not feel that there is anything more in coming to Jesus than just believing what God says of His Son to be true. I believe that many people keep themselves in darkness by expecting something more than this. Some of you will ask, "Is there no appropriating of Christ? no putting out the hand of faith? no touching the hem of His garment?" I quite grant there is such a thing, but I do think it is inseparable from "believing the record." McCheyne.

Many sincere and well-intentioned persons pass their whole lives in bondage. They imagine that repentance and faith are some difficult attainments, which are first to be realized, and that then God will love them and look on them in mercy. But who shall tell them that their repentance and faith are sufficient for this desired end?

"How much must a man repent that God may be gracious to him?" was once asked of our great moralist, Dr. Johnson. "Err on the safe side," was his reply; "better repent too much than too little." Such counsel only misleads. Understand, beloved reader, you cannot repent at all till you know that God loves you, not as a penitent, but as a sinner—that the Cross is the expression of that love; and that through the Blood of that Cross, which has met all the demands of God's righteousness, you have free access to God as a Father. Such goodness-if you will believe it-will melt your heart, and teach you to repent indeed. It will be the joy of your life, and will make your service one of glorious liberty. It will sustain your heart in the solemn hour of death. And when death is past, it will remain your all-satisfying portion for ever.

W. Tait.

CHRIST OUR PEACE.

Now in Christ Jesus ye who were sometimes far off are made nigh by the Blood of Christ. For He is our PEACE, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of

partition between us; having abolished in His flesh the enmity, . for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace; and that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.

I thought upon my sins, and I was sad,

Ephes. ii. 13-16.

My soul was troubled sore, and filled with pain;
But then I thought on Jesus and was glad,
My heavy grief was turned to joy again.

I thought upon the law, the fiery law,
Holy, and just, and good in its decree;
I looked to Jesus, and in Him I saw
That law fulfilled, its curse endured for me.

I thought I saw an angry, frowning God,

Sitting as Judge upon the great white throne;
My soul was overwhelmed; then Jesus showed
His gracious face, and all my dread was gone.

I saw my sad estate, condemned to die,

Then terror seized my heart, and dark despair;
But when to Calvary I turned my eye,

I saw the Cross, and read forgiveness there.

I saw that I was lost, far gone astray,

No hope of safe return there seemed to be;
But then I heard that Jesus was the Way,

A new and living Way prepared for me.

Then in that Way, so free, so safe, so sure,
Sprinkled all over with reconciling Blood,
Will I abide, and never wander more,
Walking along in fellowship with God.

H. Bonar.

Woe to that religion which teacheth even the best saint to doubt of his salvation while he liveth! Hath Christ said "Believe," and shall man say "Doubt?" This is a rack and strappado to the conscience, for he that doubteth of his salvation doubteth of God's love, and he that doubteth God's love cannot heartily love Him again. If this love be wanting, it is not possible to have true peace. Thos. Adams.

THE ATONEMENT

WITH REGARD TO ITS POWER ON THE CHRISTIAN Walk.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I John i. 8, 9.

Those who have strong grace have generally strong corruptions. Unknown.

We learn in the history of David that the most eminent saints, on this side the grave, are not beyond the reach of the weakest temptation and the commission of the foulest crimes. Unknown.

Every believer in Jesus Christ is the possessor of eternal life, and is an heir of everlasting glory. But, be it never so true that the believer in Jesus Christ stands in Him for ever, meet and fit for glory, having life, righteousness, and holiness in Jesus which no power of the flesh or Satan can destroy, yet every believer is a sinner; and sometimes he is in bitter error, nay, involved in bitter sin. What then? My dear friends, let us understand the Christian's position.

The real

Christian hates sin. Hatred of sin is, so to speak, an attribute of his new nature. So is love to God, and Jesus, and the brethren. By reason of the flesh he may be entangled in wickedness. Nay, he may be in dimness for a time, as to perception concerning Christian walk, but so surely as he is a Christian, born of the Spirit of God, having a spirit within him in union with Jesus Christ, which "cannot sin because it is born of God," so surely as soon as the sin or error is detected, godly sorrow working repentance unto salvation therefore, will be awakened, and the child of God will return. Satan may

bring the cloud, but by grace the Sun will burst through it. What then? Let the believer in Jesus Christ always keep his eye upon his walk and conversation. Let him, so to speak, keep self-examination always at work, as the habit of life. Not by any means through the medium of a set of questions printed or written to be gone through. You will never, NEVER get to the reality of the matter by these things. But with the eye fixed on the life of Jesus, on His love, on the position of high standing and heavenly privilege you have in. Him; with the heart habitually lifted up in prayer,-ah! living in prayer, walking in prayer, communing with God. So, when, sin is detected lurking in the mind, exhibiting itself in word or deed—ah, then! what saith the Scriptures? (See 1 Cor. xi. 31.) "If we would judge ourselves we should not be judged. But," the passage continues, "when we (we believers) are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world."

What does this mean? Believers, when you discover sin in yourselves, don't keep it hidden; don't conceal it; nay, but bring it out. Let it stand at the judgment-seat of your own heart. Discern it; declare its guilt; call to mind its penalty; even death. Behold your soul worthy of death because of it, but for Christ. Then look back to the Cross, see your soul's death there, all past for ever, death with Jesus. Enter into the power, not only of the death, but of the resurrection too, as Paul did: "I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live."