"CHRIST IS ALL, AND IN ALL."

WHEN the faithful martyr Lambert was expiring in the flames, lifting up his burning hands, he cried out," None but Christ, none but Christ." The teachings of the Eternal Spirit produce like feelings in all the heirs of salvation; and while the admirers of fancied wisdom and vain philosophy see not the Saviour's excellency, Christians, in every land and every age, like the dying martyr, feel that "Christ is all, and in all," John vi. 45; xvi. 14, 15; Col. iii. 11.

CHRIST IS ALL TO HIS REDEEMED, in the most important sense; he is everything they want. They are "complete in him," Col. ii. 10. All their spiritual instruction, redemption, acceptance, holiness, happiness, are received by faith in him. They need nothing to make them meet for heaven but what they have in their Saviour; and, as all things are under his control, they need nothing for safety upon earth but what he can give.

Christ is all as to the atonement needed for sin. It is full and all-sufficient: "The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all," Isa. liii. 6. He has "obtained eternal redemption for us," and "by one offering hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified," Heb. ix. 12; x. 14. He gave himself " to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness," Dan. ix. 24. They who flee to him for refuge have

not, in part, to cancel their own sins, nor have they any left uncancelled, for "the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin," 1 John i. 7.

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Christ is all, as forming to his redeemed a justifying righteousness. They have not to seek justification in part through merits of their own, but Christ is the "end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth," Rom. x. 3. He is made to them "wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption," 1 Cor. i. 30; and God "hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him," 2 Cor. v. 21. Thus the blessed Jesus is all as to bringing believers into reconciliation with the Father. They are accepted in the Beloved," are covered with his righteousness, need no other Saviour, no other shepherd, no other advocate, no other friend to guard them on earth, and to welcome them to glory. The pious Hervey describing his own feelings says: "Truly my hope, my whole hope, is in the Lord Redeemer. Should the king of terrors threaten, I flee to the wounds of the slaughtered Lamb, as the trembling dove to the clefts of the rock. Should Satan accuse, I plead the Surety of the covenant; Christ took my guilt upon himself, and bore my sins in his own body on the accursed tree. Should hell open its jaws, I look up to that gracious Being who saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom.' Should it be said, No unclean thing can enter heaven, my answer is, The blood of Jesus cleanseth us from all sin. Should it be added, None can sit down at the marriage supper of the Lamb without a wedding garment, and your righteousnesses, what are they before the pure and piercing eye of God but filthy rags? These I renounce, and seek to be found in the Lord my righteousness. Jesus is all my trust his merits are my staff when I pass through the valley of the shadow of death,-his merits are my anchor when I launch into the boundless ocean of eternity. If the God of glory pleases to take notice of any of my mean endeavours to honour his holy name, it will be infinite condescension and grace; but his Son, his righteousness and his sufferings are all my hope and salvation."

With the same feelings an eminent servant of Christ, when near death, said, "I am every day expecting my death, but I desire to die like the thief, (Luke xxiii. 42,) crying to the crucified Jesus for mercy.-I am nothing, I have nothing, I can do nothing except what is unworthy; my eye, and hope, and faith are to Christ on his cross. I bring an unworthiness like that of the poor dying thief unto him, and have no more to plead than he. Like the poor thief crucified with him, I am waiting to be received by the infinite grace of my

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A young lady who had been deluded by Socinian errors, being taken ill, cried out in agony, "Oh for one week more! millions for a week! I shall be another Altamont." Her morality could inspire her with no hope. The foundation gave way beneath her, and she felt herself sinking to eternal ruin; but at length, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, she was enabled to see Christ as her Saviour, and, encouraged by his promises, she said, "If I perish, I will perish at the feet of Christ." It was given to her by God's mercy to repent and believe the gospel, and before her death she remarked, "My hope rests on the atoning sacrifice of Christ, nor would I part with this hope for all the riches and pleasures of this world."-" I have no hope but in Christ; if it were not for that I must sink for ever."" What should I do without Christ?" O reader, bind the gospel to your heart.

CHRIST IS ALSO IN ALL AS REGARDS HIS PEOPLE.-A living union subsists between him and them, as between the vine and its branches. Life diffused from the roots and stem is in every branch; so Christ by his Spirit's influences dwells in all his people, John vi. 56, 57; Gal. ii. 20; Eph. iii. 17. He makes his abode with them, John xiv. 23, and nourishes all their graces, John xv. 5. Every part of religion has a connexion with him. In all duties Christ furnishes motives for obedience; his love is the constraining principle, his word the rule. He is in all their hopes-these rest on him. All their expectations of future glory are connected with his welcome. Christ is in all their comforts; they flow from him. In all their prayers, blessings sought are sought from him or in his name. Thus all the excellences of true piety are connected with Jesus and tend to his glory.

Jesus being "all, and in all," is by his disciples supremely loved and prized. A martyr torn from a beloved family said, "My wife and my children are so dear to me, that they cannot be bought from me with all the riches of the duke of Bavaria ; but for the love of my Lord God I willingly forsake them all." He cheerfully went to the fire, exclaiming continually, "Jesus! Jesus!" and triumphantly died. They who possess this spirit, know that the most precious wealth is in Christ, and that they are rich in him whatever they may want.

In every land a saving knowledge of the blessed Jesus produces the same high estimate of his excellence and worth. A young Hindoo, the heir of four large landed estates, and of other property of the value of fifty-five thousand pounds, wished to be baptized: he was reminded that if he were so, all his property would pass from him. He replied, "I put the whole in one scale and Jesus Christ in the other, and they are lighter than vanity." He made the surrender, and was afterwards em

A Hindoo convert who was ill, said to a missionary, “Do let me confess my Lord before I die." He asked her what she thought of Christ. Think of Christ, sir?" His name yields to my soul a sweet perfume like the opening of delicious fruit." Christians, however they may differ from each other, on this subject are all one: to all that believe "Christ is precious."

But if even now Jesus is to his disciples "all, and in all,” what will he be in life's last hours?—All that can cheer those solemn hours. What will then fill your mind? Will friends, possessions, earthly comforts?-No! but Christ is "all, and in all." If you have him, you are safe and happy; you want no more. And in eternity still more deep will be the feeling that Christ is all "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall we also appear with him in glory," Col. iii. 4.

The hopelessness and misery of those who have made light of Christ bear painful testimony to his worth. An amiable and estimable man of the world, a neglecter of Christ, said, "I dread to die. I have rejected the Saviour, and now he has rejected me. I now see that there can be salvation in no other. I now see the necessity of a change of heart; but alas! alas! I see it all too late." The last words that his mourning friends could catch from his dying lips were, "O Son of God, would that I had not rejected thee till it was too late!"

If then Christ is " all, and in all," how should we abhor as entirely mischievous all doctrines that would lower his excellences, or degrade his person or his work! How carefully should we shun resting our eternal hopes on any foundation but himself! Nothing can supply his place. However amiable or moral any one may be, yet without Christ his soul is as truly perishing as those of profligates and infidels, for where pardon and peace with God are at stake, Christ is all; and so entirely is he such, that without him not the smallest lasting good can be enjoyed. If you could be partly saved and partly blessed without the Saviour, his worth would be less-there would be some good for ruined man without him; but Christ is all, and without him there is nothing that a deathless but sinful soul most needs. No Saviour-no Intercessor-no pardon-no peace-no hope-no welcome from God-no home in heaven.

What is Christ to you? Is he your all? your best treasure, your all-sufficient Saviour, your eternal Friend? If thus blessed, adore his grace, and live locking to Jesus till he shall call you home. If not thus blessed, have pity on yourself. Seek Jesus before it is too late, and believe in him, and you shall be saved.

GOD IS LOVE.

FACTS which furnish striking proofs of the delightful truth that "God is love" are numberless. Behold it in the creation and the happiness of angels-their numbers are vast, their holiness perfect, their happiness great, their home, heaven. All this they have long enjoyed, and before them is an endless life of blessedness and glory. Every one is a monument of the truth that

"God is love.'

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Look at the creation of man. See him formed in innocence and placed in Paradise, exempt from all ill; and, while his innocence remained, possessed of all good. Behold him and his lovely companion holy and happy; sin, sorrow, and suffering unknown. "God is love."

But man sinned, and fell. The beauty of Paradise was blasted, and its once happy tenants were driven as wretched outcasts from their beloved abode. Yet even this gave an opportunity for brighter displays of the love of God than Paradise with all its charms could furnish. Behold his constant