be still." In fact, wherever the servant of God is, whether like Joseph he be in prison, or like Daniel he be in the den of lions, or like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, he be in the fiery furnace, there also is the Lord Jesus, contemplating the fidelity of His own, and supporting that holy flame which burns in their hearts by supplies of His Spirit, supplies more potent far than the trials wherewith Satan seeks to quench it.

He is not only an ever-present but an all-powerful Friend. As there is nothing that He will not do for those whom He loves, so there is nothing that He cannot do for them. He is stronger than the strongest foe; He is able to do them all the good which He can purpose, or which they can need. Nothing, in short, is too hard for Him. Are they hungry? He can feed them with the corn of heaven, or cause ravens to furnish their table. Are they thirsty? The flinty rock or the hollow jaw shall send forth the refreshing streams for their relief. Are they in peril? He can open the prison doors, seal the mouths of hungry lions, still the raging waves and stormy winds, make a highway through the deep for His ransomed to pass In short, nothing is too hard for Him, Once more, He is a lovely Friend—altogether lovely, as the believer is represented as affirming. Every created excellency has been employed to set forth His glory, and yet may we say of Him, as the Queen of Sheba said of Solomon, "The half was not told me." He is brighter than the sun, more beautiful than the moon, more precious than rubies, stronger than the lion, more inexhaustible than the fountain, purer and

over.

sweeter than the rose of Sharon and the lily of the valley; in a word, all other excellency, when contrasted with His, is but as a drop to the ocean, as a point to the whole creation of God. This, dear readers, is the saint's Beloved, the believer's Friend. May He also be both yours and mine!

In conclusion, a word of admonition to the unbelieving.

If Christ be the believer's friend, He must be your enemy, for with Him there is no medium. Unbelievers are prone to flatter themselves that there is a neutral class, a class to whom the Lord bears neither love nor hatred. This is, however, a most dangerous delusion of Satan; for, as the Lord said of old time, "Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated," so He says now of the two classes of whom they were the representatives. And is it not a fearful thing to have the Lord for an enemy? If the Lord be against you, who shall shield you when His wrath is kindled but a little? The potsherd may contend against the potsherds of the earth, but he shall be broken in pieces by Jehovah's rod of iron. Against such an enemy submission is your only safeguard. Give glory to God, then, ere He cause darkness; give glory to Him ere His curse turn thy laughter into weeping, thy mercies into miseries, thy prosperity into adversity. Give glory to Him by humbling thyself before Him, by embracing His outstretched sceptre, by crying unto Him, "Be merciful unto me a sinner."

A word of consolation also to the saints who are walking in darkness.

Remember the favour shown to you in times past,

and comfort your souls with the assurance that the gifts and callings of God are without repentance. It is true a cloud now intercepts the rays of the Sun of righteousness, and you are troubled. Be it so. But are you less a child? What son is there whom his father chasteneth not? What son is there who does not sometimes see that face clouded and averted, on which love and affection are usually reflected? Yet he does not feel himself the less a son: he knows that his father remembers him still. Comfort yourselves with this reflection, then, Beloved; and whilst you remember from whence you have fallen, and repent and do your first works, remember, too, that as night gives place to day, and that as the cloud passes from the sun, so your present discomfort will pass away and your light shall come.

Lastly, a word of encouragement to the consistent believer.

To you I may say, Fear not. If God be for you, who can be against you? To every enemy you may say, "Thou canst have no power at all over me, unless it be given thee of God; and I am sure He will give thee no power to hurt me." To every trouble you may say, I will not be careful in this matter; I will commit it unto Him who has virtually said, "Cast thy care upon Me, for I care for thee." And you are not only privileged to be without carefulness, but to feel assured that the Lord will withhold no good thing from you; that His blessing will be upon you; that He will satisfy you with good things, and keep you as the apple of His eye; for He is your Beloved, and He is your Friend.

144

THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST, AND THE ENDS FOR WHICH HE ASCENDED.

HEB. ix. 24.

"For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us."

HE Church of England, by appointing certain days for the annual commemoration of the more prominent features of

the great mystery of godliness, as—for example, the nativity, the circumcision, the crucifixion, the resurrection, and the ascension of the Lord Jesus-no doubt designed that her ministers should, by bringing those subjects successively before their people from year to year, keep up a perpetual and intelligent remembrance of events so replete with interest to the fallen race of Adam. In pursuance of this salutary scheme, we have in the liturgical services of the year a commemoration, not only of the nativity of our Redeemer, of His circumcision, fasting, crucifixion, and resurrection, but also of His ascension, an event which did not take place immediately after the resurrection, but after the lapse of forty days. That the human body of Jesus dwelt with men during the whole of that period is highly probable; for though we know not where He sojourned, it is written that He appeared unto many during those forty days,—

disciples, it is true, yet still credible witnesses, inasmuch as they had everything to lose, and nothing to gain, by asserting His resurrection. By thus manifesting Himself to His chosen witnesses, He not only fully confirmed their faith, but had opportunities of instructing them in the mysteries of the kingdom of God. At length He ascended on high, leading captivity captive; and it may justly be said to us respecting Him, Whither He went ye know, and the way ye know; for it is written, "Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; and it is also written, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me." Let me call your attention, first of all, to the ascension of Christ.

This had been previously foreshown in the types of the Mosaic dispensation. I will only refer to two of these, namely, the ascent of the ark to Mount Zion, and the high priest's entrance once a year into the holiest of all. It had been foreshown in the ascent of the ark to Mount Zion. This seems evident from the twenty-fourth Psalm, which is supposed to have been composed by David for that solemn occasion, and which is one of those appointed to be read by our Church on Ascension day. The account of this event is given in I Chron. xv. David, some months before, had purposed to bring the ark of God up to Mount Zion; but on that occasion Uzza, one of the drivers of the cart in which the ark was placed, having inadvertently put forth his hand to hold the ark for the

L