was thrust away with angry looks and sullen gestures, when he endeavoured to be a peace-maker, and to set them at one, so is every attempt to heal the divisions of Christ's church, and to cry with the voice of love, “ Sirs, ye are brethren, why do ye wrong one to another?" met with coldness and indifference, if not with ridicule, contempt and opposition.

Alas, how painful is the view we have of the Christian church in this respect. It is sufficient to cause "rivers of waters to run down our eyes." We speak of unity of concord and love-we pray for it in the very words, it may be, of our blessed Lord-we pray for the One fold under one Shepherd-but what advance do we make towards this unity? Do we hold out our hand to our brother in sincere and hearty fellowship, whatever be his country, his name, or the outward denomination to which he belongs, provided he love the Lord Jesus our Master, and is living in the gospel-marks of a new creature, "old things passed away, and all things become new?" or do we stand aloof from him, because in outward forms his opinion does not coincide with ours? Are we in fact ready to be at peace with him, and live in the reality of Christian union, if he come over to us, while we never dream of meeting him half way, on the broad and eternal basis of gospel, soul-saving, soul-sanctifying truth? Alas, it is to be feared that this latter feeling largely pervades many members of many Christian churches; and is it then a matter of wonder, that there should be so much of the sound of unity, and the cry of charity and love, and so little manifestation of these blessed heavenly graces?

And while the effect of this is evil and calamitous within the fold; while estrangement of heart, and coldness and

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suspicion exist among the very soldiers of the cross; because each will be setting up is own paltry banner of distinction, instead of ranging himself with simplicity and oneness of purpose under the glorious banner of his Master's love, how disastrous is the effect in the world! What aspect does the church now present before the world? She lies bleeding at every pore, wounded by her friends, till the animosities of her members have become proverbial. And is this a testimony in favour of the great Head of the church? Is this the way in which his name is to be honoured, and his gospel received among the nations? We sometimes hear wonder expressed that the gospel has made so little progress;-the wonder is in reality, that it has made so much, when the church shines so little with the light of love. No: when she comes forth "clear as the sun" in spiritual knowledge, "fair as the moon" in heavenly grace, and "terrible as an army with banners by her oneness of spirit, of purpose and work, then may we hope for the fulfilment of the Saviour's declaration, "that the world may believe that thou hast sent me; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me." To understand or to appreciate the gospel landscape, the world must behold it not in the rugged outline, nor in the laying in of broad depths of colour, but in the clear tone of the finished picture; when every feature is in keeping, when colour blends with colour, when the brightest attainments of the Christian character, in knowledge and zeal, are mellowed and softened down by the hallowed touch of the Master's love. Oh for the realizing more on earth of the glory of that Spirit of godly love and unity, which will adorn the church triumphant in heaven-where every heart shall beat in unison, where no discordant harp shall need

re-tuning; but where the voices of the multitude before the throne, though as the voice of many waters, shall sing but one song, "Worthy the Lamb," and utter but one shout of triumph, "Salvation to our God."

It would seem indeed as if this glorious state of the ransomed church in heaven rose with especial grandeur before the Saviour, when he prayed for its perfect unity, as he immediately adds, "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world." We have already said that this is the will of God, even our sanctification; and also now we say, this is the will of God, even our glory. And oh what glory to be with Christ! to see him not through "a glass darkly, but face to face;" to behold him seated on his throne of gloryto look, and not be dazzled-to gaze, and not be afraid -to be filled with love, as well as holy awe-to have the place of honour at his right-hand-to reflect his glory "in our bodies and our spirits"-to hear his voice of welcome, "Enter into the joy of your Lord." Surely this will be "the glory which excelleth;" surely God's people will have a "joy unspeakable and full of glory" on that day when they see the King in his beauty, when they behold him eye to eye, and exclaim, "Lo, this is the Lord, we have waited for him!"

Live, Christian, in the hope of this glory. Let it gild your darkest hour with the sunshine of hope; let it bring peace to the saddest hour; let it be as the bright star which cheers the mariner with its light amid the trackless waves; let it be as the "bow in the cloud," the dazzling beauty of whose glowing hues is the more revealed by the contrast of the dark cloud on which it rests. Look not

at the things which are seen and temporal, but at those which are not seen and eternal.

Now, to obtain this glory for his people, Christ died by the will of the Father, and yet the Father loved him before the foundation of the world. This proves his justice, his righteousness, and his eternal truth. And therefore our Lord further prays, "O righteous Father,"-righteous in his own glorious character, righteous in demanding full atonement to be made for sin; righteous, in that when that atonement is made, he will remember no more the sins of those who are forgiven. "The world hath not known thee." Their whole conduct has proved this; and especially they have not known the eternal righteousness of thy character; "but I have known thee," and therefore I have come to do thy will, to fulfil all thy righteousness; "And these have known that thou hast sent me" to be the Lord their righteousness. "And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it." I have hitherto declared by my words, and by my works; I will further declare it in my sufferings, "that the love wherewith thou lovest me may be in them." I will declare thy name by my sufferings, in order that by uniting them to myself, us the Lamb slain for their redemption, "the love wherewith thou lovest me may be in them," and in order that "I (may be) in them." The manifestation of Christ to the soul is followed by the love of God shed abroad in it, and the dwelling of Christ in the heart.

Thus our Lord concludes this prayer, at once so copious, and encouraging. May the consideration of it lead to greater searchings of heart, to greater confidence in the merits of our great High Priest, to greater sanctification of life, and more beauteous adornment in Christian character. May it lead us to press on more earnestly from grace

to glory; and as the last petition by our Master is, that he may be in us, may all our prayers and all our desires tend to this; may we be satisfied with nothing less; may we desire nothing more; may he be formed in us as our life; may he dwell within us as our light; may he abide with us as the hope of glory, and may he at length, when the need of all prayer is past, be our exceeding great reward.