:

The devil does not care to interfere with such a religion; he often offers no hindrance to such, and all goes on smoothly with them. All this may consist with a thorough ignorance and hatred of God as the God of salvation. Yea, more, a man may have much correct knowledge and many true notions, and yet after all be farther from the kingdom of God than a blind ignorant Hottentot. The gospel is God's power unto salvation; and unless it has so proved to an individual, he has not the root of the matter in him-all his fancied light is darkness. In judging of a man's vital godliness, we ought not first to consider his outward life, for there may be apparent blossoms and fruit where the root is rottenness (see Isa. v. 20—21). "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him! Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust. Because they have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel." The first inquiry I should rather make is this, Has the word of the truth of the gospel come unto such an one? And if satisfied on this point, I then look for that fruit which I am sure must follow (see Col. i. 4—6). Again, I would inquire, Does such an one know anything of the grace of God that bringeth salvation, and if so I am sure that it will teach him to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to "live soberly, righteously, and godly in thi present world" (Tit. ii. 13). Artificial flowers and fruit may deceive, and often do, but Christ formed in the heart the hope of glory cannot. The sum of the matter then seems to be this, nothing but a single eye can enable us to see God as the God of salvation, and no other sight of God can avail a sinner. This single eye is the fear of the Lord, and this fear is a covenant blessing, secured in Christ to the whole election of grace. The possession of this fear is a token of childship, and of that peculiar favour which the Lord bears unto his own people. Whosoever has this fear is taught to look unto Christ the Sun of Righteousness, to guide him in that race which is set before him, and who gives unto his people the constant supply of that faith by which they live, which is to them the evidence of things not seen, and by which they are enabled to form a right judgment in all things.

Stockwell.

J. W. GOWRING,

(To be continued.)

THE CHURCH TRIUMPHANT.

In the momentous days, when all the earth appear gathering together against the Lord, and against his anointed, and have arisen a second time to fulfil the ancient prophecy which declares their cry to be," Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us;" it is to me most comforting to behold by faith a happier day, a glorious morn which shall succeed a tempestuous night, when kingdom shall have ceased to rise against kingdom, and the troubled waves of the overhanging storm hearken to the voice of the God of peace, and usher in the song of a holy company of angels-"Now is come salvation and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ.

The true church of God throughout all ages, their interests, and their desires, have ever been esteemed by earthly governors as quite secondary and apart from general welfare; for the believing family of God have been treated as a people whose well-being has been considered only as likely to create no disturbance among the people: so that whenever her children have asked a petition which has not savoured of universal charity (which is to believe one religion is as likely to be true as another), their demand has been treated as emanating from such a little flock, that it would be unwise and impolitic to grant a request which would not give satisfaction to the majority, and promote something like general contentment among all classes. Thus has Zion's prayer been dependant upon the yes or no of the unbelievers; so that dukes and members of parliament have, properly speaking, constituted the bishops of the church, and the constituency of Great Britain upon the question of Whig or Tory, have created a sanhedrim to govvrn the fold of Christ.

But to leave men, their sayings and doings, and to forget the misrule to which a spiritual kingdom must necessarily be subject if it hath not spiritual rulers, it is better than all to know that the Scripture saith, the government shall be upon his shoulders;" and that although man may appear to exercise sole dominion over the church, yet the Lord looks down from heaven's high tower and seeth the little ants with their determined free-willism-yes, and beholds all the puny crawlers when they assemble to frame mischief by a law. With such thoughts as these I lose sight of the diminutive strutters, and wave the banner of true loyalty" The Lord is governor among the people."

Now if I rightly understand the word " triumph," the church has only just cause to make her boast; and if I would search for warriors, I might find thousands among Israel's eamp, each one bearing trophies of victory. Or would I look back to earlier days, an army of martyrs surround ine; and although I cannot point to memorials which have eyes and see not-ears, and hear not, yet the history of a noble company

have crected tablets in my memory which are ever present with me. If to slay a thousand men be counted a victory, how much greater to slay thyself; if to conquer a fleshly enemy deserves a wreath of honour, dost thou then conquer a spiritual enemy? Yes, Israel, thou hast gotten the victory, and over a foe more mighty than was ever arrayed in the battle field. Oh, Israel! thou art a people mighty in battle. But though her children now are subject to powers, not willingly but of necessity, the day is at hand when the yoke of her taskmasters shall be cast off; "for the kingdom and dominion, and the greatuess of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him." So that dispersed as are the people of the saints of the Most High, while other kingdoms totter and fall at the frown of heaven, the God of heaven shall set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; for the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever." Then will the petition which his people have sent up to his throne receive its final accomplishment, "thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." His holy will is done in heaven, inasmuch as every creature delighteth to do his pleasure; the unnumbered troops, because there is no night there, cease not cry. ing, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts;" thus owning him sovereign Lord of all. So the Lord has bid us pray that his will may be done on earth in like manner; then will the men cease to worship the work of their own hands, nor will monarchs cast their crowns to them which are no Gods, but "all kings shall fall down before him, all nations shall serve him." Human priests of any species will then cease to officiate, and he, our great high priest, will be all in all; bitter contentions will sink to rise no more, and books which have imbibed so much animosity, sect against sect contending for nonessentials, share the fate of the ancient books of magic; ministers will forget party differences, denominations will dwindle away, and a selection of hymns for one congregation which will not suit another, cease to be the order of the day. For "thy watchman shall lift up the voice, with the voice together shall they sing, for they shall see eye to eye when the Lord shall bring again Zion." The gates of the sanctuaries will not remain closed from Sabbath to Sabbath, nor will earthly things debar our frequent presence there; "thy gates shall be open continually, they shall not be shut day nor night." Ancestral halls will crumble to dust, lordly estates be forgotten, and mighty domains no longer be called after men's own names, but that sweet brotherly love will be shed abroad in our hearts, as shall make our language, "Whatsoever is mine is thine, and thine is mine."

There are not a few who earnestly contend that the reign of Christ upon this earth will never be universal. I say there are many who believe it to be enthusiasın, and that such a doctrine is the result of a carnal interpretation of the prophecies. Now if such persons would suppose that a triumphant state of the church can possibly be brought about by the power of foreign missionaries, it might be enthusiasm in

deed. But not so, it is the Lord's work, and his alone; a sifting time must come, for it is written, "He shall judge among the heathen; he shall fill the places with dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries; he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked." That "Jesus shall reign where'er the sun,

Doth his successive journeys run,"

is a truth which the Scriptures most positively declare, and none more positive than those words by the prophet Isaiah, He shall have dominion from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth." And again, the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea." With such a promise my cry is, "Let the whole earth be filled with his glory."

The assertions of a sect of persons who technically describe themselves as "Millenarians," are frequently associated with this subject, which has no doubt tended much towards its rejection. Their belief is that the saints will see Christ descend from heaven, who will live and reign bodily with the patriarchs, prophets, and saints, who for a thousand years are to enjoy a state of perfect happiness. Their creed, which they found upon Rev. xx. 4, 5, 6, says, "they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years." Hence they gather that Jesus will live amongst them bodily; but it is quite possible for Christ to reign with us, and we with him, without the presence of his body. Nay, I think many readers of this Magazine can bear me witness that he has reigned in their hearts for some time past, inasmuch as though they have wrought much evil, yet the desire to do good and adorn his gospel has been uppermost in their souls. I think persons who count it worth while to weave a party banner on account of minor differences, are possessed with an erroneous impression of its importance; hence have arisen denominations and separations to which mistaken zeal has given birth. But the days are at hand when the Lord God shall pour out his Spirit from on high, "for in this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees; of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations. In that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness." Then shall there be a mighty gathering of the redeemed from the four winds under heaven to keep the great Sabbath; rabbis, and chief rabbis, will glorify the stone which the builders rejected, and declare him head of the corner, and rejoice that they have found that gate into which the righteous shall enter. The weary wanderers will sing with new delight one of the songs of Zion, and chant afresh the strains of ancient companies while ascending the holy hill. "I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord; our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem." Natural and grafted branches will rejoice in one common stock, and make the wilderness to rejoice in their fertility; for

"he will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; he will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water." For "whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, he will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.' "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, for glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of our God." Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will according to his own time grant peace in her palaces, and assemble his fair children out of every nation, kindred, and tongue, to join in the chorus of the great congregation-"Praise to the Lord."

LAUDI DEI.

BIBLE COLOURS-OR, GREEN AND RED.

GREEN were the trees in Paradise,
Ere our first parents fell;
Red was the pleasing sacrifice,

To save their souls from hell.
Green was the offering Cain prepared,
The produce of the earth;
But Abel's offering was red,

Of far superior worth.

Red was the wrath of God 'gainst sin,
When Noah the ark prepared;
The olive branch of peace was green,
To show the chosen spared.
Green was the rod in Moses' hand,
When he to Pharaoh went;

Red was God's wrath through all the
land,

When he the manslayer sent.

Green were the herbs God's children ate,

In red their safety stood;

Red was God's wrath upon him pour'd,
And red his murd'rers' spleen ;

But he, unlike a withering gourd,
Retained his evergreen.

Red was Saul's rage against the few,
For whom the Naz'rite died;
The love and power which him o'er-
threw,

Was green-nor has it dried.
Green shadows forth the love of God,
The person of his Son;

A scarlet thread runs through the
word,

And blood seals all he's done.

In love and blood the chosen seed,
Are evermore secure ;

Their fruit in him is green indeed,

And so will long endure.

Yet all they are that's great and good,
With every full discharge,—

Blood on the doorposts clearly mark'd, From law and sin they are in blood,
Their keeper to be God.

And thus they walk at large.

Red was the sea through which they Blood cleanses from the foulest stain, passed,

Their prospect living green;

To drown their foes God blew a blast,
And they no more were seen.

Green was each promise through the
law,

As each did blood proclaim; While each sin-offering fully bore, Some shadow of the Lamb.

Green were the withes which Samson bound,

Figures of actual sin;

Green were the thorns Christ Jesus

crown'd,

While blood flowed free between;

Blood puts all sin away;

Blood heals disease, is greatest gain,
Its virtue's fresh each day.

With blood applied God's saints ap