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it. "The storm could not shake it," "Immediately it fell." The true Christian, whose faith and hope rest on the Rock, may be severely tried, but he is well protected and strongly supported. As the needle on the compass always points to the north, whether the ship that carries it be plunging among the billows, or sailing on a smooth sea, so the Christian always looks to Jesus and holds fast by the Rock, whether the dark clouds of adversity lower or the sun of prosperity shines. Under the covering of atoning blood he can say, "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." How different with the mere professor of religion! When trouble and anguish take hold of him, he is at his wit's end. He trusts to earthly physicians and he trusts to himself, but he finds no refuge. Like Cardinal Wolsey, in his adversity, he may well say, "Had I served my God as I have served my king, He would not have forsaken me thus." Or, like Queen Elizabeth, surrounded with wealth, and luxury, and flatterers, and a mighty empire at her feet, the expiring worldling may cry, "Millions of money for an inch of time," but he will cry in vain.

The one is eternally saved, the other is eternally lost. "The ruin of that house was great." This language implies that while the true Christian is saved, the false Christian, the mere professor, is ruined, and ruined for ever.

Nineteenth Sabbath—Morning.

FORGIVENESS OF SIN.

"Be it known unto you, therefore, men and brethren, that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins, and by Him all that believe are justified from all things.". Acts xiii. 38, 39.

All need forgiveness, for all are sinners. They have broken every law; every faculty of their minds is depraved; and they have sinned every moment of their lives. Sinner, thou art required to love God with all thy heart; where is the moment in thy life that thou hast done this? Above all, thou hast pierced Jesus with thy sins. Thy transgressions have wounded Him, thy iniquities have bruised Him. All are exposed to danger. God must punish sin, and who can stand before the lightning of His eye, or resist the grasp of His arm? Wrath, curse, and hell, are the sinner's portion, and so great is his danger, that there is but a step between him and these. All should be distressed about their sin and danger. Thousands, on the day of Pentecost, were thus distressed, and cried, "What shall we do?" Were thy house to catch fire, and thy neighbours to gather around, and were the question to be asked, What can be done to arrest the flames? This question would not be half so important as, What can be done to save my soul?

There is forgiveness for all—" Be it known unto you, there is preached unto you the forgiveness

of sin." Forgiveness of sin is free to all. It is offered without charge. While a great sum could not procure it, it may be had for nothing. "We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." It is complete, including all sin past, present, and future. Some sins, under the ceremonial law, could not be forgiven; they were punished with death; but now all manner of sin may be forgiven. It is irrevocable. A sinner once pardoned, is pardoned for ever. "The gifts and calling of God are without repentance." This forgiveness is made known in the gospel, and commanded to be preached to all men. "Repentance, and remission of sins should be preached in His name, among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." Forgiveness to the greatest sinners is thus brought nigh, and is as free as our mountain air, our fertile rains, or our gladdening sunshine. All this is true, and absolutely certain. "Be it known unto you," my reader, whether young or old, whether a great sinner, or a little sinner, that through Christ, there is present, and everlasting forgiveness for you.

This forgiveness is through Christ-"Through this Man." The word "man" is a supplement, and it might as well have been Jesus, or Saviour. He is the only medium of forgiveness. As a priest, by His sufferings and death, He atoned for our sins, He satisfied all the claims of divine

FORGIVENESS OF SIN.

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justice, and so efficacious is His blood, that it cleanseth from all sin, hence, He has power on earth to forgive sins. As a prophet, He proclaims it, and requires all His ministers to do so in His name. "To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name, whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins." Faithfully, plainly, and earnestly, must the teachers of religion present to every sinner complete forgiveness, in the name of Christ. As a king, He confers it. No sooner does the sin-sick sinner come to Jesus, than he is welcomed, and relieved. "Son, be of good cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee." Reader, come to Jesus as the publican came, as the dying thief came, and thou wilt be pardoned, and saved!

The persons enjoying it—"All that believe are justified." Faith is necessary to the enjoyment of forgiveness, for without it we cannot please God, without it there is no pardon, no salvation. Hence, the great requirement of the gospel is "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ." Faith embraces the whole truth in the Bible, especially the truth about Christ, and the perishing sinner grasps the Saviour as a drowning man grasps a rope, or a spar. Faith necessarily receives Christ, as the unspeakable gift of God, and finds sufficient warrant to do so in the invitations, commands, and persuasions of the gospel.

Nineteenth Sabbath-Evening.

CARE FOR BRETHREN.

"Am I my brother's keeper ?"-Gen. iv. 9.

CAIN murdered his brother Abel; God called him to account for his crime; he denied it, and gave this reason for his disappearance, "Am I my brother's keeper?" The question implies that all men are brethren, that it is our duty to care for them, and that if we neglect this duty, God will call us to account.

All men are brethren-" Have we not all one Father? hath not one God created us?" God hath made us all of one blood.

Our bodies have

the same origin and destiny. Our souls are formed by the same breath of the Almighty. All men are children of the same ancestors, sprung from the same pair, and form one race of beings. My father dwelt in Eden, and I had brothers in the ark. Our complexion, our form, our situation, our language, may be different, but one Lord is the Maker of us all. Who, then, is my brother? Who, then, is my neighbour? Every one with whom I come in contact, every one needing my assistance, and every one to whom I have an opportunity of doing good. He who dwells in the same family, in the same neighbourhood, in the same country, and in the same world, is my brother, and I must do him good if

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