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salvation, and they readily received the word of salvation, sent to them.

"They searched the Scriptures daily." The Old Testament Scriptures, and probably some of the writings of the evangelists, were the only books they possessed, but they made them the rule of their faith and their conduct. Reader, make a good use of the word of God, for this you will never need to regret. Salmasius said, “I have lost a world of time-time, the most precious thing in the world! Had I but one year more, it should be spent in perusing the Psalms of David, and the Epistles of Paul." The Scriptures were the daily food of their souls. How many read any kind of book, but will not read the Bible! The Bereans did not blindly receive the teaching of the apostles, though they were inspired men; but they examined their statements, and tried their teaching, by the word of God. We ought also to weigh the instructions of our teachers in the balance of divine truth, and prove all things, and hold fast that which is good."

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The apostolic commendation they received. They 'were noble" men, not governed by pride, not wise in their own conceit, not actuated by prejudice, but humble, docile, and reasonable. They were not blinded by pre-conceived notions, nor elated by self-wisdom, but examined, thought, and judged for themselves. They were not in

fluenced by bigotry, nor smitten by narrowmindedness, but gladly received instruction, when it was brought within their reach. They were not swayed by passive intolerance and persecution, to overpower those who merely wished a fair hearing. From enlightened conviction, they believed the truth of the gospel, and were able to give a reason of the hope that was in them. How much more noble was this conduct than that of many in Thessalonica, than that of many in our day! The men of Thessalonica opposed the truth. They stirred up a riot, and inflamed the evil passions of men, to oppose divine truth, and destroy, if possible, its faithful and earnest preachers. They endangered the lives of the apostles, and marred their success, hence, the Bereans, who acted very differently, are highly commended by the apostles. This commendation is recorded, for our benefit, for true nobility consists not in the honour and the applause of men, but in the enlightened reception of the word of God. If we would be truly noble, we must be mighty in the Scriptures. "I have led but a lonely life," said the shepherd of Salisbury Plain, "and often had little to eat, but my Bible has been meat, drink, and company to me, and when want, and trouble came upon me, I know not what I should have done, if the promises of the Bible had not supported me."

Centh Sabbath—Morning.

A SURE HERITAGE.

"Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever; for they are the rejoicing of my heart."-Ps. cxix. 111.

The divine testimonies are the first subject for con sideration. Let us think of their certainty. They are evidenced by miracles. Moses and the prophets, Christ and the apostles, wrought miracles, to prove the divinity of their mission, and the divinity of their sayings. These miracles were numerous, varied, public, benevolent, and inimitable. They defied contradiction, they stood the scrutiny of foes, and enmity alone attributed them to Satanic influence. Hence Jesus could appeal to his enemies. "The works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. Though ye believe not me, believe the works." They are evidenced by prophecy. Who can read Christ's predictions, concerning himself, and the destruction of Jerusalem, with their fulfilment, without coming to the conclusion, that the testimonies containing them are divine. And they are evidenced by the experience of every believer. They change the wicked heart, they humble the proud look, and they reform the wicked life. Let us think of their instructiveness. The Scriptures inform us of God, His existence, His perfections, and His love to men. They inform us of man,

his guilt, his pollution, and his high destiny. They inform us of salvation, its author, its procurer, its subjects, its means, and its end. They inform us of a future life, the resurrection of the body, the last judgment, and the eternal state. Such are the grand lessons of the Bible-lessons to be learned from no other book. Let us think of their saving power. They bring Christ and salvation right to the sinner, and the Holy Spirit, rolling divine truth into his heart, overcomes all his enmity, and makes him a child of God, and an heir of heaven.

What the Christian does with them-"I have taken them as an heritage for ever." I have believed their precious truths, as the message of God to my soul, and my faith fixes, and settles on Jesus, who is himself "the truth." I have believed the promises as yea and amen, in Christ, and true to me, as well as to every believer. And I have the commandments and examples of the Bible as the rule of my conduct. Thus, the testimonies of God are the rule of my heart and life. They are the heritage of my soul. The world cannot make the soul rich and happy, but the word of God can. Its doctrines and its promises, with all their contents, are bequeathed to me by the great Testator, and by pleading, and proving His death, they are all mine, and I am able to read in them a clear title to an inheritance in heaven. What a goodly heritage, and a

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large! The glories of earth are nothing to it. This heritage is a perpetual one. It cannot be wasted by prodigality, it cannot be forfeited by misconduct, it cannot be lost by litigation, and it cannot be destroyed by violence. Death takes all men away from their earthly heritages, but death, instead of taking me away from this, brings me into full and everlasting possession.

it no

The reason assigned-" For they are the rejoicing of my heart." They produce an entire change of heart. Before I took these testimonies as my heritage, my heart loved sin, and loved the world; it was full of evil, and full of misery; but now the word of truth has made all things new, and my heart hates sin, and loves holiness; longer grovels among earthly objects, but it relishes the things of God, and eternity. Thus changed, the heart rejoices. It rejoices on account of what it enjoys. It has a sense of God's love and pardoning mercy, through Christ; it has the peace which passeth all understanding, a peace which flows directly from Jesus ; and it has the joy of the Holy Ghost, a joy which comes directly from heaven. It rejoices on account of what it anticipates. Filled with love to God and men, and radiated with beams of glory from heaven, it pants for the realization of unsullied bliss, and rejoices in the hope of beating in unison with the hearts of the multitude which no man can number.