a fox; (2) meek, bore the wrongs of spitting on and scourging when led to the slaughter, Heb. 12. 3; (3) contented, Christ had not where to lay his head, Mat. 8. 2; (4) used in sacrifice, Rev. 12. 11; Christ like the scapegoat bore our sins away into the wilderness, so the Asvamedh, or horse-sacrifice of the Hindus, was designed to typify a sacrificial purpose. An hypocritical power is compared to a lamb with two horns, but speaking as a dragon,. Rev. 13. II. In the millennium the lamb is to dwell with the wolf, Is. 11. 6, 65. 25.

The Spiritual Legacy.-LUKE 22. 29.

These words were spoken by Christ previous to his Crucifixion, giving to his disciples high honour in the next world his legacy. A legacy is a proof of friendship, a sign that death does not dissolve it, so Christ, eighteen hundred years ago, in an upper-room, eating his Last Supper gave this proof; the next day he was to hang on a Cross; he sealed this legacy by breaking bread, and drinking wine.

Christ's legacy differs from a common legacy

in six points:

This Legacy is-(1) in the Bible; we are to search the Scriptures as the miner searches for gold, or as people examine a will immediately after the death of the testator; (2) Eternal; some are left things acquired by fraud or force, and therefore disputed; this property does not corrupt the possessor, I Pet. I. 4; (3) The legatees are ruined sinners; blessed are the poor in spirit, Mat. 5.;. (4) Ratified by a seal; baptism and the Lord's Supper; the Sunday is the memorial of it; (5) Unconditional; no debt or mortgages entailed; Boaz's kinsman wished Naomi's property, but not without the condition of marrying Ruth so Moses rejected the treasures of Egypt, when the condition implied forfeiting the reproach of Christ; (6)

Enough for all; when the division is small, quarrels are apt to arise, as in Abraham's, Isaac's, and David's families, but this kingdom is boundless; many mansions in the Father's House.

Who comes as the Lightning ?—MAT. 24. 27.

Christ's second coming compared to a bridegroom, Mat. 25. I-13, a supper, Rev. 19. 6-9, a restitution, Acts 3. 21. We are to wait for it, Rom. 8. 19-22, to hasten to it, 2 Pet. 3. 12. The Virgin's cry was at midnight, Mat. 25.6: at midnight the first-born of Egypt died, Ex. 12. 29 at midnight 185,000 Assyrians were smitten.

The sudden flash, which brings so near to us the thought of an awful power that might consume us in a moment, should remind us of Christ's coming. He came at first in great humility, and many years passed by before he manifested forth his glory, that his disciples should believe on him. But when he shall come again, he will be seen "in the clouds of heaven." "Every eye shall see him, and they also who pierced him." From one end of heaven to the other, his presence like lightning will be made manifest: and his coming will be as sudden as it will be terrible to the wicked. The heavens shall pass away, 2 Pet. 3. 9.

At Christ's first coming: He was a babe; a servant, his forerunner, John a fakir in the desert; fishermen his attendants; acted as a mediator; spat on, derided.

At His second coming: He will be King of kings; the trump of the archangel shall sound; angels, archangels, his attendants; Judge and Lord of all.

Christ's coming is also compared, Rev. 3. 3, to a thief in the night. The thief comes to destroy, so in the day of the Lord, the wicked shall be cut asunder, Mat. 24. 37. The thief comes with weapons, so Christ comes in flames of fire, 2 Thes. 5. 7-8; and he comes unexpectedly when men are at ease and asleep, like as in the days of Noah,

Mat. 24. 37; all will be fright and confusion; they will call on the rocks to cover them, Rev. 6. 16, 17. The thief comes with wicked intent, Christ, on the other hand, to punish injustice, and deliver his people; the thief's coming may be prevented, but the day of the Lord will come, 2 Pet. 3. 10. The thief injures a few; Christ executes judgment on all,

Telugu.-If the thief said beforehand that he was coming, I would have secured witnesses.

Talmud. The owl and the hen waited together for the morning: "The light is of use to me," said the hen, "but of what use to you ?"

Russian.-Prepare for death, but neglect not to sow,

Christ the Lily of the Valley.—CANT. 2. 1.

Christ is compared to a lily among thorns; like a lily he is fragrant, Gen. 8. 21, white and pure, Rev. 19. 8, fruitful, not destroyed by the snow of persecution, beautiful, like a lily among thorns. Sadi compares an amiable youth to a white lily in a bed of narcissuses.

The simple beauty of the lilies drew on them their Creator's approving notice, when, in the days of his flesh, he went in and out among men, and was himself capable of being soothed by the works which he made so fair and pleasant for the children of men. Those sweet and lovely flowers were then as unreprovable in his sight as in the day when he first "saw that they were good." Man, for whose delight and solace they were made, was now sinful and fallen; but the handiwork of God in these his humbler creatures, was still such as he could behold with complacency. "They toil not, neither do they spin;" the bright clothing, which it is so pleasant to behold, is furnished for them without any task imposed on them of painful labour; and they close their flowers at night without any anxious care, lest the kindly shower or the genial sun should fail them on the morrow, Mat. 6. 28.

Our Saviour does not mean to discourage the toils of honest industry and wise foresight, or obedience to the law which is laid on all of us, "Six days shalt thou labour;" but he means, that in these innocent "flowers of the field," we should see an emblem of those who are "without carefulness;" and who, having diligently done whatever their hands find to do," are enabled to trust God for the result,

Buddhagosha.-The righteous shines amongst the ignorant as the lilies in a heap of rubbish.

Looking to Jesus.-HEB. 12. 2,

As the weary traveller at night looks for the morning star, so is Christ's advent regarded. The wicked have to look for a fearful judgment day, believers for Christ's coming in the clouds, Phil. 3. 20.

A man's looks often indicate his frame of mind; the eye is a mirror of the passions of the soul; it expresses like the tongue, joy, and grief, thus the look of a dying husband on his surviving wife or of a drowning man wishing aid.

Looking to Jesus implies—(1) distinct knowledge, Hos. 4. 5; (2) eagerness for relief, Ps. 123. 2, Jonah 2. 4; (3) humble dependence; (4) affection.

This looking implies likeness, 2 Cor. 3. 18. A cat may look at a king, but the looking does not change her. In this looking we are to look off from other things, we are not to let the plough stand to catch a mouse,

Panchatantra.—The lost, the dead, and the past the wise

mourn not over.

Persian.-One's eyes are more delighted at seeing the faces of friends, than by beholding a garden or a parterre.

Meekness.

Tamul.-Are there any snakes who will not bite those who tread on them?

Arabic.-Mild speech enchains the heart.

Syriac. He who gives not wood to the fire prevents burning.

Tamul.-A loving disposition is a river without a ripple. Probodh Chandroday. The equanimity of rational men is steady as the clear unruffled ocean, so that they bear with reproach from persons whose eyebrows, gathered up in black anger, present a fearful appearance, and whose eyes are red as the setting

sun.

Turk.-Have the sweetness of the lamb, the force of the lion, and the sagacity of the elephant.

China.-Stir not a fire with a sword-i.e., provoke not a fool.

Syriac.-Shut your doors, and ye will not fear enemiesi.e., be silent, no fear of calumny. Turk.-Tread not on a sleeping snake.

Church Membership.-Rom. 12. 4, 5.

The text refers to the different offices and qualifications of Christians. See the Fable of the Belly and Members.

The Church is called the body of Christ, and He is the head, Eph. 1. 22, which implies superiority and sympathy, I Cor. II. 3; when the head is cut off the body, in one minute life ceases.

the

Christ, the Head who is in heaven, is also dwelling by his Spirit in all his members, so as to make them one with him and with each other by an union which is closer than that of parent and child. If we are body of Christ," then we have the comfort of knowing that Christ is our life. He is to our souls what the living principle is to our bodies. Being our "Head," he is our counsellor and guide in all difficulties and anxieties. Being our "life," he is our strength in all assaults of Satan, in