They are blessed indeed who, in all circumstances, can give like gladsome testimony.

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.-PHIL. iv. 11.

In a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.-2 Cor. viii. 2.

Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.-REV. iii. 17.

THE

May 23.

REMEMBERED GRACES.

HE three root graces are faith, hope, and love, and in the Thessalonians all of them were so genuine and thorough in their manifestation, that the apostle said, "Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father."

Speaking of the first, he says, "Your work of faith." "True faith," says an old divine, “is a working grace, and it has such a deal of work to do that its hands are always full." Now, such was their faith. It was powerfully operative. It took hold of the promises and pleaded them. It drew daily and largely from the divine fulness; and thus, if strong in the beginning, it became stronger still in the end, and could glorify God even in the fires.

But the love of the Thessalonians was as genuine as their faith. It laboured for God and for man, and not for a brief season only, but from year to year continuously. A love in word and in tongue has always been common

enough, but not so a love in deed and in truth, which will labour as well as speak for Christ-yea, and if need be, die for him also. Instead of waxing cold, our last love to Christ should be warmer than the first, just because every year gives us a fuller knowledge of his character and a richer experience of his bounty and grace.

The hope specified was equally genuine: "Your patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father." It looked beyond all present things with joyous expectancy. "In the treatment of nervous diseases," one has said, "he is the best physician who is the most ingenious inspirer of hope;" and such a physician preeminently is the Lord Jesus. Even in the hearts of the most despairing he has again and again kindled a sure and blessed hope, and put a new song in their mouth. When this hope is genuine, it is patient, because it confidently expects all that God has promised, however long it may have to wait for it.

While so working in faith, and labouring in love, and waiting in hope, all believers have much to cheer them day by day. "Christ's 'well done,'" says an old writer, "is worth a shipful of good days and earthly honours. I have cause to say this, because I find him truth itself." And another adds, "It is blessed to be clinging to Jesus with one hand, and to be working for him with the other; but it is more blessed still to be held up in Christ's strong arms, and to be able to use both hands in his service."

Faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.-JAMES ii. 17.

In Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.-GAL. v. 6.

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.—1 COR. xiii. 13.

May 24.

IT IS NO EASY THING TO BE STABLE.

CH is the mutual dependence of pastor and people

SUCH

that the fidelity and steadfastness of the one ever tell powerfully on the faith and joyfulness of the other. "Now we live," says the apostle, "if ye stand fast;" and what he thus felt and said eighteen centuries ago, all true servants of Christ have been virtually feeling and saying also all down the ages. When in Mentone for his health, Mr. Spurgeon, in writing to the members of his church, said, "If anything could conduce more than all else to restore my health and spirits, it would be good news from the Tabernacle." Such tidings, when they reached him, always made his heart overflow with joy. He added, “Your telegram, ‘Monday--Largest prayer-meeting ever held in the Tabernacle,' set me in a glow of gratitude to God." Their standing fast was life and strength to him.

Moreover, steadfastness, besides being desirable, is allimportant. It is, however, no easy attainment. Even if we had but inward corruption to contend with, it would still be difficult to quit ourselves like men; but when, in addition, we have to resist the pressure of manifold temptation without, the conflict often becomes beyond measure severe. The foolish self-confidence that forgets this is one of the surest precursors of grievous stumbling. If Peter had not thought it so easy to stand, he would not have been left so sadly to fall.

No matter what our knowledge or talents or experience or resoluteness may be, we cannot stand fast alone; for

what the apostle says is not simply, "Now we live, if ye stand fast," but, "Now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord." As it is through faith in the Lord that we get life at the first, so it is by abiding in the Lord that we get strength and stability to the last. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." On this account, the best fighters in the good fight, and the best runners in the race, and the best workers in the vineyard, are always those who best lean on the word and arm of the Lord. To have such a Lord to lean on, so all-powerful and so infinitely gracious, is one of the divinest of privileges; and yet how little do many avail themselves of it!

Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.-2 PETER iii. 17.

Henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.-EPH. iv. 14.

ME

May 25.

THE PRECIOUSNESS OF GOD'S FAVOUR.

ERE creature favour is the all in all with many, and they toil hard to secure it; yet what is it at its best but a wavering uncertainty, a very reed that any wind can bend and break. But the favour of the Lord is a reality, and everything about it is precious. It is a tree, yielding choicest fruits; a fountain, from which refreshing streams are ever flowing; yea, a blessing so divinely rich, that he who possesses it may joyously say: "Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his......for

in his favour is life" "In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is a cloud of the latter rain."

As sunshine is never so welcome as after lengthened seasons of cloud and rain, so never is God's favour so prized and valued as after dreary seasons of depression and darkness. What makes it so peculiarly precious is the foundation on which it rests-not creature deservings of any kind, which are merely imaginary, but the finished work of our blessed Redeemer. So founded, it can never give way or fail to satisfy.

When health began to fail, a late eminent prelate became much disquieted from a sense of his unfitness to stand before God in judgment. He expressed a wish to live, not merely for the sake of his children and the Church, but, above all, that he might deepen and perfect his own repentance. But as the end drew still nearer, all distressing doubts as to his own fitness and the imperfection of his own repentance seemed to have been rolled away before the rising brightness of the Sun of righteousness; and he was enabled, as he himself expressed it, "more and more to place his whole confidence in the precious blood."

So must it be with all who would secure and enjoy this first of blessings-the favour of God. It cannot be bought; but, as a free gift of grace through Jesus Christ, it may be ours for the taking, without measure and with

out end.

Remember me, O Lord, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation.-Ps. cvi. 4.

Thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.-Ps. v. 12.

Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.-JOHN vi. 37.