TRUE SAINTHOOD. "If children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint- heirs with Christ."-Rom. viii. 17.

I. TRUE SAINTHOOD HAS A SPECIAL FILIAL RELATION TO

GOD. All genuine saints are "children of God" in a special sense. There is, indeed, a general sense in which all men are his children; they are his offspring, and, as spirits, they have a resemblance to him. But true Christians are his children in a special sense. Wherein is the difference ? Simply, here they have the true spirit of the relationship -the filial love. Mankind in general have not this. The unconverted millions are his offspring, but they have lost all filial affection and regard. Hence, they practically ignore the existence of their Father, and pursue a course of conduct opposed to his wishes and commands. Genuine Christians have this true filial spirit-the spirit of adoption; hence, they are in a special sense his children. Now, the giving of men this spirit of children is the great work of the Gospel-a work that is variously represented as conversion, regeneration, redemption, adoption, new creation, &c.

II. TRUE SAINTHOOD IS INVESTED WITH THE HIGHEST PRIVILEGES. "If children, then heirs, heirs of God, and

joint heirs with Christ." Infinite is the difference, in condition, between those who have the true spirit of children and those who have it not. The latter are without hope, and without God in the world; the former are "heirs" to a magnificent inheritance.

First: They are "heirs of

God." An heir is one who is entitled to an inheritance. either by the will of another, or by birth. Christians are heirs of God by the birth within them of this filial spirit. Heirs of God! What a universe of blessedness is involved in this position. On earth there are poor heirs expectants of a very slender patrimony. But Christians

are heirs to an "inheritance incorruptible, undefiled," &c.

Secondly: Joint heirs with Christ. This expression is used, no doubt, by the apostle, to convey a higher idea of the privileges of the good. Angels are true children of God, and they are heirs of God, but they are not "joint heirs with Christ." They are not to expect what Christ has as a son-thrones, crowns, empires won by suffering, toil, and battle. Christians have to "enter into the joy of their Lord," and sit down on the throne with Him.

CONCLUSION. First: Learn the infinite mercy of God. That love which stoops to

make rebellious men his true children, and invest them with a sublime heirship, passeth knowledge. "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed on us, that we should be called the children of God. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath begotten us again to a lively hope," &c.

Secondly: Learn our obligations to live a dignified life. Men on earth who are heirs to an illustrious title and a magnificent patrimony, are trained to conduct themselves with a noble bearing. In a far higher sense ought Christians to be dignified in their spirit, their manners, and pursuits.

Thirdly Learn our encouragement to fortitude under all the trials that afflict us. What awaits us? "Our light afflictions, that are but for a moment," &c.

THE LIFE OF THE TRUE. "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."-Job. i. 21. JOB was undoubtedly a true man. He is described in the first verse as 66 a perfect and upright man, one that feared God, and eschewed evil." His history, therefore, may fairly be regarded as a type of the history of all true men, and

that utterance of his, in the text, suggests three general truths, that mark the history of true men.

I. THE LIFE OF THE TRUE

HAS THE ORDINARY VICISSI

TUDES. Job had received children, cattle, and property from the Lord, and all had been now "taken away." In the life of all men there is

a

constant receiving and losing. Health, pleasure, friendship, fame, property, these come and go. We have them to-day, and they may be gone to-morrow. Nothing that we have received but sheer existence with its wondrous sensibilities and faculties can we permanently hold. God Himself will not take that from us, all else is liable to be "taken away." Even the particles that build up our bodily frame are going from us every moment. This is life-gains and losses. How much that we all once had has been taken away from us. The freshness of childhood, the buoyancy of youth, the circles of early friendships. These vicissitudes of lifeFirst: Remind us that this world is not our rest. Secondly: Urge us to rest on the Unchangeable.

II. THE LIFE OF THE TRUE. HAS AN ENNOBLING CREED.

Job felt that God was in all the receivings and losings of his life. "The Lord gave

and the Lord hath taken away." Some trace their vicissitudes to chance, and some to necessity, but Job to God. He recognised God in all the events of his life. This creed is

First: Reasonable. If there be a God, He must be concerned in everything - the small as well as the great. This creed is

Secondly: Scriptural. The Bible is full of it. Not a sparrow falleth to the ground without his notice. This creed is

Thirdly Dignifying. It brings God in conscious proximity to man in his every-day life. God's agency is recognised in all.

III. THE LIFE OF THE TRUE HAS A MAGNANIMOUS RELIGIOUSNESS. "Blessed be the name of the Lord." The language is that of pious exultation. This spirit is something more than submission to the Divine will under suffering-even some thing more than an acquiescence in the Divine will in suffering. It is exultation in the manifestation of the Divine will in all the events of life. It amounts to the experience of Paul, who said, "We glory in tribulation also, knowing that tribulation

SOUL STRENGTH.

"Who, passing through the valley of Baca, make it a well: the rain also filleth the pools. They go from strength to strength: every one of them in Zion appeareth before God."-Psa. lxxxiv. 6, 7.

THREE times a year the law of Moses required all the men, and as many of the women as were able to go up to Jerusalem, in order celebrate certain feasts, commemorative of certain great events in their history. He who could take a position commanding a wide view of the country, would see on those occasions groups of pilgrims wending their way in all directions. from various parts of Palestine to the metropolis, the multitudes swelling like a river at the confluence of its streams, as they approached the city. Such was the scene before the imagination of David when he composed this Psalm. He, however, was an exile from Jerusalein, through the rebellion of his son, and was not privileged to engage in those festivities. Still he longed to go up to Zion, "My soul longeth, yea, fainteth for the courts of the Lord." We take the text to illustrate true strength of soul, and we observe

I. THAT IT SPRINGS FROM

God. "Blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee."

All true strength of soul arises from connection with God. (1) Love is strength. The stronger the love of a soul the more strength it has. But no love so strong as that which is fastened upon infinite perfection. (2) Determination is strength. The stronger the purpose of a soul is the more invincible its energy; but no purpose so strong as that which has the full concurrence of the reason, the conscience, and the heart. Such a purpose must be directed to the service of God. (3) Hope is strength. The soul full of hope is full of energy. It rises buoyant under trial, it conquers difficulties, and braves perils. No hope so strong as that which is directed to God. No strength like the strength of soul; strength of body is good, strength of intellect better, but strength of soul is the highest good.

II. IT CHANGES THE UNPROPITIOUS IN CIRCUMSTANCES INTO BLESSINGS. "Who, pas

sing through the Valley of Baca, maketh it a well, whose rain also maketh it pools." Geography has not fixed the site of this valley; it seems, however, to have been a perilous pass on the way to Jerusalem. Its name literally means the valley of weeping. But this valley-a scene of drought and danger

becomes a scene of refreshing waters. The spiritual idea suggested is, that souls possessing true moral strength can turn the most unfavourable circumstances of life into blessings, make the dry and barren Bacas of life fresh and fruitful. Paul and Silas made their dungeon a Paradise. Godly strength transforms Bacas into Edens, Paul did this; here is his experience: Though sorrowful always rejoicing," &c., &c.

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III. IT SUSTAINS A PROGRESS IN THE JOURNEY OF

LIFE. "They go from strength to strength." "From company to company" it is in the margin. If this is correct, the reference undoubtedly is to the bands that were formed by friends and neighbours in setting out to Jerusalem. Christ Himself was once a member of one of these bands that journeyed to Jerusalem to the feast of the Passover, when his parents missed Him. But some consider the phrase should be rendered, "They go from one halting - place to another." These pilgrims had their halting - places, places where they rested their weary limbs, and refreshed their exhausted frames with food. Whatever be the best rendering, progress is the idea. "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount

up as on the wings of eagles."

IV. IT ENABLES THE SOUL

TO REACH AT LAST THE VERY

PRESENCE OF THE ETERNAL. "Every one of them in Zion appeareth before God." Every one in the various companies who went forth with a true soul, appeared in the Holy City. No one perished by the way, none cut off by wandering banditti, none devoured by wild beasts, none wandered back each went on until He appeared before God in Zion. So in a higher sense will it be with all true souls who derive their strength from God. Their feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem."

They shall see Him as He is." Let us seek this strength. "Wherefore, gird up the loins of your minds; be sober, and watch to the end, for the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." "Be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord.".

shall lie down in sorrow."-Isa. 1. 11.

THESE words suggests three thoughts concerning the false religions of men :

Ι. ΜΑΝ CREATES THEM. "Ye have kindled the fires." What are they? There are at least five false religions that prevail in Christendom, and under the name of Christianity. First: The religion of creed. The religion of thousands is nothing more than a form of words-mere verbalism. A sound creed is essential to a sound religion, but is not itself a sound religion. Secondly: The religion of moods. What were once called "frames" and "feelings," constitute the religion of many. Desires for heaven, dread of hell, sensuous sympathy with Christ's sufferings, these are the religious "sparks." Thirdly: The religion of ordinance. A constant and rigorous attention to all the prescribed rites and ceremonies of churches constitute the religion of others. Fourthly: The religion of proxyism. Many are depending upon the services of priests. The priest is the light of the soul. Fifthly: The religion of merit. All these are false religions prevalent amongst us, as man is the creator of them. "Ye have kindled them," not God.

II. HEAVEN ALLOWS THEM.