If once such joy had filled thine heart,
Earth's hatred, or earth's scorn,
Would seem but as a moment's smart,
Forgot as soon as borne.

Nay, thou in pain, or shame, or loss,
Christ's fellowship would see,

And with thine heart embrace the cross
On which He hung for thee.

Wouldst count it blest to live, to die,
Where He is all in all;

Where rapt, earth unperceived goes by,

And from ourselves we fall.

Till, from His secret place below,

To mansions fair above,

He leads thee, there to make thee know
The perfect joys of love.

THE

T. V. FOSBERY.

'HE sympathy of the Son of Man is many times a hidden sympathy. Whenever, as regards ourselves, it is so veiled that the eye of faith can hardly discern it, then we must think upon the outward expressions of it given while He was here, as pledges to us of its unfailing continuance. Those human tears, shed on the Mount of Olives and at the grave in Bethany, declare the heart of Him who changes not. And so

His people recognise in Him the one satisfying portion of the suffering and sorrowful; as knowing perfectly, understanding completely, entering into the mystery of each trouble, anxiety, and care, more fully than we ourselves can do; so experienced in human affliction, that He can bring with Him, when He comes to our side, the memory of a thousand varied griefs wherewith He was Himself exercised; and so filled with tender, soothing, discriminating love, that to those who thus receive Him, sorrow loses its sting and pain its bitter

ness.

SIXTH DAY.

The Power of the Cross of Christ.

AS Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

.. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

St. John iii. 14-17, 35-36.

All things are yours; whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; and ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

I Cor. iii. 22-23.

Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should

D

be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom. But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness: but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

1 Cor. i. 17-31.

Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

Eph. iii. 8, 9.

ARCHER BUTLER.

GOD gives us Christ, and in Him he gives us all things.

Christ cannot be ours and any grace be absent; this King cannot enthrone Himself in our spirit and not bring with Him His whole retinue of blessings. Blessings may-they must arise in succession, to creatures that live in successive time; but the first instant that Christ is ours, the seed of every blessing is ours; a life of sanctification is hidden in that moment-nay, a long perspective of infinite glory is there; death is conquered, Satan chained, and Heaven won; for He who accomplished all these things is made unto us righteousness and sanctification and redemption.' The gift is ours, let it expand as it will in our heart and life; Christ is here, and He who is 'the Son over His own house' will take care to rule it in wisdom. In having Him we have pardon, in having Him we have holiness, in having Him we have Heaven itself—' raised up together, and made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.'