This book has also a microscopic power, revealing to our astonished gaze, the hidden things of our hearts, proving that those things that appear beautiful without, are often really vile-it shows the thoughts and intents of our heart when unregenerated, to be "deceitful above all things and desperately wicked."

Finally this book will be that from which we are to be judged hereafter. At the day of judgment, the

assembled universe shall be summoned before the great white throne, and the books shall be opened, and you and I shall be judged therefrom.

The book of Memory will so clearly unfold evey event of life, every mercy, every affliction, with every striving of the Holy Spirit, that every mouth shall be stopped. Then the Book of the Law, and lastly the fair pages of the Book of Life will be opened, and the catalogue of the redeemed read; he whose name is not found written therein shall sink into those gloomy regions, where are wailings and gnashing of teeth forever and ever. This life is given us to prepare for that day of reckoning, and swift as time can bear us, we are hurrying on to HEAVEN or HELL! Two courses, and only two are before us-the one, the broad way to death, and the other, the narrow way to life eternal! Confiding yourself to this guide, you will be safely conducted from Mt. Calvary to Mt. Zion above, where you may forever repose in the bosom of eternal love. "This lamp through all the weary night

Of life shall guide my way,

'Till I behold the clearer light

Of an eternal day."

Harvard University, 1853.

2*

REDEEMING LOVE.

THE great theme of the Bible is Redemption through the blood of Christ. The song of the ransomed on earth and in heaven is the song of redeeming love. And they sung as it were a new song before the throne; one single strain is given us, "Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father, unto Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever, amen." There can be no sweeter melody than this. The beloved disciple who penned these words, knew by precious experience of the love of Jesus. As he pillowed his head on the bosom of his Saviour, and felt the warm pulsation of that heart that loved as none else loved, he deeply imbibed the spirit of his Master, and gained the enviable appellation "the disciple that Jesus loved." What then are some of the characteristics of Christ's love? First. The prominent trait is its pure disinterestedness. Not so is the love of the unsanctified heart, for its motive power is selfishness. Christ first loved us, and though he was Lord of Heaven, and infinitely rich in his Father's favor, he emptied himself, became poor that we might become rich, led a life of suffering, ended with a death of unequalled agony,— all for those who could never repay his love! Not only this, but for his avowed enemies, who having richly

shared his blessings, basely returned them with shame. ful cruelty. Yet, when expiring on the cross in exquisite suffering, his last faltering accents breathed of love; "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." Was not this disinterested love? Again, his love was immeasurably great, both in its nature and results. No mortal can measure its height, and length, and breadth, for it is beyond calculation, he also who gave his Son, has promised to give us all things; the resources of heaven are now open for believers, by the pur chase of that love "wherein he hath abounded towards us." Once again, it was an expensive love. The ransom he paid for us is nothing less than his own blood. We are redeemed, "not by silver or gold, but by the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish." "He was wounded for our transgressions, the chastisement of our peace was upon him; by his stripes we are healed." Why, we may ask, was such an expensive ransom needed. The law is, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die; cursed be he that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them." Such obedience man had failed to render, and therefore the solemn decree went forth, "Thou shalt surely die." Night, deep, interminable, seemed about to envelop the world; darkness covered the earth, and gross darkness the people, while swift destruction hovered near. The flaming sword of righteous vengeance threatend the sinner, and none could stay the tempest of wrath. Behold God's co-equal Son now offers himself a sacrifice to purchase our redempton, fulfilling all the requisitions of the violated law. There was joy then in heaven.

The multitude of angels took their harps,
Harps ever tuned, and with preamble sweet,
Of charming symphony they introduce
Their sacred song.

Heaven rang with jubilee, and loud hosannas
Filled the eternal regions!

Methinks an echo of that blissful chorus was heard on earth; for the lone watchers on Bethlehem's plains, in the stilly hours of night, there appeared an angel of the Lord, surrounded with his heavenly compeers chanting in melodious harmony, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will to men. An. Almighty Redeemer had appeared, and there was cause for rejoicings, for there was now hope for men.

The fruits of Redeeming Love will be seen in the final and complete establishment of the Kingdom of our Lord, and the union of the Church in heaven, as shadowed forth in "The Marriage Supper of the Lamb." The end is not yet, though our salvation is nearer than when we believed, and we by faith can anticipate the day when Christ shall come "with clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him." Then the long, loud peal of the arch angel's trump shall summon from the North, the South, the East and the West, the millions of earth to appear before the great white throne.

He who once stood before Pilate's bar, who was scourged by a Roman soldiery, and expired at Golgotha, even Christ Jesus ascends the throne. To the faithful are awarded crowns and robes of victory, and they are appointed Kings and Priests unto God for

.

ever.

Then the magnificent temple of which Christ is the corner stone, and which for ages has been in process of erection, is completed: the top stone is laid with rejoicings and shoutings of Grace, Grace unto it". Meantime the finally impenitent, the wilful enemies of Jesus, have also received their reward. The wages of sin is DEATH." The smoke of their torment ariseth for ever and ever. They have enjoyed " the pleasures of sin for a season," and now they expeirence the agonies of the second death." There was a time when they were almost christians, but the tempter said "wait till a more convenient season; they listened and were lost!

Reader, have you tasted the love of Christ? Have you experinced his mercy? If not, beware lest you grieve his love, and find at last, too late, that our God is a consuming fire. Can you resist the gentle pleadings of Immanuel's dying love, and coolly calculate your chance of living yet many years in impenitency and sin? Is it not ungrateful and dishonorable to delay the work of repentance till your life draws near to a close, and then pray for your pardon? How often have I heard the remark "I intend to be a christian before I die." Reflect a moment on the meaning of this; analyzed strictly, it amounts to this; "I acknowledge all the claims of Christ are fair, honorable and just; I know that an acceptance of pardon through redeeming love is indispensable to my salvation, but I am determined to refuse Him the homage of my heart, to enjoy all I can of the world during life, and when sensible that death is at hand, I intend to give the Lord my heart, in order that I may escape eternal death, and obtain heaven." How mean! how