned, by every servant of sin; whereas life comes as a free, unmerited gift of grace through Jesus Christ our Lord. Putting himself as Substitute and Saviour in our room and stead, he not only bore the awful penalty incurred, but, for our sakes also, he merited the needed and promised life. He bought it for us with his own blood, for nothing less precious could avail; and having bought

it, no price is asked at our hands; nor must any price be offered, lest it should be said to us, as it was said to Simon Magus, "Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money."

Many years ago, after much seemingly fruitless dealing with an anxious inquirer, who had been wearily toiling for months to make himself worthy of salvation, I at length said, “Friend, you entirely mistake the whole matter. You forget that salvation is a gift, and that, so far from you having to press God to give it, he, on the contrary, is pressing you to take it." "A gift!" he exclaimed, with surprise,—“ a gift! Is salvation really a gift?" “Yes,” I replied; "it is yours for the taking." Without further hesitancy, and with deeply grateful heart, he took what the Lord offered, and as he offered it; and all through his later years, when at any time temptation pressed, and faith was like to fail, the remembrance that salvation was a gift cheered and sustained him. His after-life was holy, and his end perfect peace.

"I beseech you," said Edward Fisher, "be persuaded that here you are to work nothing, but only to receive by faith the treasure which is Jesus Christ, although you be never so great a sinner. So shall you obtain forgiveness of sins, righteousness, and eternal happiness, not as an agent, but as a patient-not by doing, but receiving." It is well to remember, however, that though we must not work for life, we cannot too much or too heartily work from life.

The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.-ROм. vi. 23.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.-EPH. ii. 8, 9.

March 2.

THE MORE LOWLY THE SAINT, THE MORE LOVELY.

W

HEN high-mindedness for the time seems wholly gone, yet how easily does it again spring up, in the form either of pride of life, or pride of intellect, or pride of spiritual attainment,—for this sin, unhappily, can mingle even with holiest services, and feed on choicest spiritual experiences. Believers, therefore, cannot be too constantly and prayerfully on the watch against it; all the more as while, on the one hand, nothing is more offensive than pride, so nothing, on the other, is more attractive than humility. How beautiful was the unenvious lowliness of Jonathan. "Fear not," he said to David; "for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee;" and the grateful lowliness of David afterwards: "Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?"

There is a wide difference between the lowly and the proud. They differ in self-estimate. The lowly look carefully for faults in themselves, and just as carefully for excellences in others, and so are able honestly to esteem others better than themselves; but the proud, reversing this method, look for excellences in themselves, and for faults only in others. They differ also in feeling. Whatever their circumstances, the lowly, in the warmth of their gratitude, say, "What are we, to receive so much?" while, even in abundance, the proud fretfully whisper, "Why do we receive so little?" Moreover, they differ in dependence. Knowing their own weakness and liability

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