—they rejoice in his justifying righteousness— they pursue after the enjoyment of his glory! When they are sin-sick, what so sweet to them as the knowledge of the Saviour! When they fear hell, what so precious as the knowledge of their blessed Redeemer! These are feelings, and this is experience, into which the world enters not, neither can enter. The man of mere worldly science comes hither; and, looking for | a moment at this employment of the saints, turns aside with scorn. But here the believer dwells, even under the pavilion of present salvation, with a present Saviour; and says, "What is all other knowledge to me as a sinner?-what can the sun, moon, and stars do for me?-what can all men do for me?-what can all angels do for me?-what can the universe do for me as a sinner? Blessed be thou, O Christ Jesus, my Lord! the knowledge of the universe is as dross compared with the knowledge of thee!"

3. In the person of Christ Jesus our Lord, we are introduced to the acquaintance of a most loving friend. Pure love actuated him, and still actuates him, as our almighty Saviour This love is everlasting, unchanging, infinite, and unsolicited-it found nothing lovely in us, it gives everything that is lovely to us. Although Christ is the Son of God, yet he became the Son of man, our kinsman-bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh; and thus he possesses the most exquisite human sympathies. He knows weakness and sorrow; he knows pain and death; he knows the anger of God, and the curse of the law, and the penalties of hell; and he made himself acquainted with these for our sakes. "Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends;" yet the Son of God hath done this for us. He is great, but we are mean; he is rich, but we are poor; he is wise, but we are fools; he is good, but we are evil; he is blessed, | but we are wretched; he is glorious, but we are vile. Yet is he our dear and affectionate friend. He was our friend in purpose, before the world was made; he is our friend now that we exist in deed; and he will be our friend in perpetuity, as long as eternity endures. This friend dwelt amongst us. He died for us. He rose again on our behalf, and he lives for evermore to bless us. Oh blessed are they who name the Son of God for their friend, the Son of man for their bosom companion! Oh lovely Jesus, what friend is like to thee!-so meek, gentle, humble, merciful, forbearing, constant, intimate, ready, willing, affectionate, and ever loving as

ever lovely! How blessed are the men who know thee, and walk with thee, as their friend! What solitude is dull, what privation is sad, what pain is keen, what potion is bitter, what fire is hot, what water is deep, when the Friend of sinners is with us? Science is but a dumbwaiter in the day of trouble, and philosophy is but a funeral mute in the hour of death;-but Christ is the Friend that sticketh closer than a brother-the Friend who lives by our needs. Is it wonderful that Paul accounted all earthly acquaintanceships to be but dross compared with this? Well may the Church glory and say, "This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O ye daughters of Jerusalem."

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4. Christians do know and enjoy in Christ Jesus a most gracious Master. We are dependent and subordinate creatures; we are also made for activity; we need, therefore, to be employed as servants under a Master. Jesus, as God manifest in the flesh," is the believer's Lord. He has supreme authority in himself, and he has purchased his people to be his own property. They are not their own "-they are bought with a price;" therefore do they serve their Lord in their bodies and spirits, which are his." But they are imperfect and sinful servants; they need, therefore, a gracious Master, who will not enter into judgment with them, but forgive and forbear towards them." Such is Christ. His person is lovely, his service blessed, his recompense glorious. Paul said of him, "His love constraineth me;" and John, “His commands are not grievous to be borne." His yoke is ease itself-his burden lightness-his work is rest indeed. When the former slaves of self, Satan, and the world enter his service, it is to them as freedom-joyful emancipation; they are filled with peace and joy unspeakable. He is ever near to themhis eye is ever upon them; he helps the weak —he instructs the ignorant-he bears with the feeble-minded-he chastens the froward— humbles the conceited-comforts the sorrowful—confirms the holy-moderates the joyfuland blesses the meek and patient. His work is man's good and God's glory; his reward is man's perfection and divine blessedness. He ever lives, is everywhere present, and is always the same he is God-he is man-he is our Lord and kinsman-our God and our Saviour. Oh how glorious is the knowledge of such a Master!-how blessed the experience of a life devoted to his service! Who would not follow him, who would not serve him, who would not die in his cause? Happy, happy is the man

who is all the day employed in the service of Jesus, and who knows no work but his! Well, well may he say, "Yea, doubtless I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Master-he is so good, so wise, so great, so humble, so mighty, so tender, so holy, so kind, so righteous, go merciful, so stedfast, so considerate, so glorious, so sympathetic, that I cannot but glory in him unto the very death."

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5. A perfect example of character is presented to us in the life of Christ. This elsewhere is undiscoverable; for Jesus was not only man -perfect man-but he was also God dwelling He was thus incorruptible and infallible in his very constitution: in the fountain of his character he was divine; in its medium, or channel of exercise, human. In him was every perfection of Godhead, in him every grace of manhood-the source of the law and the end of the law in one dwelt in him. His thoughts were perfect thoughts-his words were perfect words-his acts were perfect acts. His character was glorious, and it was also lovely-yea, love was its glory. There were seen in him the tenderness of the infant, the softness of the child, the warmth of the youth, the maturity of the man. He was meek, and yet bold; humble, yet majestic; gracious, yet righteous; forgiving, yet authoritative; courteous, yet independent; affectionate, yet faithful. He did good, but forbid its fame-he performed miracles, yet sought not their glory -he lived for God and for man, and sacrificed himself on their behalf in the end, yet was he silent in his deed. He died as a sufferer, in true agony-he died as a conqueror, in true victory-he rose from the grave as the same Jesus-he ascended into glory as the same Christ-and he is now in the highest heavens, the "same, yesterday, to-day, and for ever!" Oh Blessed One! thou only perfect unfallen One that ever trode this earth, how shall we speak of thee as we ought! Be thou our "pillar of cloud" by day-our "pillar of fire" by night. Dwell, oh dwell in our sight! Be the light of our eyes, and the guide of our weary, wandering, stumbling feet! Blessed and glorious Examplar! happy is the man that knoweth thee! well may his soul rest from its heavy toils, for he hath found the home of holiness and peace-well may he sell all that he hath, for he hath found the Pearl of great price! There is perhaps nothing pertaining to Christ so despised amongst us as his example! Arise, then, and study your Lord's character

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draw near to his person, sit at his feet, hang on his words, drink his Spirit, do his works, and walk in his steps.

6. To know Jesus Christ is to know heaven begun on earth. The chief glory of heaven is that of Jesus Christ at the right hand of God. The chief fellowship of heaven is the Lamb that sitteth on the midst of the throne. The chief song is to Him that “loved and washed us in his blood." The character of Christ is the character of heaven. The mind of Christ is the mind of heaven. The people of Christ are the people of heaven. Union to Christ is the key of heaven. The love of Christ is the power of heaven. Obedience to Christ is the test of entrance to heaven. The knowledge of Christ is the very passport to heaven; for Christ will say to the rejected ones, Depart from me--I never knew you-ye had no fellowship. with me-I knew you not as my acquaintances or my friends!" How blessed are they|| who already know the place to which they go, and where they are to dwell for ever!-who have a daily foretaste of bliss and glory in the company of their beloved Friend and Lord!who can say of life that it is Christ, of death that it is gain!-who regard departure from this life as presence with Jesus-and who look forward to eternity as being with the Lord Christ for evermore! Yet such is the blessedness of that man who counts all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus his Lord; to him earth is Jesus known by faith, and heaven is Jesus known by sight. How slight the transition, how glorious the change!

7. But we must now briefly sum up. We are still the creatures of time and space; and we must sum up the theme of eternity in one short hour. Christ is "All and in all" to his people, until they reach heavenly glory. Whatever they need as sinners to save them; whatever they need as believers to confirm them; whatever they need as children to mature, or as men to perfect them, is contained in Christ Jesus. He is their prophet, priest, and king -their "wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption." He is their father, brother, husband, and kinsman-Redeemer. They live in him, they die in him, they sleep in him, they rise in him. He is their advocate, and intercessor, and representative. When they form new ties on earth, he blesses them; when these ties are sundered, he supplies them. Thus is he the husband of the widow, and the guardian of the orphan, and the inheritance of

him that hath no possession on the earth. He is the head of the body, the life of the soul, the delight of the whole man. But there is one engrossing relationship and a final one in which Christ stands to his people- he is their Judye. To his word they appeal now; at his throne they shall appear hereafter. By him shall they be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgment, and by his sentence shall they enter into the kingdom prepared for them before the foundation of the world. He himself also shall bear testimony as their chief Witness; and O! happy are the people who have the Son of God as a witness for them in the great and terrible day of the Lord!

Reader! do we possess the excellent knowledge of this Christ? Have we personal acquaintance and true fellowship with him? Once we were strangers to him-do we now know him? Do we know him by his gospel, by his Spirit, and by the experience of his grace? Have we trusted in him? are we now serving him? are we suffering for his sake? are we applying to him for all that we need? Have we fellowship with him as the image of God to us-as the Saviour of sinners-as an affectionate friend-as a gracious master-as a perfect example-as heaven begun-as all in all to us for grace and glory? Oh! can we thus know Christ and not feel it, neither be conscious of the effects of such knowledge? If ye know him in deed and in truth, then do ye love him, and trust in him, and delight in him, and serve him, and glory in him-do ye not so? Do ye not seek his love more than gold, and desire his grace as sweeter than the honey-comb? Can ye be happy when he is displeased? can ye rejoice when he withdraws the sense of his presence from you? Is not his likeness your pursuit, and conformity to him your only ambition? Do you not regard his cause as your own, and his glory as also yours? Do you not love the Bible that introduced you to him, and the gospel that manifested his love? Do you not bless the Father who gave him, and the Holy Spirit who revealed him? Do you not value the providence of God which makes him precious to you, and the ordinances that bring nigh to you his rich salvation? Oh, yes, we believe it is so with some of our readers! Your hearts glow under the sound of his name. Few ye may be, but blessed. Go, increase in this knowledge until earthly science shall seem but as your kneading-trough, and worldly business as the servant that minis

ters your daily food. Go, walk with your Lord, until you shall feel, and the world shall see, that the Son of God dwelleth in you, and you in him-until heaven shall seem more de sirable than earth, and until the intensity of your faith has prepared you for the ecstasy of beatific sight!

And, oh! come, ye poor ignorant worldlings, that know not this "Pearl of great price!" come ye and buy without money and without price! What avail all your possessions, if ye possess not salvation? What benefit will ye derive at last from all your friendships, if ye enjoy not the friendship of a Saviour? Will the sun enlighten you in the way to heaven, or the moon disclose to you the road to hell! Will the stars reveal to your eyes the contents of eternity, or can the lightnings make known to you a judgment to come? Will science justify you? Can business sanctify you? Has the world died for you? Ye must leave this world as naked as ye entered it. What, then, will avail all that ye must leave behind you, or all that which worms shall eat? Be wise, my fellow-men-be wise; sell all that ye have, rise up, and follow Christ. Behold Him that will lead you out from the curse-from sin-| from death-from all evil. Behold Him that will even now receive you, as a Saviour-receive you as you now are, and make you to be what now you are not! Behold Him who waits to receive your guilt, and to give his own righteousness-who will give himself to you, whilst you give yourself to him. Are you a persecutor? Come-for so was Paul. Are you injurious? Come-so was Paul. Are you a blasphemer? Come-so was Paul. Whatever you be, come! leave all that heap of vain dross, and come, and you will know the Christ, the Son of the living God. He will introduce you to the Father, and he will send to you the Holy Spirit. Happy then shalt thou be, 0 sinner!-Haste thee, haste thee-lose not even a day, or an hour of such bliss; haste theeand the Lord be with thee!

A LOST BOOK.

A TRANSLATION of an Italian work, entitled "The Benefit of Christ's Death; or, The Glorious Riches!" of God's Free Grace, which every true Believer receives by Jesus Christ, and him Crucified," has re-! cently been published by the Religious Tract Society. A preface by the Rev. John Ayre, states some curious and interesting particulars regarding it :

called himself, Aonio Paleario, was born about the Antonio dalla Paglia, or, as he more generally year 1500, at Veroli, in the Campagna di Roma.

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He studied under eminent masters, and was soon noticed as an accomplished scholar. He acquired the friendship of many of the learned of his age and country, and also of those dignified eccelesiastics whose religious views were esteemed the most moderate. Among these may be named the Cardinals Sadolet and Pole, who were thought-the last of them particularly-to favour the Reformation.

After passing several years in Rome, Paleario removed to Sienna, where he married a lady, by whom he left two sons and two daughters. By the senate of Sienna he was appointed public teacher of Greek and Latin, and he also lectured on philosophy and the belles lettres. His diligent study of the Scriptures, and of the works of the German divines, imbued his instructions with a spirit very different from the lectures of his colleagues; and this, while it gratified his pupils, provoked the anger of the authorities. Cardinal Sadolet represented to him the danger he incurred, and advised him to yield to the times, and at least clothe his notions in more cautious language. But such advice little suited the zealous mind of Paleario; and he continued to assert his opinions with the greatest freedom. His conduct was therefore watched, and every stratagem employed to fasten the crime of heresy upon him. Thus, because he had exposed the hypocrisy of an ecclesiastic assiduous in his prostrations at the shrine of a saint while evading the payment of his debts, Paleario was represented as an impious wretch, who dishonoured the blessed saints. A remarkable proof is afforded, in one of his letters, of the real ground of opposition to him. "Cotta," says he, "asserts that, if I am allowed to live, there will not be a vestige of religion left in the city. Why? Because, being asked one day what was the first ground on which men should rest their salvation? I replied, 'Christ!' Being asked what was the second, I replied, 'Christ!' and being asked what was the third, still replied, Christ!"

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The charges against him were brought to a point by the publication, in 1543, of his treatise of the "Benefit of Christ's Death." The vast reputation which it had, and the eagerness with which it was read, being in the Italian language, increased the virulence of his opponents. Otho Melius Cotta, above mentioned, was his most determined enemy; and with this person three hundred leagued themselves in a resolution to destroy Paleario; and, in order to insure his condemnation, twelve of these were selected to bear witness against him. He had, in consequence, to defend himself before the senate of Sienna, which he did with so much spirit, that for the moment his defence was successful. There are some," said he," so censorious as to be displeased when we give the highest praise to the Author and God of our salvation, Christ, the King of all nations and people. For writing in the Tuscan language to show what great benefits accrue to mankind from his death, a criminal accusation has been made against me. Is it possible to utter or conceive anything more shameful? I said that, since He in whom divinity resided has poured out his life's blood so lovingly for our salvation, we ought not to doubt the good-will of Heaven, but may promise ourselves the greatest tranquillity and peace. I affirmed, agreeably to the most unquestionable monuments of antiquity, that those who turn their souls to Christ crucified, commit themselves to him by faith, acquiesce in the promises, and cleave with assured faith to Him who cannot deceive, are delivered from all evil, and enjoy a full pardon of all their sins. These things appeared so grievous, so detestable, so execrable, to the twelve, I cannot call them men, but inhuman beasts, that they judged that the author should be

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committed to the flames. If I must undergo this punishment for the aforesaid testimony (for I deem it a testimony, rather than a libel), then, senators, nothing more happy can befall me. In such times as these I do not think a Christian ought to die in his bed. To be accused, to be dragged to prison, to be scourged, to be hung up by the neck, to be sewed up in a sack, to be exposed to wild beasts, is little: let' me be roasted before a fire, provided only the truth be brought to light by such a death."

Though disappointed for the time, Paleario's accusers were not inclined to let him rest; he was, therefore, soon after obliged to quit Sienna. Being invited by the senate of Lucca, he repaired to that city, where he taught, and acted on solemn occasions as orator to the republic. One of his former enemies however-Machus, called Blaterone (the Babbler) -followed him to this place, and being anew confounded by the eloquence and noble bearing of Paleario, sought revenge on him through the Dominicans at Rome. But he had friends in the conclave, who for the present stifled the charges of his accuser.

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The income of his post at Lucca appears to have been scarcely sufficient for the creditable maintenance of his family; and he had the trial of seeing his wife endure privations to which she had been unaccustomed. After remaining, therefore, for about ten years in his office, he accepted a more advantageous proposal from the senate of Milan. This was to become professor of eloquence, with a liberal salary and various privileges, and here he might have expected to spend the remainder of his life. the toils of the persecutors were now fast thickening around the Reformed; and Paleario, after several years of peril, was just, in 1566, deliberating about a removal to Bologna, when, on the accession of Pius V. to the Papal chair, the accusation against the author of "The Benefit of Christ's Death" was directed to be re-heard. He was then seized by the inquisitor, Angelo di Cremona, conveyed to Rome, and committed a close prisoner to the Torre Nona.

The charges against him were disposed under the following four heads:-That he denied purgatory; that he disapproved of the burial of the dead in churches, and preferred the ancient Roman mode of sepulture without the walls of the cities; that he ridiculed the monastic life; and, lastly, that he ascribed justification solely to faith in the mercy of God forgiving our sins through Jesus Christ. In his examinations he appears to have manifested great firmness. When questioned by the cardinals of the Inquisition, he addressed them (it is an enemy who reports his words): "Seeing that your eminences have so many credible witnesses against me, it is unnecessary for you to give yourselves or me longer trouble. am resolved to act according to the advice of the blessed Apostle Peter, when he says, ⚫ Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example that we should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threa tened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth] righteously. Proceed, then, to give judgment: pronounce sentence on Aonio, and thus gratify his adversaries and fulfil your office." Judgment was given, and he was condemned, after more than three years' imprisonment, to be suspended on a gibbet, and his body to be committed to the flames; though, according to some authorities, he was burned alive.

The Romanists, according to their frequent practice in such cases, pretended that Aonio was repentant, and died in the communion of their Church. And there is a minute to this effect extant, which purports to be an official document of the Dominicans who attended him in his last moments. But this