not listen to the voice of conscience, whispering "Thou art the man."

to me,

It was made, recognising the divinity and omniscience of Christ — "Lord, Thou knowest all things." Peter remembered that the questioner was Lord of all, that He had power over himself to save or to destroy, and that bearing the names, possessing the attributes, performing the works, and receiving the homage of His creatures, His power was uncontrollable and His authority irresistible. He also acknowledges His omniscience as an essential attribute of His divine nature. "He knew all men, and needed not that any should testify of man; for He knew what was in man." Peter refers and appeals to Christ's omniscience here, in order to show, that he was on his guard, and that he knew it was impossible to deceive Him. I know who puts the thrice repeated question to me. It is One who is equally acquainted with mind and matter, One who tries the hearts and reins of the children of men, and One, the glance of whose eye scans creation and renders deception impossible, and therefore I am humble and guarded, and make my avowal before One who knows the springs of my spiritual existence. "Lord, Thou knowest all things."

It was made sincerely and openly "Thou knowest that I love Thee." He avowed his love to Jesus, because he felt it in his heart. He

thought much about Jesus, he was happy in holding communion with Him, he was ready to labour in His service, and he longed to love Him more and more. He felt the flame burning in his heart, which Jesus Himself had kindled, and why should he choke it or conceal it? He loved Christ with all his heart, he loved Him more than all others, and he was ready to prove his love by living and dying in His service. He avowed his love to Jesus in the presence of the other disciples, and appealed to Christ's knowledge of his sincerity. "Thou knowest that I love Thee." My heart deceived me before, and through self-confidence I grievously fell, but it is altogether different now, I know where my strength lies, I feel the risings of love in my heart, and I am anxious to obey all Thy commandments. Thus I do love Thee, and Thou knowest it. O my soul, canst thou say to Jesus, "I love Thee?" "Whom having not seen, ye love." He was quite sure that he loved Christ. He not only felt it, and avowed it, but he was sure of it. Hence his desire to be near Christ, his desire to resemble Him, his desire to obey all His commandments, and his large-hearted love to His followers. Reader, let the love of Jesus set thine heart on fire.

"Thou know'st I love Thee, gracious Lord!

But O! I long to soar

Far from the sphere of mortal joys,

And learn to love Thee more."

Thirty-Fifth Sabbath—Morning.

EARLY SEEKING.

"Those that seek Me early shall find Me."-Prov. viii. 17.

JESUS, who is wisdom personified, addresses these words to the young. Full of encouragement, they point to an object; they require us to seek that object; that object must be sought early, and thus sought, will be found.

The object to be sought is the Lord Jesus, "who of God is made unto us wisdom." He is emphatically "Christ the wisdom of God." We are to seek Him as our teacher. Many teachers know only what they have been taught, but Jesus is an original teacher. He is wise, and most anxious that we should grow in wisdom. And where can we find a teacher like Christ? "Never man spake like this Man." We should seek Him as our Saviour. He came into the world to save sinners, and that He might save effectually, He suffered, and died. He lays His heart open to us, and earnestly invites our love, and who is so worthy of our affectionate regards? Who ever did so much to promote our happiness? Who else can save us from the guilt, the dominion, and the evil consequences of sin ? "Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven, given among men whereby we must be saved." We should seek Him as our

Master. He requires obedience as well as allegiance, for "One is our Master, even Christ." He obeyed Himself, and our obedience is encouraged by His example, and ought to be cheerful, constant, and universal. What a kind Master! His love may well inflame our hearts, and His happy rule secure our devoted obedience.

The object to be sought-"Those that seek Me." He is to be sought in the Bible. The Bible is a large field; Jesus is the treasure hid there, and we must seek for Him as for hid treasure, earnestly, perseveringly, and successfully. He is to be sought in His ordinances. There He has promised to be present,-present with few, present always,-and there thousands have sought Him and found Him. He is to be sought at a throne of grace. Prayer is both a duty and a privilege, and if believing, and earnest, and persevering, will bring Jesus into the heart, and keep Him there. Hence, if we would find, we must seek. Shall the worldling seek wealth through ten thousand difficulties, and continue his search for months, and for years, and shall we not seek Jesus, our best, and only portion? Reader, if thou wilt seek, and wrestle, success will crown thy efforts. "The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force."

He is to be sought early. Jesus is to be sought in early life, as well as early in the morning. If

EARLY SEEKING.

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sought in early life, success is certain, and if sought in early life, He will be more easily found. Though the young are early depraved, habits of sin have not such a firm hold on them as the old. Their hearts are not so hard, their guilt is not so deep, their propensities to evil are not so strong, and their habits of sin are not so confirmed. Besides, the word of God gives special encouragement to the young. "From this time wilt thou not cry unto Me, my Father, Thou art the guide of my youth?" If Christ is not sought in early life, He may never be sought, and never found. Death takes the young as well as the old. The graves in the burying-ground vary from two feet to six. What, then, shall become of the young, if they neglect the Saviour? Youthful reader, seek the Saviour now, and thou wilt be prepared for an early death, and safe for eternity. If thou shouldst be spared till thou art old, thy happiness in life will be all the longer, thy usefulness to the Church and the world will be all the greater, and thy dying experience will be all the happier, in that thou hast not lived in vain.

Thus sought, He will be found" Shall find Me." Christ is mine in present possession. What a treasure! "He that findeth Me, findeth mine, then spiritual life is mine, sweet hope is mine, holy joy is mine, all saving blessings are mine, and heaven is mine.

life." If Christ is