counterfeit. There is indeed plenty of religion, but the major part of it is as unlike the religion for which Ridley and Latimer died as a dead branch is unlike a living tree. Religion, without faith, without godliness, without vitality, is strongly represented in our midst, but its nature, its origin, and its results are entirely at variance with that religion for which the martyrs bled. They suffered for the religion that has its origin in heaven, that is brought down to the earth by the Holy Spirit, that besieges and captivates the heart of man by its irresistible power, that effects a complete transformation in his walk and conversation, and in his affections and pursuits; that convinces him of his utter vileness and nothingness, that brings him to the feet of Christ for mercy, that enables him by faith to realise that his sins are washed away in the blood of the Lamb, and that Christ's righteousness is imputed to him; that purifies his heart, and sanctifies him for the service of God, and that eventually carries him into the realms of eternal glory. The religion of the martyrs, in fact, was the religion of the Bible: the truths contained in that sacred volume were the truths for which they suffered ignominy, reproach, imprisonment, and death. But where is this religion to-day? Is it co-extensive with the vast domains of nominal Christianity, or is it confined within a (To be continued.)

narrower area?

"AND BE FOUND IN HIM."

"FOUND in Him," then naught can harm me;
Having Him I want no more;

Earth's vain pleasures cannot charm me,

Christ containeth all my store.

"Found in Him," no condemnation
Stands against me in that day;
"Found in Him," I've full salvation,
Joys that cannot fade away.
"Found in Him," I cannot perish;
Christ is my unchanging Friend,
He His lamb will save and cherish,
He will love me to the end.

"Found in Him," when death appeareth,
I would lift my voice and say,
Sovereign grace my spirit cheereth,
Christ hath borne the curse away.

“Found in Him," oh, dying sinner,
This will end all further strife;
He's salvation's End, Beginner;

"Found in Him" is endless life.

IDOLATRY.

WHEN the Lord brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by the hand of Moses, He gave them special commandments. One was, "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me; thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image," &c. God had delivered them out of Egypt, from Pharaoh and his hosts, brought them through the Red Sea. He made a way when there seemed to be no way, and slew their enemies before their eyes. They saw His works and sang His praise, and now God says, "Thou shalt have no other God." But one would suppose that, after all this, they would never think of worshipping another god; yet, after all, they made a golden calf, and fell down to worship it. God was very wroth with them for this, and, had not Moses pleaded in their behalf, He would (speaking after the manner of men) have destroyed them. Still they were severely punished for their folly; and God, who is a God of mercy and compassion, went before them in the wilderness, and delivered them still from their enemies.

But they were not the only idolaters. There are many worshippers of idols now, not only in the world, but in the Church of the living God. The Lord's own people are prone to it now, as well as in the days of old. They have their hearts sometimes so taken with the world and the things of the world that they have no heart for God, His house, His Word, or His ordinances. Their possessions, their business, their families, their friends, or something of an earthly nature is set before God, and they worship it, and God, His Word, and His great salvation are almost forgotten. Sometimes, too, when the Lord's people assemble to worship Him, and are blessed with a true servant of God to proclaim the good news of salvation, and they are really blessed under him, they begin to think more of him than of the God who sent. him, and he becomes their idol, instead of being viewed as the honoured channel through which the blessing has come. We are commanded to esteem the servants of God very highly in love for their work's sake, and to be wanting in this is to dishonour Him who sent them; but our depraved hearts are almost sure either to slight them or to idolize them. The path to heaven in this respect, as well as in other things, is so pressed, so close, so strait, there seems no path at all. Some people may pass over these things and think nothing of them; but those who have been made to mourn over it, and to feel the wretchedness of it, know that it is a truth.

Sometimes the Lord takes away His people's idols, according to His word, "From all your filthiness and from all your

idols will I cleanse you." This is very painful work, and by it they are made to feel that it is an evil and bitter thing to sin against God; yet, as soon as they are a little recovered, so to speak, they begin to set up idols again, and, though God requires the whole heart, they find the world divides their wavering minds and leaves but half for God.

The writer has had painfully to prove these things, and knows them to be true. I was once so taken with an idol that it engrossed almost all my thoughts. I did everything I could to please my idol; it was my chief concern day and night. I knew it was wrong in the sight of God; I felt it was wrong. I feared God's anger. I was afraid He would take away my idol for my wickedness, and the thought of it made me idolize him still more. I mourned over it; I tried to pray against it; but my idolatry remained, and I begged the Lord to take away my idolatry without taking away my idol.

"How simple are Thy children, Lord!
Unskilled in what they pray;

They often lift a hasty word,
Yet know not what they say."

I knew not what I was asking for, but I believe God hearkened to my cry, and answered my request

"But it has been in such a way

That almost drove me to despair."

He did take away my idolatry, and has left my idol to be as a spear in my side, to cause me daily trials and crosses under which I have had to say with the Psalmist, "It was not an enemy that reproached me; then could I have borne it; neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; for then would I have hid myself from him; but it was thou, a man, mine equal," &c. I have been many times like the Psalmist, so troubled that I could not speak. My tears have been my meat day and night, so that I have been like one drawing near to the grave, yet none but the Lord knew my grief or my sorrow; but, after a time, I found a friend to whom I could make known the secrets of my breast. We could converse together on the things of God, and talk of His ways in leading, guiding, and correcting His people. I felt it good; my spirits revived a little, and, though my cross remained, my health began to improve; also, if not greatly deceived, I had many tokens of love and blessings from God in the means of grace. But I soon had to feel again the abominable wickedness of my heart, for the friend that God had given me I soon began to make an idol of, thus I have been compelled to confess, "Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it." Oh, how compassionate is the God of

Israel to His erring children! He sees our weaknesses; He knows that, "when we would do good, evil is present with us, so that how to perform that which is good we find not." He knows all those who mourn over these things, and desire to live holy and free from sin, but cannot.

"And Jesus on the eternal throne
For mourners intercedes."

Were it not so, we dare not come before Him, nor take the name of God on our polluted lips, for our sins of idolatry alone would condemn us. Oh, may it be our happy portion to escape these pollutions, and meet in that place where no idol can intrude, in— "That holy, happy place,

Where sin no more defiles;

Where God unveils His blissful face,
And looks, and loves and smiles."

LIVING RELIGION.

A LITTLE ONE.

SWEET is that religion that lies between Christ crucified and the sinner's conscience, the great physician and a wounded spirit, the good shepherd and the lost sheep, the perishing prodigal and the fatted calf, the condemned criminal and the Lord our righteousness, the enemy to God and the reconciler. What a meeting, what a match, and what a sweet joint do these two parties make when thus joined together, and made one spirit. This is what all seekers in Christ should aim at; this is the vital part; "And I, if I be lifted up," says Christ, "will draw all men unto Me"

To be united to Him, as the branch is to the vine, which receives all its life and fruit from the root and stock, this is sweet indeed, and is our sure abiding; and without being in the vine, and abiding therein, we can do nothing. But too many aim at a fair show in the flesh, and no more; and if by this they obtain the witness of men and their approbation, they seem pleased and contented. But when temptations come on, when sin revives, when conscience begins his reproaches, when fears are awakened, and terrors surround us, all this external appearance blasts, withers, and fades away

Private retirement, watching the hand of God both within and without; calling on His blessed name in the secret closet; acknowledging every favour, both in providence and grace, by thankfulness, by blessings, and praises; reading His Word and meditating upon it; feeling after Him in trouble, and confessing what I find amiss. These have been the simple means by which my soul has been kept alive to this day, and I believe I shall never die. HUNTINGTON.

CONFLICTS AND ENCOURAGEMENTS,

DEAR FRIEND IN THE LORD,-I did not, as is usual, write upon my return, so I consider myself in your debt, and shall endeavour now to acknowledge your favours. I bear the friends at S an affectionate remembrance, and, from the prayer the Lord gave me in your house on the Saturday evening, I hope the Lord will hold you up, keep you together, direct your steps and go before you, point out your resting-places, and give you feeding times, so that "your hands may be strengthened and your hearts comforted and knit together in love, striving together for the faith of the Gospel."

Upon my return, preceding trials and present ones set me fast, and I made a sudden stop and was ready to halt. This is often my experience. Clouds, bonds, burdens, storms, and conflicts make me sensible at times how much I stand in need of the God of Jacob to help me, keep me, and deliver me. I am the dust of His creation, the clay of His hand, and the worm of His power, and thus by sheer necessity a dependant upon His sovereign favour for both my outer and my inner man. Sin is a dreadful evil. It blinds the eyes and hardens the heart. The world is dead in sin and lost in darkness, and is called "this present evil world." No faith is to be found in it, and therefore it is evil in principle and practice. Creeds, forms, and ceremonies without God render men carnally secure, and they cry peace without Christ and the new birth, and, if grace prevent not, are lost. But "the Lord knoweth them that are His." Not a hoof was left behind of His flock, and the children scattered will all be gathered and housed in the cleft of the Rock. Life, unction, and power in any small measure is worth worlds.

For some time I have had such dreadful turnings up of human depravity as have almost sickened hope to death; have been assailed with the fiery darts of the enemy-dreadful thoughts, causing bitter and severe conflicts, with many other things of a trying nature, but have been helped, and at times delivered; have sung His "Godhead, blood, and name," and "crowned Him Lord of all "—worlds, angels, and men-that once expired on Calvary's bloody tree. These are lifts by the way, much needed, and, therefore, mercifully given. I had need be sober-minded. The devil is a subtle adversary, and "the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked." But we are "kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation;" and, if we follow that which is good, who shall harm us? and, if we follow Christ, we follow that which is good in the fullest sense of the word. If I follow myself, I follow a fool and a worthless man.

"Show me