show himself to the eye, teach the intellect, stir up the conscience, awaken and give tenderness to the affections, set nobler tasks than ever. Every faculty will have nutriment and objects; and the whole life will be one over which religion smiles. All experience will be holy; all exercise worship. Each power in combined and harmonious action will make life a glorious, majestic and endless anthem of praise to God and the Lamb.

What a thought that, under the most touching circumstances under which Christ ever offered a prayer, it was for all future disciples. It is the climax of his plea - the culminating of his fervor. And it was no general and meaningless prayer. His eye saw each believer, and looked over all his conflicts; for each, for us he prayed.

We often pray for methods of deliverance not the best, though we may suppose them so. Nevertheless if it be true prayer, aiming at Christian results and efficiency, it will be heard and answered, though in other and higher forms than we dreamed.

We can say of the Bible, it is given by inspiration of God. I have studied it; and though my childish veneration has been modified, my intelligent approval has grown yearly stronger. I have ceased to be afraid when men dispute its history, or its statements, or its principles, on the ground of philosophy, or science, or intuition, or new revela

tions. It has been a hundred times given over to the tormenters; but its martyrdoms transfigure it into some new form of splendor. Do you ask me if I find no mystery in it? Yes; but it is a testimony to its divine truth. No difficulties unsolved? Yes; many. No hard sayings? Yes; many. No statements staggering my intellect and my faith? Yes; many. Why do I believe in it? Because unbelief costs a hundred times more credulity. What do I do with its mysteries? Wait for their solutions.Its difficulties? For the growth of wisdom.

I can not do without the influence it brings. Within me are yearnings the world can not still. They cry for light, for sympathy, for help, for immortality, for peace, for a great bosom to rest on, for great, strong, tender arms, where my frightened, hunted soul may lie down in safety and sleep, and smile away its fears. I ask, what answers to these inward wants? There is the Helper, who offers a staff for all my journey, and a pillow for my confidence when I lie down amid the shadows of the grave. He speaks to me, only as I would be spoken to in this book. I read, I listen, I believe, I trust, and my thrilled and satisfied heart lies down like a soothed child, or wakes to sing, or girds itself joyfully for toil and conflict.

Like a field, blighted by frosts, all sere from drought, and scorched by the fierceness of the sun. so lies my heart, parched and desolate, all its green growths going to decay. As the dew and shower leave diamond drops glittering on every wilted

shrub and grass - blade, quickening to life while they beautify, till at length all the sward is in blossom, and the air is all sweet scented and delicious, so these promises of God's word, more full of refreshment than ever a cloud of summer was of rain, come and pour their wealth upon me, and there is spring - time and opening summer in my soul. As each dew drop mirrors all the magnificence of the firmament, so my spirit becomes a tiny miniature where is faintly uplifted all the magnificence of heaven. I am still human, but no more weak; I am still perplexed, but I have a guide; still the heart bleeds, but precious oil and wine are poured into the wound; whole armies of temptation assail me, but a sweet voice is saying, "Fear not"; dark clouds,- but a shining face beams. through; the grave is before me, but the gate of immortality opens within it, and radiant forms invite my entrance, and I hope and long to be there.

VIII.

SERMONS AND LECTURES.

I.

RELIGIOUS PROSPERITY; ITS DESIRABLENESS AND

ITS CONDITIONS.

"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper." John 3: 2.

This word is just what might have been expected from the disciple who leaned on Jesus' bosom, as, in his ripe old age, near the hour of departure, he turns his thought to those who have still life's battles to fight, and its temptations to meet.

Christian affection can never be selfish; and a Christian heart can never be indifferent to anything pertaining to the honor of Christ and the spread of the Gospel. The new circle into which the spirit enters can not blot out the memory of the old. The waiting glories of a heavenly life still leave the eye free to cast backward glances of sympathy and affection. Amid its thanksgiving to God it still has a prayer for men. Triumphant over its own re

demption, it can not be satisfied till others are on the highway, pressing nobly toward immortal life. "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper," is the word which alone expresses the depth and direction of its yearning.

Passing by whatever was peculiar in the circumstances of the beloved disciple and in the circumstances surrounding the objects of his solicitude, let me speak of the desirableness of religious prosperity and the conditions upon which it may be secured.

Religious prosperity alone is real,- all else is apparent. Only those who grow in wisdom and moral goodness are doing well. Houses and lands may be multiplied; influence increased; distinction won; friends may flatter and the world applaud; but it is all shortly over. Outward possessions are soon the spoils of others, or` the sport of calamity. The wealth we have grasped will slip through our fingers, and the worth of the soul alone make up our heritage. Heart wealth is all that is known and recognized in the inventories of the future. There only the godlike are kings, while the pretenders of time, long revelling in fancied royalty, will find their gold ashes, and their moral nakedness laid bare. All mere earthly prosperity is a temporary cheat; that which is truly religious is an eternal glory.

Besides, religion has a blessing for this world, as well as for the other. She is the ally of all good things, the friend of all man's interests. She smiles