Fiftieth Sabbath-Evening.

THE STRAIT GATE.

"Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able."-Luke xiii. 24.

APPARENTLY from curiosity, an individual asked Christ, "Are there few that be saved?" His answer is virtually this: It is none of your business whether there be few saved, or many saved, "Strive to enter in at the strait gate." What is meant by the gate? What is meant by its straitness? What is meant by striving to enter? And why should we strive ?

What is meant by the gate?-The Church on earth, and in heaven, is often spoken of as a city; and, as ancient cities had walls and gates, so this gate may signify the entrance to heaven. There is only one way to heaven, and as Jesus himself is that way, this gate may well represent Christ. He says, "I am the way," "I am the door;" so we may look upon Him as saying here, I am the gate. He leads to heaven, and there is no other way. He has satisfied all the claims of justice, and there is no other satisfaction. If ever we enter the holiest, it must be "by the blood of Jesus." This gate is open. Jesus is a fountain opened, and an open door, so that there is no barrier in our way. There was a flaming sword, an impassable barrier, at the gate of the earthly

THE STRAIT GATE.

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paradise, but there is none in our way to Jesus, or to heaven. We have "a new and living way which He hath consecrated for us." All are invited to enter. "If any man enter in he shall be saved."

What is meant by its straitness?—The gate is not strait because of any want of ability or will on the part of Christ to save. Neither is it strait because of any deficiency of provision, or scarcity of accommodation inside, but it is strait because of the unwillingness of men to enter. They are not straitened in Christ, but they are straitened in their own bowels. Reader, if this gate is strait to thee, it is because thy heart loves sin. The difficulty is all in thyself. If thou art sick of sin, and feelest sin a burden, come to Jesus, and He will give thee immediate relief. They looked to Him and were lightened." If this gate is strait to thee, it is because thy heart loves the world, its vanities, and its pleasures. Renounce the world as thy chief good, as thy portion, and claim Jesus, and all thy difficulties will vanish in a moment. If this gate is strait to thee, it is because thy heart fears opposition. The fear of man bringeth a snare, and thou must not lose thy soul for the ridicule or the persecution of

men.

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What is meant by striving to enter ?—There is great danger outside the gate. Wrath, curse, hell, are there, and these may be thy portion in a

moment.

The word "strive" means to agonize. In the Grecian games, the runners and wrestlers agonized, and put forth all their powers to gain the victory. So, Jesus says, "Strive to enter in." Be aware of thy danger, be earnest, be pressing, to free thyself from thy sins, from the world, from evil men, and seducers. Escape for thy life. Flee into the city of refuge, as the accidental murderer fled when the avenger of blood was at his heels. Whether few be saved or many be saved, is not thy business, but thy great concern is "strive." Let not a moment be lost, or thy soul may be lost. Heaven is attainable; it is not attainable without striving; but by striving, it will be attained. Shall Jesus say "Strive," and wilt thou stand all the day idle?

Why should we strive?" For many will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." Many shall seek to enter in a wrong way. They imagine that they shall be saved for their innocence, or honesty, or good deeds. They imagine that they may partly be saved by Christ, and by their own efforts, whereas effort is only of use in bringing them to Christ. They imagine that they may be saved from their sins, and yet live in sin. All these will be unable to enter. Many shall seek to enter too late. In this life they are engrossed with the world and other things, and neglect religion. When death and judgment come, they will seek to enter, but it will be too late.

Fifty-First Sabbath—Morning.

THE SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

"But unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise, with healing in His wings: and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall."-Mal. iv. 2.

HERE we have a glorious personage, His remarkable rising, the parties benefited, and the blessings enjoyed.

The glorious Personage-" The Sun of Righteousness." Jesus possesses inherent light. He shines an uncreated Sun, attracting every eye with His glory, and inflaming every heart with His love. He possesses unsullied purity. There are spots on the sun, but Jesus is a Sun of Righteousness, without a spot and without a cloud. He dispels from the mind the darkness of ignorance, scatters the gloom of superstition, and introduces light, and hope, and love. He cheers and revives all who come within His reach, and place themselves under His influence, so that it is pleasant for their eyes to behold Him. He enstamps His own bright image on the soul, that it may reflect His glory, and entice others to walk in His light.

His remarkable rising-"He shall arise with healing in His wings." He rises with a healing influence on the sin-sick soul, and restores it to health. "He sent His word and healed them." His wings, radiant with the dews of

heaven, drop down comfort on the weak and weary. "When the Spirit of Truth is come, He will guide you into all truth." The Christian in difficulty and distress is cheered and revived by His light. His beams penetrate the darkest cloud, and scatter the shadows of death which surround the soul. How often does the Christian feel, that the gloom is deepest just before the breaking of day! His rising in the glories of heaven will complete the soul's blessedness, for it shall dwell for ever in the sunshine of His favour. "As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness." O that the Sun of Righteousness may speedily shine on our dark world and on every dark mind, as extensively as the sun in the heavens; then the wilderness and solitary place shall be glad, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose.

The parties benefited-"You that fear My name." They that fear God reverence Him. They know that He is great, and holy and just, while they are worms, and sinners, and rebels. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." They have a filial fear, not the fear of a subject for a tyrant, not the fear of a slave for his master, not the fear of a debtor for an angry creditor, not the fear of a criminal for the strong arm of the law; but the fear of a good child for a good father, a fear of confidence and