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at present everywhere in a state of conflict and consequent danger, requiring the utmost vigilance and vigour for their defence and propagation, while many generations of labour, sacrifice, and suffering, may be necessary to subdue opposition, and command for them the cordial homage of the human race. Be it so the emancipation of a world is reward enough for the toil of innumerable ages. The virtuous of each of the long chain of generations, will see enough in the grand result to satisfy for their respective shares in the mighty struggle.

Satisfied!—Yes; they and only they will be the subjects of this felicity. The benefactors of their species alone will look back to earth and time with satisfaction. Let it not be vainly imagined "that in a state of exalted purity and wisdom, the founders of mighty dynasties, the conquerors of new empires, or the more vulgar crowd of evil-doers, who have sacrificed to their own aggrandisement the good of their fellow-creatures, will be gratified by contemplating the monuments of their inglorious fame— theirs will be the delight-theirs the triumph-who can trace the remote effects of their enlightened benevolence in the improved condition of their species, and exult in the reflection, that the

prodigious change they now survey, with eyes that age and sorrow can make dim no more-of knowledge become power— virtue sharing in the dominion-superstition trampled under foottyranny driven from the world-are the fruits, precious though costly, and though late reaped, yet long enduring, of all the hardships and all the hazards they encountered here below!"*

FRIENDS AND FELLOW-COUNTRYMEN! At what time soever the battle of truth goes adversely, let us think on these things, and be comforted! Truth is of God, and, therefore, immortal; and because immortal, omnipotent! Whatever the might, or the multitude of her foes, they must ultimately perish! How prolonged soever her struggles, they can have but one issue-victory!

JOHN CAMPBELL.

December, 1846.

Lord Brougham.

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THE

CHRISTIAN'S PENNY MAGAZINE,

AND

FRIEND OF THE PEOPLE.

Cabinet of Things New and Old,

THE JEWELS OF GOD.

JEWELS are highly prized. They are very rare; they are not found everywhere, but only in particular localities, and are procured with: great trouble. They are very costly. They are very beautiful. How they dazzle the sight, and enkindle the imagination! They are preserved with great care; the casket is placed in the securest spot, and guarded with the most faithful vigilance. Such are earthly jewels-the jewels which mortals hold so dear, and with which they adorn themselves. But we are to speak of the jewels of the Lord of hosts. Men's jewels are diamonds, and all manner of pleasant stones; but the Lord's jewels are more precious and beautiful than these. These will do to grace the brow of an earthly sovereign, but the King of kings and the Lord of lords must put on richer ornaments. The streets of the city where his immediate presence manifests itself are gold, and the gates of the city are pearl-the wall is of jasper, and the foundations of it are of the choicest gems. What then must jewels be amid golden pavements, and jasper walls, and gates of pearl! If common things in that world are so bright and beautiful, what must be the brilliancy and beauty of Jehovah's dearest possessions!

Well, among the Lord's people are his jewels, Yes, he takes the lowliest of mortals, and makes of that mortal a jewel for his crown. He takes a sinner, all covered with the rubbish of sin, and defiled by its stains, and by a process of infinite wisdom and grace, aye, and at infinite expense too, he washes him, and puts a new life within him, and assimilates him to his own nature, and transfers him to the glories of the heavenly world, and makes of him there a jewel of the Lord of hosts! Surely this is a glorious privilege and honour of the saints of the Most High! They need care little for the distinctions and possessions of this life, who have before them prospects so glorious. But are these the prospects of all that wear

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the name of Christ? No. For now, as of old, all are not Israel that are of Israel. Many a one has found a place in the church of Christ who will have no part or lot in the New Jerusalem which shall come down from God out of heaven. Nor are these the prospects of all who by grace shall be saved. All, indeed, whose, blessed portion it shall be to enter into the everlasting kingdom of God's dear Son, will pass to high honours and happiness; sorrow and sighing shall flee away, and God will dry all their tears; they shall no more go out; they shall sit under the tree of life, and drink of the river of life, and worship for ever before God and the Lamb. But it is only a particular class who in that day shall be JEWELS of the Most High. Oh, how brightly these shall shine amid the countless numbers of the shining ones!

But who are they? Let us go back to the days of the last of the prophets. Malachi lived in a most degenerate period. The heart grows sick at the recital which he gives of the prevailing sins. Impiety was bold and reckless-men wronged each other with unblushing faces; they were covered and defiled with vices and abominations. Even the priests had gone out of the way-the messengers of the Lord of hosts had caused many to stumble. Hypocrisy and vice entered into the most solemn acts of the national worship. The nation had robbed God, and were cursed with a curse. But though this was the general picture, there were

a few fairer lines. God had reserved some to himself who had not yielded to the current and given themselves up to sin. Though the proud were called happy, and they that wrought wickedness were set up, and they that tempted God were even delivered, these few chose rather the despised paths of piety, and remained stedfast in their faith. "Then," for so runs the beautiful narration, “then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another; and the Lord hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name; and THEY shall be MINE, saith the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up MY JEWELS; and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him." We have found, then, who they are that are to be jewels of the Lord of hosts. They are the few that cleave to Christ when the many go astray. The few they are who, amid prevailing indifference, and worldliness, and scoffing, live continually by faith--the few who at such times come together to deplore the fall of Zion, and to seek the blessing of God upon his Israel, ever faithful among the faithless;-when they speak to one another the Lord hearkens and hears, and their names are written before him, and these shall be his jewels when the ransomed are gathered home to himself. Oh, what pastor is there who cannot look over his flock, and single out here and there one on whom he has leaned in times of prevailing declension-whose sympathies in periods of exhausting labour have cheered him-whose prayers have held him up--and, as his eye rests upon them, does

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