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loped, and fulfilled in the gospels and epistles. Then let them hear them!" And in this word there is from beginning to the end, but one note: "Repent and believe!" One grand exhortation: "Crucify the flesh with its lusts and desires!" One rule: "Sacrifice thy own life, that thou mayest gain life eternal!" One uniform strain: "Perish the world, thee and all, and Christ endure!" And for those who will not obey this voice there is in the Scriptures, from beginning to the end, only one declaration: "Thou art accursed!" One an"Thou shalt not see life!" One message: "The anger of God endureth over thee!" Only one finishing sentence: "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels."1

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Observe it, therefore, well; the Word! the Word! "The same let them hear!" For him that will not submit himself to the Word I have no longer help. Therefore blessed are they who see not and yet believe! Those also who will not believe will yet witness that which is promised to the people of God, as the rich man and the lord at Samaria; but-and that will be the sting of their misery-with their eyes they will see it, but never, never partake of it.

Matthew, xxv. 41.

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VII.

THE ABANDONMENT OF THE CAMP.

"AND the Lord commanded them," says St. Mark, vi. 8-10, "that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse but be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats. And He said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into a house, there abide till ye depart from that place."

Directions to the Apostles for their journey are contained in this sentence. "But what does it concern us?" perhaps many may think. We, however, think otherwise, after having arrived at the conclusion, that there is nothing whatever in the Holy Scriptures which is not written with some reference to us. For are we not also travellers? Assuredly; only certainly not in the literal sense. But the directions for journeying just pronounced conceal beneath their plain and outward sense yet another, according to which they have represented all God's children, who are journeying on their road to the eternal city. In those words there is presented to them, by their Lord, a travelling companion, short and compact, but, in its spiritual interpretation, of deep import. Those also, who take a different route to us, have their itinerary; but the Lord has not provided them with it, but another, and therefore all therein con

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tained is misleading and full of mischief; the stated line of road, the regulations for the pilgrimage, the destination of the journey, and the means to attain it. All is false and deceptive, and calculated to effect the ruin of the poor wanderer. Happy is he who no longer proceeds by that route. Most pompous titles does it bear certainly, such as, " Philosophy of life," "Religion of reason," "Christianity elucidated," " Pure morality." But, looking closely at it, it is nothing else but that lying document, which Zechariah read, according to which all thieves were pronounced pious, and all perjurers righteous; but of which the Lord said, "I will bring it forth, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name; and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof."1

We will dwell a moment on the travelling guide which is written for us, and first, we must feel highly astonished with the easy position in which it places us. What then is written in the book? If we did not know it already, we should imagine that it began with a long statement of all the articles which we should have to take with us for the journey of life. Into how many varied situations, dangers, and necessities may we not be thrown from one day's march to the other! But "Well?" Yes, a list of all kinds of travelling necessaries is there, but only marked as things which may be left behind. Of these, the first that we are to throw aside, is the scrip or bundle. Free must the children of God journey on as the bird in the air. Away with the bundle of cares! Away with it to the foot of His cross,

Zech. v. 4.

courage.

before his throne, into His bosom! "Take no care," the Scripture commands. "He careth for you!" What! have no care? None! Ever be cheerful and of easy "But that is a risk !" Friend, you blaspheme. How should that be risked which the Lord of Lords has commanded. When, in an embarrassed and oppressed state, a rich man only says to you, "Be at ease!" you then go forth, already happy, and relieved. And the command of the great God to cast away the burthen, is to be held a risk? Now you blaspheme against the Lord when you think thus. There is many a thing out of place in the world, still nothing so much so, as a weight of care resting upon the shoulders of those who do truly repose in the bosom of God, the hairs of whose head are counted, and whom God styles the apple of His eye, and to whom God swears, in the most solemn manner, that he will not let them want for any good thing. And still, and still! Well, you

already know what I wish to say. Alas, our faith is so weak. Meantime, however, whether it be easy to throw off the burthen, or whether, being engrafted in our flesh it be difficult; wherever a man in Christ is anxious in any degree, he is unwise and mistakes his position.

We read further in the travelling companion, that provision of bread for the journey of life is not needed. "No bread," says the Lord. How? without any spiritual bread are we to start forth upon a road, where there is so much call for various exertion and exhaustion? Yes, but understand rightly. Bread of the soul consists in spiritual experiences, divine thoughts, promises from the Bible, verses and such like. Yes, feed upon those green pastures, as indeed, without my injunction you

1 1 Peter v. 7.

will do, no doubt, of your own accord.

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element. But if you think: I seek there, not merely for present enjoyment; I would collect together a sup: ply for the journey, establish a magazine, keep spare boxes, that they may be a resource in this or that situation, may strengthen me and bear me up. If thus you think, you go beyond the instructions of your travelling guide, and will find yourself deceived in your store.

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When you desire to make use of them, your hoarded coin will in a thousand cases be eaten up with rust, your refreshing fruit dried up, and your crumbs, saved up with trouble, mouldy. "But," you say, "what shall I subsist upon, if I do not beforehand provide myself with bread?" Why, upon the food on the table of grace of your rich Lord. What possible ground can you have to doubt the most paternal providence of Him, who says: "A vineyard. . . I will water it every moment," and again, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee."O, in truth, if he says "make no provision for bread," then you may be assured, that you will never want for bread. Be cheerful therefore with what He gives you to-day; take care of it, too, if you can-only not with fear or anxiety; no, cheerfully, and with the prospect that "to-morrow He will give you more!" You must be comforted in the faith of his paternal love. If you are so in the faith of your supply, you then overstep His travelling regulations, and it does no good. He wishes to nourish you, He himself, from His own hand. Be satisfied with that, and journey at his expense.

The travelling guide mentions a third article of which you have no need on the journey. Read: "No money in your purse." No! God's grace is not to be pur

1 Isaiah xxvii. 3.

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2 Heb. xiii. 5.

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