For if you are really seeking Him first, and wanting Than the one joy of doing kindnesses." THE JOY OF OBEDIENCE. THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD THE BASIS OF CHRISTIAN MORALITY. EVEN those who hold most firmly to a faith in the Resurrection are tempted to regard it as a doctrine rather than as a fact, as an article of belief rather than as a sensible ground of hope. Gradually we have been led to dissociate faith in the resurrection of the body from the actual Resurrection And not "In keeping of them there is great reward" (Ps. of Christ, which is the earnest of it. xix. 11). Perhaps you do not think this is a pro- unfrequently we substitute for the fulness of the xix. 11). Perhaps you do not think this is a pro-Christian creed the purely philosophic conception mise at all, but I think when you have read a little of an immortality of the soul, which destroys, as we further you will see that it really is a very sweet At least, I hope so. If God had promised. you a reward as the result of keeping His words, you think you could have understood that quite well. But, dear child, what He says to you is something even better than that would be. He promises you a reward in the very act of obeying Him. You one. cannot be a disciple of Jesus without getting a reward all the way along, as well as at the end, and this makes God's service such a happy one. In His word you are taught that blessedness, or true happiness, depends not on the sort of place you live in, nor on any of the things that surround you, but on what you are. Lazarus, you know, a poor sick beggar though he was, was far happier than the man who had plenty of servants and everything luxurious about him. And you, dear child, will be happy if you are good; unhappy, if you are naughty. Is it not kind of the dear Lord to have joined these two things-obedience to His words, and real true happiness-so closely that nobody can ever separate them? Obedience to Jesus means unselfishness, and you can never do an unselfish thing, no matter if it be so tiny that no one else thinks about it, without getting His glad smile of approval. He will take care to let you know He is pleased, and His approbation will be worth more to you than the best prize you ever brought home from school for good conduct. Will you give ready, swift obedience to all God says to you in His holy word, and by the teaching of His Holy Spirit? In little things as well as great ones? If you try to do this always, you will find you are happier day by day, and you will prove for yourself that these words are just as true and beautiful as they can be. "In keeping of them "God's commandments - "there is great reward." shall see hereafter, the idea of the continuance of our distinct personal existence. But according to the divine instinct of the first age, the message of the Resurrection sums up in one fact the teaching of the Gospel. It is the one central link between the seen and the unseen. We cannot allow our Even thoughts to be vague or undecided upon it with the The permanence of all that goes to make up the fulness of human life. If the Resurrection be not true, the basis of Christian morality, no less than the basis of Christian theology, is gone. issue cannot be stated too broadly. We are not Christians unless we are clear in our confession on this point. To preach the fact of Resurrection was the first function of the Evangelists; to embody the doctrine of the Resurrection is the great office of the Church; to learn the meaning of the Resurrection is the task not of one age only, but of all. Yet there seem to be times when the truth has a special significance: times, like our own, when the spirit of material progress tends to confine the thoughts of men within the limits of its own domain; when we are in constant danger of forgetting the larger relationships of human existence, because we find within us and around us enough to distract and occupy our thoughts; when the sense of the infinite vastness (so to speak) of our present finite being turns the soul away from its natural aspirations towards the absolute and the unseen.— Canon Westcot. Jesus with all their heart, they are saved; and not mind their feelings." "Aud does He not say to you, 'Fear thou not, for I am with thee: I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee ?' Can't you take His word for it?" The Lord instantly blessed this reply to the troubled pastor; his heart truly "burned" within him, and he went on his way rejoicing. It is possible our eyes are often "holden," and our trust in Ilis word put to the test; but, however dark our path or sad our hearts may be, Jesus Himself is with us, and we shall surely rejoice, sooner or latter. We are so ignorant and slow to believe; often, it may be, so perplexed and cast down and sunk in dispondency, that we need the teaching and the comfort He alone can give. And, just as it was with the two disciples on their way to Emmaus, so it is with us. He Him self takes our difficulties and our despondency in hand, and brings about the gladness and the praise. Mark the emphasis, "Jesus Himself." The Lord, early that morning, might lave instructed one of the angels, whom He left at the sepulchre, to be in the way to Emmaus at a certain hour of the evening, join the two disciples, enter into conversation with them, and minister instruction and consolation to them. But no; "I will go Myself" was His loving reзolve. So He came Himself. And, whatever may be true of the ministry of the angels (and much is true of it; for "are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation ?") we may be always sure of this: Jesus will certainly manifest Himself to us, especially under circumstances of more than ordinary need. And oh, while we are thankful for all that the angels do for us, we want Himself. The other night the suffering" member of our Union, for whom we all have often prayed, drew near the "dark valley." A life of loving service was about to close. The weary one would soon be at rest for ever. A warning word had been spoken to her family, preparing them for a (physi. cally) painful departure. It was now, evidently, at hand. The sun had set, and the twilight deepened into the dark shades of night, when her only child, seated beside her bed, sang her to sleep with the long-familiar words "Jesu, lover of my soul," &c. Presently the child retired to rest; and, through the long night, another watched the peaceful sleeper. By-and-by, as the early dawn began, the breathing gently ceased; and, without even so much as a sigh, the tired sufferer passed away to her home in the radiant land 1. TEXT: "Jesus Himself drew near, and went with them" the land of everlasting day! He Himself went with her (Luke xxiv. 15). "Happy disciples," some one perhaps exclaims, "to have Jesus Himself thus coming to them in their hour of perplexity, grief, and trouble; no wonder they were effectually comforted." Yes, theirs was a high privilege, resulting in most precious benefit and blessing. It is also ours. One day, years ago, a pastor, in deep distress, called upon one of the lay members of His flock to tell him his grief. After some conversation, the pastor said, " But I would not care for my trouble " (his health had given way through overwork) "if only He were with me." "But, is He not with you?" "I cannot feel that He is." "Feel! What do you say to anxious souls, when they say they do not feel saved ?" "Ob, I tell them to take His word for it, that, believing in through that dark valley, and all was well! Jesus says to us: "Lo, I (Myself!) am with you all the days *-all the way. + Let not your heart be troubled." 2. FULL CONSECRATION: HE COMES. Jesus comes! O blessed thought, Comes, though oft, alas! unsought; Comes to cheer the darkest night, Comes to crown each pure delight: When we bow to His mild reign Jesus comes to us again. * πάσας τάς ἡμέρας. + "Alway" Sax. cal weg., i.e., all (the) way. Jesus comes when cares oppress, When we breathe the burdened sigh Proves Himself the Lord indeed : Though our eyes may holden be, Welcome we our royal Guest, (a) The Union. That God may be pleased to use it for His glory. Bible Study. THE RESURRECTION. IF the Cross was the dividing line between the two eternities--the past and the future-the Resurrection was the dawn of that period wherein "All things have become new " (2 Cor. v. 17). The first Creation came through the utterance of the Divine Command-" He spake and it was done, He commanded and it stood fast" (Ps. xxxiii. 9). The Second, or New Creation, came through the Death and Resurrection of the Lord from heaven (1 Cor. xv. 45-47). All things are become New indeed-from the new birth of the believer in the Lord Jesus, to the restoration of Creation in the New Heavens and the New Earth. Resurrection is stamped upon them all. The subject is great-surpassing all others in its greatness and glory, and can only be treated of in small sections of detail in order to be fully understood. Let us briefly look at it now as it concerns us here while we remain on earth. 1. Righteousness is not only restored to us by the Resurrection of our Lord, but comes to us in a form and perfection that satisfies the penetrating (b) The Members. That each one may be cnabled to live gaze of God Himself (Rom. iv. 25). In Rom iii. "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. 19-31, the character of that Righteousness is fully unfolded to us. It is perfect and complete-the Righteousness of God-accepted and proved by the Resurrection. The claims that our Lord put forth during His ministry, though repeatedly (e) Meetings held this day for the promotion of Holiness testified to, were ratified by His Resurrection. amongst God's people. REQUESTS: Pray for Declared to be the Son of God with power, by "The conversion of my sister's husband; and that she renewal and gift of life in all its purity-comes may be sustained in her heavy trial-Jesus knows all." "The restoration of a dear sister's eyesight, if His will; and that she may be enabled to rejoice in Christ Jesus." "Deliverance from irritability and temper-my besetting through the Resurrection. In the passage above (Rom. i. 4), it is "According to the Spirit of holiness" that He was declared to be the Son of God: a phrase of almost unfathomable depth both "My eldest son, that he may become, out and out, All in its application to Him and to us. We get a for Jesus.' " glimpse of how grand was the purpose of God sins." II “A. F. J. work at Jhansi, Bengal." “Further A. F. J. blessing among Divinity students at not only to pardon and make acceptable but to restore to His image. Holiness! All its meaning, all its development, all its power, is wrapped up in the Resurrection. By virtue of it we have been raised (Col. iii. 1-4), by it we live (Gal. ii. 20), by it our bodies shall receive their quickening (Rom. viii. 11) and the seal of holiness be for ever upon its true aspect-as a dead and condemned thing— us (Rev. xx. 6; xxii. 4). 3. Closely connected with this is the beauty and glory which also come of the Resurrection of our Lord from the dead. The union of His people with Himself is close and abiding. His first message to the disciples was, "Tell My brethren I ascend to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God" (John xx. 17). They are one for ever; and although the fulness of that union has yet to be manifested, some of its blessings are bestowed now. As they are received they become the beauty and glory of the believer. In putting on Christ (Rom. xiii. 14), in manifesting His life in our bodies (2 Cor. iv. 10), in worship (1 Chron. xvi. 29; Ps. xxix. 2), and in praise (2 Chr. xx. 21). The holiness we are capable of receiving now is glory commenced; the glory we shall receive hereafter is holiness completed. Beauty, too-if beauty be the manifestation of light and life-then is the measure of holiness to which we are capable of attaining here the greatest beauty we can possess. 4. There is power in that Resurrection, too. It seems to be intimated to us that the Resurrection of our Lord was the greatest manifestation of God's power-if His power can be measured at all-that has ever been put forth (Eph. i. 19-22). But the power of that Resurrection in its spiritual significance and strength-spoken of afterwards-is that which exercised the thought and stimulated the hopes of the Apostle very mightily (Phil. iii. 10). It is evident that Paul had grasped a thought which was too full for expression. In his long journeystraversing as he did the Roman world to proclaim the glad tidings of the Gospel-he had, both in his public ministrations as well as in his solitary communings, many burning thoughts concerning that life in Christ which it was his delight to tell of and to manifest. Of these the power of Christ's Resurrection was ever uppermost. He felt it, but he wanted to know more of it. It was never dissociated from the person of his Master, for he prefaces this desire by, "that I may know Him." What is this power? It is a perpetually life-giving principle. It is the death of self, and the life of the Spirit. It is strength ministered by the Great Master to all who abide in Him day by day and hour by hour. It is joy and peace derived from the presence of the Saviour, and an ever-recurring hope for the future. It enables those who enjoy it to view the world in and Satan as a conquered enemy. It presents a resisting force to every power of evil and temptation, and keeps the soul in an attitude towards Christ of continual expectation and receptivity. It is the Life of Christ in all its power. All glory to the Risen One! May the enjoyment of its experience, dear reader, be an ever-increasing power in your life and mine. 5. But there is gladness also in this Resurrection. The Master felt it. "I have a baptism to be baptised with, and how am I straitened till it be accomplished?" (Luke xii. 50) was His statement before His crucifixion. But when He had risen how joyous is His condition of mind? "All authority is committed unto Me in heaven and in earth" (Matt. xxviii. 18). "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature" (Mark xvi. 15). eternal joy which now was His, and which He is to He was beginuing to feel the satisfaction of that share with all who trust Him. This gladness is ours, even as it was that of His first disciples (John xx. 20; Luke xxiv. 52). The conflict was over; Both reason the victory won. which but thinly veil His presence, and we shall see and faith call for rejoicing. A few more shadows, Him as He is, and be like Him and with Him for ever. Let us stay our hearts on Him. He is the Resurrection and the Life (John xi. 25). With His Love as our banner, and His Presence as our strength, we shall come off more than conquerors even to the last (Rom. viii. 37). HENRY F. BOWKER. Notices of Books. All of Blue. By Frank H. White. London : Partridge. 6d. connection with his two other works, "Christ in Mr. White's name is already so well known in the Tabernacle," and "The Tabernacle and its Vessels," that any words from us by way of recommendation are scarcely necessary. The little book before us is a very valuable contribution to the spiritual interpretation of the Types of the Mosaic Sanctuary. We are impressed with its deeply devotional tone, its calm earnestness, and richness of thought, and very cordially commend it to our readers. Morning Sunshine. Thoughts for the Little Ones. By L. A. D. T. Woolmer, 2, Castle Street, City Road, E.C. 9d. A charming book for children. The thoughts are simple and practical, and told with freshness in an interesting style. (See extract in this number.) THE LIFE VOL. IV. OF FAITH. JUNE, 1882. THE PRESENT BLESSINGS OF THE BY THE EDITOR. [No. 42. know in his own consciousness that his heart We propose now to consider some of those But a cleansed heart is a very real blessing. God is calling His children to this condition There are four momentary gifts which God of privilege in their practical life. We may has provided for our walk here on earth. walk continually with a conscience void of offence. We may have a heart that condemns us not. If we make up our minds that this is not possible, we shall certainly fail to experience this inestimable blessing. But here is God's provision that it may be possible. It is found in the fact that the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us-moment by moment-from all sin. First, Momentary Cleansing. If the fellowship between my soul and God is to be maintained, I must have the cleansing efficacy of the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ each step of the way. This cleansing must meet my need; moment by moment. It must be right up to the very edge of my knowledge. It must not only be within the sphere of my present illumination, the cleansing must cover the whole ground. But if the cleansing covers the whole ground, does it not make me sinless, and may I not then say, I have no sin? Surely not. Imagine two circles, one smaller than, and within the other. Call the outer circle yourself; the inner one your conscience, or your heart, or that part of yourself which you know. Now sin within the inner circle, on being confessed, is not only pardoned but cleansed. The blood that atones for sin also cleanses from sin. God not only forgives us our sin, but cleanses us from all unrighteousness. We believe that every child of God should claim this blessing by faith. He ought to Second, Momentary Deliverance. There is a freedom or deliverance which Christ has effected through His death on the cross. By virtue of that death we are delivered from the authority of our old master, Sin. We have been made free from sin (Rom. vi. 22). But it is in the Holy Ghost that this freedom, secured to us already by His death, becomes an experimental reality. We read in Gal. v. 16, 17: "Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary one to the other: that ye may not do the things that ye would." The first point that should be clear in our minds is, What is meant by the Spirit? How many |