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preceded his coming, during which the prophets foretold his appearance; but his appearance began the third and last dispensation, which shall continue till the end of the world.

His sacrifice for sin.-"The sacrifice of himself." The victim was "himself." He was God manifest in flesh, hence the dignity and infinite worth of the sacrifice. It was absolutely necessary. The sin of man, and the justice of God, rendered it so, for sin must be punished either on the sinner or a substitute. It was voluntarily offered. "No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again." No mere man could have done this, for no man was proprietor of himself, neither has any one the right of disposal. It was perfect and complete. He wholly obeyed the law which we had broken; he incurred the full penalty which we merited; and wrought out a righteousness amply sufficient for our justification and salvation. The virtue of Christ's sacrifice is as great at this moment as when he died, and as well fitted to save as on the day of Pentecost.

The design of it.-"To put away sin." Though God loved sinners, yet his love must have a channel by which it can reach us. The sacrifice of Christ hath so put away sin, that there is now no obstacle to the free outflow of divine love to fallen men. "God is in Christ reconciling the world to himself." The sacrifice of Christ has so put away sin that there is now no barrier in the way of the sinner's return to God. Sin raised a mighty obstacle, and shut the gates of paradise against us, but Jesus hath removed the obstacle, and erected a new pathway to heaven. The greatest sinner may now return to God by Christ. Though Christ has thus put away sin, yet our guilt and pollution are not removed till we believe in him. Unbelief is the great and only barrier in our way to God and

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heaven, and will any one incur the guilt of making God a liar, "because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son?"

APRIL 23.

Saints in Heaven.

"Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them."— Rev. vii. 15.

SOLOMON'S temple was the grandest ever reared by the hands of men, but the heavenly temple as far exceeds it as the noonday sun exceeds a twinkling star. The throne of God, dazzling with splendour, and Jehovah seated on it, form the great centre of attraction. Angels and archangels encircle it, and a multitude of happy pardoned spirits, which no man can number, ascribe "salvation to our God, which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb." How happy their position! How happy their service! How happy their society!

How happy their position !-"They are before the throne of God." While on earth they washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. The justified, the sanctified, the glorified of all nations and kindreds are before the throne. Not behind it, not beneath it, not around it, but before it. Their position is distinguished and honourable, for they are in the immediate presence of God, and directly in view of the angelic throng. On earth they were reproached and despised, stained with sin, and weighed down with sorrows; but now they are in Christ's Father's house, honoured above angels, holy as Christ is holy, and sorrow and sighing have for ever fled away.

How happy their service !" They serve him day and night in his temple." It is unwearied. On earth the

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flesh was weak, easily fatigued, and requiring frequent repose; but now there is no weakness, no fatigue, and no need of repose. It is perfect. Once their faith, hope, and love were weak, and faint, and faulty; but now these graces are in full and vigorous exercise, and abide so for ever. It is uninterrupted. No selfish ends, no business pursuits, no anxieties, no afflictions, no fears, and no regrets occupy the mind, or interrupt the service. It is without end. How few and evil are our days on earth, and our different services, how soon over! But the happy service of the saints in heaven is never ending, and their tide of bliss never diminishing.

How happy their society !—" He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them." They are one company, and know and love one another. The presence of him who sits upon the throne is felt and enjoyed, and that presence is never for one moment withdrawn, for he dwells among them. O my soul, couldst thou wish for more than the perpetual presence of thy covenant God? Couldst thou have all the world, its kingdoms, its riches, without the presence of thy God, wouldst thou be satisfied? Nay, verily, for perfect knowledge, perfect love, and perfect bliss are found only in him.

APRIL 24.

The Innumerable Company.

"I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands."-Rev. vii. 9.

THIS vision carries us forward to the consummation of all things, when Jesus shall see his seed, and when he shall see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied. It gives us a glimpse of the redeemed in heaven.

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Think of their number. They are "a great multitude, which no man could number." A large church, crowded in every part, contains a multitude. A large field, filled with a living mass of human beings, exhibits a great multitude. A large city, several miles in length and breadth, contains a great multitude. The world itself, in its continents and islands, is peopled with a great multitude; but what are all these to the innumerable company of the redeemed! Time cannot, but eternity may, tell the multitude, the great multitude, which man cannot number, but which God can.

Think of their variety. They are of "all nations," great and small, east and west, north and south. They are of "all kindreds," descended from one pair and one family, but standing in different relationships to each other. They are of "all people," different races, climates, and colours. And they are of "all tongues." There are many tongues on earth, but only one in heaven.

Think of their position. "They stand before the throne, and before the Lamb." They were not sitting nor lying in an idle or indifferent posture: they were standing; all attention, all occupied, all earnest, and all happy. They were in an honourable position; not behind, not on one side, but before the throne, and near to the throne, and in the presence of Christ. They were obscure on earth, but they are conspicuous in heaven; they were contemned on earth, but they are honoured in heaven.

Think of their clothing. "Clothed with white robes." They were covered with the garments of salvation; robes which kings and princes wear, adorned them. Robes of unstained purity and lovely lustre distinguished them as servants of the King of kings. On earth all of them had once filthy garments, and many of them rags; but now all of them are clothed with robes, clean and white.

Think of their emblems. They had "palms in their

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hands." On earth they had a hard struggle, a long warfare, and oftentimes a doubtful contest, with the devil, the world, and the flesh; but now the warfare is over, the enemy is discomfited, the victory is won, and the triumph is celebrated. Their great Captain has seen all his enemies under his feet, all his friends around his throne; and now they raise the lofty song, and wave the palm of victory in honour of his achievements. "Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb."

APRIL 25.

Conversion of Lebi.

"And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alpheus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him." -Mark, ii. 14.

THE person called-the call given-and the call obeyed, demand our attention.

The person called. "Levi the son of Alpheus." This is the same person who is also called Matthew the publican. He was a Galilean, and lived at Capernaum, and probably had some knowledge of Christ before he received this call. At the time of his call, he was engaged in his ordinary employment at the receipt of custom. His employment was very obnoxious to the Jews; and as the Roman taxes were oppressive, persons of character and credit were not likely to have anything to do with them; yet, it was good for him to be in the way of what he thought duty, for the Lord met him. He was doubtless a great sinner. His calling required him to be hard-hearted, and publicans or tax-gatherers were generally given to extortion and oppression; yet Christ saw his heart, touched it with his love, and got a ready compliance. Reader, Jesus knows thy heart as well as Levi's. Is it open to his call?