of saltness. The character by which Christians are distinguished from those who are only nominally Christians, or from such as are altogether unconverted, is the character of holiness, which seasons or gives a savour to all their thoughts, words, and deeds. Thus it is said, "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt." And under the law of Moses salt was mixed with all the sacrifices; to signify, perhaps, that sincerity and uncorruptness of mind, with which we should present ourselves, our souls and bodies, whatever we are, and whatever we have, to the service of God.

2

And our Saviour probably meant further to intimate, that true religion is to spread from one soul to another; and also, that it is the means of preserving the world from those judgments for which it would otherwise be ripe. As God would have spared Sodom had there been ten righteous within it; or as He did save from the waves not only St. Paul, but, for his sake, all those also who were with him in the ship: so it may be that many a country is spared the judgments that fall on others, for the sake of the true worshippers by whom it is blessed; and that the world itself is spared for a season for the sake of the elect people of God.

May I have grace to examine whether there is in me this positive and distinguishing character, by which a Christian is known, in God's sight, from others, as salt is known by its saltness; and whether it pervades my own thoughts, and words, and deeds, so as to imbue them all with a Divine savour of grace and holiness, which they would not have by nature; and to spread from me to others! Let me reflect that as a wicked man con1 Col. iv. 6. 2 Gen. xviii. 32. Acts xxvii. 24.

tributes to draw down the judgments of God upon his country, and is thus an enemy to all around him, as well as to himself; so by living a life acceptable to God through Jesus Christ, I may in some humble measure contribute to procure His favour for my country, and thus be not only blessed myself, but a blessing to others. And as salt may lose its saltness, by exposure, or time, and then is absolutely worthless, so let me remember the danger of declining from the ways of God, and losing the grace which He has given. Let me also remember, that to be a Christian in name only, and not in reality, can neither bring glory to God, nor good to myself or my fellow-creatures.

XLVIII.-WIND AN EMBLEM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

"The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth; so is every one that is born of the Spirit."-John iii. 8.-See also Cant. iv. 16; Acts ii. 2.

WE see not the wind itself, but we see what it does; whether when the forest is bowed by some

S

mighty tempest, or when the corn waves under the gentle breeze, and the flowers of the garden give out their fragrance, as they tremble at its softest touch.

It is thus with God's Holy Spirit. It is mysterious in its coming, and in its influence. Unseen in itself, it is seen in its effects. The mighty change which the world has undergone, since first the doctrine of the Cross was preached by peasants of Judea, with no human aid to support them, is the work of the unseen but ever-present Spirit; by which the false philosophies and vain superstitions of heathenism have fallen before the truth, as Dagon before the ark. And whenever we see some hardened sinner convinced and humbled; some lawless wanderer sitting at the feet of Jesus, and in his right mind; some mourner comforted; some weak child of fallen man enabled to bear his cross, and follow Christ in the ways of patience, humility, and charity; in these and other similar instances we have evidence before us that the same Almighty Being is visiting His people; and by His gentler or His more powerful influence, is opening the mind for that entrance of religious truth which giveth wisdom to the simple. It was perhaps because the wind is thus so suitable an emblem of the Spirit of God, that when He first came down on the day of Pentecost, there was heard the sound as of a rushing mighty wind; and it filled the house where they were sitting. Breathe evermore, O Lord, upon my dark and sinful heart. By the inspiration of Thy Holy Spirit, grant that I may perfectly love Thee, and worthily magnify Thy Name. As Thou didst move upon the face of the waters,2 to quicken into

11 Sam. v. 3.

2 Gen. i. 2.

being what was without form and void, so may Thy godly motions stir up my dull heart into life and energy! Awaken my repentance, increase my faith, confirm my hope, inflame my love. And do Thou so move upon the restless waves of this troublesome world, that at length the knowledge of Thy glory may cover the earth, as the waters cover the sea!

XLIX. THE PRECIOUS OINTMENT, AND THE DEW OF HERMON.

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard; that went down to the skirts of his garments; as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore."Ps. cxxxiii.-See also Exod. xxx. 25. 30; 1 Cor. xii. 13. THE oil with which Aaron was anointed, was probably an emblem of the grace of God, by which he was chosen to his sacred office, and endued with

such heavenly gifts as might enable him to discharge it. He was himself a type of that gracious Saviour, who is said to have been anointed with the oil of gladness above His fellows; and in whose name of "Christ," that is to say, Anointed, we have thus a pledge that He was called of God' to the priestly office, and abundantly qualified for the work of power and mercy which He undertook in our behalf.

The inspired Psalmist was enabled to see a further Divine similitude in the anointing, by which Aaron was thus consecrated to this priesthood. Reflecting how the costly ointment flowed over his whole person, and went down even to the skirts of his garments, he perceived an emblem of unity among brethren, whether as dwelling together in one family, or as knit together by fellowship in the same country, or as made one by communion in the same Church. It is thus that, when the members of a family, or a Church, or a nation, "dwell together in unity," the Divine blessing seems to flow upon the head and all the members; and the happiness which results from love, and peace, and order, is ever diffusing itself from the parent or ruler, to the very humblest of the subjects, or children. Nor does the blessedness confine itself to the Church or family, that is thus at unity in itself: 3 but like the fragrance of ointment poured forth, it so spreads itself abroad as to communicate the same endearing happiness to others. Our blessed Lord seems to have prayed for the unity of His people, as a token of the truth of His religion, that would carry conviction to the world around: "That they may be one," He says, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that

1 Ps. xlv. 7.

2 Heb. v. 4, 5.

3 Ps. cxxii. 3.