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great importance to every human. being to enjoy the favour and protection of such a Being as this.

There are many evils which threaten to come upon us on account of religion, which, in fact, never overtake us. We see them at a distance, but they never come near enough to do us any harm. They hover over us, but never fall upon our heads. We think of them, and tremble; but remain untouched and unharmed. So it was with respect to this burning fiery furnace. Escape seemed impossible. Nay, these three men were actually thrown into it; yet, after all, they remained unhurt. And there are many pilgrims and saints whose experience, though different in circumstances, is yet in principle and substance the same. The enemies' forces were heard behind; their glittering spears were seen from far; destruction appeared certain God opened a way for them through the sea. Some have been thrown into the furnace, but have come out of it uninjured. Others have seen it burning and prepared, but have never been cast into it at all..

but

After all, the question which we have to decide is not whether we will suffer or will not suffer. That is already decided for us. "Man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward." The inconveniences connected with religion are but those natural and common evils which it is impossible wholly to avoid. The question is, whether we will accept of the presence and blessing of God in all our afflictions, or whether we will bear them unaided and alone. You say you will be laughed at if you become religious: you will be laughed at whether you are religious or not. Witty and malignant people, if they cannot make you ridiculous about religion, will do it for something else. Is it not better to suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing? We may save our lives by denying the Lord that bought us, but death will overtake us

when we have done. Had these three young men consented to sin, they must in a few years have been gathered to their fathers; and then they would have had to suffer and die without God. But when they resolved to be faithful, He resolved never to forsake them. And to all His servants God has said, "Fear not, for I will be with thee." These men had nothing to fear though all the world was against them; though the burning fiery furnace was prepared for them; though Nebuchadnezzar, in his rage and fury, commanded the most mighty men in his army to bind them and cast them in. When God is with us, we can go through the fire without being burned; we can even consent to be consumed. When He is with us, death cannot dissolve that union; for the souls of the faithful, when delivered from the burden of the flesh, are with Christ in joy and felicity.

"There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth :" did they raise no song over the faithful three

"Who braved the tyrant's ire,

Nobly scorn'd to bow the knee,
And walked unhurt in fire?"

success.

The importance of pains and diligence is a truth, says Ryle, that meets our eyes on every side. In every calling, and vocation, and trade, we see that labour is one great secret of It is not by luck or accident that men prosper, but by hard working. Fortunes are not made without trouble and attention, by bankers and merchants. Practice is not secured without diligence and study by lawyers and physicians. The principle is one with which the children of this world are perfectly familiar. It is one of their favourite maxims, that there are "no gains without pains."

Let us thoroughly understand that pains and diligence are just as essential to the well-being and prosperity of our souls as of our bodies. In all our endeavours to draw near to God, in all our approaches to Christ, there ought to be the same determined earnestness which was shown by this sick man's friends. We must allow no difficulties to check us, and no obstacle to keep us back from anything which is really for our spiritual good. Specially must we bear this in mind, in the matter of regularly reading the Bible, hearing the Gospel, keeping the Sabbath holy, and private prayer. On all these points, we must beware of laziness, and an excuse-making spirit. Necessity must be the mother of invention. we cannot find means of keeping up these habits in one way, we must in another. But we must settle in our minds that the thing shall be done. The health of our soul is at stake. Let the crowd of difficulties be what it may, we must get through it. If the children of this world take so much pains about a corruptible crown, we ought to take far more pains about one that is incorruptible.

If

Why is it that so many people take no pains in religion? How is it that they can never find time for praying, Bible-reading, and hearing the Gospel? What is the secret of their continual string of excuses for neglecting the

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means of grace? How is it that the very same men who are full of zeal about money, business, pleasure, or politics, will take no trouble about their souls ? The answer to these questions is short and simple. These men are not in earnest about salvation. They have no sense of spiritual disease. They have no consciousness of requiring a Spiritual Physician. They do not feel that their souls are in danger of dying eternally. They see no use in taking trouble about religion. In darkness like this, thousands live and die. Happy, indeed, are they who have found out their peril, and count all things loss if they may only win Christ, and be found in Him!

SATAN.*

Ir is the word of God alone that we must consult for authoritative information regarding the spiritual world. Some of the wildest reveries, the most fanatical outbreaks, or the most revolting scenes, which have by turns degraded and harassed mankind, have originated in the neglect of that simple truth.

But the remark seems to possess a special importance in regard to the

existence and the attributes of the great enemy of man. That existence and these attributes, are matter of pure revelation. There may be haunting fear, or revolting devil-worship, or dark and sad forebodings regarding some evil power, where there is no inspired truth. Universal experience attests that that has been everywhere the case. But all exact information is derived from the law and the testimony. The question has been asked, "What is Satan? what does he aim at? or what can he accomplish ?" and for an answer we must appeal to the Bible. Even it preserves a significant silence upon some points, regarding

Satan as revealed in Scripture. By the Rev. W. K. Tweedie, D.D. Edinburgh; John Maclaren. 1862, Pp. 192,

the spirit-world: it, at least, always speaks with a solemn and a wise reserve upon the subject. It would not be difficult to present figures of angels, or of seraphim, from the descriptions which inspiration gives of them; but in regard to Satan's form, all is silent as the grave. No figures here; no emblems; no appalling delineation : and we must copy its wisdom, if we would possess sound opinions or salutary convictions regarding him, his agents, his subtlety, or his power.

Yet upon this subject the scriptural disclosures, with all their wise reserve, are peculiarly explicit. Satan's nature, his fellow-agents, his work, his plans, his success, his discomfiture, and his eternal doom, are all depicted with heavenly wisdom, and with great precision. In the first place, we are told of an "innumerable company" of sinless beings who are before the throne of God. They are referred to as holding different ranks on high, and these portions of inspiration lead us, generally, into the knowledge of beings which are elsewhere described as "all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation." A race of holy creatures superior to man, and yet in some way his appointed benefactors, are thus clearly made known. Even little children have their "angel" in the presence of the Great King; and though this whole subject is confessedly mysterious, though we have no detailed account of the creation, or of the attributes, of angels, such as curiosity might crave, or superstition invent, we are distinctly informed as to their functions regarding our race. Had men not indulged in unbridled fancies regarding these spiritual beings, the truth would have been more generally edifying than perhaps it is,-there might have been one snare less in the heavenward path, and one joy more in the believer's portion here below.

On the other hand, we read of "spiritual wickednesses," which are the

deadly antagonists of man: not beings of flesh and blood, but subtle and impalpable, resistless by mortal strength, and requiring "the whole armour of God," if men would cope with them, and triumph. They are "the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation." They are the sinful creatures whom God did not " spare, but cast them down to hell." They are "the devil and his angels," whom the Judge of all describes, "the devils" who "believe, and tremble: " and had the gorgeous poetry of Milton not over-coloured this subject, or had daring men less boldly denied the truth; or had ingenious men not tried to explain it by explaining it away,it would have been more easy to have arrived at exact and simple conclusions regarding it. An apostle warns us that " a novice being lifted up with pride," may "fall into the condemnation of the devil;" and is there not reason to fear that many disregard the warning? Judging from these words of St. Paul, it seems to have been pride that ruined the powerful creature whom the Bible makes known as the arch-enemy of man. But whatever was the occasion or cause of his fall, the result is clear: an enemy to God and our world appeared with whom nothing but Omnipotence could successfully cope. Even more significantly than when the words were first employed, his name is "Legion;" and man's salvation much depends on his being aware of the fact.

THE BIBLE A REVEALER. Ir is wonderful what power there is in the Word of God. I was reminded of this but lately, by the remark of a youth, who, although he had been reared in infidelity, was nevertheless outwardly moral. "I feel almost afraid to go to church," said he, "for the Minister seems always preaching right at me."

The Word of God had found out his sin. Conscience was quickened by the plainest setting forth of truth. The sanctuary, so dull to others, ever brought some word to bear upon him which was in conflict with his life, and he felt himself unwillingly weighed in the balance, and found wanting. Indeed, there are many minds who, sinning through the week, go on the Sunday to the sanctuary, and are startled that in the chapters read, or the text chosen, there is a revealing of their own offences. It seems to them, as if in some mysterious way, the Preacher had learned their thoughts, observed their secret transgressions, and was now rebuking them before the entire congregation.

Ah! he is but not with the mean personality they at times conjecture. It is only the Spirit driving the nail in a sure place. It is only the twoedged sword of the Word detecting "the thoughts and intents of the heart." It is only the perfect law held up as a mirror, in which each one is made to discern the spirit he bears. It is only the power of Divine truth taking hold of the individual conscience, and saying distinctly, directly, "Thou art the man!" Under just such revealings do some minds find the convictions which lead them to an embrace of mercy. Others, in the very sharpness of truth, find a stumbling stone, and a rock of offence. Proud and resolute, they will not sit to be a mark for the Preacher's arrows. They turn away like those hearers whose deceitfulness of heart our Lord so disclosed with a commandment.

Take the Word of God into your closet. It is no more the Preacher, but your own heart, so prone to look on pleasing lines, that is now the reader. Yet if a sin, or a neglect is on the conscience, the Word will weigh, and sift, and burn into the soul. It may be Genesis or Romans, the Revelation of John or Exodus. You will not read many lines ere your sin will find

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both a delineation and a malediction. Let the mind only come to the light, and its deeds will surely be reproved. The Word is ever with power. No mind can escape its assaults, unless reaching that fearful point in human destiny when it is "given up to believe a lie."

One, it is said, went to Cromwell, the Protector, complaining of a court Preacher for parading his sins; and he Iwould have had him banished for his boldness. But Cromwell saw at a glance his guilt, and, with a pungency terrible as satire, replied, "Ah, Sir, the Word of the Lord has found you out, has it?"

POSTHUMOUS INFLUENCE.

It was a striking remark of a dying man, whose life had been, alas! but poorly spent: "O that my influence could be gathered up and buried with me!" It could not be. That man's influence survives him. It still lives, is still working on, and will live and work for centuries to come. He could not, when he came to die, and perceived how sad and deleterious his influence had been, put forth his dying hands and arrest that influence. It was too late. He had put in motion an agency which he was altogether powerless to arrest. His body could be shrouded and coffined, and buried out of sight; but not his influence. For that, alas! corrupt and deadly as it is, there is no shroud, no burial. It walks the earth like a pestilence, like the angel of death, and will walk till the hand of God arrests and chains it.

Let us be careful what influence we leave behind us. For good or evil, we shall and must live and act, on earth, after our bodies have returned to dust. The grave, even so far as the world is concerned, is not the end of us. In the nature of things, it cannot be. We are, every one of us, doing that every day, every hour, which will

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