place." Rivers that satisfy and never tire, of which we drink and thirst no more. Rivers of salvation, to refresh and heal and cleanse. There is the River of Justification, into which, the moment we plunge, all our sins are taken away; we are "abundantly pardoned." There is the River of Sanctification, in which we are to bathe and bathe, and, ever as we do so, we find ourselves "washed with the renewing of the Holy Ghost." And Rivers that make barren souls fruitful, so that instead of the thorn there may spring up the myrtle tree. Even in this world, the Christian often enjoys "Peace like a river, and righteousness like the waves of the sea;" and the volume still widens and increases as he nears eternity. The River of the Water of Life is a River to swim in, so deep is it; a River that spreads into oceans, so overflowing is it; a River that will flow on through eternity, so exhaustless is it. And what is their testimony who drink of these waters?

"Oh," said Lady Huntingdon on her death-bed, "all is well for ever! I am cradled in the arms of love and mercy." And Doddridge said, in similar circumstances, "Such transporting views of the heavenly world as my Father now indulges me with no words can express." Hear also the dying testimony of Thomas Scott. "This is heaven begun. I have done with darkness for ever. Nothing remains but light and joy." Such testimonies might be greatly multiplied. But turn we now to a similitude applied to Christ which seems, after all we have said, quite startling. To multitudes Jesus Christ is a "ROCK OF OFFENCE."

ROCK OF OFFENCE. Isa. viii. 14. Two travellers, arrested by what they thought an enchanting scene, stood gazing upon it with intense enjoyment. A copious river, clear as crystal, ran babbling by at their feet, making its way, with many a playful cascade, over the rocks and boulders which seemed to challenge its progress. The arch of an old bridge spanned the river, from which there hung luxuriant festoons of dark-green ivy. Friendly trees waved their branches over it, and, on either side, innumerable tall foxgloves swung their crimson bells to and fro in the breeze. But the crowning charm of the scenery was the stately mass of rocks which rose all round, piled up mountains high, in endless varieties of picturesque form, and sprinkled over with mosses and lichens of all colours; while on their ledges were proudly perched, at inaccessible heights, forests of pines and fir trees. As they stood thus, quite fascinated with what they saw, there passed a cottager who lived close by, with whom they fell into conversation. Presently he said, with an irreverent nod at the rocks, "I suppose you admire all that!" "Yes, very much indeed,--don't you?"

"No, not at all."

"Why? what is the matter with it?"

"Well-I don't know-what is there but rocks and stones? No, no! A level country is the place for me."

ROCK OF OFFENCE. ROOT OUT OF A DRY GROUND. 369

This man seemed quite insensible to any beauty there might be in the scene before him; and the rocks which awakened their admiration, you see, were quite an OFFENCE to him.-But now, what I want you to notice here is, that the state of the mind gives its own tint to all it sees. That Welsh cottager and the two visitors looked at the same scene, but, as it were, through glasses of different colours. They thought theirs were of a cheerful bright tint, while his seemed to them discoloured with discontent. Now here is the secret of the opposite feelings with which the Rock Jesus Christ is regarded by different people. Some see in Him a thousand attractions, and make Him their Rock, their REFUGE, their RIVER, and their All. These all "have their eyes anointed," so that they see. To others He is a ROCK OF OFFENCE; for Satan hath "blinded their minds so that the light of His glory doth not shine into them."

He is a ROCK OF OFFENCE to some because He is so high. They will admit He is eminent," to be sure they cannot see to the top of the Rock, but its height is only veiled. It does not really reach to heaven. As to His being anything more than a creature, that is a pure invention." They reject His claim of equality with God, though, in doing this, they leave upon His sacred character the stigma of imposture. To others He is a ROCK OF OFFENCE because He is so low. "Is not this the carpenter who lives in the next street, Mary's Son, Simon's brother?" asked they of Nazareth; and they were offended at Him. The rulers were of the same mind. His birth, His station, His associates, all were so mean, that they would not own Him as their Messiah. And those men have their representatives among ourselves, who think the religion of Christ too unfashionable, and His people too vulgar, for them to identify themselves with either. He is an OFFENCE to others because He demands too many sacrifices: and to others still, because His method of saving is too humbling for their self-righteous pride. Another emblem suggests the same sad fact. "He shall grow up as a

ROOT OUT OF A DRY GROUND." Isa. liii. 2. This "dry ground" represents the depressed condition of David's royal and stately house. The figure is that of a barren spot, where formerly there had flourished the goodly cedar and thriving trees of lofty stature. But the feller has been there with his axe, and nothing is now visible save a few starved and stunted growths. The principal descendant, perhaps heir, of the princely David, seems to have been Joseph the village carpenter. And, sharing in the lowliness and poverty of His family, our Lord grew up as a Roor despised and not esteemed by the Jews. Nor were they peculiar in their neglect and contempt. They have many followers and sympathizers now. May God give to such repentance, and deliver us from their spirit of unbelief.

Two hundred years ago, a minister (Flavel, I think) preached from the text, "If any man love not the Lord Jesus, let him be Anathema

Maranatha." He had finished, and the people waited only for the usual benediction. But the preacher was mute. They lifted their eyes, and there he stood solemnly looking down upon them. At length he broke the oppressive silence and said, "Why do you all gaze at me? Do you expect me to pronounce the blessing? What! a blessing on you that love not the Lord Jesus? not so! If any man love not the Lord Jesus, let him be Accursed;' but 'grace be with all you who love the Lord Jesus in sincerity and truth." At this the people broke forth into weeping; tears flowed on every side. Deep was the impression. And in many a heart there arose, in that solemn hour, an unquenchable resolve to know and love the Saviour. "Oh Beautiful, and yet Unknown!

The sinner cannot see Thee now;
The veil across his sight is thrown,

Which shuts him from Thy shining brow.
Friend of the lost, the sinner's Friend!
Who only canst the light impart;

O Saviour! haste that veil to rend,

And pour Thy brightness on his heart."

Forty-second Sunday.

STAR OF JACOB. SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

ONE fine day in Autumn, soon after dawn, two friends set out afoot on a short journey. The MORNING STAR was glistening in the sky, and they said one to another, Behold an emblem of the Saviour. Presently up rose the glorious Sun over the hill-top, flinging abroad his powerful beams and shedding lustre on all creation. And him they hailed as a still more illustrious emblem of the Great Redeemer of the world. By-and-by, on the hill-side, behold a SHEPHERD led forth his flock to a chosen pasture; while on the furrowed plain below, a SOWER with measured step scattered abroad in handfuls the precious grain. And our two travellers, glad to be reminded of Him whom they loved, went on still conversing of His care over His "little flock," and of His interest in "the children of the kingdom." After a while they felt tired, and were fain to rest in a cool recess which some quarrymen had excavated in a tall rock by the wayside. And there they sat a little, still " finding sermons in stones and Christ in everything." "Ah!" they said, "here is an illustration of that figure, THE SHADOW OF A GREAT ROCK in a weary land; and yonder threatening fragment overhead, of that other awful figure of the STONE falling upon the despiser, and grinding him to powder.

And here are stones fit for corner stones and foundation stones, and even some lying about, as though they might be STONES OF STUMBLING, to trip up the unwary. All these, looked at in the light of the Scriptures, read us many a useful lesson." Presently, having secured the object of their journey, they resume their walk homewards. And you will not wonder that a ruined castle by the roadside, over which formerly floated the royal standard, not only suggested STRONGHOLD, but other symbols of Christ connected with His kingship; and among the rest, SCEPTRE, SHIELD, and SWORD. And then their home, at which they shortly arrived, reminds them of the SANCTUARY which all find in Christ who flee for Refuge to Him.

And now the walk is finished. But we have not done with the instructions which it suggested. Here are ten or twelve similitudes of Christ. Two furnished by the firmament; two found in the field; three or four suggested by the quarry, as many by the royal castle, and one by their own comfortable home. Let us follow this order. And first let "the heavens declare to us the glory of Christ." Yon lonely Star glistening from out of the clear grey morning sky, seems to look down upon us from that lofty height as if it had something to communicate. Can we fail to interpret the lesson? Nay, we immediately think of Balaam's famous prophecy of Christ as the rising of a

STAR out of Jacob. Num. xxiv. 17. Nor do we omit to couple with it those words of our Lord in which He applies the prophecy to Himself, "I am the Bright and MORNING STAR.' Most of yonder Stars are really suns, mightier far than our own, yet, because of their vast distance, they appear but as points of light. So Jesus Christ appeared to the first fathers of our world. They strained their eyes to see His day, and then could only descry Him dimly, and at a great distance; like a twinkling STAR rather than as the SUN, under which emblem He may be more appropriately apprehended by us. Again, the Stars are far up in the heavens, very high. So Jesus Christ is not of the earth, but is the Lord from heaven, Higher than the Highest. And again, the Stars are bright and beautiful. So Jesus Christ is "the Brightness of the Father's Glory, the Altogether Lovely;"

"The pleasing lustre of His eyes

Outshines the wonders of the skies."

But what practical lessons are we to gather from this similitude? First. Admire Him, yea adore Him, and extol Him to others. Second. Be ever looking to Him. The mariner afar off upon the sea, throughout the long night calculates his course by the Stars. And happy indeed he deems himself if no envious cloud hides them from his sight. Steer your course by His bright example and His guiding sayings, and you shall never go wrong. "I am the Light of the World," saith He; "he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

"Is He a STAR? He breaks the night,
Piercing the shades with dawning light;
I know His glories from afar,

I know the BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR."

Third. Expect to be like Him. Is the STAR OF JACOB highly exalted? Every follower of Christ shall sit down with Him on His throne. Is He glorious and beautiful? "The beauty of the Lord our God shall be upon us." Christ says, "I will give unto him that overcometh the Morning Star." Is there not some reference here to the honours by which earthly princes distinguish their favourites? In this country one receives the grand cross of the Order of the Bath; and another the coveted riband of the noble Order of the Garter; and thenceforth they take rank among the proudest subjects of the realm. Jesus Christ also hath rewards and distinctions for them that serve Him. In different degrees they will shine, for "one Star differeth from another in glory." But every one shall bear a badge, which shall infinitely excel the brightest star that ever glittered on the breast of proudest peer. It shall distinguish him for ever as a member of the Royal Family of the Almighty, the family which stands nearest the throne amongst all the principalities of heaven, and of which Christ is the First-born, the Elder Brother, the Husband. Thus is Christ the BRIGHT and MORNING STAR Who giveth to all His followers to be Morning Stars too. But the firmament hath another emblem. The Prophet says, "Unto you that fear My Name shall the SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS arise with healing in His wings."

SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. Mal. iv. 2. When the Sun disappears at the close of the day and consigns us to darkness, we console ourselves for his absence as best we can, and adopt such expedients for the supply of light as ingenuity can devise. If our occupations are within doors, we light the candle or the lamp; and, though at a considerable disadvantage, we still pursue our work, whether of the needle, the loom, or the pen. Or we gather round the table or the fireside, and with our companions pore over the instructive page of some favourite author. If we have occasion to go abroad, and no friendly moon should reflect the light of the lost sun upon our path, some poor artificial substitute-the gas lamp or the old-fashioned lantern-sheds a fitful ray to guide our wary steps.

But, perhaps, when the sun went down just now, the thick darkness which succeeded found some poor traveller far away from home, bewildered among the unlighted hills or all but boundless moors. While the sun was present, he could find his way well enough across the pathless waste. But when the pitchy darkness settled down and drew a black pall over every object, first he faltered, and then he came to a full stop. He had lost his track! The well-known clump of firs and the broken boulder of rock to which he trusted as way-marks, he can discern no longer. And he abandons his task in despair, and watches and wishes away the weary hours, till the sun