cherished it so we must not wholly lament man's toil and errors.

The great difficulties, which beset our attempts to apprehend the essential nature of Deity, spring, I think, from our inability to reason from absolute facts and causes, without including the secondary and dependent. Hence, our conclusions are not logical, nor strictly deducible; they are, at best, inferential. I can only predicate final results of what is absolute and eternal. The motive which precedes the purpose, and which must have an inevitable relation to the end to be attained, gives meaning and interpretation to all the means and methods employed in the long process of development. From that which is purely phenomenal, from one or any number of the phases of development, I can predict nothing pertaining to the final result, nor can I with confidence affirm concerning the design which originated the whole scheme.

A single wheel taken from a complicated system of machinery, does not enable me to detect the relation it bears to each and every other part of that system. The examination of that wheel leaves me incompetent to detect the mechanical end, the maker proposes or expects to attain. Besides, that isolated wheel is valueless alone. Whatever purpose it may subserve when in connection with the system of which it forms a needful part, it is robbed of all value the moment it is separated from that system. There are two ways for me to learn its uses: 1st. By the declaration by the designer of the end he

ination, we find to be the fact. For, consider a moment, how it is that we attain any spiritual good: how it is that we become the beloved children of God. Very manifestly, goodness is not poured into us from some exhaustless fountain in the skies. Very manifestly, it was no part of Christ's mission to transform sinners into saints without knowledge or consent of theirs. Another's righteousness cannot, in the nature of things, be imputed to us. Righteousness is a condition of the soul, and can be ours only as, by resolute endeavor and the good help of God, we achieve it.

Christ saves us-not by suffering in our stead, or by doing our work; but by enlightening, quickening, inspiring our inward powers. He works within us to will and to do. That we may enjoy his salvation, therefore, we must earn it. If we would receive, we must ask; if we would find, we must seek; if we would enter the portals of the celestial realm, we must knock and wait, and wait and knock. Or, employing the phraseology of common life, if we would escape the pollutions of evil, we must resist temptation. If we would be loving man-ward, and devout God-ward, we must acknowledge the good in every soul, and appreciate the boundless grace in which we live, and move, and have our being. Appropriately is it written, therefore, "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."

Christ relieves us from no responsibility, or necessity of spiritual endeavor. He is the true teacher, who instead of performing the labor of his pupils,

shows them the method, and inspires them with the resolution to accomplish it themselves. He is the real benefactor, who, instead of beating down in his beneficiaries the feeling of self-reliance, helps them to help themselves. So Christ is our Saviour, not because he does for us what we can, and ought to do for ourselves, but because he has shown us the way, and illustrated the glory of the Divine Life, and is continually aiding and encouraging us to seek it.

And if it be alleged

This is the one method of salvation through Christ. The New-Testament reveals but one kind of salvation- a salvation from ignorance, error, sin, and all their lamentable consequences: and this salvation is everywhere governed by the same laws, and dependent on the same essential conditions. Those who earnestly, devoutly seek it, find it wherever they are; while none will attain it until they seek it, no matter where they may be. that Eternal Life is thus made the result of works, and not of grace, the reply is that it is of both works and grace ;-just as the harvest which crowns the year-just as the knowledge that rewards the patient student-just as any virtuous habit or principle—temperance, honesty, charity, piety — is the result of both labor and grace. It is by both; for while the injunction is, "Work out your own salvation," it is also, for our encouragement, affirmed that, "God worketh in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure."

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There is no spiritual good, then, no faith, or

September 26,- SPIRITUAL PROGRESS,

BY REV. D. M. REED, PEORIA, ILL.

179

196

October 10,

October 17,

..... 209

BY REV. E. W. REYNOLDS, JAMESTOWN, N. Y.
CONTENT AND DISCONTENT, ........
BY REV. JOSEPH S. DENNIS, DUBUQUE, IOWA.
CHRISTIAN REST,

·

.....

BY REV. WILLIAM S. BALLOU, GALESBURG, ILL.

October 24,

222

PRACTICAL LESSONS OF IMMORTALITY, 238

BY REV. W. R. FRENCH, TURNER, ME.

November 14, THE CHRISTIAN'S HERITAGE,
BY REV. C. R. MOOR, PORTLAND, ME.

November 21, LIFE WHAT WE MAKE IT,

....

302

BY REV. AMORY BATTLES, BANGOR, ME.

November 28, - MYSTERY NO REASON FOR DOUBT,. 317

BY REV. R. S. POPE, HYANNIS, MASS.

December 5, THE CHRISTIAN LAW,

BY REV. J. D. PEIRCE, NORTH ATTLEBORO', MASS.

334

BY REV. HENRY BACON, (late of) PHILADELPHIA, PA.

December 26,

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CHRIST ALL-OR NOTHING,

BY REV. E. G. BROOKS, LYNN, MASS.

349

366

381

GOSPEL SERMONS.

EFFORT AND EXCELLENCE.

BY REV. W. R. G. MELLEN. SCRIPTURE LESSON, PHILIPPIANS II. 1-16.

In the sweat of thy face, shalt thou eat bread.-GENESIS III. 19.

It has long been a favorite doctrine of the Church that labor is a curse inflicted, with other penalties, for the sin of our first parents. Previous to what is technically termed the "fall," it is supposed that none of the burdens imposed upon us were known. Originally, it is imagined, our ancestors were in the enjoyment of a perpetual holiday. Gentle breezes, laden with perfumes, fanned their brows. clouds filled the firmament, and neither scorching heat, nor biting frost disturbed their serenity. Spontaneously, the earth brought forth her flowers and fruits

"Flowers of all hues, and without thorn the rose,"

No

and fruits adapted equally to the appetite and sustenance of man. To maintain their existence, our progenitors had only to stretch out the hand, and pluck from shrub or bough whatever taste or