and the future is an impenetrable mystery to them. With the renewed it is otherwise; for the darkness of nature is past with them, and the true light now shineth.

Old Testament saints, it is true, saw but dimly; for they, so to speak, had only starlight to guide them,-the Sun of righteousness had not yet fully risen. They had beautiful types of the coming salvation, but not yet the visible fulfilment. When in the fulness of time, however, the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, the day broke and the shadows flew away. The perception of this led old Simeon to say, "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel." And Peter could add, "Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light."

With all this, however, even those who have most light now have frequently such cloudings in their experience, through manifold temptations that, compared with what is coming, their present state is still a dark one. It is only afterwards that they will be saints in light, absolutely and entirely, and have in fullest measure brightness without obscurity, holiness without defect, and happiness without alloy.

"This is the last July evening," said one," I shall probably ever see; but be it so. If I never again welcome this smiling month, never again breathe this balmy air, nor view the radiance of these sunlit skies-I go to the unfailing Source of light, the lovelier scenes of paradise, the brighter glories of heaven; but more than all, I go to

Jesus, and the very thought is more than enough to make all sadness fly away."

"Reveal thyself before my closing eyes;

Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies:

Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;

In life, in death, O Lord abide with me!"

And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it.-REV. xxi. 23, 24.

The Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.-ISA. lx. 20.

August 28.

THERE IS BUT ONE HIGH PRIEST, AND

NO OTHER IS NEEDED.

N Old Testament times there were not only many

IN

priests, but many offerings; and they were constantly repeated, because, being more typical than real, they had no inherent efficacy in taking away sin. But now it is otherwise; for it is the privilege of all true believers to have a great High Priest that is passed into the heavens -Jesus, the Son of God. A greater, indeed, there could not be; for in nature, character, sacrifice, and sympathy, he has pre-eminence over all.

When, eighteen centuries ago, he went to the altar, he laid but one sacrificial offering upon it; but it was an offering so marvellous and so divinely sufficient, that nothing had ever to be added. It was himself he presented; even as it is written: "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree." And he did so expressly that he might "finish the transgression, make

an end of sins, and bring in everlasting righteousness." Or, as it is put elsewhere, "Now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." And, as if to mark the completeness of the atonement then made, never since among the Jews has there been anywhere sacrifice or oblation.

Moreover, we have in our Lord Jesus Christ not only a complete but an abiding High Priest. All other priests, no matter what their character or the service rendered by them, died like other men, and were buried, and to this hour their dust mingles with kindred dust. But our High Priest, though he died and was buried, yet, ere three days had run their course, he came forth from the grave and ascended into heaven; and there, at the right hand of the Father, he ever liveth to make intercession for his people, and an intercession, moreover, that never fails in

any case. More cheering still: amid all his present glory he is never unmindful of his parting promise to come again. We know that when the high priest entered within the veil to present the blood and make intercession, he did not remain there, but, after a brief interval, came forth again to bless the people. So will it be with our great High Priest. Though now within the veil, he will in the fulness of time come forth again to bless his redeemed. Of all the hopes we are permitted to cherish, this may well be called the very brightest; for at that glad era exiles get home, the weary get rest, and the struggling get final and triumphant victory.

Remembering all this, it is not strange that St. Bernard should have said, "The name of Jesus, to a believer, is as honey in the mouth, music in the ear, and a jubilee in the heart."

Holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.—HEB. iii. 1.

We have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.-HEB. iv. 15, 16.

IN

August. 29.

NONE ARE EXCLUDED FROM THE REFUGE

WHO SEEK TO ENTER IN.

N ancient times only some could enter a city of refuge and find safety. There were conditions of entrance; and one of them was, if not the absence of sin in the entrant, yet at least little sin, and a clear establishment of the fact that there was neither purpose nor malice in his manslaying, but accident only and lamented mistake. The kind of involuntary murder for which refuge was provided is thus detailed: "Whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly, whom he hated not in time past; as when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live." All others were excluded, and especially those who smote their fellows in cherished enmity. Even if a deliberate murderer could pass through the gate into the city, it would be no defence to him. He could be followed and seized, and at once dragged out again and slain on the spot.

But, blessed be God, it is not so with the true Refuge, the Lord Jesus Christ. Before coming to him, and sheltering in him, we have not first to prove a comparative innocence on our part, or that our sins are venial

only, and not mortal. On the contrary, let our sins be the worst and vilest that ever burdened this earth with their guilt, we have but to come as we are to the real Refuge, and mercy's gate will swing open to let us go in.

Some time ago, it is said, an Englishman visited some Italian brigands whom the law had laid hold of. In one room there were a hundred and twenty of them, nearly every man a murderer in purpose, at least, if not in act. Now, of old not one of these men could have got within a city of refuge, even though, Esau-like, he had carefully sought the privilege with tears. But with the great gospel Refuge it is wholly otherwise; for such is the grace of Christ and the infinite efficacy of his atoning blood, that not even the vilest of them would be rejected, if he came in faith, saying, with the publican, "God be merciful to me a sinner." Such chief of sinners, when made monuments of grace, will, on entering heaven, be the very chief of singers in praise of the Lamb that was slain.

Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.-ROM. v. 20.

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.-EPH. i. 7.

WE

August 30.

SHALL THE DEAD LIVE AGAIN?

HEN the question is put, "If a man die, shall he live again?" not a few in our times reply, "No, never; death is a sleep from which there is no awaking, and every cherished hope of immortality is but a delusion-a dream. How can the mouldering dust of past generations," they ask, "ever again be refashioned and spring up living,