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grieve at coming afflictions, when these are necessary to purify us, and prepare us for the heavenly state? Why should we complain of any trial, when it is only through fire and through water that we can reach the wealthy place? God in Christ, and Christ in God, form the great object of faith; and this object is so prominent, that all should be drawn to it; so all-sufficient, that nothing else can meet our troubles, or fill our souls with peace; and so satisfactory, that we need no other object. O my soul, believe in God and in Christ; for Christ commands thee!

DECEMBER 17.

Many Mansions.

"In my Father's house are many mansions."-John, xiv. 2.

THIS language is figurative and descriptive of the special and glorious residence of Jehovah and holy beings. Let us think of Christ's Father's house-and its many mansions.

Christ's Father's house.-Heaven is here called a "house." The rich and great have their mansions and palaces, but what must be the palace of the great King? Its builder and maker is God; its glory and its beauty could not be gazed on by mortal eye; and it is a fit habitation for Deity and all holy beings. Compared with earthly mansions, it is a sun, while they are but stars. Even the magnificent temple of Solomon was only a type of it; and if the shadow was so grand, what must the substance be! Heaven is our Father's house. God is everywhere, but heaven is his peculiar residence. In the house of God, not made with hands, there is a manifestation of his perfections and glory, which visible creation affords not, and of which the church on earth can form no adequate idea. The innumerable multitude there are his children;

they enjoy his presence and protection, and they dwell in the sunshine of his favour. What a dwelling! Its vast extent, its unrivalled grandeur, and its unfading glories, fill every soul with unalloyed blessedness. Heaven is Christ's Father's house. The Father is specially there, and Christ, the only way to the Father, is gloriously there. Sin shut us out of paradise; but Jesus has opened a new and living way to the holiest by his own blood, and his Father's house we reach only by him. “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

Its many mansions.-The word "mansions" means apartments; and is supposed to refer to the temple at Jerusalem, with its numerous courts and buildings, occupied by the Levites. These mansions are "many," affording abundant accommodation for the whole family of God. There are mansions for men of all ages, from Adam to Noah, from Noah to Abraham, from Abraham to Christ, and from Christ to the last believer in his name. The dust of a thousand generations may mingle with the clods of the valley, and become invisible to man; but the redeemed spirits that once animated it are safe in this heavenly habitation. There are mansions for men of all countries. Different colours and different languages prevail in the countries of our earth; but from all these countries men are admissible to heaven. Colour makes no difference there, and one language embodies and expresses their lofty songs. All are one in Christ, and welcomed from the east, the west, the north, and the south. There are mansions for men of all ranks. Monarchs and subjects, masters and servants, small and great, bond and free, male and female, are alike welcome to Christ; and through him, to heaven. High rank and lofty intellect give no passport to heaven; but faith in Christ does, and

all who believe, try to resemble the Saviour. There are mansions for men of all characters. The poor publican, the foolish prodigal, Mary Magdalene, the dying thief, and the apostle Paul, and sinners of all sorts, who have become disciples of Christ, "shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever."

DECEMBER 18.

Life and Fabour Found.

"For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord."— Prov. viii. 35.

LET us think of the great discovery-its present worth— and its future advantage.

The

The great discovery." Whoso findeth me." object to be found is Christ; for throughout this chapter he speaks as wisdom personified, and he is "Christ, the power of God, and the wisdom of God." They who find him, find a divine Person, whose mighty arm brings them salvation; they find a great Teacher, who instructs them in the knowledge of salvation; they find a willing Saviour, who bore their sins on his own body on the tree; and they find a good Master, who has a strong claim on their obedience. The finding of this object, implies that he has been sought for. When we have a feeling of need, and when we are prepared to renounce self and the world, we seek him in the Bible, we seek him in his ordinances, and we seek him at a throne of grace. Thus seeking, we find and appropriate him as our Saviour. The warrant for claiming and appropriating him comes close to us: "Whoso." He calls, and invites us to seek and to find; and no one is excluded from him unless he exclude himself. The arms of Christ's love extend from the east to the west, and he is ready to embrace us; so that, if we find him not, the fault is our own.

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LIFE AND FAVOUR FOUND.

Its present worth.-"Findeth life." It is spiritual life. We no sooner find Christ than we become new creatures: "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." We have new desires, new feelings, new hopes, new joys, new companions, and new conduct. How invaluable is spiritual life, when contrasted with spiritual death! It is present life. In taking possession of Christ, we do not need to wait till some future period, and we do not need to wait till death; but we have it now, we have the foretaste of it, and we feel the blessedness begun. It is certain life. The promise of life is so certain, that it is not only insured by the death of Christ, but secured by an oath: "I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand."

Its future advantage." He shall obtain favour of the Lord." How anxious are we to obtain the favour and good-will of the rich and great; and shall we not be anxious to have the approbation of God? "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his." This promise secures to us the favour of Christ through life. What though man should hate us, if God loves us! What though trials and difficulties should come upon us, when we have One who favours us, and rests in his love! We shall have the favour of Christ at death. When trouble and anguish take hold on us, we see our peace, and safety, and completeness in Christ; and when death strikes off our fetters of flesh, angels will convey our happy, pardoned spirit to the bosom of Abraham, when all the sorrows of earth shall be swallowed up in the happiness of heaven. We shall have the favour of Christ at the judgment. He shall place us on his right hand; his approving smile shall make us glad, and his immutable verdict shall consummate our bliss:

LIFE AND FAVOUR FOUND.

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"Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."

DECEMBER 19.

Christ Came to Sabe.

"For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." -Luke, ix. 56.

WHEN the Samaritans did not receive Christ, his disciples were so incensed, that they desired him to command fire from heaven to destroy them; but he rebuked them, and said, "The Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." Think of the perilous state of man— the interposition of Christ on his behalf-and the design of this interposition.

The perilous state of man. He is in danger of destruction. Destruction is deserved. All have sinned, and the wages of sin is death. By sin, we have forfeited the favour and protection of God; and he might glorify his justice in consigning us to everlasting destruction. Destruction is impending. Our sins expose us every moment to the wrath of God, which is far more awful than the wrath of kings, or the indignation of an organized and infuriated multitude. Christ hath power to strike; and he might strike, but his forbearance delays it, that we might repent. He who, by a word, sent his foes backward, when they fell to the ground, could have sent them, in a moment, where they never could have risen. anxious should we be about destruction deserved, and destruction impending! Shall the jailer at Philippi-shall the three thousand on the day of Pentecost-be anxious, and shall not we?

How

The interposition of Christ.-"The Son of man is come." Love to us brought him into our world. He always loved