HENCE comes to us the River of Life and Joy and Salvation? It is not from any earthly source. It is not from any lofty height of human wisdom. It is not from the speculations or the subtle philosophy of a cultivated intellect.

For centuries men tried in vain to find out something that would cure the ills that beset us. They strove to find out a remedy for sin and evil, but they could not. To know the better, and to follow the worse, was the highest that the natural man could reach. But "Salvation is of the Lord." The fountain-head of this River is the throne of the Most High. "He showed me a pure river of water of life, . . proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb" (Rev. xxii. 1). "How excellent is Thy loving-kindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of Thy house; and Thou shalt make them drink of the river of Thy pleasures: for with Thee is the Fountain of life" (Ps. xxxvi. 7-9).

It is interesting to trace the course of some mighty river which spreads far and wide its fertilizing waters and bears on its bosom the merchandise of many a land. Some reader, perchance, has been to the quiet spot where seven springs unite their waters, and form the source of the great river on which our metropolis is built. The Hindoo will make a pilgrimage of thousands of miles to the little nook amongst the hills of North India, from which his favourite goddess, the river Gunga, takes its rise,

"EDIC'S LETTER,"

and then will fall low on his knees and worship.

Let us learn the lesson this would teach us. Trace to its fountain-head that glorious River. whose streams refresh the whole Church of the Most High. Not from the hills and the mountains of this lower earth, but from the Heavenly Zionfrom Him who is "the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort," from Him who is "the Giver of every good and perfect gift "-comes the stream of salvation. It comes to us from the very heart of our God.

Trace up this River to the infinite wisdom of the Most High. "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!" When all else are powerless to remedy earth's woes, God provides for man a great salvation which meets every need of the soul. It honours both His justice and His mercy. It brings pardon for sin, strength to the weak, a new life of holiness to those who have fallen deep into every vice. It gives full peace to the guilty conscience, and at the same time gives the highest motive to a loving obedience to His commands.

"I want a common-sense religion," said a man of the world, meaning by this a religion the mere human intellect could frame. Nay, we want something far, far higher than this. We want that which is the product of Divine wisdom. We need Him in whom "are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." We need the blessed mysteries of the Incarnation, the Atonement, the Resurrection, the mediatorial work of our great Surety. Not "in the wisdom of this world, which is foolishness with God," but in the unerring wis

and to make you know, in all its reality and power, the love of the Father and the Son. Remember this love! Wherever your lot is cast, whatever be your circumstances, think of this love and dive deeper into its ocean depths. Remember it in Prayer. Remember it at the Lord's Supper. Remember it in hours of darkness. Remember it as the one antidote to coming ill.

Return this love! Let your heart ever go forth in gratitude to Him who hath done great things for you. "We love Him because He first loved us." Yield up your heart to God. Let every chasm be filled with the fragrance of a Father's love!

Reflect this love! "If God so loved us, we ought also to love one another." Catch

ing the warm sunny beams of this love from day to day, rejoicing in all the present and everlasting benefits it confers, let us give back to those around us as we receive from above. Let there be considerate love, forbearing love, active toilsome love, self-sacrificing love.

Love your fellow-Christians. Love your kindred, even when there is much in them

that pains you. Love your neighbours Love the stranger and the fatherless and the widow. Love the destitute and the ignorant at home, and the heathen afar off.

"May we all Thy loved ones be,
All one holy family,

Loving for the love of Thee:
Hear us, Holy Father."

HE breaking waves dashed high

On a stern and rock-bound coast; And the woods, against a stormy sky, Their giant branches tossed;

And the heavy night hung dark,

The hills and waters o'er,

When a band of exiles moored their bark On the wild New England shore.

Not as the conqueror comes,

They, the true-hearted, came ;Not with the roll of the stirring drums, And the trumpet that sings of fame ;

Not as the flying come,

In silence, and in fear;

They shook the depths of the desert's gloom With their bymns of lofty cheer.

Amidst the storm they sang,

Till the stars heard, and the sea;

And the sounding aisles of the dim woods

rang

To the anthem of the free.

The ocean-eagle soared

From his nest by the white waves' foam, And the rocking pines of the forest roared::

Such was their welcome home.

There were men with hoary hair

Amidst that pilgrim band:
Why had they come to wither there,
Away from their childhood's land?

There was woman's fearless eye,

Lit by her deep love's truth;

There was manhood's brow serenely high And the fiery heart of youth.

What sought they thus afar?

Bright jewels of the mine?

The wealth of seas? the spoils of war?
No-'twas a faith's pure shrine.

Yes, call that holy ground,

Which first their brave feet trod! They have left unstained what there they found

Freedom to worship God!