true that he that is born of God sinneth not, for his seed abideth in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.

The Return of the Glory from the way of the east.

Ezek. xliii. I—II.

WE read in this Forenoon's Scripture how the prophet Ezekiel beheld the glory of the Lord returning to His Temple. That glory was according to the appearance of the vision which he saw by the river Chebar, at the beginning of his prophecy-even the vision of the Throne, and the Living Creatures, and the Wheels. Then it had come from the north, in whirlwind and in fire.* After a while he had seen it depart, because of the iniquity of God's people.† And now it returns again, when the Temple is being re-built and measured. comes from the way of the east; and the glory fills the house.

It

It is a vision of what has happened in the history of the Christian Church. Eighteen hundred years ago there came a rushing mighty wind, and cloven tongues of fire, to an upper chamber in Jerusalem. As a result of it, twelve men stood forth, and bore testimony to Jesus Christ enthroned and exalted. But one writing under the inspiration of the Spirit then vouchsafed saw not the lion only appearing on that day, but the eagle also, and the man, and the ox. "When He ascended on high, He

gave gifts to men and He gave some Apostles, and some Prophets, and some Evangelists, and some Pastors and Teachers." In giving Apostles. He gave all the rest; and one by one all appear at their side.

And so, when Apostles departed, all "the cherubims lifted up their wings, and departed from the earth." Some traces of Evangelism and Pastorship still remained, that the work of God might not utterly die out. But the glory had vanished: the Throne no longer had its four supporters, and the spirit of the living creatures ceased to dwell in the Wheels.

So was it until some forty years agɔ.

"But now, Immortal King and Priest,

Thy glory dawneth in the east."

A second

A little company have had their hearts stirred up to look. for the sunrising; and as their gaze has been thitherward bent, behold! the vision of the beginning has re-appeared. No whirlwind has been heard, no infolding fire been seen : -without signs or wonders silently the Glory has returned, known only in that it is glory. Twelve have stood forth to bear their testimony; and with them have come the Prophets, and Evangelists, and Pastors and Teachers who complete the Ministry of Christ. The supporters of the Throne are seen : the Wheels of God's Providence move visibly beside them: and we wait only to see above the firmament that is over their heads the appearance of the Throne itself, and the likeness of the appearance of the Man who sitteth upon it.

Forty years ago the glory began to come from the way of the east. Many eyes that beheld its dawning have closed ere yet the perfect day has come. But we stand in their faith at this hour, keeping the day of the separation of the Apostles as they have kept it; cherishing the hope

they have cherished; reckoning from the same beginning, and looking to the same end. Every now and then a few fresh hoping ones step forward to fill up our broken ranks, to catch the torch let drop by the runners who have fallen in the race, to swell our prayers and multiply our testimony. They say thereby-the Twelve whose separation you commemorate were indeed the Apostles of the Lord. Teach us their doctrine, receive us to their fellowship, give us part in their breaking of bread and their prayers. Let us stand in their light : for we are sure that they are rays of the Sun of righteousness, shot forth to herald His appearing Whom, not having seen, we love.

Let us, one and all, cherish this assurance. Be the proof to ourselves that God has restored Apostles nothing less than this, we have seen the glory of the Lord returning from the way of the east. The glory of the Lord :—a glory having shape and order, but this above all, that it is glory. Be we not content with demonstrations from Scripture, with arguments from the history of the Church: let each one of us be able to say—“ After the measure of my vision I have seen the glory." Only, that it may be so, purge we the vision from all that can dim, and anoint with eyesalve the eyes that are to see, lest the light be there, and we behold it not. But, beholding it indeed, it shall be a brightness on our daily path, and a

radiance of hope before our eyes; and shall draw nearer and nearer, and shine with ever fairer light, till the Sun Himself shall appear above the mountains, and all creation shall rejoice.

The Table of the Lord.

I Cor. x. 16, 17.

THE cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread."

So profoundly impressed have we been by the knowledge that the Lord's Supper is not merely a feast upon a sacrifice, but the commemoration before God of that Sacrifice itself—so much has been given us in this truth whereby our minds may contemplate and our spirits adore, that we may not always have sufficiently dwelt upon the feast itself. Yet the Communion is no less of the essence of the rite than the Consecration and the Oblation. There comes a time in every Liturgy when the priest turns round from the Presence of God, and comes down to the people. The altar becomes a table; the elements of sacrifice the materials of a feast. Body broken and the Blood shed, first presented in memorial before God, are now ministered as food to His children. So the Lord's Supper is seen to be for the continual remembrance not only of the sacrifice of the death of Christ, but also of the benefits which we receive thereby.

The

Let us try to realize what it is we do when we draw near to the Lord's Table. We have become so familiar with it, that though perhaps we have gained in love, we have lost in wonder. Were we to wake from our