are only like flowers growing on the edge of a dark volcano, which when they are alone, and outward excitements have passed away, wil waken in lurid glare and thunder, and distract their repose. The want a joy that shall pierce deeply into the region of self, and ris from the consciousness of self-surrender and forgiveness. Look throug life, and do you not find that the great aim of men is to forget and t go out of themselves ? What means the longing to be a child again What means the gloom, only deepened by the flash of pleasure Whence so often springs the desire

6. To die, to sleep, and by a sleep to say we end

The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks

That flesh is heir to"? What means the temptation to suicide? Do not men feel in thei inmost hearts that to live in themselves and for themselves, to b bound by the self-life, is misery ? for they cannot escape from the guilty self of past years, and dare not face it when it rises from its tomb! Now emancipation from the tyranny of self—freedom from the memories of the past-is reached by the spiritual man. At the crosso Christ the burden of the past falls, for at the cross he yields himself There the love of the crucified Lord subdues his nature, and the ne Divine life enters, purifying the past, and filling the soul with heavenly energies.

Then again the fact of self-surrender may give rise to a joy that ca deepen even in the midst of sorrow; for its secret consists in cali contentedness to be what God wills. Is it not a joy deep and unspeak able, to feel we are the willing instruments of the eternal will; tha the eternal purpose is being wrought out through us? Has not thi conviction irradiated the darkness of dungeons, and filled with un speakable peace the hearts of persecuted and suffering men in al ages ? Has it not nerved the martyrs for their last agonies, and strengthened them while the fire or the scaffold did their work? And was it not from this consciousness of fulfilling the will of God that the Great Sufferer gathered strength for His own unspeakable woe, as in the midst of His agony He cried, “Not my will, but Thine, 9 Father, be done"?

2. The joy of fellowship with the Father. All profound gladnes springs from sympathy with a spirit (or a truth) higher than ourselves Why do our hearts bound on spring mornings with the joy of nature Why does the beauty of the summer evening calm us? Why do we feel a “glory and a joy” as we tread the mountain-sides? Why dd we feel à deepening peace as we walk amid the splendours of the golden autumn? Is it not because we realize the presence of a spirit of beauty surrounding us, and inspiring us with an emotion which no words can describe? Or why is it that when a truth breaks in upon us through clouds of doubt, and a clear vision of its beauty is gained after long and fruitless searching, that we feel a thrill of joy deep and unspeakable? Have we not, after communion with some greater soul, felt our own darkness dissipated and our own isolation broken down? In that hour has not the touch of a greater spirit made us feel nobler, stronger, wiser? and if this be true of earthly communion, must it not be supremely so when we realize the fellowship of God as our Father? It is this which, as the apostle John says, makes “our joy full.” It is then that we feel a joy which cannot be disturbed by outward changes or sorrows. It is then that the peace of the eternal home settles down upon us, the blessed joy of the eternal love, and we exclaim with Paul, “Who shall separate us from the love of God? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution ? Neither life, nor death, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” · II. In conclusion let us observe the POWER of this "joy of the Lord.” We may trace it in three ways.

l. It is power to resist temptation. Look back at the past, and do we not find that those periods in which we have given way to doubt and distrust of God, were times in which all spiritual energy was paralysed; times in which we longed for some emotion that would raise us above ourselves, longed for more life and fuller? Then, in the cold, dreary midnight, which has seemed to be settling over us, has not the voice whispered, “It is better to go madly wrong than to be passionless and cold”? Then it was that the sleeping evil in the heart has started into life, and low impulses and base temptations have risen up in power. Now the “joy of the Lord” disarms temptation; it forms in itself the fulness of emotion, and surrounds us with a heavenly atmosphere in which the assaults of evil fall powerless away. It is the vacant heart which is powerless. It must be filled. It is vain to say to a man, Love not the world, unless you give him something else to love. Thus he who is filled with that calm joy which springs from the surrender of the heart to God and fellowship with His love, is strong with an irresistible strength.

2. This joy is strength for Christian action. Regrets for past failures Weaken us, unless they pass into the joy of present belief. We must be careful in saying that. It is well to look into the sad, tearful eyes of the past, but no present power comes from gazing always there. Memory may often incapacitate us for rising to meet the claims of present duty. It seems to say, “ You have fallen often in the past, and you will fall again.” It is well to learn the lessons of past sorrows, they are God's hand-writing on the palace walls of the soul. But still their noblest lessons are not gained by constant contemplation of them. We work most earnestly, we progress most swiftly, when we believe that the past is forgiven. When we read its troubles as present blessings, then it is we rejoice in God.

3. Joy is strength for patient endurance. We are too weak to endure the discipline of life unless we have the present earnest of the future reward. Sorrows make us strong, by breaking us away from the ener

vating influences of the world's life; but stronger for endurance is this joy which springs out of sorrow. It was this joy which shone out in the martyr ages, and filled the martyrs' souls with the peace of God; and it is the earnest and foretaste now of the blessedness of those, who being faithful to the end, shall fully “enter into the joy of their Lord.”

King's Lynn, 18th Nov., 1860.

SPEAKING A WORD FOR CHRIST. MRS. Adams was an invalid. That | suffering ones around her; and she is, she was too unwell to expose her- | had endeavoured so to bear her il self more than absolute necessity health and the depressing weakness required in the inclement season of she suffered, as to prove her submis. the year. Yet she was able to super sion to the Divine will. But this was intend her household, and to receive not enough. She must do active calls from her friends, provided they work this month; she must speak were neither too long nor too fre for Christ. Naturally of a retiring quent.

disposition, she had shrunk from The Sabbath before was a mild direct conversation on personal reli one, and she had joyfully embraced gion, feeling that indirect remark the opportunity of again joining her and general observations were al Christian friends in the public ser that were required of her. vices of the Lord's house, and in Now she was troubled. As sh celebrating His dying love at the sat that cold, frosty afternoon in he communion table.

pleasant room, as attractive and The pastor was peculiarly solemn cheerful as it was possible for loving and tender in his appeals to “ the hands and hearts and a liberal purs family” around him to be faithful in to make it, she sighed heavily as sh their efforts to draw others into the | looked about her. “In everything “ circle,”-the fold to which they | James has shown his love for me belonged; "and this month, this preferring my society and my happi: week, dear friends, will you not en ness, sick and wasted as I am, to all deavour to speak a word for Christ the charms of the gay and intel whenever and wherever you may lectual society he is surrounded by have the privilege?” “ But," added and yet I — " here the voice wa he, “there must be much prayer, as choked by tears, — “yet I, I a preparation for the successful per-| Father, O Jesus, have never begge formance of this duty; for 'he that him to come to Thee, never knel winneth souls is wise.'”

with him to supplicate Thy blessing The exhortation fell upon tender I will, so help me God, this ver hearts; for the Spirit was even then night.” And that long conflit moving among them, and preparing ended,—for it had been her burde the way for the stately steppings for months,--she was prepared fi of the Lord.”

the next one. None felt it more than Mrs. The door bell rang, and Mr Adams. Deeply had she deplored Roberts was announced. “Brin the giving up of her class in the her up, Jane, and if any one el Sunday-school, her attendance at calls, say I am busy." Mrs. Rober the evening prayer-meetings, and entered and greeted her cordiall her weekly visits to the poor and I She was extremely lively in conversi tion, full of the chat and merry gossip Mrs. Roberts sat still in utter of the town, yet with a certain air of amazement. It was so different from conscious superiority, which made anything she had heard from her one ill at ease in her presence, unless friend before, that it was as unin all points you perfectly agreed expected as disagreeable to her. with her.

She arose with an expressive look She was Mrs. Adams' next door of pity on her face, and, kindly tak. neighbour,-very wealthy and very ing Mrs. Adams hand, said she would stylish, and, in her own opinion, very intrude upon her no longer that religious. For did she not occupy afternoon, as she saw she was tired one of the most expensive pews in and nervous. “I will send you some the church ? and was she not noted jelly for tea, dear, and come to-morfor her benevolence, her tenderness row and take you to ride, if it is to the suffering, and her unflinching pleasant enough.” So saying, she advocacy of the rights of others ? hastily left the room | To Mrs. Adams she had been most Poor Mrs. Adams! For a few kind, --constantly reminding her, by moments she felt utterly cast down, the most delicate attentions, of the almost ashamed of her humble effort. constant place she had in her heart “For me to speak to her! If it had and thoughts. How could she beg been any one else!” But, at this her to be reconciled to Christ? But moment, a sweet peace filled her the Spirit was pressing upon her soul; her Father's fulfilled promise conscience, and urging her to this to those who follow His voice,duty; and she dared not refuse to “Great peace have they who love comply with its promptings.

Thy law.” Falling on her knees, she "She will think me presumptuous; thanked her Saviour that He had she will think me egotistical; she will enabled her to speak “one word” think me intrusive; she will think for Him, and entreated that the inthat I think myself better than she fluence of the Holy Spirit might 18;” urged the poor human nature follow that word, imperfectly as it and the evil spirit, not willing that was uttered, and assist her in all she should throw aside her reserve, further efforts to win souls to Christ. and put on the armour of open It seemed as if Mrs. Adams' battle.

trials were all to come at once, for Mrs. Roberts had a singularly open scarcely had she recovered from the and direct style of mind; and, having excitement occasioned by the connoticed that her friend seemed ab versation with her first caller, before stracted, inquired anxiously if she a second was announced—“Miss was not as well as usual, or if any. Green.” If it had been hard to thing was troubling her? The door converse with her friend and neighwas opened and the way made plain, bour, it was far more with a mere and Mrs. Adams, with a silent cry for acquaintance. help, obeyed it all.

Miss Green had but recently “Yes, my dear Mrs. Roberts,” she moved into the same street with answered, “there is something on herself, and was now returning Mrs. my mind which troubles me sadly. It Adams' call on her as a stranger. is seeing those I so love and respect, She had pleasant, easy manners, as I do you and others of my friends, and a fluent style of conversation, have so little love for Christ. Pardon and rattled on with racy remarks on me if I speak too freely, but I feel so the town, the neighbours, and the utterly dependent upon Him for all view from the adjacent heights, till my hopes of heaven, that I long to it seemed as if the tim allotted to have all I love, trust and love Him a ceremonious call must soon exalso."

| pire. And yet Mrs. Adams felt her heart warm to this stranger with themselves by the sacred named new and sweet emotions. It was Christ. the reward of the faithful dealing of “Many, I fear, who consider them the previous interview, and she selves Christians, because they hav could not let this opportunity slip. been educated in a Christian com

A thought struck her. “And what munity, have yet no personal interes church do you attend here, Miss in the Lord Jesus as their atonin Green?” “What church? Oh, to sacrifice their great High-Priest tell the truth, we have not taken a their only hope of salvation, the onl pew anywhere. Papa has been wait. ground of acceptance with the ing to see where he liked best, but | offended Father in heaven.” mamma prefers Dr. H.'s, and so I “And is this what you believe, Mril suppose we shall have to go there.” Adams?" asked her visitor, whil The manner became serious at once, an expression of intenseinterest ovel and her eyes were fixed questioningly spread her fine countenance. "A upon Mrs. Adams' face; “May I atoning sacrifice," she repeated ask,” she added, “where you are herself; "and do you, whom I hea accustomed to go? I have not seen every one speak of as lovely and ex you, I think, at any church I have cellent, pardon my freedom, feel thal attended.”

you need an atonement for you “No, probably not; I am too un sins ?" well to be out as regularly as I wish; "I feel,” said Mrs. Adams, whi but I belong to Dr. E.'s church, in tears filled her eyes, and her voice w H- Street.”

tremulous with emotion, “I feel, ml “Indeed!” exclaimed Miss Green, dear young friend, that in the sight with some surprise,—"then you are that God who cannot look upon si a Baptist ; pardon me, but I should but with abhorrence, who demands not have expected you to go there, me my first and best affections, wh but," added she in a moment, “I am demands of me perfect conformity sure I don't know why; I have never His holy law, that I am indeed a lo! been there, but I have had an idea sinner, justly condemned to eterna that~that the Baptists were rather," death, unless through and on accoun and, confused between her desire to of the atonement made by Christ, H be polite and her real surprise, she will forgive my sins.” could not finish her sentence.

"And are your own good deeds “ You mean, I think,” said Mrs. your charities, your patience 11 Adams, “ that you think us rather suffering, your forgiveness of in narrow and bigoted in our views,- | juries, your daily life of devotion t many persons have that idea of us, your family, all to go for nothing but if you will come and hear my Are they not acceptable in Hi pastor some time, I am sure you will sight?" be pleased with his sermon. He is “I will answer you in Paul an eloquent preacher, and an earnest, words, "That I may be found in Hin devoted follower of the Lord Jesus." not having mine own righteousnes

Miss Green looked puzzled. “And which is of the law, but that whid what do you mean by that P” she 1 is through the faith of Christ, th asked. “ Are not all ministers that, righteousness which is of God by and do not all Christians believe in

faith.' But this is of course no er Christ?"

couragement to neglect of virtue, fa “They should be, most certainly,” Christ says, 'If ye love me, keep m said Mrs. Adams; “but I think we commandments." cannot fail to perceive a great differ After a moment's silence, in whic encein this respect, even in ministers, l she seemed plunged in thought, shi and much among those who call | looked up, and said earnestly, “Mrs