must serve me; all is arranged to serve for my good, to make occasions for me to prove the love, and kindness, and power of my God.

Life is ours from the moment we are Christ's; therefore let us keep "looking unto Jesus." We have to do with Jesus. He has conquered the world-do not fear life-let us honour Jesus, and go on with Jesus, He will bring us safely through life and death to His Eternal Kingdom by His mighty power.

WAITING AND TRUSTING.

"Let us not be weary in well-doing: for, in due season, we shall reap, if we faint not."-Gal. vi. 7.

"And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in due season."-Ps. i. 3.

"WE are not born merely to be happy, said Mr. M- We are something higher than the butterflies, who come and go with the flowers and the sunshine. Our very sorrows work a good and wise purpose, though we may not have the wisdom to fathom it. Look at the coal we burn, giving us warmth and light; thousands of years passed before men were born fitted to use it; the ferns and palms that formed it flourished and grew, yet none were there to know the purpose of its growth and change save God who provides for all. Who shall say that future happiness may not spring from present sorrows and weariness? Do not our very errors serve to make us what God would have us to be?"

EXPERIENCE.

Mr. A- was residing at an hotel not far from London; he had been unwell for ten months, and was wholly incapacitated from serving the Lord in any way except "to be still and know that He is God." His Christian life had been one of great activity, and he was now to be taught other loving lessons. But God knoweth our frames, and "He stayeth His rough wind in the day of His east wind."

the painter, you were the means, through God's Providence, of saving me from ruin, and my wife will be much pleased if you will let her call on you." "With great pleasure," Mr. A- replied. The wife came the next day, and said, "More than twenty years ago you held some meetings for preaching at Mr. B's house at M. You frequently spoke to my husband, who was then a young man; you were the means of keeping him out of bad society, and finally, through your instrumentality, he was led to Jesus. You may forget, but one night you dined at Mr. C-—'s at M. After dinner you offered to read and pray; the servants were called in; I was also servant there. You spoke of the joy of a truehearted obedience to Jesus; your words went home to my heart; I became converted, and subsequently married my present husband. Some years after we went to America, joined a Christian church, remained at Brooklyn for some years, saved money, returned to England, bought some land, built a house, and are now living on our own freehold. We call it your house, and often speak of you and pray for you."

The same Mr. A

was travelling in Switzerland, where he had been working for the Lord for some time. There was much opposition; his faith became a little weak, and he grew wearied. One evening he had been asked to preach in a house two miles from his hotel, and he was unacquainted with the road; he had given an address on the previous evening in a Swiss church. After walking for some time he stopped and looked around, hoping he might see some one from whom he might make inquiries as to the road; presently a woman appeared, and he asked her to tell him the road to Mr. L's house. "I know the way well," she replied, "and I am going there." "I am glad you know the way," rejoined Mr. A-; "but do you know the way to God through Jesus Christ?" "Yes, indeed," she replied; "you opened my eyes last night at the Swiss church, and that is why I am coming to the

Trust in the Lord, and do good. Commit thy way unto the Lord.

Wait on the Lord; be of good courage; and He shall strengthen thine heart.

Through trusting, committing, and waiting, comes Resting in the Lord.

Reader, Are you "Resting in the Lord"?

UNION OF "ALL FOR JESUS" DISCIPLES.

MONTHLY NOTICE.

March, 1882.

1. TEXT: "I am the LORD's" (Isa. xliv. 5).

THIS acknowledgment may well thrill the heart with joy. Let the fact be simply, clearly, definitely apprehended, and then willingly and gratefully expressed, and the exultant "Alleluia!" may be added of praise and joy and love.

Yes, "the LORD'S." The creature belongs to the Creator, the redeemed one to the Redeemer. Every one is the Lord's. There is no escaping the fact. Object to it, dispute it, deny it-it remains a fact notwithstanding. "Thou art Mine" settles the question for ever. God's claim stands firm, whatever our treatment of it may be-whether we accept it or not. Praise God, not a few accept it; and straightway the glad response is heard, "I am the LORD'S"!

Here let us pause. The words are easily spoken. We can sing them, in the well-known hymn, with much appreciation. We can, in a lively way, reply to an inquiry on the point and say, "Yes, I am the LORD's." But the words involve much. 1. Surrender. The invitation "Yield yourselves unto God" naturally follows the acknowledgment of His claim. In His love, and with purposes of infinite compassion and grace, He desires the surrender to be made. He wants our hand to be placed in His, our heart to beat in sympathy with His, our walk henceforth to be in closest fellowship with Him. Nor merely this, but He would have us entirely in His own hands, so that His purposes concerning us may be accomplished, and that He may use and bless us freely. Full surrender, therefore, is necessary. He can then fill our minds with His thoughts, our hearts with His love and His will, our lips with His words, our hands with His work, and our feet with His errands. He would use all our faculties as "instruments of righteousness." He can, and He will, do so when they are surrendered to Him, and left utterly in His hands. And more: He will fill us with Himself, as "temples of the Holy Ghost."

2. Submission. This is as necessary as the surrender. Convinced of His infinite wisdom and love, it may unhesitatingly be made. The heart may trust Him to exercise all authority over us, and to give full effect to His will concerning us. His will is good. His authority is rightful. Loving submission must alway result in blessing. He wills to bless. He rules to give effect to his purpose of blessing. Oh, it is altogether wise and right to submit, yea utterly. He is entitled to the submission; and our own highest welfare and happiness will surely follow. True, it may sometimes be difficult to say, "Even 80, Father;" but, confidence in His unfailing love and wisdom will strengthen the trembling lips and still the troubled heart. Grand the confidence of one of old, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him."

3. Loyalty.—Loyalty is lovely, even when exercised towards an earthly sovereign; but loyalty towards our heavenly King -oh, how surpassingly lovely! It unhesitatingly accepts His will, implicitly renders the instant obedience, is perfectly satisfied with whatever He may say or do. This is heavenly! In the life of consecration, no other will is acknowledged except the Lord's in all affairs of His kingdom, no other authority obeyed, no other hand watched or word heeded.

And further, the eyes are ever watching His hand, the ears listening to His word, the heart longing to obey the faintest expression of His will. No thought of compromise, no desire for a moment's delay, no wavering of the purpose to give fullest effect to His expressed will; ob, how lovely is true loyalty!

4. Service. This is one of the sure results of true consecration; and the service to which we are called is not partial in character but universal. It includes everything. Not a thought, not a wish, not a word, not an act outside the service. Whatever our position in society, or our calling in life, or our circumstances in the world, we are to be alway serving the Lord; yea, we serve even as we suffer according to His will, as we are tried in His furnace-fires, as we endure His chastenings. But there will also be the service of seeking the advancement of His cause, the salvation of souls, the prosperity of Zion. "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do ?" is the loyal and loving inquiry of him who is the Lord's. His hand is ready to seize the plough, to raise the banner, to cast the net, just as the Lord may require. He longs to run on the Lord's errands of mercy, to speak the Lord's messages of tender love, to plant or to prune, to sow or to reap-anything in the world to which the Master may see fit to call him, and for which He may graciously qualify him, and to do which He may be pleased to enable him. The joy of serving will ever delight the heart and brighten the life. "My meat," said Jesus, "is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work."

All this is involved in the acknowledgment, "I am the LORD's." And more, namely this: what God will be to him who thus surrenders and submits to Him; yes, and also what He will do for him and by him, as he loyally lives to Him and serves Him. God's holy Word is full of intimations of His fixed purpose on these points. He tells us, over and over again, how He will guide, sustain, instruct, comfort and bless; how He will deliver from the power of the enemy, keep from falling, and defend in every time of danger. In very many places we are assured He is "able” to do for us-oh, so much! yea, "exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think"; as though inviting us, in the full trust of our hearts, to interpret the words as having the meaning and force of so many sure and certain promises. "I am the LORD'S!"-oh, joy! I am safe. I shall be preserved from fear of evil. I shall lack no manner of thing that is good. No weapon that is formed against me shall prosper. The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me. He will be with me "alway,"—that is to say, all the days and all the way. And, by-and-by, where He is, there I shall be also. "I am the LORD'S!" Alleluia! Every misgiving is at rest. Every fear is gone. I can rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Henceforth victory over all enemies, triumph in all conflicts, prosperity in all service, praise under all circumstances; no darkness, no doubts, no defeats! "I am the LORD'S!" He will take care of, provide for, and bless His own, supplying all my need, and making His strength perfect in my weakness. Let Him do with me what He will. Only let Him use me, and be glorified in me, and fill my life with His praise-yea, with Himself; for, "I am the LORD'S," ALLELUIA!

2. FULL CONSECRATION:

SUBJECTION.

(Isa. xliv. 5).

I am the LORD's! O joy beyond expression,
O sweet response to voice of love Divine;
Faith's joyous "Yes" to the assuring whisper

"Fear not: I have redeemed thee; thou art Mine." This the transforming word which faith receiveth, The message which the childlike soul believeth.

I am the LORD'S! because His blood has bought me,
The purchase of His death of cruel shame;
I am the LORD'S! because in grace He sought me,
And gave to me His Spirit and His Name:
I am the LORD's by ties which none can sever,
He loved me first, and loveth on for ever.

I am the LORD'S! It hushes every murmur,
It soothes the fevered spirit to its rest;
I am the LORD'S! It is the child's rejoinder,
Who knows and feels the Father's will is best:
The first glad cry of soul-emancipation,
The highest note of praise and exultation.
I am the LORD's! It is the glad confession
Wherewith His bride recalls the happy day
When love's "I will" accepted Him for ever-
"The LORD'S"-to love, to honour, and obey :
It meaneth every joy with Him divided,
And every wish and care to Him confided.

I am the LORD'S! O eagerly and gladly,
Triumphantly and gratefully, we sing;

I am the LORD's! It is the rock unfailing

To which our storm-tossed souls in darkness cling:
It is the new creation's first confession,
It is the glory of assured possession.

I am the LORD'S! Yet teach me all it meaneth,
All it involves of love and loyalty,

Of holy service, absolute surrender,

And unreserved obedience unto Thee:
They nearest draw to joy's sublime perfection,
Who seek it in the depths of full subjection.

I am the LORD's! Yes; body, soul, and spirit,-
O seal them irrecoverably Thine,

As Thou, Beloved, in Thy grace and fulness
For ever and for evermore art mine;
The everlastingness of love transcending
In everlastingness of glory ending!

LUCY A. BENNETT (A. F. J. U.).

3. INTERCESSIONS (Daily):

For

ALL the institutions of God are full of import. Taken most commonly from the circumstances and things of daily life, they are full also of simplicity, and, by the honest and devout inquirer, easily understood. The commands of God concerning Leaven is one of these. We all know what leaven is and its frequent use in household service. It has been thought by many that the interpretation of its meaning is to be found in two opposing thoughts-good and evil. A careful examination of its use in Scripture will, I think, dispel this thought. It is always used to represent evil. Let us look into some of the passages of Scripture in which it occurs.

1. We first find the word in the record of the institution of the Passover (Ex. xii. 15-19). Not only was no leaven to be used in their food, but none was to be in their houses. This command is more stringently enforced in Exodus xiii. 7, for

(b) The Members. That each one may be enabled to live "All for Jesus" faithfully and fully.

(c) All Christians. That God may fulfil in them all the good pleasure of His goodness, and the work of faith with

power.

(d) Parochial Missions held this day. That many souls may be saved.

leaven seen in all thy quarters."

Christ was the Passover (1 Cor. v. 7), and Christ was represented in the bread as well as in the Lamb-so we readily understand that that which was typical of Him could have no evil in it-but none was to be seen in all other quarters. Where He is all sin must be put away. If we stand on

REQUESTS:

Pray for

"Guidance and blessing in ministering to a dear child of God in deep depression."

of His Spirit and are thus reckoned as holy, let us be holy (1 Cor. iii. 16, 17; 1 Pet. i. 14-16).

2. In the command respecting the three great festivals which were to be annually observed, we

find very significantly the leaven mentioned in connection with one of them only. The first fruits were to be presented on the morrow after the Sabbath connected with the Passover (Lev. xxiii. 10-14), the first day of the week-the resurrection day. This was to be accompanied by a meatoffering of fine flour, but no leaven is mentioned. It represented the resurrection of the Slain Onethe true Passover, which was spotless and perfect. But after the counting of fifty days "a new meatoffering" (Lev. xxiii. 16) was to be presented. Remarkable words, not always noticed-a new meat offering. In what respect new? Like the great offerings of the Passover, it was to be "first fruits;" but here comes in the difference-it was to be mingled with leaven (Lev. xxiii. 17). It was the type of the Pentecost, when the Church was called out-an offering to the Lord. The leaven was to signify that it was imperfect, still having on it the taint and consequences of sin, of which leaven is the emblem. This is one of the true replies to those who talk about sin being eliminated from them. The Church is holy-constituted a holy thing-its Head is perfectly holy, it has the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and as long as its members abide in Christ they display this holiness in their measure; but it waits the manifestation of the sons of God (Rom. viii. 19) to be perfectly like the Great Master (1 John iii. 1-2).

3. No leaven was to be permitted in the meatoffering (Lev. ii. 11). The meat-offering represented Christ in the perfection of His character, and we know that no sin entered there. He was pure, undefiled, spotless, separate from all evil. "In Him

was no sin."

4. Leaven is used in the New Testament-first, by our Lord in Matt. xiii. 33; and, secondly, by St. Paul in 1 Cor. v. 6-8. Let us look at the latter first. We see the Apostle rebuking the Corinthians very sternly for the laxity of their discipline in permitting a great sin to be committed in their midst without sufficient reproof and punishment. Self-sufficiency and self-glorying were at the root of their laxity and blindness. He demands that the offender shall be delivered to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, since no less a discipline will now suffice. We see, even now, this awful but needed chastisement from time to time administered by God Himself, in those cases where great sins have been committed in the midst of great privi

leges. "The destruction of the flesh" (1 Cor. v. 5). If we will not "mortify the deeds of the body "by the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom. viii. 13) then must the great enemy be permitted to work his will, a spectacle awful to witness and most awful to the sufferer. This comes of allowing the leaven to exercise its power. "Purge out the old leaven" is the command, "that you may be a new lump" (ver. 7), and in the following verse the leaven is defined as malice and wickedness, in opposition to sincerity and truth (ver. 8). Let these words be pondered in their full meaning.

5. But now let us look at the Parable of the Leaven in Matt. xiii. 33, about which so much has been written. The analogies of Scripture, as well as the structure of these parables, and their farreaching extent, covering as they do all the prominent features and characteristics of the Kingdom of Heaven, through all time to its final development in glory, demand that the leaven here as elsewhere be interpreted as an emblem of evil.

Let us look at the terms made use of. The woman is an emblem of the Church. She takes the leaven and mixes it with the meal. All heresies, whether of doctrine or practice, have been introduced into the Church by its own members, most commonly by its ministers.

It is hidden, referring to the subtlety by which so many of the deadliest heresies have been taught.

In "the meal"-the Church-as we have seen, is the new meat-offering of Lev. xxiii. 16. “Till the whole is leavened." This is in harmony with all the predictions respecting the Church's course. Highly privileged as it has been and is, a frightful and almost universal apostasy is to be its last phase. All the prophecies and all the teachings of our Lord and His Apostles point to this as the final development of evil previous to the end of the dispensation.

Who, then, is the faithful and wise servantfaithful alike to the Master and to his fellowservants-wise with the discerning eye and the understanding heart-who?

Let each of us gird up our loins, stand upon our watch, hold forth the word of life, and shine with the Light of Life, so given freely to us in Christ, waiting for His appearing.

HENRY F. BOWKER.