So that it is not our own all trials and temptations. strength nor our own wisdom that we depend upon; but the strength and wisdom of Christ. As "the members of Christ," we shall regard both our souls and bodies with a more solemn and reverential feeling, and shall fear above all things to defile by any wilful sin what is his and not our own. The Church like the body in four points: That is scarcely to be called a member of our body which is of no use to the body, nor can he be called a true member of Christ who is of no use to the Church (which is Christ's body) according to the calling in life which God has appointed for him. The apostle says, "There are many members in one body, and all have not the same office." All have some office, but all have not the same office. And thus in Christ's body, every member is appointed to some useful office, some work of faith and labour of love, in the daily duties of his various callings. No two members are appointed to the same office, but all have some service or other assigned to them. The services of some are more honourable than the occupations of the other; but there is no member of Christ that is not called to serve God in some course of useful and dutiful obedience. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of thee," nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you." If any member could sever itself from the rest in a proud independence it would utterly perish. The members have the same care one of another. The little brook, which waters a few fields, fulfils the office assigned to it by Providence as truly as the mighty river which bears on its bosom the commerce of a nation. Japan. The back and the belly are not interchangeable. Tamul.-Who would wish to cut off the hand because by mistake it struck the eye? Persian.—The hands do not perform the business of the heart, but the heart performs that of the hands. Bengal. Are the five fingers equal in length? Tamul.-The head is the chief member of the body, though the others may be larger. Malay. If the right thigh be pinched, pain will also be felt in the left. Hebrew.-All the fingers are not equal. Turk.-Two hands are made for the service of a single head. Urdu.-Sometimes a boat on a waggon (carrying on shore), and sometimes a waggon on a boat (in crossing a river). Individuals of different rank can help each other. Urdu.-Is the flesh separate from the nail? Persian.-One roof and two winds-i.e., persons of opposite tempers living together. Persian.-The knife does not cut off its own handle, Who are Spiritual Merchants.-PROV. 3. 13, 14. The righteous as spiritual merchants in seven points :— Some supposed in Paul's time that gain was godliness; this is not true, yet godliness with contentment is great gain, 1 Tim. 4. 8. The righteous is a good merchant, Mat. 13. 45. Must be diligent, Heb. 6. II, punctual, Ecc. 9. 10, regular in correspondence like the importunate widow, Luke 18. 1; useful, Christians are the salt of the earth, but losses at times occur from storms, robbers. His articles of trade are the gold of God's love, Rev. 3. 18; the pearls of Christ's blessings, Mat. 13.45; the oil and wine of God's spirit, Ps. 23. 5; the spices of graces, Cant. 3. 6. His capital is Christ's offices, as prophet, priest, and king; the port he trades to is a distant one, Is. 33. 17; a rich one, a royal one, all made kings and priests there; a heavenly, Ph. 3. 20; his profits are satisfying, enduring, Jas. 4. 13. The spiritual merchant deals not in adulterated articles; is sure of his profit; he has arms of defence, Eph. 6. II. Mahabharat.-Amass that wealth which has nothing to fear from kings or thieves, and which does not desert thee in death. The Church compared to the Moon.-CANt. 6. 10. The Church is called a pillar, 1 Tim. 3. 15, illustrated by the parables of the Tares and Wheat, the Net, the Mustard Seed. She The moon receives her brightness from the sun. is dark herself, and reflects his light. One-half of her orb is always illuminated therewith-a circle of beautiful splendour; but the whole of that circle is not always. visible, sometimes but a thread-like portion thereof, and sometimes it is entirely hidden from the eyes. The moon is not in darkness, when we see not her light; her face still looks towards the sun, and is bright with his brightness; but we are so placed not to have the full view thereof. Such is the Church; it is dark itself, but reflects the light of its Lord. For the graces of Christ beheld by faith produce like graces in the soul. The Church like the moon in seven points: (1) Receives light from the sun; Christ is the Sun of Righteousness, Mal. 4. 2; (2) Dispenses and reflects what she receives, Mat. 5. 14; (3) Gives light at night, so Christians in this dark world; (4) Though fair has spots, Jud. 12; (5) Sometimes full, sometimes waning; the Church now in prosperity, again persecuted, but the wicked have reserved for them the blackness of darkness, 2 Pet. 2. 17; (6) Above the earth, so Christians, Ph. 3. 20; (7) Acts by unseen influence, like the moon on the tides and weather. Rabbins.-Be rather the tail of a lion than the head of a fox, Ps. 84. 10. Bengal.-The moon mocks the thieves. Cinghalese.-Like the moon shining in the desert. The Holy Spirit's Influence like Oil.-Ps. 23. 5. The Holy Spirit like oil in five points :— High priests and kings were appointed to office by anointing with oil; in this way Saul was made king, I Sam. IO. I. Christ was anointed to heal the brokenhearted, Luke 4. 18, hence his name. Cyrus, though a heathen, was called God's anointed, Is. 45. I. The Holy Spirit's influence is like oil in its effects; in -softening, hard tumours are mollified, so the swellings of pride; healing, draws the bad humours out, so the wounded traveller had oil poured into his wounds, Luke 10. 34; the sick were anointed with oil, Jas. 5. 14; refreshing, used in banquets, and called the oil of joy; made a person active, hence wrestlers and warriors used it for their limbs; makes the face to shine, Stephen's face shone like that of an angel, Acts 6. 15. Christ's name is compared to ointment poured forth in its prciousness, Mat. 26. 7, fragrance. Brotherly love is compared, Ps. 123. 2, to oil in its qualities of softening, making supple, fragrant, healing, precious, poured forth. Phariseeism or Straining at a Gnat while Swallowing a Camel.-MAT. 23. 24. The Pharisees urged the murder of Christ, yet refused to take the money as the price of blood, Mat. 26.65. The Budhists strain water to prevent their swallowing insects. Christ called their pride and hypocrisy leaven, as being sour and penetrating. Tamul.-A terrible ascetic, an atrocious cheat. Bengal.-Scented oil on the head, the body, so filthy as to drive away sleep. China.-Water under the grass. China. The mouth of a Buddha, the heart of a snake. Badaga.-If he is in the wilderness, he is a robber. If he comes to the village, he wishes to be a guru-i.e., a religious teacher, Mat. 23. 4-7, 14. Veman.-His forehead is that of a worshipper; his mouth that of a wolf; and his heart that of a roaming demon is he so shameless as to say he has learnt of the divinity? Japan.-To clothe a wolf in priest's clothes. Who is the Great Physician ?-MAT. 9. 12. Christ went about healing all manner of diseases and spiritual maladies; he said the whole have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Christ a good physician in ten points : I. Good natural qualifications: Christ has infinite intelligence; "all things are naked to his eyes," Heb. 4. 13; he has infinite power; we are his workmanship. His heart is tender; a High Priest touched with a feeling of our infirmities. A merry and feeling heart does good like a medicine, particularly so with a physician; but Christ has sympathy, as he suffered being tempted. 2. Training: A doctor must know the structure of the body, the symptoms of disorders, and the properties of medicines. Christ partook of flesh and blood, Heb. 2. 14. 3. Authorized by competent authority; Christ called of God as was Aaron, lifted up as a serpent in the wilderness. The Lord anointed him to bind up the broken-hearted, Luke 4. 18; his miracles were his diploma, John 5. 36, 37. 4. Efficient medicines provided: he sent his word, and healed them, Ps. 107. 20, to be spiritually minded is life and peace. These medicines are not dear or |