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keeping a people ready for the Lord is, indeed, as many a ransomed soul can testify, God's blessed ordinance, for preserving truth in the land; its children too often, alas! are, like Hagar, fainting for thirst in the wilderness; but, like her, they are beside a well of springing water though they see it not, and when once the Lord opens their eyes to behold the treasure, they have no distance to travel, no ties to break, no prejudices of sect to overcome, but hear the invitation: "Drink, yea drink abundantly, oh beloved!" and to them may the command be applied, "Drink waters out of thine own cistern and running waters out of thine own well."

H. B.

THAT venerated Christian Lady, Mrs. Hannah More, seeing some one personally adorned beyond what she considered to be the gospel standard, characterized the superfluities of her apparel by the scriptural and appropriate phrase, a "superfluity of naughtiness."-From a private Friend of Mrs. More's.

THINGS REVEALED.

"Things revealed belong unto us, and to our children for ever."— Deut. xxix. 29.

How often do we hear it affirmed that there are subjects in the word of God that can only lead to speculation, and are too deep for the human mind to investigate; that we have no right or liberty to search into that which is not essential to our salvation, and therefore that such subjects should altogether be abandoned as unsuitable and dangerous.

A simple recognition of our position of dependance, and allegiance to our God, shows us the authority with which every word of His lays claim to our attention, whilst our obligation and responsibility are increased by our privilege as children. In a child of God, this fearfulness of studying and meditating on the whole of revealed truth arises from ignorance of his privilege and of the unity of scripture; the mind is fixed on the work of Christ in his incarnation-truly an inexhaustible theme for love, joy, praise and gratitude! but should our attention to this all-important and, as regards salvation, all-sufficient subject, exclude all other revelation that God has graciously condescended to bestow on us? should we reject what He in mercy gives us, and confine our minds to this one exhibition of divine love, and to our individual salvation-if all other subjects are

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to be disregarded by the true followers of the Redeemer, are they writen merely for the unbeliever, the unconverted? This cannot be. To them who believe have all things been given freely and fully; (1 Cor. iii. 22.) as to them alone is Christ precious. (1 Peter ii. 7.) All circumstances and objects, past, present and future, that manifest His glory, must or surely ought to be dear to God's children, joint heirs with Christ! no fragment of scripture can be indifferent, because all treats of Him; the office of the Holy Spirit is to reveal Him. "He searches all things, yea, the deep things of God," and the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy: we have a sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well to take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place." (2 Peter i. 19.) It is by prophetic research alone that Christ is presented to us in all the revealed exhibitions of His character, it leads us into scenes that are the results of all His dealings with mankind ; it manifests Satan's future acts, and thus casts a light upon his secret and covert workings, so that we may no longer "be ignorant of his devices;" in temptation it warns, and in the midst of sorrows and conflicts it presents to our view glory and immortality: in the power of prediction it shews forth the sovereignty and fore-knowledge of our Creator, as the alone source of governing action, even in the midst of evil. Satan will always oppose prophecy, and endeavour to cast it into disrepute, for it is the sentence of death to all his plans; some are afraid of this study from its abuse, but is not contempt of it declared to be an awful sign of the last days, (2 Peter iii. 4.) and predicted in the parable of the faithless servant? Matt. xxiv. 42, 51. Others

argue that it is only useful as evidence after fulfilment; yet if this were admitted, how can they know what has been accomplished, without research, and what authority have they to pronounce upon the unrevealed purposes of God, and to set up conjectures in opposition to his express command? His declaration is, "Blessed is he that readeth the words of this prophecy," and having no reference to any particular portion, or part thereof, it should be sufficient to dissipate all such unfounded assertions. Some will cavil, that all study that does not bear upon the present moment, is useless and imaginative; till the incarnation, where was any salvation, except in prophetic hope, and where now the force of any truth, severed from things future? such themes raise the tone of the mind from temporal to spiritual things, and bring it into fellowship with those angelic beings who desire to look into, not only the sufferings of Christ "but the glory that should follow." 1 Pet. i. 12. That many of the excellent of the earth are opposed to prophetic views, to the ministration of angels, and all such subjects that interest and engage their attention, is but too true, yet this does not alter the principle. In rejecting any part of revealed truth, we are unquestionably led by our own spirit, which is necessarily enmity against God, because the spirit of fallen man, (Rom. viii. 7,) and as has been said, "if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant,” (1 Cor. xiv. 38.) Let those who have experienced comfort and joy in such subjects, "be ready always to give a reason of the hope that is in them, with meekness and fear," (1 Pet. iii. 15,) and bear with the infirmities of their brethren; and if they will urge, that to them prophecy is a dead letter, do they

not acknowledge that the promise of blessing (in Rev. i. 3,) they do not believe,—that they have not really tried to understand it, nor asked for wisdom? A time of trial and the grand final manifestation of God's holiness are predicted as shortly to take place; Oh! may we all see the importance of that warning and exhortation addressed by Christ to his church, "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth." Blessed is he who is clothed with the marriage garment, that he may appear with boldness in the presence of his God; and now, when Christ says, Surely I come quickly," is able to reply with the apostle, "Even so; come, Lord Jesus."

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E.

LAURENCE SAUNDERS, ON THE EVE OF MARTYRDOM.

AND if we lack faith, as we do indeed many times, let us call for it, and we shall have the increase, both of it, and also of any other good grace needful for us: and be merry in God, in whom I am also very merry and joyful. O Lord, what great cause of rejoicing have we, to think upon the kingdom, which he vouchsafeth for his Christ's sake freely to give us, forsaking ourselves and following him! Dear wife, this is truly to follow him, even to take up our cross and follow him; and then as we suffer with him, so we shall reign with him everlastingly. Amen. -Foxe.

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