near; it could be wide-reaching, and yet minutely centred. And it was the same with his feelings. He had so large a heart that he yearned for the eternal good of all his fellows. It was not the king only he thought of when he stood before Agrippa, but his whole audience. "I would to God," he said, “that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost and altogether such as I am, except these bonds." Yet so minutely and lovingly mindful was he, that he never forgot a single friend. Accordingly, his epistles abound in such special and kindly salutations as these: "Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my helpers in Christ Jesus. Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us. Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow-prisoners.

Salute

Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. Salute my well-beloved Epenetus, who is the first-fruits of Achaia unto Christ." Thus mothers, sisters, brothers, fellow-labourers, and fellow-sufferers were all tenderly and affectionately remembered by him.

So should it ever be with all who love the Lord. "To be in such a list as this," said Dr. Wardlaw, "is to be in the roll of true honour and lasting fame. It may be little thought of in this world, but it will be envied in eternity. The humblest name here will stand higher in the world to come than that of the mightiest monarch who lived and died without the grace of God. Seek, brethren, to have your names associated with those of the saints of God-among those whom an apostle would have acknowledged as Christ's, and whom Christ will acknowledge as his own."

Come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel.-NUM. x. 29.

By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.-HEB. xi. 24, 25.

IN

April 30.

CANAAN, THOUGH A GOODLY LAND, WAS BUT
AN IMPERFECT TYPE.

all times the land of Canaan has been regarded as a

type of our eternal home, and of the rest that remaineth for the people of God. In reality, however, what it typified was rather the present rest of grace than the future rest in glory, for everything in it was strangely mingled.

While there was plenty in it, there was also want. There were famines even in Canaan; and so severe occasionally that multitudes were utterly destitute, and cried in vain for bread either for themselves or their little ones. Even so, though all true believers have found rest in Christ, their experience is still a very mingled one; for fulness is ever alternating with straitness, and brightness with shade, alike temporally and spiritually. To-day there may be corn and wine in every store, but to-morrow only a handful of meal in the barrel and a little oil in the cruse. In Heaven it is wholly different. The plenty there is not only in overflowing, but in abiding fulness: hence "they shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters." The Master says, "The poor always ye have

with you;" but in the New Jerusalem never shall beggar be seen in any street, nor be heard knocking at any door, nor want of any kind be left unsupplied.

Again, while there was peace in the land of Canaan, there was also conflict. It was sword in hand the Israelites entered it; and in the end there was scarcely a hill or valley that had not heard the shout of battle or the groans of the dying. It is the same, more or less, with all believers. They have peace in part, and very precious, but they have also tribulation; safety, but also conflict. An old saint once said to a young and inexperienced one: Never expect here any quiet, cozy, well-feathered nest; for there is not one of them that has not some rough stones under its lining, and some piercing thorns among its twigs." But never, within all the borders of Heaven, shall sword or spear be seen, or disturbing fear be felt; for into that bright land no enemy can enter: "No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there."

Finally, while there was life in Canaan, there were also disease and death: side by side with the dwellings of the living were everywhere found graves for the dead. But not one grave shall ever meet our eye in Heaven. No inhabitant there shall ever say, "I am sick," or bid to weeping friends a sad farewell. Nor have we long to wait for this bright reality. "Our fair morning is at hand," said Samuel Rutherford; "the day-star is near the rising, and we are not many miles from home."

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.-MATT. xi. 28.

There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.-HEB. iv. 9.

Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.-HEB. iv. 1.

May 1.

TO BE LACKING IN ONE IS TO BE LACKING IN ALL.

AS

S soon as a sinner is thoroughly awakened, his first thought usually is, that as condemnation comes by breaking the law, so justification must come by keeping it. In this belief, and with the express design of thereby obtaining a righteousness that will save him, he makes it his daily effort to keep all the commandments of God. But the more he toils the more he fails, just because he is attempting an impossibility; for never since the world began has any one of Adam's race found salvation by keeping the law. What it demands is not a large obedience or a sincere obedience merely, but an absolutely complete obedience, in letter and spirit alike; and to fail in this is virtually to fail in all, for it is written, “Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." And again, “Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them."

To challenge any one of God's claims, even the least, or resist any of his demands, or deliberately disobey in a single point, is, as has been well said, "to strike at the supremacy and glory of the Divine Lawgiver." He who does so is guilty of all. "Suppose," says one familiarly, "you were to hang up a man to the roof by a chain of ten links; were one of these links to break, down comes the man. What! has he fallen, and yet all the nine links are whole and perfect? Of course he has. One was sufficient to break the whole. He that sins in one point is guilty of all." There can, therefore, be no salvation by the

law. It can be a blessed rule of obedience to the saved, but never in a single case can it give life and safety to the lost.

Is there, then, no hope for perishing men? Far from it; for what we could not do for ourselves, the Lord Jesus, in infinite love and grace, has done for us. He who knew no sin became sin for us, and suffered, the just for the unjust, to bring us unto God; and the moment we believe in him, all our infinite debt becomes cancelled by his sprinkled blood and appropriated merit. If so, why

should there be with any a moment's hesitancy in admitting guilt and accepting forgiveness through Jesus Christ our Lord? In no other way can we get safety and peace, and finally join the great company of the redeemed.

All Christian experience, which in spite of diversity of culture and tongue is marvellously harmonious, gives full confirmation of this. In describing his feelings when he heard Mr. Turner the missionary telling at a love-feast how he found the salvation of God, Joel Bulu said with much emotion, "My heart burned within me as I listened to his words, for in speaking of himself he told all I had felt; and I said to myself, 'We are like two canoes sailing bow and bow, neither being swifter nor slower than the other.' Thus it was with me when he told me of his repentance; but when he went on to speak of his faith in Christ, the forgiveness of his sins, and the joy which he found in believing, then said I, 'My mast is broken, my sail is blown away, he is gone clean out of my sight, and I am left here drifting hopelessly over the waves.' But while I listened eagerly to his words, telling of the love of Christ, my eyes were opened; I saw the way; I, even I also, believed and lived."