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proselytes, and who desired a sight of Christ, had a sense of sin, we know not. Perhaps they desired to see Jesus out of mere curiosity. It is better if a sense of sin makes us inquirers after Christ, and kindles within us unquenchable desires for intercourse with him. Those who dread danger. Sin perils the soul, and exposes it to divine indignation; hence, those who feel their danger, have great need to inquire after Christ. Those who are anxious for salvation. No one is naturally so; but when he discovers his great need, the question comes from his bursting heart, "What must I do to be saved?"

Where is Jesus to be seen ?-He is to be seen in his word. It is the source of all our religious knowledge; and if we search diligently in this field, we will discover the very Saviour we need, both mighty and willing to save. It is to be seen in his house. There the gospel of salvation is preached, and the sacraments are administered, and Christ is held up as the most conspicuous object in the universe, that he may arrest every eye and engage every heart. How many have seen him there and obtained relief! He is to be seen at a throne of grace. The poor publican saw him there, cried for mercy, and went down to his house justified. How many have found him on their knees when all other refuge failed!

What makes a sight of him desirable?—The glory of his person. He is God manifest in flesh. He is the Sun of Righteousness, attracting every eye and inflaming every heart. All the perfections of Deity encircle around him. The greatness of his love. Love can affect us when we are hardened under sin and under judgments; and his love should be the pole-star by which we ascertain where we are and whither we are going. The perfection of his work. His atonement satisfies all the claims of justice, forms a sure ground of peace, and raises every believer up to heaven. The greatness of his blessings. We need

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pardon, and he is ready to bestow it. We need peace, and he hath made peace, and is ready to say to every anxious soul, "Peace, be still." We need the Holy Spirit, and he is ready to breathe on us and say, Receive ye the Holy Ghost." We need heaven after death, and he has gone to prepare it for our reception.

What will a sight of him produce ?-It will produce humility. My sins have pierced his hands and his feet, and this should keep me humble all my days. Besides, whatever I have, I received it from him. It will produce great joy. "Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord." The first Christians were filled with joy when they found Christ, and the converted eunuch went on his way rejoicing. It will produce resemblance to him. hated sin. He went about continually doing good. glorified his father in all things. If I have seen Jesus, and found him, I will follow his example.

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MARCH 30.

Success from God alone.

"I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong."-Eccles. ix. 11.

EVERY one should have an important object in viewmeans should be used to reach that object-success is not always alike and success in religion is from God alone.

The important object in view.-The racer runs for a prize; the soldier fights for victory. The prize and victory are emblematic of the salvation and happiness of the soul. A foretaste only we can have in this world, but even this foretaste is delightful. There is the pardon of all our sins-full, free, and irrevocable. How precious to the criminal! how precious to me! There is peace of mind,

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This is the sweetest enjoyAnd there is the hope of

like the calm after the storm. ment attainable on earth. heaven. Blessed hope! we soar away on thy wings to the better land.

The means to be used.-The racer must run; the soldier must fight. We must read the Scriptures, for they are the food of the soul. We live by the word of God. All our knowledge is derived from the Scriptures, and in them we have eternal life revealed. We must attend on the ordinances of religion. If the gospel is to be preached to every creature, and fitted to save every creature, every creature ought to hear it; and faith cometh by hearing. We must be earnest in prayer. Prayer is the only atmosphere in which religion can breathe; and when it comes from a heart on fire, it rises like a rocket, straight up to heaven. It overcomes all difficulties. "For whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord, shall be saved."

Success is not always alike.-This is designed to humble our pride. Asahel was the swiftest of David's runners, and far surpassed Joab and Abishai, his two brothers, in the pursuit of Abner; yet his very swiftness led to his death. It is designed to convince us of the superintendence of Divine Providence. "The heart of man deviseth his way, but the Lord directeth his steps." It is designed to encourage our trust in God, and make us hope against hope. Clouds and darkness may be round about us, but man's extremity is God's opportunity.

Success in religion is from God alone.-God has graciously made us acquainted with his word and the way of salvation. The heathen nations know it not, and millions are perishing for lack of knowledge. It is God that interests us in the saving truths of the gospel. We may spread our sails, but it is God that sends the breeze. We may set up our dial, but it is God that makes the sun to shine upon it. It is a divine hand that completes as

"Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward."-Exod. xiv. 15. HERE we have the children of God-their difficulties-and their duty.

The children of God.-The children of Israel were types of the children of God; for all who have like faith with Abraham and Jacob are the sons of God. "Are we not all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus?" "As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." Their duty is to love and obey their Father in heaven; and his claims on our obedience are very strong. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." And shall this love be lost on us? Shall Christ's death, designed to rescue us from ruin, not touch our hearts? Our anticipations as children are hopeful and encouraging. "If children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ." Besides, our inheritance is secured and ratified by blood; and it is not like an earthly one, for it cannot possibly be lost.

Their difficulties.-They have difficulties from without. The sea is before them, the pursuing Egyptians are behind them, and the towering mountains on their right hand and their left. Poverty, danger, disease, death, surround the children of God on all hands, and what can they do for themselves? Surely they are not to lie down and die. They have difficulties from within. Distrust of God steals over the inner man. Their thoughts are turned to them

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selves rather than to God. Their minds settle down upon their dangers; and hence, dark despondency settles down. upon their minds. They have difficulties from others. Moses, their leader, was praying, when he should have been acting. They were reproaching: "Were there no graves in Egypt ?" when they should have been advancing. If the ministers of religion are at the wrong post, or absent from their post, what must the people do ?

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Their duty.-"Go forward." Let us go forward in the cultivation of personal religion. By searching the Scriptures, our manna in the desert; by personal covenanting, "The Lord is my God;" and by secret ejaculatory prayer, "Lord, help me," we keep alive the flame of religion in the soul. Let us go forward in countenancing and supporting the church of Christ. This we must do by holding fast the truth, by regular attendance on ordinances, and by conscientious liberality. Let go forward in the conversion of the world. All must work for Christ; all must commend religion to others; all must send the gospel to the perishing; and all must cry unto God for the conversion of the world.

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