THE TRUE CONSOLER.

Never is our Heavenly Father more glorified by his children on earth, than when they are in the midst of furnace fires, and he listens to nothing but the gentle breathing of confiding faith and love. "Let him do what seemeth him good!" Angels can glorify God only with the crown; we can glorify him with the cross and the prospect of the crown together.

We are to be fruit bearers in the Lord's vineyard; and if the great Husbandman be dealing severely with us, if he be pruning his vines, lopping their boughs, stripping off' their luxuriant branches and "beautiful rods,”—remember the end! "He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit."

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God's dealings may often appear dark to the believer; there may seem now to be no golden fringe," no bright light in the clouds;" but a day of disclosures is at hand. When that "morning without clouds" shall break, each soul will be like unto the angel standing in the sun,- there will be no shadow; all will be perfect day!

"Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said: "What I do, thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know

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hereafter." In this world we are in the childhood of our being; eternity is the soul's immortal manhood. There every providential dealing will be vindicated, losing all its darkness when bathed in the floods of the excellent glory.

O, blessed period, when the long-sealed book of mystery shall be unfolded, the "fountains of the great deep broken up," ""the channels of the waters seen," and all discovered to be one vast revelation of wisdom and love! Here we are often baffled at the Lord's dispensations; we cannot fathom his ways; like the well of Sychar, they are very deep, and we have nothing to draw with. But soon the "mystery of God will be finished," and the mystic "seals," with all their inner meanings opened to human as well as angelic gaze.

Nothing, says Jeremy Taylor, does so establish the mind amidst the rollings and turbulence of present things, as both a look above them and a look beyond them; above them, to the steady and good hand by which they are ruled, and beyond them, to the sweet and beautiful end, to which, by that hand they will be brought.

The Great Counsellor puts clouds and darkness round about him, bidding us follow at his beck, through the cloud, promising an eternal and uninterrupted sunshine on the other side. On that "other side we shall see how every apparent rough blast has been hastening our barks nearer the desired haven.

Not only are there signals of peace hung out from the walls of heaven the light of Home glimmering in the distance, to cheer our footsteps, but we have the "shadow of a great rock" in a present "weary land." Before the throne alone is there "the sea of glass," without one rippling wave; but there is repose, even on earth, for the tempest-tossed:-"We who have believed Do enter into rest." Then return unto thy rest, O my soul !

"Come unto me all ye that labor, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Reader, long going about "seeking rest and finding none," do these words of the Savior sound like music in thine ears- "Come unto me?" All other peace is counterfeit, shadowy, unreal. The eagle spurns the gilded cage, as a poor equivalent for his free born soaring. So the spirit's immortal aspirations, can be satisfied with nothing short of God's favor and love in Jesus.

Soldier of Christ! with all thine other panoply, forget not the "All-prayer." It is that which keeps bright and shining "the whole armor of God." While yet out in the night of a dark world—whilst still bivouacing in an enemy's country kindle thy watch-fires at the altar of incense. Thou must be Moses pleading on the mount, if thou wouldst be Joshua, victorious in the world's daily battle.

"Another Comforter." What a word for a sorrowing world! The church militant has its tent pitched in a valley of tears. But the name of the celestial visitant, who comes to abide with her, and minister to all her wants, is Comforter, yes, and another Comforter, showing that to be one of the appropriate names and offices of the Son of God himself. How peculiarly precious the title; how wonderful and all-sufficient the comforting influences of the Divine Spirit.

There must be rain, and hail, and storm, says Rutherford, in the saint's cloud. Why do you ask me, enquired Simeon, on his death bed, what I like? I am the Lord's patient and hence I cannot but like every thing which he orders.

Our Lord's special mission on earth, the great errand and chief business he came to fulfil, was "to bind up the broken-hearted." And even when those who "come up out of great tribulation," have entered the gates of glory, he is represented as "wiping away tears from their eyes."

Believers have been aptly styled heliotropes, turning their faces, as the sun-flower, towards the Sun of Righteousness, and hanging their leaves in sadness when that sun is away. In Heaven the emblem will be complete. There, every flower in the heavenly garden will be turned Christ-wards, bathing its tints of loveliness in the glory that excelleth. May it be ours, when o'er canopied by that cloudless sky, to know all the marvels contained in these few glowing words: "We shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is."

Orphaned pilgrims, dry your tears! Centuries have elapsed since Jehovah-Jesus uttered the promise, "I will come again," and still he lingers; the everlasting hills wear no streak of approaching dawn; we seem to listen in vain, for the noise of his chariot wheels. "But the Lord is not slack, concerning his promise," he gives us this word of his in addition to many others as a keepsake - a pledge, and guarantee for the certainty of his return.

With Cbrist for our life, how inviolable our security. The great Fountain of being must first be dried up, before the streamlet can. The sun must first be quenched, ere one glimmering sattelite, which he lights up with his splendor, can. Satan must first pluck the crown from that glorified head before he can touch one jewel in the crown of his people. They cannot shake one pillar, without shaking first the throne. If we perish, Christ perisheth with us.

It has been beautifully said, that the openings of the streets of Heaven, are on earth. Even here we may enjoy some foretaste of the coming bliss.

"Be of good cheer, It is I!" (or as our old version hath it, more in accordance with the original,) "I am! be not afraid." Jesus lives! His people may dispel their misgivings for Omnipotence treads the waves! To sense it may seem at times otherwise; accident and chance may appear to regulate, or rather to make sad havoc with human allotments; but not so; "the Lord's voice is upon the

waters," he sits at the helm, guiding the tempest-tossed bark, and guiding it well.

Christ's voice, like Joseph's of old to his brethren, may at times sound rough and harsh, but there are blessed undertones of love. "It is I," he seems to say; it was I that roused the storm; it is I, who, when it has done its work, will calm it, and say, "Peace be still." Every wave rolls at my bidding; all have some gracious end; they are not sent to dash you against the sunken rocks, but to waft you nearer heaven.

Christ never yet, says Charnock, put out a dim candle that was lighted at the Sun of Righteousness.

Comfortless ones, be comforted! Jesus often makes you portionless here to drive you to himself the everlasting portion. He often dries every rill of earthly bliss, that he may lead you to say, "All my springs are in thee." He seems intent to fill up every gap love has been forced to make. How beautifully in one amazing verse does he conjoin the depth and tenderness of his comfort, with the certainty of it." As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you, and ye shall be comforted;" while his most remarkable declaration is," As my Father hath loved me EVEN SO have I loved you."

Yet a little while, we read, and he that shall come, will He will stay not a moment longer, says Goodwin, than he hath dispatched all our business in Heaven for us.

come.

Christ seems to have an especial affection for his orphaned and comfortless people. Parents love a sick and suffering child most; of all the household he occupies most of their thoughts. So the Lord Jesus appears to lavish his deepest sympathies on "him that hath no helper."

Sorrow is the great birth-agony of immortal powers; sorrow is the great searcher and revealer of hearts; the