man's judgment (yea, I judge not mine own self...but he that judgeth me is the Lord). Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the heart: and then shall every man have praise of God."

In the year 1660, Samuel Rutherford, after being deposed from all his offices, was summoned to answer at next Parliament on a charge of high treason. But it was too late; he was already on his death-bed, and on hearing of the charge, calmly remarked that he had got another summons before a superior Judge and judicatory, and sent the message: "I behove to answer my first summons, and ere your day arrive I will be where few kings and great folks come." Soon after, he fell sweetly asleep in Jesus.

Thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.—JER. xxxii. 19.

All the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.— REV. ii. 23.

WE

January 27.

TO BE UNFORGIVING IS TO BE UNFORGIVEN.

E are told that when the woman who was a sinner found mercy of the Lord, she loved much because she had much forgiven. So is it, to a greater or less extent, with all who through faith become the blessed recipients of pardoning mercy. The fulness and tenderness of it not only completely overcome them for the time, but make them loving, tender, and forgiving in turn. This should

be the spirit of all who bear the Christian name. Our Lord enjoins it, and expects it; and, as the parable shows, when it is wanting he utters words of sternest rebuke: "O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: shouldest thou not also have had compassion on thy fellow-servant, even as I had pity on thee?" Then follows the weighty utterance: "So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses."

The true experience of forgiveness, and a readiness to exercise it, cannot be separated. Indeed, deliberately and continuously to refuse forgiveness is, as one has expressed it," to break the bridge over which he himself must pass, and provoke the wrath both of heaven and earth." When the Governor of Georgia said in a passion to Mr. Wesley, "That vile servant of mine misbehaves, though he knows I never forgive;" then said Mr. Wesley, "I hope you never sin." The ready and skilful reproof overcame the angry governor. Indeed, the worst of men do not so much need our forgiveness, as the best of men need the forgiveness of God. Truly, then, it ill becomes those who are daily needing forgiveness to be persistently slow in the forgiving of others; all the more if they profess to be followers of Him who pleaded for his very murderers and said with his latest breath, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." They, more than any others, should ever strive to remember and exemplify these brief counsels-Bear, Forbear, and Forgive.

Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.-MATT. vi. 12.

Be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.-EPH. iv. 32.

Put off anger, wrath, malice... forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.-COL. iii. 8, 13.

WE

January 28.

THE PERFECT LOVE.

E are so familiar with the statement of God's love to men that it scarcely strikes us as at all remarkable; yet, when thoughtfully and believingly considered, nothing is more wonderful. Had we remained unfallen and pure, like the angels before the throne, a warm and complacent kindness on his part might not have seemed strange; but our condition being the very reverse of all this--fallen, alienated, depraved, and utterly repellent to affection, instead of attractive-we may well marvel at the grace of it, and say, "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us."

Usually in creature affection there is something in the objects of it to call it forth. But there was nothing of this kind in our case; for we are expressly told over and over again that it was when we were enemies and ungodly, unloving and unlovable, that God showed his love to us. Now, it is of this love, and not of ours, that John speaks when he says, "Perfect love casteth out fear." It would be poor comfort to tell us that if we loved God perfectly, with all our heart and strength and mind, this would cast out fear; for how can we either kindle or sustain in our souls a love like this? The thing is utterly beyond us. But as one has sweetly said-"The Father is the Perfect One: his knowledge is perfect knowledge, his power is perfect power, and his love is perfect love;

and just as the sunbeams cast out the darkness wherever they fall, so does this love cast out fear."

We cannot say of any saint, however eminent, that he is "love;" we cannot say that even of John, the most loved and loving of the twelve. But John emphatically says this of God-" God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him."

Not only so but in all the unfoldings of it, from first to last, God's love is seen to be, not merely forgiving and tender and full of sympathy, but without variableness or shadow of turning; for his own gracious assurance is"The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee."

Nay, more besides setting forth his love, he longs that we should fully open our hearts for the reception and enjoyment of it. "I have declared unto them," said our Lord, "thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them." "O that Christ," said a saintly man, "would but open up the infinite plies and windings of his soul-delighting love, and give me leave to stand beside it, to get my fill of wondering as a preface to my fill of enjoying!"

That ye may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge.-EPH. iii. 18.

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved.)-ЕPH. ii. 4, 5.

IF

January 29.

NO KING REWARDS THE LOYAL LIKE CHRIST.

F, in ordinary circumstances, none are so poor as to be unable to present to the needy a cup of cold water; on the other hand, scarcely any are so rich as to gift away a crown. So great is the power of the Lord Jesus, however, and so unbounded his resources, that he makes promise of crowns to those who loyally serve him more freely than we can make promise of the commonest things. "Christ," says Thomas Brooks, "is a noble and liberal paymaster, and no small things can fall from so great a hand as his is." Moreover, his love being as infinite as his power, he not merely can do this, but in the fulness of time will do it; for to each individual believer his word is this: "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." This crown has many notable peculiarities.

First of all, it is a purchased crown. Before the Redeemer could confer it on his people, he had first to win it for them, by himself wearing a crown of thorns, and dying a death of agony: this of itself will ever give to it an unspeakable preciousness in their eyes.

Further, it is a crown that will never sadden the wearer. Usually on earth a crown brings so many cares and anxieties with it, that the emblem of King Henry the Seventh was deemed a fitting one-" A crown in a bush of thorns;" and the poet's saying has passed into a proverb, "Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.' But it is not so with the crown of life. The moment it is put upon the head, sorrow and sighing will flee for ever away; and thus, for gladness and rejoicing, the final crowning day will be the very day of days to all the redeemed.