sure had you then in secret communion with your Redeemer, and in dwelling upon the revealed and written word, and in those portions of your time which you could snatch from the busy bustle of earth, and consecrate to heaven.

Is

How is this now? Is the gold become dim? Is the fine gold changed? the inward spark decaying, even while the flame still burns fiercely without? Then these are signs too plain to be mistaken, that the reproof before us belongs to some among ourselves: the Saviour has "somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” The present world and the attractions of its business, or its pleasures, have been too strong for the future world and the attractions of the cross: day by day, step by step, the former are gaining upon, and displacing the latter; you are more and more engrossed, and interested, and possessed by subjects or occupations, which good and pro

fitable as they are in their place, are still of the earth, earthy, and will not bear a moment's competition with the great business of your soul, the preparation for eternity. God grant that the present moment may arrest their progress, may re-kindle the dying fire, may re-establish the throne of the Redeemer within your bosom. For it is this love, this first love of the heart, which is the best and choicest offering you can bring to God; it is this alone which gives life and warmth to every other grace, and puts a soul into all your duties upon earth, and raises you upon angel wings, as near as mortal foot may tread to the threshold of heaven. It was beautifully said by one of old, "The hawk, while she is quick to take her prey, is set upon the land of kings and nobles; but if she wax weak and die, she is cast off to the dunghill. Even so, while we are warm and fervent in love towards God and

his Christ, we are carried as it were on God's own hand; but if we faint and decay in love, we shall be cast lower than if we had never been so exalted." Be not content, unless you are thus living, as it were, on God's own hand; be satisfied with no lower place to rest upon; but ever as you feel sensible of your downward flight, be still endeavouring to soar upward upon the wings of faithful, persevering prayer, until you have regained that safe and happy eminence.

Must we add a threatening to our reproof? Then let it be in the words of our Lord Himself: "Remember, therefore, from whence thou art fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

,,

Remember whence thou art fallen; descend into your own heart; draw

▾ Revelation ii. 5.

aside the veil of self-love, that love which strengthens, while all other love decays; mark out honestly and candidly, every instance in which it is not with you as in times past; acknowledge every deficiency in duty, every neglect of prayer, every forgetfulness of God, every secret sin, every growing symptom of indifference to the Lord, who brought you to the sense of His abiding presence, to the obedience to His commands; and as that Lord himself says, "Repent, and do the first works." Need we tell you what the first work of each convinced sinner, and therefore of each convicted backslider, must ever be. Seek again the pardoning blood of the Saviour; bring every instance of remembered transgression, or imperfect duty, at once to Him, and leave Him not until the "blood of sprinkling" has spoken pardon for your sins and peace to your soul, and brought you once more near to God. Then shall your

candlestick never be removed; the light which is in you never be darkened; but remember, that nothing short of this will insure the blessing; for our Lord Himself declares, "I will come unto thee, and remove thy candlestick, except nou repent."

The epistle before us concludes, as each of these remarkable epistles does, with a peculiar promise and blessing. "To him that overcometh, will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God."

To him that overcometh;" yes, great and glorious as are the rewards of God, they are limited to those who overcome. But then, who are they? where shall we find those privileged Christians who may hope that the title is their own? Brethren, the word of God being our guide, we shall have no difficulty in this investigation. Let the beloved apostle return the answer;

w Revelation ii. 7.