have Life." "You might have Life." There is no holding back with God: His Son is universal Lifegiver. And whoever receives the Life of Christ, receives the motive and tendency to every virtue, possible in earth or heaven.

THE END OF FAITH.

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IX. It is undeniable that the Apostle submits the golden chain of Faith, as the rule by which we may make our election sure, declaring: "If ye do these things ye shall never fall; for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." True faith initiates man into the kingdom of Heaven, invests him with its power, and makes him an associate of innumerable angels, and the departed spirits of just men. is compassed about with his invisible friends, who take an intense interest in the fight and victory of his faith. If "there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth," with what enthusiasm must they regard the heroes of faith! How the world watches, honors and rewards its heroes! But much more the kingdom. of Heaven watches, and will honor and reward its heroes. The heroism of faith is of an incomparably

higher character than the heroism of animal spirits and muscles. The martial hero is helped by his passions and senses; but the heroes of faith in spite of the opposition of their own senses and passions. The heroes of faith are the calm masters of three worlds,-namely, of their own nature, of the sensible world, and of the invisible world of fallen spirits. Without doubt a glorious reception awaits them into their own kingdom, and amongst their own kindred. We talk about the honors of worldly heroes; but to see men honored we must wait till we see how Heaven will honor those who have fought the good fight of faith. Their royal virtues are the princely chain which hangs from their neck. The inwrought majesty of their character is an everlasting crown upon their heads. Their meek but brave purity, acquired in a world of corruption, and in an unclean and a deceitful heart; their self-conquest, by self-abasement; their Divine Patience, prayed into their souls when their whole being was, at the very time, struggling and heaving to break out into impatience; their Godliness begotten in them by the Holy Ghost through their own willing death unto sin; above all, their glorious Love obtained through the subjugation of self-love: these are their honors, and for these they shall also be

honored.

God will honor them, "Them that honor Me, I will honor." All Heaven will honor them too. As many as, in the world, live not to the world, but to Heaven, and for Heaven, what honor shall they not receive on their arrival in their own Country! Imagine the entrance into Heaven of those whom Heaven is concerned to honor.

After

what manner will the hosts of saints and angels welcome them to their Hearts and Homes for ever? Great is the distinction between a mere reception and a great reception. Many who look not for it, shall meet with such a reception. For the patient, humble heroes of faith know not that they are heroes; their lament is that their characters and works are so unworthy of their faith. But when they find themselves not only entering into Glory, but received with triumph by so great multitudes, with banners and Hallelujahs; then shall they remember that it was written: "An entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the Everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." And then shall they confess: "Howbeit we believed not the words, until we came, and our eyes have seen; and behold the half was not

told us."

AIDS TO THOUGHT.

MAN is not, and never can be his own foundation. Not only a man's works cannot stand, but he cannot be saved, on the foundation of his own nature. It will be bad enough if we lose the works which we have wrought in time; but we shall ourselves be lost, if the Nature of God's Dear Son be not grounded and settled in us. Jesus is "the Beginning of the Creation of God."

But many are on the right foundation, who are building upon it only a time-work. Good heed must be taken therefore lest the building, which we rear upon God's Foundation, should not correspond with the Foundation. That which is begun in "the Power of God and the Wisdom of God," may easily be carried on according to the wisdom of men. The wisdom that is according to men is far more attractive to the natural understanding than the wisdom of God.

We are in great danger of acquiring characters and of doing works, in relation rather to the estima

tion of the present world, than to their standing in Eternity.

When the inmost principle of every man's work is laid bare, it will be found that many who were thought to be great characters will lose their pre-eminence, while those who in the world were supposed to be greatly inferior, will have the preeminence. The day cometh which will try every man's work of what sort it is. The searching fire of Eternity will consume all appearances. Only the works which have been done in God, will be able to stand before God. How needful that both we and our works should be "baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire," that we and they may pass through the fire of God, and thus abide for ever in His Presence. Many a soul will be saved, whose whole work will be lost. "The Foundation of God standeth sure." It cannot be destroyed. Neither can the soul perish in whom is that Foundation, but he may suffer the loss of all the works which he has done in the body. Wherefore: "Look to yourselves, that you lose not those things which you have wrought, but that you receive a full reward."

Is it not strange that by thoughts about GOD,

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