bird comes sweeping down, in the might of his strength, and with his huge wings beats it over the crag into the fearful gorge beneath. Dashed to pieces by its fall, it becomes food to its foe, which, swiftly pouncing upon its remains, bears them in his talons to his eyrie in the top of the rocks.

Satan has a similar device for the destruction of believers. He knows that he can do nothing but annoy them so long as they receive his assaults at Calvary in full view of a bleeding Christ. Hence, like the eagle, he drives them, if possible, to "Mount Sinai." He darts upon them with accusations of legal imperfections. He thrusts the law before them, and calls them to judge their lives and tempers by its stern demands, and by its farreaching claims on the obedience, even on the thoughts and purposes, of the heart. By these means he moves the unwary disciple toward Horeb and Sinai ;-when, beholding nothing but the law with its merciless terrors, hearing only voices of thunder and wrath, he sinks condemned and sorrowful to the dust. Shame covers his face; strength departs from him; and he readily falls a victim to some new device of his malicious adversary.

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Knowing this, the believer, when tempted, should obstinately refuse to judge of himself, or of his safety, by a legal standard. He should meet every accusation of Satan by immediately flying to Christ in an act of resolute faith. Every discovery of legal deficiency, of spiritual pollution, or even of actual guilt, should be followed by deep contrition of spirit, by confession, by an act of appropriating faith. By a steadfast presentation of Christ's promise, he should say, Lord, Thou hast said, 'He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.' I believe, oh let me live!" However sore the temptation, however violent the assault, however fierce the attack, he must never allow himself to lose sight of Christ as his present Saviour. His victory depends on this. He must fight the battle at Calvary or be defeated. But, contending there, defeat is impossible. Faith will spring up, and grow mighty, irresistible, and victorious in any heart, however tempted, that steadfastly persists in "looking unto Jesus." Failing of this, allowing himself to be driven to Sinai, like the chamois to the crag, he will be overcome, perhaps destroyed.

Go therefore, tempted Christian, to Calvary.

Your heart feels cold and hard; your soul is dark; you find it difficult to drag yourself to the act of prayer; and you seem forsaken of God; but, notwithstanding all this, you must fly to Christ, and claim Him as your present Saviour. Lie just as you are, tossed and distracted, buffeted, at Christ's feet, with a prayer on your lips and a promise in your hand, and with your eye steadfastly gazing on His face, and your heart believing that for His own sake alone He does now accept and justify you.

Do this, remain in this attitude patiently, stopping your ears against all the foul whispers of your foe, and in a little while a sweet persuasion of His love, a delicious outgushing of affection will spring up, fresh as living water from the everlasting hills, in your spirit. The life of holy love, which gushes from the trusting heart as water from the smitten rock, will pour in renovating tides through your comforted soul. Waves of joy will swell your happy bosom, and your disappointed enemy will draw back, leaving you to undisturbed fellowship with your approving Saviour. And in all Satan's future endeavours to destroy you, meet him in the same manner according to the apostle, who, speaking of the tempter

says, "Whom resist, steadfast in the faith," and in obedience to Christ, who says, "He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die."

WARNING.

BREATHE thoughts of pity o'er a brother's fall,
And dwell not with stern anger on his fault:
The grace of God alone holds thee, holds all ;

Were that withdrawn, thou too wouldst swerve and halt.

Send back the wanderer to the Saviour's fold,

That were an action worthy of a saint;

But not in malice let the crime be told,
Nor publish to the world the evil taint.

The Saviour suffers when His children slide;
Then is His holy name by men blasphemed!
And he afresh is mock'd and crucified,

Even by those His bitter death redeem'd,

Rebuke the sin, and yet in love rebuke;

Feel as one member in another's pain;

Win back the soul that His fair path forsook,
And mighty and eternal is thy gain!

EDMESTON.

CHAPTER VII.

Blessedness of the Fruitful
Disciple.

"Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples."

HERE is an old legend of the medieval age which will beautifully

illustrate these words of Jesus. It states that, as a pious monk kneeled in his narrow cell earnestly praying for a vision of his Redeemer, a great light suddenly illuminated the place of his devotion. In the midst of this strange splendour he beheld the presence of the Saviour. With rapturous awe he contemplated the sublime vision, his heart swelled with ineffable joy. But just at that moment the convent bell rang to sum