"No other land," said Robert M'Cheyne, "has the gospel preached as we have, free as the air we breathe, fresh as the stream from the everlasting hills. Then think for a moment, you who sit under the shade of faithful ministers, and yet remain unconcerned and unconverted, and are not brought to sit under the shade of Christ-think how like your wrath will be to that of the unbelieving Jews."

When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.— ACTS xi. 18.

Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear: for if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.-Roм. xi. 20, 21.

May 15.

THE DOUBLE GIFT.

N Old Testament times, the promise that stood out

IN

most prominently was the grand and oft-repeated one of the Messiah, the Hope of Israel, the gift unspeakable of the Father's love. It was the joyous theme of every prophet, and the bright expectancy of every enlightened saint.

Grand as it was, however, that promise was not more essential and blessed than the great promise of the Spirit so often referred to in the Word. As promises, they stand side by side in Scripture; and in inherent preciousness and saving value there is no difference between them. Indeed, the gift of the Son, apart from the additional gift of the Spirit, could have done nothing for us effectually. and savingly; for what avails a perfect remedy for the

dying, if there be no loving hand to apply it? In the cross we have the providing and the purchasing of redemption; and so effectually that the sinner has nothing to pay-Christ has paid it all. But then, the revealing and applying of this purchased possession to our perishing race is the special office and delight of the Spirit. Hence these gracious utterances of the Lord, when speaking of the Comforter whom he would send: When he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more." And again: "When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth, and shall glorify me : for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you." The Spirit is thus so pre-eminently the great enlightener and quickener, that never in any case is there real conviction of sin, or conversion to God, or advancement in holiness, or fulness of peace and joy, without his presence.

The grand hope of believers, then, and of the Church, in furthering the Master's cause and kingdom, is the Holy Spirit in outpoured fulness. For this, therefore, should every one ceaselessly and believingly plead. An eminent servant of God said at a missionary meeting lately that, when he looked at the divisions and the worldliness of the Churches, he should despair if he had nothing but past successes to assure him. But he added, with great emphasis, "I believe in the Holy Ghost, and therefore I fear not.”

He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive.)-JOHN vii. 38, 39.

I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring. -ISA. xliv. 3.

May 16.

CONVERSION FIRST, BUT NEVER ALONE.

WHEREVER the apostle went, the first and main

thing with him ever was the saving conversion of souls; for he felt that, till this was secured, nothing was secured. Whatever may be done with the living in the way of perfecting them, nothing whatever can be done with the dead; and such all are by nature. Apart, indeed, from spiritual vitality, every attempt of the kind is labour wholly thrown away, and as foolish as to expect by mere hard rubbing to convert a common pebble into a priceless diamond.

It is here where so many professedly Christian workers sadly fail. Though their outward organization is perfect, and they have every variety of agency in operation, yet their labour is vain, because they have neither the right end in view, nor the right object of dependence, even the life-giving Spirit of the Lord. In truth, without being aware of it, they are trying to get fruit from unrooted branches, and Christian growth and development in the entire absence of Christian life.

But even the new birth is not enough, apart from a renewed life following it; for if created in Christ Jesus, it is unto good works. A religion that saves but does not sanctify is not the religion revealed in the Word and indissolubly linked with the name of Jesus, nor is it ever powerfully influential in winning others.

When conversing with an excellent man in England many years ago, he told me that he owed his conversion mainly to the marked consistency of a merchant who lived not far from him. His neighbour was a Christian,

and professed to carry on his large business on strictly Christian principles. "This struck me," my friend remarked, " and I said to myself, 'I am by no means sure that this is the case, but I shall watch him closely for a year; and if at the end of that time I find that he is really what he professes to be, I shall follow his example, and become a Christian also.' During the whole of that year I resolutely kept my eye on him, always expecting to find some flaw or inconsistency in his mode of dealing. But no; he stood the test. The result was a thorough conviction on my part that he was a true man, and that religion was a reality. When I told him the whole circumstances, and asked him how much I should give to the Lord as a thankoffering for his great mercy toward me, the good man was filled with gratitude, but at the same time trembled as he thought what might have happened had he stumbled through any unwatchfulness when so observed, and for such an end."

Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.-1 COR. i. 8.

Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ.— PHIL. i. 27.

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.-1 THESS. v. 23.

May 17.

THE SONSHIP OF ADOPTION.

HERE are some who see nothing peculiar in the

THERE

filial relationship to God so frequently referred to in the Word, but regard it as belonging, without limit

or exception of any kind, to the whole human race. Whatever their tribe or tongue, their religion or character, all, in their view, are equally the sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty. To hold this is, however, entirely to ignore the clear and emphatic teaching of the Word of God. In a secondary sense it is true; all who are God's creatures, even the most alienated of them who openly scorn his grace and reject his offered salvation, may be said to be God's children, as the apostle admitted when he said to the Athenians,-"For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring." But to be offspring in this sense is a widely different thing from being children by adoption in the peculiar and scriptural

sense.

Such a filial relationship is never one merely of nature. As set forth in the Word, it is a fruit of gracious purpose: "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will." Moreover, it springs from distinguishing love; hence the words of John: "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God." And it is specially testified to by the Spirit: "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ."

One of the great privileges of this blessed adoption is freedom of access. When a beggar knocks at a door, and then waits for its opening, he is all uncertain as to the reception he may meet with; nay, a repulse may be more likely than a welcome. How different with a son!