for what he has done and suffered to save souls from death. I love him for what he has said in his holy word. I love him for

what he is in himself, being the chiefest among ten thousand, and the altogether lovely. I value Jesus above health, wealth, fame, friendship, and everything below. If Christ is not precious to the soul, there is no faith, for Peter says, "To you that believe he is precious," and if there be no faith, there is no true religion. Oh, to love Jesus more! Oh, to enjoy him more! Oh, to make him in my daily experience, the Alpha and Omega, the first and last, the all in all!

Third, if I am a genuine Christian, I long for holiness. For deep, abiding, increasing holiness. To be like Jesus in body, soul, and spirit. To be perfectly, perpetually, eternally holy. To be kept from every sinful temper, sinful inclination, and sinful action. Sin is the burden of the Christian's soul, and holiness is his element and delight. He loves pure thoughts, holy worship, and clean paths. Where there is no desire for inward and outward holiness, the Holy Spirit is not, and where the Holy Spirit is not, there is no

genuine Christianity. For "if any man, have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."

Fourth, if I am a godly man, self is laid
By nature, we all think more highly
But

low.
of ourselves, than we ought to think.
grace daily shows us more and more of our

inward depravity, throws increasing light upon our polluted hearts, and shews us with increasing clearness, that sin is mixed with all we do. Our holiest duties appear crowded with imperfections. We can take no pleasure in any thing of our own, and are deeply humbled before God on account of our infirmities, as well as our sins. We are ashamed of all we have done, and seek to have every act of service sprinkled with the precious blood of Jesus. The longer we live, and the closer we walk with God, the more we are abased in our own sight, and the lower we sink in our own estimation. If we are pleased with, and proud of ourselves, we have no true godliness; but if we abhor ourselves, and repent of sin in dust and ashes before God, there is no doubt but the Spirit of God dwelleth in us.

Finally, if I am a temple of the Holy Ghost, Christ is exalted by me. I not only think highly of him, feel love to him, but I aim to exalt him in all my purposes, plans, and communications. In every act of service, in every hour of suffering, and in every time of trial, I wish to exalt Jesus. If I pray, or if I praise; if I speak, or if I act, I desire in every prayer, in every song, in all I say, and in all I do, to exalt Jesus. My grief is, that I honour Jesus so little, my desire is, that if I eat or drink, or whatsoever I do, I may do all to the honour and glory of my dear Redeemer. Indeed, there is nothing

renders the thought of heaven so sweet to the real believer as this, that there Jesus is exalted to the highest, exalted always, and will be exalted for ever. Oh, to join the throng that always praise him, to take part in the service that always honours him, and to find myself fully employed in exalting him to the highest pitch.

Friend, are you a Christian? Have you these evidences? There are many more, but dwell upon these, examine yourself by these. Is sin hateful to you? Do you dread it more than disease? More than any thing, and every thing besides? Is Jesus precious to you? Do you love his dear name, trust in his atoning blood, and strive to copy his lovely example? Is holiness the object of your desire, prayer, and pursuit? Would you ra ther be holy than healthy, wealthy, or exalted to the highest pinnacle of fame? Is self laid low? Have you low views of yourself as a sinner, and as a professor of Christianity? Are you in the dust, and never so much so, as when you are happy in religious services ? Is Christ exalted by you? Do you strive to set him on high, to shew forth the honours of his name, and to make his praise glori ous? If so, you are blessed of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. You may rejoice in the Lord, and glory in the Holy One of Israel. But if not, then look to Jesus at once, flee to him without delay, believe in him, and soon you will have all the proofs I

have presented in your own experience. Faith is the root on which they all grow, and they are the fruits and evidences of genuine faith. 66 Examine yourselves therefore whether ye be in faith, prove your own selves."

When thou, my righteous judge! shalt come
To fetch thy ransom'd people home,

Shall I among them stand?
Shall such a worthless worm as I,
Who sometimes am afraid to die,
Be found at thy right hand?

I love to meet among them now,
Before thy gracious feet to bow,
Tho' vilest of them all:

But can I bear the piercing thought?
What if my name should be left out,
When thou for them shalt call!

Prevent, prevent it by thy grace;
Be thou, dear Lord! my hiding place,
In this th' accepted day:
Thy pard'ning voice, O let me hear,
To still my unbelieving fear;
Nor let me fall, I pray.

Let me among thy saints be found,
Whene'er the archangel's trump shall sound,
To see thy smiling face:

Then loudest of the crowd I'll sing,
While heaven's resounding mansions ring
With shouts of sovereign grace.

ONE WANT OF THE TIMES.

"And they slew every one his man."-1 Kings xx. 20.

ISRAEL had sinned, and were under God's frown. There was wickedness in the palace, and idolatry throughout the land. Yet when proud Benhadad, the King of Syria, came blustering and boasting against them, the Lord sympathised with them, sent a prophet to them, and promised to deliver them. The young men of the princes of the provinces were selected to conquer the foe, and wear the laurels of victory. It is nothing for the Lord to save, whether by many or by them that have no might. Here is proud Benhadad, with thirty and two kings to help him, with a most numerous army; on the other hand, here are two hundred and thirty-two young princes, with a small army, and yet the victory was theirs. What a subject to strengthen faith, excite hope, and encourage efforts in the Lord's cause! May the Lord give us a few profitable thoughts, while we meditate on this subject.

HERE IS A NOBLE ARMY, made up of princely young men. Just such as we need