clayey tabernacle has not been shaken by the earthquake commotions of disease, and rent by the shakings of frequent sickness. We have been made to feel the frailty of flesh and blood-the folly of earthly joys— the uncertainty of human schemes. We have been borne, as it were, upon the sick litter, to the very brink of the grave; been made, perhaps, to look down into its narrow depths, and then returned again to friends and health, to teach us the slenderness of our hold on life, the nearness of the tomb, the daily advances of an opening eternity.

Yet, distressing as the period of illness is, the Bible furnishes for it songs set to heavenly music, melodious with angelic harmony. It assures the sick that "the Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing;" that he will make all his bed in his sickness;" that "he will be merciful unto him, and heal his soul;" and it points the sufferer to Jesus the Great Physician, who has balm for every pain, and healing medicines for every sickness. What a song in the night season of disease did Hezekiah find, when, having turned his face to the wall and prayed, God granted him length of years instead of cutting off his days in his strength; and what a joyful prayer does David put into the mouths of the sore distressed, when he teaches us to say, “O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me. O Lord, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints

of his, and give thanks for a remembrance of his holiness. For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure (or, as the original more forcibly declares, may lodge) for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." As if sorrow was only a wayfarer who turned in for a night's lodging, to arise up and depart when the sun of the morning shone in at the casement. There are no solaces for hours of sickness like those found in the Bible; there is no comforter in disease like the presence of Jesus Christ; there is no light that can shine into and dissipate the darkness of the chamber of afflictive illness like the light of divine truth; and nothing can furnish the heart with gladness, or fill the mouth with a song, but the sweet words and inbreathings of the Holy Spirit.

And now we come to the last night season that visits us on earth-the night season of death. There may be those who have never known the darkness of adversity, of sorrow, of affliction, of disease, but all will know the night time of death. Though your sun of life from its rising hour has rolled through an unclouded sky, yet, however bright its morning, however dazzling its meridian, the hour of its setting must come-the evening of life, the night time of death is at hand. Friends dear as your own life must be parted from-scenes precious with a hundred fond associations must be abandoned-objects of interest in which the mind hast long been absorbed must be given up-the cherished hopes of years must be thrown away, and everything

that fastened down your hearts to earthly scenes and objects must be sundered, and for ever. Will God our Maker, the same God who takes away our breath, will he give songs in the night season of death? Yes, for he has promised, "Behold at even time it shall be light," and that "the redeemed of the Lord shall return and come to him with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads." Death is to be dreaded only by those who have not made their peace with God; by those who do not receive and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as the Prophet, Priest, and King of their souls. To those who have truly repented of their sins past, who have made an unreserved surrender of their souls to Jesus Christ, and who are leading a new life, following the commandments of God and walking daily in his holy ways," death has no terrors. They feel that they deserve eternal punishment, but they know that Christ has borne the curse for them, and that therefore it will not fall upon their heads. They feel that they are utterly unworthy of salvation, and that it is not of themselves, but the free and sovereign gift of God, yet they know also that Christ has wrought it out for them, and will freely bestow it upon their souls. They know that they do not deserve heaven, that after doing all that they have done for Christ, they are but unprofitable servants, yet they know that they shall be received up into glory for Jesus' sake-through Jesus' merits-by virtue of Jesus' intercession. "Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold," aye! and that they may share

too, "my glory." Hence having loved the Saviour, having lived for the Saviour, having committed the soul into his eternal keeping, the Christian is not afraid of death. His sun as it goes down sinks not to its rest in sorrow. His night of death as it draws on, sends no foreshadowing gloom into the soul. On the contrary, full of the peace of God, rejoicing in hope, strengthened by faith in Christ, he finds himself joyful while all around are sad and weeping; and as the shadows deepen over his mortal life, there rises from his lips the hymn of praise to the abounding grace of God, and there is put into his mouth the song of triumph, "Oh death where is thy sting, oh grave where is thy victory; the sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law, but thanks be unto God who giveth us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord."

These are some of the "songs in the night" given us by God our Maker." Who does not desire to learn these songs?-who does not wish to sing them? They can be learned only as we sit at the feet of Jesus and learn of him; they can be sung only as our souls are filled by the Holy Ghost, but all are invited to come to Jesus and learn them; for his language is, "Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest;" and all are promised the renewing of the Holy Spirit if they will but seek in faith the blessed Saviour, through whom alone they can have peace and acceptance with "God our Maker, who giveth songs in the night."

STEVENS.

SCRIPTURAL SELECTIONS.

I WILL not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.-John, xiv. 18, 27.

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world.-John, xvi. 33.

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.— Ps. cxxvi. 5, 6.

He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.-Is. xlii. 2.

Who raised up the righteous man from the East, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? he gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow. He pursued them and passed safely; even by the way that he had not gone with his feet.-Is. xli. 2, 3.