children are like their parents. There is more of God's nature in us than in the whole material irrational universe. Secondly: Distinguished in privilege. A father loves his children more than he loves his property, however great, the productions of his genius and power, however brilliant and valuable. God loves man more than He loves aught in this world beside; man is His child. As a Father, God educates His children and makes ample provision for them. "Our Father." II. Then we ARE ALL FRATERNALLY RELATED. Humanity is one great brotherhood, and the sentiment of brotherhood should animate and rule all. It should be stronger than nationality, stronger than patriotism, stronger than ecclesiastical affinities, stronger than commercial competitions. Love for the common Father should unite all hearts together in carrying out His paternal purposes and pleasing His paternal heart. "Our Father." III. Then LOVE MUST BE THE ESSENCE OF ALL DIVINE LAWS, AND THE SPIRIT OF ALL TRUE OBEDIENCE. All the moral laws of God are but the expressions of Fatherly love; and the whole may be resolved into one short precept, viz., Be happy. God's great code is but a father speaking in the imperative mood. Avoid that which will injure you; pursue that which will fill you with blessedness. And whilst love is the essence of law, filial love is the spirit of all obedience. Fear of punishment, hope of heaven, as motives, can never insure true and acceptable obedience.

No. CLXXIX.

Subject: A GLORIOUS FACT CONCERNING CHRIST, AND A
DISGRACEFUL FACT CONCERNING MAN.

"And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That He was gone to be a guest with a man that is a sinner."-LUKE xix. 7.

In this passage we have two things worthy of notice. I. A GLORIOUS fact concerning CHRIST. He became the guest of a sinner. First: This was a very unpopular act. The particular sinner referred to here is Zaccheus. Being a tax-gatherer, Zaccheus was a very unpopular man-what would be called in this country a disreputable character. Christ set popularity at defiance. He was always in the minority, as the true men of all times have been. Secondly: This was a very merciful act. The profoundest necessity of all sinners is the want of a visit from Christ. He is the only Physician that can heal the malady that is working out

their death. He is the only emancipator that can snap their chains, break open their dungeons, and lead them out to freedom and light. Thirdly: This was a very self-denying act. The more pure and tender the moral susceptibilities of a being, the more pain he would experience in being brought into contact with impurity and vice. Fourthly: This was a very encouraging act. Because Christ became the guest of this sinner, we may be encouraged to hope that He will visit us. He goes, we hope, to be the guest of many a sinner every day. Oh, haste the time when all human hearts shall welcome Him as their guest. In this passage we have II. A DISGRACEFUL fact concerning MAN. "When they saw it they all murmured." They "murmured." First: It was the murmuring of ignorance. They were ignorant of the fact that "He came into the world to call sinners to repentance." Their murmuring was as ignorant as if they murmured at the sun when he rises above the hills and breaks the darkness of the night, as if they murmured at the fertilizing showers as they descend to refresh the parched land. They "murmured." Secondly: It was the murmuring of simulated sanctity. They "murmured." Who were they? Undoubtedly the sanctimonious Pharisees. They professed to have their piety shocked at His visit to such a man. They "murmured." Thirdly: It was the murmuring of wounded pride. They were envious that such a man should be noticed by the great Teacher. There have always been men who murmured at the conduct of Christ at visiting sinners. Instead of murmuring, there should be exultant gratitude to Christ, and high joy on account of the blessedness of the advent of such a guest.

No. CLXXX.

Subject: MAN HONOURING GOD AND GOD HONOURING MAN. "Them that honour Me I will honour."-1 SAMUEL ii. 30. Observe two things. I. Man HONOURING GOD AS A DUTY. HOW can man honour God? Not by making Him greater than He is. He is infinitely glorious. Not by ascribing to Him, in song or prayer and in sublimest forms of speech, the highest attribute of being. How then? First: By a practical reverence for His greatness. His greatness should be realized in every step of life. The ground on which we stand is holy. The world is the house of God and the gate of heaven. Life should be reverent, not frivolous

Secondly: By a practical gratitude for His goodness. He is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all the works of His hand. His goodness should fill the soul with a reigning gratitude. Thirdly: By a practical adoration for His excellence. The heavens declare His glory, yea the whole earth is full of His glory. This should be practically recognized in wonder, love, and praise. Observe, II., GOD HONOURING MAN AS A REWARD. "Them that honour Me I will honour." How does God honour such a man? First: With a commission in His service. He gives him work to do and qualification for its discharge. He makes them His messengers to do His will. Secondly: With an adoption into His family. He gives them the spirit of children by which they cry, "Abba, Father." He feels for them as His children, treats them as His children, and makes ample provision for their everlasting well-being. Thirdly: With a participation in His glory. "Enter into the joy of thy Lord." He makes them His heirs.

No. CLXXXI.

Subject: FAMILIARITY WITH CHRIST.

"He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto Him, Lord, who is it? JOHN Xiii. 25.

This remarkable incident reveals great familiarity with Christ. John leans on the Saviour's bosom. Personal Christianity is an intimate connection with Christ. To be a true Christian, is to be more familiar with Christ than with fathers, mothers, brothers, sis ters. I. This familiarity involves THE MOST AMAZING CONDESCENSION. Little magnates of earth deem it a great condescension to allow the humble and the lowly to speak to them even at a distance. But here is the Author and Proprietor of the universe, the Infinitely Holy, as well as transcendently Great, permitting poor frail sinful man to lean on His bosom. "Though He is high yet hath He respect unto the lowly." The humblest soul is dear to Him. First Let this condescension inspire us with adoring gratitude. Secondly: Let this condescension consume that pride which prompts man to keep the poor at a distance. II. This familiarity involves THE SUBLIMEST PRIVILEGE. To be so closely allied to Christ as this, is to be in the safest, happiest, and most honourable position. What honour, to recline on the bosom of the King of kings and Lord of lords! Paul said, "To be with Christ is far

better." Yes; to be with Christ is to be secure, joyous, and dignified. III. This familiarity involves THE PROFOUNDEST REVERENCE. John addresses Christ as Lord. 66 Lord, who is it?" Familiarity with men, the proverb says, breeds contempt. We know it often breeds discontent. So imperfect are the best of men, that, as a rule, the more we know of them, the less reverence we have. Not so familiarity with Christ; the more we know of Him, the profounder our reverence. "Lord, who is it ?"

Scientific Facts used as Symbols.

'Books of Illustration" designed to help preachers, are somewhat, we think, too abounding. They are often made up to a great extent of anecdotes from the sentimental side of life, and not always having a healthful influence or historic foundation. We find that preachers and hearers are getting tired of such. Albeit illustrations are needed by every speaker who would interest the people,and are sanctioned by the highest authority. Nature itself is a parable. Hence we have arranged with a naturalist who has been engaged in scientific investigation for many years, to supply the Homilist with such reliable and well-ascertained facts in nature, as cultured and conscientious men may use with confidence, as mirrors of morals and diagrams of doctrines.

Subject: The Equable Temperament,-Atmospheric

SOME

Evenness.

OME men are blessed with that temper which is equal and uniform at all times. The violence of wrath never heats them, and the disappointments and vexations of life fail to chill the even geniality of their disposition. The thermometer of their temper rises and falls only within the most limited range, and therefore you can always calculate upon the presence of all the products of calmness, and the absence of the vices which are incidental to characters which are less benign. As with men, so with climates. Some countries are fortunate in the enjoyment of a climate exempt from remarkable vicissitudes of temperature; there are no sudden transitions from heat to cold, nor does the summer differ much from the winter. Here it is natural to expect that animal and vegetable life will flourish, and that diseases connected with atmospheric changes will be few in number and mild in

character. Of this, New Holland, which enjoys a very uni form temperature, furnishes an apt illustration. Vegetables and shrubs are here evergreen, and the groves and forests are clad in a perpetual verdure. There is no shedding of leaves in winter, and nature presents the whole year round all the luxuriance of summer. Similarly, in the faces of some men of equable temperament, they under all circumstances present evermore the same placid smile.

Subject: Fictitious Prestige,-the Chimpanzees and the Negroes.

CT would be a marvellous investigation, to ascertain the principles upon which honour, credit, and reputation are bestowed on men by their fellows. Very often there is no more just ground for the reputation men are enjoying than there is for the reputation which the chimpanzees have acquired. The chimpanzees live in troops in the forest, or at least they congregate for the purpose of repelling the attacks made upon them by the carnaria, and to drive from their domains such other animals as may attempt to install themselves therein to their disadvantage. Their weapons are ready to their hand,-stones and the branches of trees. Like the ourangs, they construct rude beds or couches of interwoven boughs, stripped of their greenery. In consequence of this the negroes of Guinea, scarcely much higher in the scale of intelligence than themselves, look upon them as a nation, and believe that if these men of the woods do not speak, it is be cause they fear to be condemned to work, or carried off into slavery, and not from incapacity. So these creatures have credit for being a nation, and, as it also seems, for being very acute and shrewd. It is obvious that in many other instances among men, individuals and classes are credited with powers and a status which are entirely fictitious. "In the kingdom of the blind the one-eyed man is king." Stupid conventionality, stolid prejudice, cold formality, and long habit, have all had the effect of so dwarfing our mental capacity, that we are