opinions, give a new impulse to our desires, make for us a powerful friend or an implacable enemy, and give an entirely different tone for good or for evil to our own character and our whole destiny hereafter. Once more: we discern our need of constant guidance from the Most High. He alone fully understands our position, clearly discerns every danger that threatens us, and appreciates our necessities. He alone has power adequate to protect, and wisdom to guide us aright. If He guard us, no danger can overwhelm us; if He sustain, no force can crush us; if He graciously accord his guidance, we are secure-so, at least, thought the royal bard of Israel: "Uphold me, O Lord, and I shall be safe!"

But, further. it certainly is not irrelative to the subject discussed, and I trust it will not be deemed inappropriate to the occasion if I add: "We hence discern also the propriety and value of prayer!" How foolish we should deem the mariner, who, when approaching a coast dangerous from its numerous shoals and reefs and varying currents, around which, moreover, the vessels of a daring foe are hovering, and the gathering tempest is blackening, should persist in refusing the services of an able, and experienced, and faithful pilot, ready and eager to conduct him safely through the devious channels. How foolish the military officer, who, hemmed in by a superior force-a force flushed with victory, vigilant, active, and eager for his destruction, while his own supplies were exhausted, and famine stared him in the face, should refuse to avail himself of trusty guides, offering to conduct his harassed bands by retired passes across the hills to join the distant troops hastening to his relief!

Equally foolish, unreasonable, and disastrous it is, for a frail mortal, a child of sin and sorrow, to refuse applying to the Father of mercies for that aid, that support, that guidance, so appropriate to his exigencies-a guidance that may be obtained, and obtained by all through prayer; and without which, events that any hour may bring forth, shall prove deeply disastrous, nay, irremediably fatal!

Do you need pardon? It is obtained in prayer. Do you need consolation in affliction? Prayer yields it. Do you need tranquillity of mind and firmness to resist temptation? Prayer, and prayer alone, brings it within your reach. How great a matter a little fire kindleth.

"ONE THING THOU LACKEST."

BY REV. J. M. SHERWOOD.

THIS was said to an inquiring sinner by one that knew. The character of the inquirer, and of him who pronounced the judgment, and all the circumstances of the case, make it a most impressive and instructive record of human experience in the matter of eternal salvation.

Never was the momentous question, "What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life ?" asked under more favorable circumstancesnever did an inquirer seem nearer to the kingdom of heaven--never were hope and promise more suddenly and utterly blighted--never was there a sadder and more appalling sequel to a sinner's period of conviction and seeking after the kingdom of God.

He came to Christ, not with a question of curiosity, or casuistry, or strife, but with the one all-embracing and infinitely momentous question, which related to his personal salvation. There was very much in his person and character-very much in his manner of seeking to warrant hope in his case-almost enough to justify one in pronouncing with certainty upon his salvation. He came with a serious question, and did proper reverence to Jesus Christ. He began to seek religion in early life, for he was yet a young man. He was not above seeking the salvation of his soul, though he was rich—“ had great possessions." He was not ashamed to kneel to Christ, and that in the public highway, notwithstanding he was a "ruler." He felt in some measure the insufficiency of his righteousness, and his need of something more and better to save him, although he was a very moral, and as a Jew, a strictly religious man, and had kept all the commandments of Moses from his youth His mind was penetrated with the spirit of humility, and with a profound respect for Christ and serious things, as his manner and whole conduct on this occasion abundantly show. He was, beyond a doubt, an honest seeker after the truth. He came burdened with a most weighty and appropriate question, and was anxious to have it answered; he sought the test of this new Teacher who came forth from God; he wanted to know the truth and the whole truth in this case, and he shrunk not from the revelation. And, finally, he was manifestly an earnest seeker after life. For he came "running" to Jesus as if in haste-as if he feared the favorable moment might be lost-as if his mind was wrought up to a high and noble resolve, and his heart impelled by deep conviction. No shame or fear, or sense of guilt could deter him. The Spirit of God was no doubt at

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work in his soul. It was an hour of intense interest and responsibility to that sinner. Behold him prostrate at the feet of Jesus! Hear the anxious inquiry that falls from his lips! Listen to the kind and gracious words of Jesus, directing a lost and inquiring sinner into the way of life everlasting!

And is such an one wanting? Shall he at last come short, and perish with the silly and stupid multitude? Having reached the very entrance-gate of salvation, will he turn back, and give over seeking? O, the poverty of creature happiness! the insufficiency of creature goodness! the weakness of creature resolves! the uncertainty of creature promise and hope in their best estate! ONE THING THOU LACKEST. Not yet perfect. One important step still to be taken. One test more to be applied. Ah! and that one thing, was everything to him; to make him perfect he needed the righteousness of Christ, of which he was entirely destitute; the step to be taken involved the chief sacrifice in his following Christ; the test to be applied would show his utter insufficiency, and blast in death his high-raised hopes, and all his prospects of eternal life.

"Go thy way; sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross and follow me." Jesus knew what constituted that man's IDOL the real and main difficulty to be met by him in the prosecu tion of his great inquiry-and he laid his hand upon that idol, and pointed to the required preliminary sacrifice. With a master-hand he laid bare the secrets of that youthful, hoping, and self-confident heart-discovered to him the strength of its love of the world, and the weakness of its outpourings after eternal life with God; and in a moment his radical deficiency of character comes out-he cannot endure the light and demands of that higher revelation which he sought-his resolution fails him—and all is lost. “And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved; for he had great possessions." His "great possessions" were his ruin. He loved them more than he loved God, or eternal life, and he knew it not till now. The requirement of Jesus Christ was more than he could perform. He came to Jesus, but he followed not after him. He inquired to know the way of life, and being taught it, turned his back upon it. He began early to seek the kingdom of God, and when he was just ready to enter it, he suddenly and forever abandoned the pursuit. We hear no more of him. Such a season of conviction and solicitude and blessed opportunity never returned He perished, probably, with his much-loved wealth.

This melancholy case flashes a light of warning full in our face. Let every man test his religion, test his love to God, test his hope of heaven by the broad rules and the severe principles of the gos pel. Above all, having come to Christ with the great question of salvation, let us open our hearts to his searching scrutiny-meet his demands by a full surrender-and neither turn away from him, nor disobey his word, for the wealth and crown of the world.

XXIII.

PRIMITIVE MODE OF EVANGELIZATION.

BY REV. CLEMENT LONG, D.D.,

PROFESSOR IN WESTERN RESERVE COLLEGE.

"And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ."ACTS v. 42.

THE apostles did not confine their labors at Jerusalem to public preaching on one day in seven. They seem to have thought it important thoroughly to evangelize the metropolis of their own nation. Jerusalem had enjoyed more religious light than any other city. But the apostles did not act as if it was a duty of equal love to raise all other cities to the same level in point of religious knowledge, before any further effort should be made for the spiritual good of Jerusalem. Nor did they think it was enough that the gospel was accessible to the people. They believed it was their duty, if we may judge from their conduct, to proclaim the word of life in the already highly favored city of Jerusalem daily, and in every house.

If we were called to determine what they ought to have done, without information concerning the course they did in fact pursue, we might conceive that an enlarged benevolence should have directed them to tarry but a short time in any one place, since there were but few laborers, and the field was the world; that they should rather have passed rapidly from town to town, lifting up their voice in public assemblies, so as to give opportunity for all to hear; and thus should have carried the gospel to the greatest possible number, and made a more equal distribution of its blessings. Before the period to which reference is had in the text, multitudes had been converted in the first scene of their labors. Three thousand persons had been added to the Church on the day of Pentecost; soon after, the number of the disciples had risen to five thousand; and we read that, a little later, "believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.' might suppose that from this prosperous beginning the good work could have gone forward without the apostles, and that they were wanted more in other places. But so did not the apostles them

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selves determine. They began to preach to their own countrymen; they preached daily; they carried the gospel to the houses of the people.

The example of the apostles, if it is not in itself decisive, may assist us to form an opinion concerning the degree and kind of spiritual culture which should be bestowed on these United States. I take the position, that the claims of the gospel ought to be pressed on the attention of every individual.

This statement, considered apart from the spiritual state of the world, secures the approbation of all who love the soul and the cause of Christ. But it may be doubted whether, taking into account the religious wants of other portions of the globe, and the inadequacy of the existing means, such a degree of thoroughness in our evangelization of this country as I contend for, is admissible. If it should be granted that Christians ought at once to raise the means for sending the gospel to every individual of all nations, it may be questioned whether, while they neglect or fail to do this, the existing instrumentality should be so applied as my proposition will demand. This is the point of my inquiry; it should have a candid investigation. Ought the means now in use, or practically available, for the extension of the kingdom of Christ, to be so employed that the gospel shall be carried to every individual of our American population, and pressed on his attention?

In answer to this inquiry, I would say,

I. That it is right and best to make a special effort to supply the religious wants of our population.

The example of the apostles removes all objection to this course, on the ground that it indicates partiality and a disregard of the law of equal love. The spiritual destitution of the world was greater then than now. But these inspired men tarried in Jerusalem till many thousands were converted, and they were so particular in their application of the truth as to carry the gospel to private houses. If so great thoroughness as this, in the work of evangelization, did not evince undue partiality for their countrymen, and a want of general benevolence, neither would a special effort in behalf of the spiritual interests of America, be charged on the Christians of this country as an exhibition of uncharitableness and selfishness.

The supposition cannot be entertained, that the apostles were acting, in this instance, under the influence of a Jewish prejudice. They were following the instructions of their Master. When he sent forth the twelve to preach during his life, he said to them: "Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." And when, at his ascension, he enlarged their commission, charging them to "go into all the world and preach," he taught them that they must begin at Jerusalem. And that the