blessed will; and dispose me to give myself up unreservedly to Thy service, which is perfect freedom. And may that blessed kingdom extend itself in all lands, and over every heart. Thou hast received the utmost parts of the earth for Thine inheritance; and Thou shalt bruise with a rod of iron all those who resist Thy will, and "shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." Let me not be found among those who shall thus at last be monuments of Thy Almighty power; but now and ever let me be numbered with the willing subjects of Thy grace.

XLVI.-THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER.

"Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." -2 Tim. ii. 3, 4.-See also Josh. v. 14; Ps. lxxviii. 9; Ephes. vi. 11-17; 2 Tim. iv. 7.

ALTHOUGH the passage here quoted from St. Paul's

Second Epistle to Timothy has an especial reference to a minister of Christ, the words may well be applied to the case of Christ's disciples in general. Now we know that the disciple should think it enough to be as his master, and the servant as his lord.' If our blessed Master be "the captain of the Lord's host," " a leader and commander to the people," His followers are as soldiers who fight under His command and guidance, against the enemies of their salvation.

It is here implied that our life ought not to be a life of ease, and softness, and self-pleasing; and also, that it is no easy task to gain the crown of eternal life. It is a soldier's business to please him who has chosen him to that honour and service, and he therefore abstains from entangling himself in the common concerns and affairs of life, in order that he may be always ready for any enterprise on which his commander may send him, however difficult or hazardous. He must not shrink from enduring hardness, cold and heat, hunger and thirst, labour and watchings. He must not shrink from peril of life or limb. He must not choose for himself the post which he would prefer, but cheerfully occupy that which is chosen or appointed for him.

We are thus taught how little they know the nature of their calling, who think that they need live by no other rule than that of their own liking. The prize of our heavenly calling will not fall into our hands, unless we strive for it, as a soldier for the victory. If we rise, day after day, to forward only our worldly interest, or amuse ourselves as best we can, we are in no sense soldiers of Jesus Christ. We should ever remember that we have 2 Isa. lv. 4.

1 Matt. x. 25.

enemies to contend with, the world, the flesh, and the devil; and that we can never contend successfully, unless we are watchful against the secret snares, as well as the open assaults, by which they seek to entangle and destroy us. Alone or in company, in joy or sorrow, in business or recreation, we have still need to be on our guard; for our enemies plan their attacks according to the present condition of our souls, and ever direct their greatest force against our weakest points. The devil seeks to sift us as wheat is sifted; and at one time he endeavours to puff us up with pride and conceit, at another to lower us to sloth and sensuality. He tempts us sometimes with the love of money; at others, through the more malignant passions of envy, hatred, and uncharitableness: or he seeks to terrify us from duty by the fear of man; to discourage us by suggesting to us hard thoughts of God; or to prejudice us against the humbling truths of the Gospel, by high notions of our own goodness. A Christian soldier is desired to take unto himself the whole armour of God, in order that he may stand against these manifold assaults. He is to have his loins girt about with truth; and to cover himself with the breastplate of righteousness; and to have his feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Above all, he is to take the shield of faith wherewith he may quench all the fiery darts of the wicked; and the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And that he may have this armour always bright and serviceable, he must pray always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watch thereunto with all perseverance; remembering ever, that it is not for one who girdeth on his harness to boast like one who putteth it

off; and that it is God only who teacheth his hands to war, and his fingers to fight.2

Now we know that a soldier is not admitted into an army without taking an oath of duty and obedience to his commander; and thus when Christ chooses any one to be His soldier, the sign of the Cross is required upon his forehead, in token that he will manfully fight, and faithfully serve; and he is required also, in the Sacrament of Baptism, to" promise and vow "that he will indeed renounce all other allegiance, and walk in the ways of faith and obedience. The word "sacramentum," from which our word Sacrament is derived, meant, in the classic writers, the military oath which was taken by the Roman soldiers; and the vows which we first take on us in the Sacrament of Baptism, we are to renew continually in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. It is through these blessed channels of grace, that we receive strength to have victory and to triumph in the conflict in which we are engaged.

6

5

For as our blessed Master went forth "conquering and to conquer;" so will He give us the victory,3 by that strength which is made perfect in weakness. Out of the mouth of very babes and sucklings hath He ordained strength, to still the enemy and the avenger. Having Himself bruised the head of the serpent, He will shortly also bruise the same enemy under our feet. Our part must be, to conform ourselves to the rules of His heavenly warfare by patience, humility, and meekness: still leaving it to Him to appoint our post, and to choose for us the services in which we are to labour; and endeavouring to "quit ourselves like men,

11 Kings xx. 11.
42 Cor. xii. 9.
7 Rom. xvi. 20.

2 Ps. cxliv. 1.

5 Ps. viii. 2.

3 Rom. viii. 37. 6 Gen. iii. 15.

81 Sam. iv. 9; 1 Cor. xvi. 13.

whether the work to which He calls us be one of patient suffering, or of quiet obedience, or of more active and forward exertion.

XLVII.-THE HART DESIRING THE WATER BROOKS.

"As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?"-Ps. xlii. 1, 2.-See also Ps. lxiii. 1; Ps. lxxxiv.; John vii. 37.

THERE is a glen in yonder woods, through which a quiet brook winds its way among ferns and sedges. The trees on its opposite banks intermingle their branches; and even in the summer noon the shadow is broken only by such flickering