with its condition, which adapts the exercise of this power to the cir cumstances of man. The face of a lion symbolizes power in its majesty, terribleness, and strength. "A lion, which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away from. any," Prov. xxx. 30. "The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion," Prov. xix. 12. Two lions stood by the side and twelve lions on the steps of Israel's throne, 2 Chron. ix. 18, and Israel's king is "the Lion of the tribe of Judah.” The face of an ox sets before us the strength that surrenders its neck to the yoke, and its shoulder to the burden, in patient ministry to the need of others. This is a characteristic of power less dazzling indeed, but perhaps more blessed than any display of the majesty of its glory. Hence, He who is to be known as the Lion of Judah, is again and again typified in scripture by the ox. In Leviticus the bullock stands as the highest type of Jesus, in patient self-denying labour. We need not wonder then that this patient character of strength, and ready subjection to the burden (in Him the result of willing love), is spoken of as attaching to His redeemed, who are described as one with Him. In the face of the eagle we see set before us quickness of sight, and rapidity of execution, which, combined with the strength and majesty of the lion, the patient endurance of the ox, the sympathies and reflective character of man, are thus described as pertaining to these living creatures.

Reader, you may not agree with me—and I have no wish to be wise above that which is written-but, for my part, I believe that the whole of the above blessed description will pertain to the redeemed in the coming or millenial age, when the Lord Jesus shall have taken to Himself His great power, and shall reign in Jerusalem and in Mount Zion, and before His ancients gloriously; and when His church shall be associated with Him, and be entrusted not only with the execution of the will of God, but also with the power necessary to its execution. I believe the 1st chapter of Ezekiel, read in this light, will have much more definite meaning in it than perhaps we have ever yet given it, and be less difficult of comprehension than we have hitherto found it; for if we would understand prophetic scripture, we must bear in mind that the golden key which unlocks its treasures is, under God, the remembrance of the fact that in all books of prophecy the commencing visions are wide and comprehensive. Hence the first chapter of Isaiah includes all the period of which the book as a whole treats (see verses 25, 26). With the exception of one passage, which speaks of the creation of "new heavens and a new earth" after the millenial heavens and earth have passed away, none of the subsequent visions extend beyond the period to which the 1st chapter brings us. So with Daniel and the Revelation. Hence the visions are not chronologically suc cessive, but supplementary one to the other, the latter bringing out in further detail the former. Reader, think over these things, pray over them, and may the Lord give thee and me a right judgment in all things, remembering that all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable."

SCRIPTURE EXTRACTS.

"And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy."

Who determined this? Festus had the vanity to think that he had determined it. Poor deluded man! A much higher authority than an earthly governor had arranged this, long before Festus was born, in that "everlasting covenant ordered in all things and sure." And Paul himself had been favoured with a vision immediately from the Lord, to tell him that he should bear witness for the Lord at Rome. Could the world be made sensible of this divine ordination, when at any time the great ones of the earth are carrying themselves proudly, how would it tend to lessen their high-blown loftiness in the consciousness that they are but mere instruments for accomplishing the purposes of the divine will. The Lord's people, however-though unrenewed men know it not-should have it always in remembrance. It would save them many a heartache when at any time matters are dark and unpromising. In every event of life the Lord is carrying on His own wise and unerring counsel concerning them. And His language, did they listen to it, and mark the tenderness of His grace in all that concerns their present and everlasting welfare, speaks in the same tender and affectionate manner as Jesus did to His disciples when on earth-" What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter."-Dr. Hawker.

"And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete."

A soft south wind coming as they thought very opportunely, not foreseeing the tempest in the womb of it, they caught at the opening prospect and launched forth. How very frequent are such events in life! Who shall calculate the number of those apparently auspicious mornings which have been followed by destructive nights. How many a voyage in life hath opened with the gentle gale, like the south wind of these mariners, blowing softly, which hath been succeeded by tremendous storms, and made a watery grave soon after. What histories in the Lord's people furnish out proofs of similar thwarting providences. The patriarch Job began the day of life in a full sunshine of prosperity, for he was "the greatest of all the men of the east." Look at him a little after, and behold him "scraping himself with a potsherd as he sat down among the ashes on a dunghill." Look at the prophet David, when quite a youth singled out from among his brethren to be king over Israel. Hear the man's own confession of the events which followed in his life, when he came to sum them up altogether and present them before the Lord-"Lord," said he, "remember David and all his afflictions!" What are the improvements from such views? They are most sweet and precious. They all speak, yea, and with a loud voice too, that however outward providences may vary, there is no change in the love of God. Every minute circumstance, in relation to the Lord's people, is arranged with an infinite wisdom that cannot err, and with an eye to their eternal good that cannot possibly fail. The construction of their lives,

like the construction of their bodies, is so beautifully framed, that a synod of angels, if convened day by day, could not improve; and not a single iota appointed for them could be left out, no more than one of the organs of their system in nature could be omitted without deranging the whole. What a world of mysteries are we in! What a world is every child of Ged in mystery to himself.-Dr. Hawker.

"Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out."

All that come aright come with weeping and supplication; they come labouring and heavy laden, and as lost, helpless, perishing sinners; to Him they come for pardon, rest, righteousness, salvation, life. They are sinners whom He receives, the lost that he saves; and He gives spiritual rest to those who are laden with a burden of sin, and are labouring to obtain peace in their conscience; to these He "Come unto Me, and I will give it you." says, ." Every encouragement is held forth in the word to the sensible sinner. Christ says, "Look unto Me, and be ye saved." He is to be looked unto as "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." Christ is set before you in the scriptures, and faith is a fleeing to Him, and a laying hold of him as a sure refuge.-Chamberlain.

SECURE.

"In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will," Eph. i. 11.

"And this is the Father's will which hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day," John vi. 39.

Evidences of the New Birth.

NOTES OF A SERMON PREACHED AT WATERHEAD, BY THE LATE REV. W. PARKS, B.A., RECTOR OF ST. BARNABAS' CHURCH, OPENSHAW, NEAR MANCHESTER, ON SUNDAY, JULY 30TH, 1865.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."-2 Cor. v. 17.

There is many a text of scripture that alarms the living child of God, and this is one of them. The words seem plain enough-" If any man be in Christ Jesus he is a new creature," &c. And when the quickened one honestly examines himself, and candidly reports upon what he has discovered, he cannot but exclaim-" Alas! all things are not become new to me! Many old things remain-old corruptions, old tempers, old temptations crop up, and break out, and for the time master me just as ever-how, then, can I be in Christ ?"

Do not some of you know what it is to be tried thus? After years of profession, and many seasons of real enjoyment of spiritual things, you have found yourselves suddenly deprived of all comfort by the breaking out of some old sin? Well, I think I shall be able to show you that you judge yourselves unfairly, and that it is quite possible to be a living child of God, and yet not be able to say in the literal sense of the words "old things have passed away, and ALL things have become

new."

In reading the scriptures, we should take care to compare one part with another, and so to balance one statement against another, that we may arrive at the truth. It is by this process that all the great doctrines of Revelation have been got at. We must not neglect it in connection with our own experience. Let me now, in opening up this text,

1. Explain what the apostle means by being in Christ, and show the necessity of being a new creature.

2. Discuss the question, How far it is true that old things pass away, and all things become new?

3. Make a few concluding remarks-and may the Spirit of God be with us!

I. "If any man be in Christ." What is it to be in Christ?

i. A man may be "in Christ" two ways-viz., 1, either by mere outward profession; or, 2, by actual union with Him. In the first of these ways, every one that is called a Christian is in Christ. Every

one who has been enrolled in the visible church of Christ is "in Christ." Christ Himself teaches this in His parable of the Vine and the branches (Jno. xv. 2). There He speaks of branches in Him that were fruitless. By which He meant branches that were tied on, or stuck on, but were not engrafted into the Stock. There are thousands of Christians who are thus, and only thus, "in Christ."

G

But that this cannot be the meaning of the apostle in our text is manifest, for then all who make a profession of Christianity would be new creatures, which is notoriously false. Many are they who have been born of water, who have never been born of the Spirit.

It is, then, in the second sense we are to receive the apostle's words— If any man be engrafted into Christ-if he be in Him so as to partake of the Stock's sap-he is a 66 new creature." If he be united to Him by faith, he is "" a new creature-old things have passed away." This is evidently the apostle's meaning.

ii. And now I have to show you the necesssity of being a new

creature.

(a.) The word of God is replete with assertions that we must undergo a great change if we would enter the kingdom of God. The Old Testament, as well as the New, is clear and decided upon this point. New hearts and new spirits must be given unto us, if we would see God. A man must be born of the Spirit if he would enter into the kingdom of heaven. We must be washed by the regenerating influence of the Holy Spirit, if we would be partakers of the benefits of Christ's death. There is no room for a shadow of doubt upon this point. We must be the subjects of a great change if we are in Christ. Mere outward reformation will not avail-mere morality comes infinitely short in this matter. "If any man be in Christ he is a new creature, or a new creation!"

(b.) Independent of the testimony of these scriptures, we may conclude the necessity of being new creatures, from the facts of the holiness of God and our natural unholiness. True, Christ is the wisdom, the righteousness, and the sanctification of His people. He is their holiness, and all in all; and unless we are made new creatures, we could not enjoy, we could not be happy in heaven. Ah, my hearers, this is an all-important point-"What concord hath Christ with Belial, or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?" Surely, if we have enmity to God here, we could not be happy in His company in heaven! If we hate God's people here, we cannot be happy with them hereafter ! O, then, see the necessity of being made new creatures!

The most glorious music can afford no pleasure to a man that is deaf. The most sublime printing can give no delight to a man that is blind. Neither can the joys of heaven afford any pleasure to him that is not a new creature!

Then let us beware of the cant of the day, and the delusion of many high-flying professors, namely, that a mere belief in the Lord Jesus is all that is necessary for salvation! Many thus believe in Christ who have never been changed. But I have always taught you that without the vital change there can be no salvation!

II. We now come to discuss the question-In what this change consists, and how far it is true that old things pass away and all things become new with the subjects of this change?

As I have said at the commencement-many of the living children of God are filled with alarm in not finding the words of the apostle literally true in their own experience-" Old things have not passed