ful loving hands. His wishes were gratified. He had learned to look beyond the dim and bounded present to the regions of eternal day. His latter days had been spent in a pleasant fruitful spot, but he remembered. that this was not his rest. He looked for a better heritage where there was no vicissitude, no idolatry, and where he would be provided for by God himself.

III. These words were spoken in the assured belief that the trials and sorrow of life would soon be past.

The lot of man is one of toil and sorrow. But there is nothing in affliction by itself, if unaccompanied by piety, to make it a minister of God. It was otherwise with Jacob. Trials had softened a heart naturally less impressible. Over the divisions of his family and the declining flame of piety Jacob had mourned-and now that his warfare is accomplished and his work done, the veteran saint who has deplored the evils he has been called to endure with true hopefulness of spirit says, "I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord." Jacob was willing to exchange carth for heaven. In many of its aspects this world may seem fascinating. It is, however, but the ante-chamber or outer court of Jehovah's palace, where the assaults of the evil one shall have ended, the immortal spirit have burst the fetters that now restrain it, shall mount on eagle's wings, rejoice in perpetual youth and where the fullness of eternal day shall be obtained.

IV. The Christian may feel the force of Jacob's words inasmuch as he expects to be favored with the nearer vision of, and to hold congenial intercourse with the Saviour.

To look, were that possible, upon one who had given up his life for us, to be in the society of one venerable because of his goodness, and illustrious because of his wisdom, might be expected powerfully to effect and elevate the soul, and be regarded as a lofty privilege. In

heaven Jesus will be no stranger to his people. He will feed His people and lead them to living fountains of water. They shall see the King in His beauty when they awake-they shall be satisfied with His likeness. They will be in His banqueting house, and His banner over them will be love.

The subject teaches us the importance of true religion and the blessedness of a good hope through grace, such as proceeds from cordial acceptance of the proposals of the Gospel, and springs from seeking the friendship of Him who has invited the children of men to seek the shelter of His loving hand. Many reasons should make us think much about, and seek diligently after this salvation.

Friendly figures and hands seem to beckon us across the Jordan to Canaan, and heaven and earth shall sooner pass away than one of the Saviour's promises shall fail.

THE FINAL BATTLE.

W. R. WILLIAMS, D.D.

There is no discharge in that war.-Ec. viii: 8.

THERE is a great fortress and line of siege commanding every homestead and every individual. The pointed musketry in this line each one must face, and to which all are walking in one inevitable procession. You fall here, I fall there. The rattling hail of death is every instant falling. You too must die. "It is appointed unto all men once to die."

I. This battle is an appointment. It is made by an All-knowing One of whom there is no cheating-an Omnipotent One, whom there is no shunning—an Almighty one, whom there is no resisting. No craft,

force, tears, outcries, or affection can baffle the stroke. No gold or empire can purchase exemption. To-day the capitalist wielus his large fortune, to-morrow the grim destroyer hands it over to greedy heirs. To-day the king rules his myriads of subjects, to-morrow, to-morrow death has tossed the sceptre in another's hand. None pillages like death. His victories "carry nothing away." None haunts like death. He never loses his scent or misses his game. None aims like death with a shaft that always strikes. There is no flying, no bribing, no pledging, no reasoning, no treating with the enemy. "There is no discharge, &c."

II. The results of this battle are final. If death takes away the soul without Christ it is lost. But will God permit this? Why not, if God has explicitly warned that "the wicked is driven away in his wickedness?" Why not, if "wickedness cannot deliver those who given to it ?" Why not, if unpreparedness is the individual's own fault? Why should not the results be final, if you have been familiar with the Gospel-lived in a land of Bibles and Sabbaths-had warnings of Providence and strivings of the Spirit? What show of reason is there in your pleading a discharge from the war, when every cemetery, tolling bell, passing hearse, ache and ailment warned you that this battle was approaching and would be fatal ? Life was given you to know God. He has revealed Himself that you might know Him. Why have you forborne to know the Saviour, to acknowledge his claim, to wear his blessed livery, and to give the heart he asked? Why cling to sins and idols, reject the love, peace, and heaven, he proffered freely, sincerely, often, now, but as yet, in vain ?

It is a terrible lot, to go down from a land of light and revivals, unprepared and unforgiven to eternal sor

row. But that fearful prospect will not induce the pale King of Terrors to give a discharge. "If you are not prepared," he might exclaim, "after all this, when would you be? Come with me then as you are. Here is my warrant both for body and soul."

III. This battle may end in victory. In the day of opportunity and repentance there is proclaimed one mightier than death or hell. He is the Prince of Life and Lord of Glory. He came to destroy him that had the power of death. He in bringing rescue tasted of death, yea not only met the common lot, but bore on himself the common and concentrated guilt of our race. Doing this he tore the sting from death and to them that believe, He is become the author of life, everlasting life.

To them that receive Christ, the war though fierce has lost its main terror and is stripped of its perils, mortality loses its ghastliness and puts on hopefulness and promise. The grave is like the wet, cold March day, behind whose gloom lie the treasures of bursting spring and the glories of refulgent summer. The light afflictions are but for a moment, &c. Death to the saint changes many of its offices. If pain walks at his side, He is also the queller of strife and the calmer of care. No more throbs or sighs, but rest. He is in one sense the Destroyer, but in another the Restorer. He brings back, through Christ's victorious grave, the lost innocence and peace of Eden. He divides the nearest ties, but also re-unites to those who sleep in Jesus. He is the curse of the law, but through the blessed one, who magnified and satisfied the law, he becomes to the believer in Jesus, the end of sin, the gate of Paradise, and the recompense of a new, a better and an unending life.

DELIVERANCE FROM THE FEAR OF DEATH.

REV. DANIEL MOORE.

And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.—HEB. ii: 15.

CHRI

HRISTIANITY teaches us how to withstand our spiritual adversaries in life and to triumph over them in death. All its doctrines set forth the defeat of the last enemy. All its moral discipline tends to prepare us for its approach. All its promises have respect to the relief and deliverance of "them who through fear of death," etc.

I. The causes that make the prospect of death a source of apprehension.

1. The instinctive dread we all have of the act of dissolution itself. This feeling is universal-caused by the natural recoil of flesh and blood from being resolved into their primal elements, from the superstitions connected with death-from the thoughts of the last farewell-of the sights that shall greet them and the hand. that shall lay hold of them first, after crossing the invisible borders.

2. The physical accompaniments of approaching death. We are afraid of our supports failing us in that moment of moments. Afraid of Satan making that his chosen hour for attacking us.

3. We are afraid of the moral origin of death. Death we know is a retribution or penal thing. Conscience is affrighted at the penalties it feels to deserve. It is an effect and punishment upon transgression. It is the implanted feeling of our nature, that death is the commissioned magistrate of heaven come to reckon with us