of the Lord of hosts, he learnt that God was able, by the live coal from off the altar, to cleanse such, and take them up in His service. A remnant is referred to

in the last verse.

As before noticed, the promise of Immanuel is presented, the hope of Israel, in the seventh chapter. In the eighth we see that He would be for a sanctuary, but for a stone of stumbling and offence to both the houses of Israel. The absolute authority of the Scriptures"the law and the testimony "-is again insisted on. (Chap. viii. 14, 20.) In the ninth chapter, the Messiah, of whose increase of government and peace there should be no end, is the child born, and the son given.

The judgment of the Assyrian is then set forth, immediately before the millennial reign is introduced. We are told that he boasted of his own strength and wisdom, and the faithful are enjoined not to be afraid of him. This Assyrian reminds us of the destruction of the antichrist, the great oppressor, at the coming of the Lord. (Chap. x. 13, 24-26.)

The eleventh chapter most blessedly gives us Messiah's reign in righteousness, the gathering together of His people for blessing, and the deliverance of creation from the bondage of corruption. Then the Messiah, the "root of Jesse," will be for an ensign of the people. To it shall the Gentiles seek, and He shall assemble both "the outcasts of Israel" and "the dispersed of Judah" from the four corners of the earth. Observe here the perfect accuracy of Scripture. The ten tribes. of Israel are cast out, but where, no one knows; they are, therefore, most significantly called "the outcasts of Israel," in contradistinction to "the dispersed of

Judah," who, for their sin in rejecting Christ and the Holy Ghost, are scattered in judgment among all the nations of the earth. Both families will then be united, and Ephraim will not envy Judah, and Judah will not vex Ephraim. (Verses 12, 13.). There will be a highway left for the remnant of His people which shall be left from Assyria. The people of Israel's joy in millennial times is recorded in the twelfth chapter. They will praise Jehovah that His anger is turned away from them, and that He comforts them. They will sing and praise Jehovah, and say, "Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee."

From chapter xiii. to xxvii. we have the judgment of God upon the Gentile nations. Babylon stands first and foremost, and then Moab, Damascus, Egypt, Dumah, Arabia, Shebna, and Tyre pass before us under the judgment of God. All, however, is interspersed with promise and hope as to the people of Israel. While in chapter xiv. judgment is executed upon Babylon, so that it shall be said, "How hath the oppressor ceased the golden city ceased!" (verse 4), it is also said, "The Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land . . . and it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord will give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from thy hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve." (Verses 1-3.) Again, in chapter xvii., when judgment on Damascus and Israel are referred to, it is said, "In that day it shall come to pass, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall be made lean. . . . Yet (referring to the remnant)

gleaning grapes shall be left in it, as the shaking of an olive tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in the outmost fruitful branches thereof, saith the Lord God of Israel." (Verses 4-6.) In chapter xviii. we are told, "In that time shall the present be brought unto the Lord of hosts of a people scattered and peeled, and from a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled, to the place of the name of the Lord of hosts, the mount Zion." When Egypt and Assyria have gone through the discipline of the Lord, it is said, "In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance." (Ch. xix. 21-25.) In chapter xxiv. we are told, "Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before His ancients gloriously." (Verse 23.) In chapter xxv. God is praised, known too as the God of resurrection, who will swallow up death in victory. In chapter xxvii. it is declared that "Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the whole earth with fruit; that the children of Israel shall be gathered one by one; and when the great trumpet shall be blown, those ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, shall come and worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem." (Verses 12, 13.)

"PEACE IN BELIEVING.”

"WHERE can a heavy burdened soul like mine find rest?" thought I; for now I felt I could do nothing. There I stood, helpless before God. My soul seemed to groan within me.

As I was retiring one night I passed through the sitting-room, when my attention was attracted by some little tracts which the Christian man of the house had laid on the table for his boarders to read. While I stood looking at them, my eye fell on one bearing this title : "How can I be accepted as righteous?" In an instant it came into my mind, this is just what I want to know. So down I sat, and began to read what, it seemed to me, I had never heard before-not what I must do to be saved, but what God has done to save the sinner. Oh, what news this was to me! This was what I, a poor sinner, who could do nothing, wanted; and now I was led to see that Jesus came into the world in obedience to God's will, and took the sinner's place. He bore the sinner's sins, and made such atonement for him that God declares Himself satisfied with it, by raising Him (Jesus) from the dead, and seating Him at His own right hand. Oh, what glad tidings! Such news I never heard before. Christ has made atonement for me. God is satisfied, and this satisfies me. So I found peace in believing what God says He has done to save sinners.

THE THREE "NOTS."

WE were waiting for the Birmingham train, which arrived at the time appointed. No sooner, however, had we taken our seats than we were struck with the solemn and peaceful appearance of a respectablelooking old man, who was the only occupant of that carriage. His appearance and manner so claimed our respect, that the possibility of his being a follower of the Lord Jesus presented itself most irresistibly to our minds. After travelling together for some time, I could not help saying, "May I ask you, sir, if you have eternal life?"

"Yes, certainly. Christ is my life; and I have enjoyed His love for upwards of thirty years."

You see, then, that Christ, who died for sinners, and is now in the glory, is your life—eternal life; as the Scripture saith, "God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son of God hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." How very simple this is! and yet how very blessed to know that God speaks of us now as having the present possession of everlasting life! "You see, also, sir, I suppose, your everlasting security ; for if Christ in the glory is your life, how can you ever perish? Moreover, has He not given us, among other very precious Scriptures, three nots?-shall "not perish," "not be ashamed," "not be confounded." "Oh, yes," said he; "I shall never perish!" By this time we had arrived at Leicester, and had to separate from this old disciple, this dear child of