Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness. — Ps. lii. 7.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.-MATT. vi. 33.

October 12.

ENRICHMENT WITH BETTER THAN GOLD.

THE poor cripple who day by day was laid at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple thought of alms only when he made his application to Peter. It was but little help of this kind the apostle could impart, for silver and gold he had none; but, through the grace of his Lord, he bestowed something greater far, even a cure so immediate and thorough that never again did he need stay or crutch of any kind. Nor was this all, for he got spiritual healing besides. We may reasonably infer this, not merely from the gratitude expressed by him, but also from the fact that it was not Peter and John he warmly praised, but the Lord himself.

Knowing how long this poor cripple lay at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple, the question naturally arises, How came he to miss a cure from Christ, whom he must so often have seen as he was entering the Temple? Probably his cure was kept purposely in reserve by our Lord, to grace the mission of his apostles, and to prove that he himself, though now in heaven, both could and would still carry on the work he had begun on earth. Others may lay foundations, yet fail to build on them, but he never does.

It is told of Thomas Aquinas that, when he came to Rome, and was looking with great amazement at the

mass of plate and treasure on every side, the Pope said to him, “You see, Thomas, we cannot say, as St. Peter did of old, Silver and gold have I none."" "No," said Aquinas; "nor can you command, as he did, the lame man to rise and walk."

What though there be no lack of gold in a Church, if there is a lack of faith and of soul-healing?

I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that Bought me not.-ISA. lxv. 1.

And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.-MARK xvi. 20

October 13.

THE LOVE IN GOD, AND THE ENMITY IN MAN.

WHILE readily acknowledging a measure of sinful

ness in men, many will not admit the existence, in any degree, of inherent alienation. Nevertheless, the uniform teaching of Scripture is, that our moral condition, by nature, is one of entire estrangement from God and the things that please him. "I know you," said our Lord, "that ye have not the love of God in you."

Though nothing can be more reasonable than the law of God, for the sum and substance of it is, that we love the Lord our God with all our heart, and our neighbour as ourselves,-yet, such is the enmity of the carnal mind that it is not subject to this law, "neither, indeed, can be." It is constantly warring with the will, and way, and purposes of God. Where there should be harmony there is discord, and where there should be sweet submission there are fretting murmurs.

Besides, as in all cases of marked estrangement, there is intense unwillingness to have any indebtedness. Usually it is only hard necessity that will make men either ask favours or accept them from those they dislike. It is too often just so with many in their dealings with God. Even when they take the gifts, they ignore the Giver; and the greatest one of all, the unspeakable gift of his Son, they deliberately put away from them.

Men may love an ideal god of their own creation, but the God of the gospel stirs up opposition: his holiness alarms them; and his very scheme of salvation offends them, because it presses on them, as ruined and helpless sinners, a gratuitous pardon which they could never win.

'Children of God," said one," this was once your state; eat bitter herbs with your passover this day." But he might have added: "As this is not now your state, eat it also with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God."

And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your minds by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled.-COL. i. 21.

For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.ROM. V. 10.

THE

October 14.

TREASURE IN EARTHEN VESSELS.

HE Lord's messengers, even at their best, are mere earthen vessels; but the message they are commissioned to bring is a very treasure of treasures, for its sum and substance is the Lord Jesus Christ. "I determined," says the apostle, " not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ and him crucified." And this

purpose was equally manifest in his writings. All his epistles are full of Christ, and overflow with references to His nature and offices, His grace and glory. In Him only could he find the grand essentials wherewith to enlighten the minds of men, and pacify their consciences, and purify their hearts. Nor should it be otherwise now, either with the ministers or the members of the Church of Christ. What was his chief theme should ever also be theirs.

It never goes well with any Church when Christ begins to be a mere subordinate or occasional theme with its preachers. Men cannot live without food; and if Christ is not preached, the bread of life, by which alone the soul can be nourished, is wholly wanting. Nor, if the expression may be used, will it do to present only a half Christ-his doctrine, but not himself; or his person, but not his work; or his life, but not his death; or his sympathy, but not his atonement. However eloquent, no preaching can be savingly fruitful in which the incarnation is dwelt on, but never the cross. "Some," it has been forcibly said, " preach Christ, but they do not preach him crucified-the firm, strong, decisive side of our Lord's character, which reveals the majesty of law, and the glory of righteousness, and the terribleness of transgression; which shows no tenderness for sin, though a mighty mercy to the sinner; and their preaching lacking this, lacks power and backbone."

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.-2 Cor. iv. 7.

I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.---PHIL. iii. 8.

IT

October 15.

THE RECEIVING OF CHRIST AND SALVATION.

T being the fixed idea of many that before obtaining anything from Christ they must bring something to him, they go on toiling for years in the vain hope of thereby meriting the Lord's favour and blessing. Alas! what can a poor, empty sinner bring to the mercy-seat but his sin and misery? As salvation is wholly a gift and never a purchase, those coming to the Redeemer must bring nothing in their hand, and offer nothing as a price, but just come as they are; in so doing, even the most worthless will get welcome and the weariest rest.

Saints must be receivers to the very end, for, as one says, "they are not wells, but cisterns into which the living waters flow. They are but the empty vessel; sovereign mercy puts them under the conduit pipe, and they receive grace upon grace, till they are filled to the brim.”

In accepting Christ, it is not a mere impersonal abstraction they receive, but a true and living Saviour, human yet divine, who is their life and safety, their pattern and power. He is as real to them as their own flesh and bones, and infinitely dearer than brother or friend. And just because he saves them from their sins, the name Jesus is the name of names to them, and ever sounds sweetly in their ear. "It is the music with which the bells of heaven ring," George Herbert says; "a song in a word, an ocean for comprehension, a gathering up of the hallelujahs of eternity in five letters.”

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him.COL. ii. 6.

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.-JOHN i. 12.