towards poor sinners? And have we found Him? If not, why not? If we have, let us bless Him also with our whole heart.

NOVEMBER XXV.

"And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified."—ACTS xx. 32. MINISTERS and friends, who have anxiously watched for our souls, must leave us, as the Apostle his attached converts. Such partings are trying; but there is One to whom we may commend those we love, without a fear of His ever failing them. Others have commended us to God; have we placed ourselves in His hands? We may be far from those who have much contributed to establish us in the faith. Let us but turn the more diligently to that everlasting word which God has given us for this very purpose. "The word of His grace," His gracious word so freely bestowed on us; the word which unfolds His grace, and is full of gracious promises. It possesses a power, which belongs not to any word of man. The words of Christian friends are powerful, only so far as they are drawn from or agree with this Holy Word. It "is able to build you up." Each day should witness the gradual rising up of the spiritual temple of our souls to heaven; some fresh stone added, the foundations deepened, the walls strengthened, the whole fabric adorned, from out of this store house. So shall we be becoming more meet for the inheritance it reveals to us; till we are at length permitted to enter upon its full possession, 66 among all them which are sanctified.”

NOVEMBER XXVI.

"Beloved, now are we the Sons of God; and it doth not yet appear what we shall be. But we know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.' JOHN iii. 2.

THE present character, and future privilege of Christians are here described. Can we adopt the words as our own, "now are we

the sons of God"? Once children of wrath, but now sons of God; all of one family, sons by adoption, not by nature; Jesus the only-begotten Son of God, they His adopted brethren. How high, how wondrous a privilege this! If it be our's let us see to it that we act consistently with such a calling, bearing it continually in remembrance. The precise nature of the privilege in its future perfection, "doth not yet appear," nor could our present faculties comprehend it. But its general character is thus pourtrayed, "We shall be like Him." Even now there are in the sons of God" distinct points of resemblance to their Elder Brother, marked family features, but the likeness is yet far indeed from its completion. But "when He shall appear," to see Him as He is " will have a transforming effect. Body as well as spirit shall be then like His. Another thought suggested is, that saints on earth, no less than saints in heaven, are sons of God. Their Saviour's coming will be the blessed day of meeting, when all shall be one in Him.

NOVEMBER XXVII.

"And every man that hath this hope in Him, purifieth himself, even as He is pure."-1 JOHN iii. 3.

ONE of the most powerful principles within us, for good or for evil, is hope. We all cherish it in some form or other. Is our's "a hope that maketh not ashamed," or is it, like the worldling's, one that must perish? The Christian alone has his hope based on a sure foundation; not on any human being, not on any imaginary good; it is built on Christ, the Rock of Ages. And since in this, as in other Christian blessings, many profess to have it, who really deceive themselves, a test is given by which we may judge whether our's is a hope of the right kind. What is its practical effect upon us? Every man that really hath this hope," purifieth himself." Unless our hope lead to this growing purity of heart and life, it is a fallacious one. If we allow ourselves in sin, this hope is not in us, or has become dimmed by earthliness. The constant aim of the Christian must be, to be pure as His Saviour is pure. He knows indeed that here he will

fall infinitely short of his perfect example. But the same "Spirit of holiness" dwells in him; and the time draws nigh when he shall wake up after his Saviour's likeness, and be satisfied.

NOVEMBER XXVIII.

"We pray always for you; that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of His goodness, and the work of faith with power; that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in IIim, according to the grace of our God, and the Lord Jesus Christ."-2 THESS. i. 11, 12.

THOSE who have reason to hope that there is reserved for them a part in the future glories of Christ's people, will always be anxious and prayerful, that others may be partakers of the same glories. What better portion can we desire for those we love, than "that our God will count them worthy," with us, " of this calling"? Let us seek, for ourselves and them, that He may accomplish whatever seemeth good to Him, in carrying out His purposes of good to our souls; bringing to full perfection the workings of faith within, by His own mighty power. Is it our constant aim, while He is carrying on this work of grace in our souls, "that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in us;" in our daily life; in our whole spirit and temper? Do we desire so to reflect His image, that even enemies are constrained to praise Him? Faith is the animating principle here; and puts the believer in possession of His Saviour's fulness; the fountain of all blessedness, to which may we continually resort, being "the grace of our God, and the Lord Jesus Christ.'

NOVEMBER XXIX.

"As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country."-PRov. xxv. 25.

NEWS are always looked for anxiously; " news from a far country," especially so: and who but knows the refreshing effect of such "good news," when we have an individual as well as

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national interest in them. Apply this spiritually. Has the Christian soldier not "a far country," in whose battles he is engaged? Has the Christian pilgrim no distant home, to which he hastens, of which he loves to think, with its mansion preparing for him? There dwells his Sovereign; and thither many a loved one has gone before. By nature we are in a far country, away from God, and without means of returning. But His Gospel brings us good news." A way of access is opened; and we are brought nigh by the blood of Christ, who Himself came down, as the Bearer of the "glad tidings," to pay the ransom for the alienated rebel, and to mark the journey back with His own blood. Have we listened to, and accepted his offers? Are we spreading the intelligence? Is the soldier of the cross faint? Is the pilgrim weary? What refreshment is brought him in each word from his "far country"! He is strengthened afresh for the conflict, pursues his journey with renewed vigor, and waits for the best news of all, "Come up hither."

NOVEMBER XXX.

"Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity."—Epн. vi. 23, 24.

PEACE in their souls, peace in their families, peace in the church, is the blessing most to be desired for "all the brethren." How ill does anything of a contrary nature accord with their character, as subjects of the Prince of peace. They are also bound earnestly to seek "love with faith." The love that does not spring from faith, the bond of Christian union, cannot be truly pure. The faith which is not accompanied with love is not perfect. The source of these graces is divine. Instead of being inherent, they come, and must be sought, "from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ," through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Apostle knew no distinction of sect or name, beyond "love to our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity." That was the ground on which he would meet, and pray for all. Have we as Catholic a

spirit? Let a man but be filled with pure love to Him; then may we at once call him "Brother," and ask for " grace to be with him." Are we holding back from any, on account of minor differences; or is our love whole-hearted, "in sincerity," towards all" brethren in Christ Jesus"?

DECEMBER I.

"The time is short: it remaineth that both they that have wives be as though they had none; and they that weep as though they wept not; and they that rejoice as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy as though they possessed not; and they that use this world as not abusing it; for the fashion of this world passeth away."-1 COR. vii. 29, 30, 31.

THE remembrance how short the time is, should exercise a wholesome influence on our domestic affections, our sorrows, our joys, our business, and our daily intercourse with the world. Family affections must not be allowed too strong a hold upon us, to hinder us in our heavenward race, or wed us to earth; for, sooner or later, they must all be broken. Nor must we brood over our sorrows, personal, relative, or national, so as to be unfitted by them for our Master's work. They too are not to last for ever. "The time is short," and God shall soon wipe away every tear from His children's eyes. Are we joyous, with the sun of prosperity brightening our path? Let us remember "The time is short;" and prepare for the cloudy and dark day; looking for surer joys in the world above. Does business make large demands on our time? Again, "the time is short;" let us live as those whose possessions here are known to be worth nothing, compared with future treasures, to be laid up in heaven. Let us use the world, for God's glory, and the good of others; and not abuse it by any sinful indulgence. Let us make it subservient to the highest ends, rather than be ourselves its slaves, reading "Passing away," written on every phase it can assume.