and that amidst our frequent infirmities, and neglects, and treacheries, we do desire and endeavour to bring every thought into subjection to the obedience of Christ: to be conscious that we do approve of God's law, as holy, just, and good—admiring and loving it-co-operating with it—rejoicing in its partial fulfilment, in ourselves and others, now-and looking forward with a hopeful zeal to that predicted time when it shall be entirely fulfilled by all— when God's will shall be done in earth even as it is in heaven! What so exhilarates the heart as the assurance that we are truly at one with a bosom friend that his confidence in us is not misplaced, that his affection towards us is returned- that there exist no private views and purposes in either mind-that we are together pursuing the same end, pleased with the same enjoyments, imbued with the same tastes, working out together the same results? And what then is it to be conscious that in some degree this fellowship exists with the Most High God with the sentiments of the Most Holy the purposes of the Most Wise - the workings of the Most Mighty - the honour and ultimate triumph of the Most Glorious, the King of kings, and Lord of lords! The greatest privilege and blessedness that can be attained by mortal man is told in Scripture by one word. ward that can be given to the most devoted fidelity

the greatest re

and obedience is assigned in a single syllable—and that is just the word and syllable which expresses all the peace we have been speaking of "Abraham believed in God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness, and he was called the FRIEND of God." "Ye are my Friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you."

Would you then, dear Reader, enjoy this friendship with God and all the Peace which it produces, suffer me to remind you how this privilege was gained for you, and how it must be realized within you.

How it was gained for you. For it is written, "Being justified by faith we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ,”- and again, "We joy in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom we have received the atonement." This privilege, then, is not ours by birthright. It comes not of itself to us. It cannot be solicited for us, by our fellow men. We cannot purchase it ourselves. Nor does it grow up in us by spontaneous developement. No human heart is naturally friendly with the High and Holy One. As well might the outcast beggar aspire to friendship with the crowned monarch, or the condemned felon feel familiar with the robed man of justice, or the conscience-stricken murderer delight in the idea of him whose name he had put out from the earth. Nature, history, phi

losophy, scripture, conscience, all declare that enmity, variance, suspicion, dread, are, and must be, the natural emotions of a guilty spirit toward its offended Maker, Governor, and Judge. And therefore, to be friends with God we must become reconciled to Him. We must be made at one before we can feel and love as one. The past must be settled before the future can be enjoyed. We must be brought into agreement before we can walk together. And just in order to this Reconciliation, this at-one-ment, this making up, this bringing to agreement, God sent his only Son into the world to be the Mediator, the Restorer, the Atone-Maker, (as Tyndal calls him,) the mutual interceding Friend. "God was in Christ," says St. Paul, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of Reconciliation. Now then, as Ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." God has done every thing on

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his part towards a reconciliation. Now do you yours. God has made the first offers-has thrown down the existing barriers - has provided the necessary pledges-has condescended to the most encouraging assurances-has not spared his own Son, but has given him up for us all — has opened wide his fatherly arms for every returning sinner - and

cries to all" Return to me, for I have redeemed thee!" Now then, do you return. "Take with you words and turn unto the Lord and say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously." Lay your hand on the atonement which has been sacrificed for you. Transfer upon his head your guilt. Sprinkle on your conscience his blood. And draw near to God with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, that being justified by faith you may have Peace with God through Jesus Christ your Lord.

And thus shall you realize in your mind the privilege which has been vouchsafed you through his blood. You will receive the atonement which has been wrought for you. You will enjoy personally what has been done for you vicariously. You will be yourself at one with God, and will joy in Him who is not now first by some tedious process of laborious penance to be made your Friend, but who is already so, and has shown himself to be so through his Son, and by that showing has subdued and won your heart, and with your heart will have your diligent obedience - will he not?-from this time

forward even to eternity!

CHAPTER VII.

SPIRITUAL HOPE.

THE grand promise of the Gospel is that of the restoration and perfecting of all things in the kingdom of God. And the whole work of the Gospel on the individual soul is the bringing it out of the alienation and misery of sin into the capacity for this glorious consummation. The Son of God has opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. And the Spirit of God disposes, trains and fits them for its ultimate enjoyment. The Doctrines of Christianity make known this kingdom, and the way in which it must be sought. The Experience of Christianity anticipates this kingdom, and brings the mind to live by faith in some communion with it. And the Precepts of Christianity prepare for this kingdom, and reduce the character into conformity with its governing principle, the will of God.

All genuine Christian Experience, therefore, springs from the promise, and depends upon the hope, of everlasting life. The whole work of deliverance from evil is begun, continued, and ended in hope. "We are saved," says St. Paul, "by Hope."