many of God's children are subject to bondage through fear of death. How blessed, when death's Destroyer appears to such, and sweetly reveals the blessed truth that "the Way of life is above to the wise "-that He has abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospelthat He Himself is the Resurrection and the Life to those whom He brings to trust and confide in Him.

Many of the children of God are full of anxious thoughts concerning the future. Notice the exact word, "thoughts." Not "thought," but "thoughts," and those in multitude. The word is taken from a striking figure the many branches of a tree entwining and chafing each other in times of storm and tempest. Oh, how the heart is ofttimes chafed with perplexing thoughts. When my heart is exercised with anything apart from what God has made His Christ to me, then my vain and foolish thoughts abound. In the midst of such bewilderment I wonder whether that precious Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Who revealed Himself so blessedly to His disciples in days gone by is mine, or not? I wonder, can He remain in the midst of corruptions and inconsistencies such as I feel myself the subject of, and whether God can have began His good work in me, when the flesh opposes His Blessed Spirit at every gracious movement in His glorification of Christ in me. Ah! when left to

myself I wonder, shall I endure to the end-" join in the everlasting song and crown Emmanuel Lord of all"? When even a little love to Him moves my heart, unbelieving thoughts are gone and covenant comforts are blessedly mine. Even here strange opposites mingle as the acknowledgment flows from my adoring spirit, "In the multitude of my thoughts within me Thy comforts delight my soul." In seasons of sorrow He brings me His joy. When

felt sin is my distress, He visits me with His salvation. When my soul cleaves to the dust, He cheers me with His own good word of promise. When a feeling of deadness steals over me, He restoreth my soul and gladdens me with deliverance from the gates of death. When the toils of the wilderness fill my soul with perplexity, then He appears with His own sweet "Peace, be still." When my heart is bowed down with heaviness, "His comforts delight my soul."

Oh, how blessed in such seasons to enjoy by the God of all comfort the assurance that Jesus is mine. In the midst of sore temptations, vile corruptions, base wanderings, and many waverings, when feelingly ready to perish, I know the preciousness of His appearing in promise after promise, assuring me that if He-"Jesus-did once upon me shine, then Jesus is for ever mine." I love-I delight-to be occupied with Him as my own God, and to know that as assuredly as He has begun to teach me He will perfect my spiritual education in eternal glory. Problems most perplexing He will teach me to solve, or will solve them for me in my experimental salvation, while I fear and tremble, as He works in me" to will and to do of His good pleasure." It is my felt privilege to know that my Covenant Surety, Who settled the question of sin for me upon Calvary's accursed tree, and will settle the question of every one of my sins by the witness and seal of His Blessed Spirit within me; that He, the Consolation of Israel, will not fail me when the powers of hell assault me, and sorrows tell their sad tale upon my soul. Sometimes I have the assurance that the God of all comfort will not desert me when I am cast down because of the toils and trials of the way home, and when I forget and lose sight of Him altogether. Oh, what a mercy to find a place in the interest of the

Covenant Remembrancer, Who will not allow us to remain ignorant of the blessings conferred upon us by the Father, secured to us in the Son, and revealed in us by His rich grace. He will bring all things to our remembrance whatsoever the Father has bestowed upon us whatsoever Christ has said to us and all His heart's delight is to make known to us His and our Beloved in His adorable Person and full salvation.

I have spoken longer than I intended. But, HE KNOWS. May the God of all grace bless us with the rich enjoyment of His love, and say to every fearing heart," I, even I, am He that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be as grass; and forgettest the LORD thy Maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?" (Isa. li. 12, 13). May a precious Lord Jesus, Who came forth from the bosom of the Father to comfort all Zion's mourners, say to each burdened spirit, "As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem" (Isa. lxvi. 13). May that other Comforter, the Blessed Spirit, comfort us with His choicest gifts and consolations, and glorify the Father's Christ in our sorrowful experiences.

"Dear Lord, may I a mourner be
Over my sins and after Thee;

And when my mourning days are o'er,
Enjoy Thy comforts evermore."

It has pleased God of late to bring me down very low to learn afresh the frailty of poor mortality. And frailty it has proved itself to be indeed and in truth. It pleased Him to take me to bed to feel my weakness and utter helplessness. The first two weeks I was left

in darkness-destitute and bare. I had not a desire to open my Bible. Through mercy that is a rare thing in my experience; but, though rare, it was mighty humbling. I felt myself a pretty character to be a pastor, unworthy to be God's mouth-piece. The Master's words were mine feelingly and intelligently "without Me ye can do no nothing." Yet I had no rebelliousness-no repining-no fault finding with Him. I felt sick of earth, and longed for home. He will have His own to wait His time, and do His work according to His will. When the wind from the Throne dispersed the clouds, I felt

"AMAZED TO FIND MYSELF SO VILE,

AND JESUS SMILING ALL THE WHILE."

"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ" (2 Cor. i. 3-5)..

Grove Chapel, Camberwell,

May, 1902.

THOMAS BRADBURY.

"JOINED TOGETHER."

"What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”—Mark x. 9.

IN this interesting chapter we have a variety of characters presented for our consideration. Not long ago I directed your attention to the persons mentioned therein, and to their different peculiarities. We then saw the young ruler, so earnest, for he came running to Jesus-so humble, for he kneeled to Jesus-so anxious, for he asked Jesus to instruct him, saying: "Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" What a question! Inheriting is not by doing. Inheritance is by birth, and descends by right and title from a progenitor. It is not bought, earned, or merited. Jesus answered the young man on his own ground-directed him to the law's demands, showed him where he was lacking-and convinced him of the impossibility of the heart being fixed upon both heavenly and earthly treasure. With a heart sad and sorrowful he went his way, for he had great possessions. Yet Jesus loved him for all that.

Then we see the disciples astonished out of measure at the heavenly teaching of their Gracious Master. Peter could talk of what he and the others had left;