The most touching feature of this meeting is, that it had been held daily, with the exception of the Sabbath, for the last four months, and that it consisted of all denominations that hold the head, even Christ, without sectarian inquiry or impediment. Who of all that breathing company thought to inquire with which of the sects that lawyer and his wife at Portland had cast in their lot? It was enough that they were united to Christ, and were gone forth with brethren to labour in the vineyard. If we really have our spirits moved with divine love, and if we dwell in the light of our Saviour's countenance, that ruling sentiment will оссиру the room which might otherwise be filled with heartchilling and deadening influences.

A dream, as it is called, though probably it was a dream by daylight, or rather a very pregnant parable, comes forcibly to mind in this connexion.

A man dreamed that his soul was disunited from its earthen dwelling-place, and flew boldly up to "that great city, the holy Jerusalem," and frankly addressing one of the twelve angels who stand by the twelve gates, he asked for admission, as he was a faithful member of the Church of England. "But," said the guardian of the glorious portal, "we do not know any such citizens here.” "Why," expostulated the candidate for admission,

"that is strange!

66

Who have you here?-have you any Baptists?" "I never heard of them," replied the angel. Any Presbyterians?" "I know not what you mean."

66

Any Methodists ?" "No such names are known here." "Well, then," asked the baffled and alarmed soul, lingering by the gate, to enter which had been his heart's longing for years, "have you not any members of the body of Christ here?" "Ah! yes -all who enter here are members of his glorious body. If you be one of these, enter, and welcome."

If the churches were, according to the beautiful figure of James Montgomery, "distinct as the billows, but one as the sea," how profound would be the unity of the Spirit beneath, compared to the sectarian undulations on the surface! The "unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace"-that is what must possess us if we ever dwell in heaven, and therefore what we must aim at even in this carnal world. The mighty ocean which laves our continents and islands is ever the same, and by its beneficent cloud-collecting and wind-diffusing powers, the whole world is fanned and watered-but what is this universal beneficence compared with that of the "fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness ?” There must every soul of every denomination have washed before it has learned to commune with God.

And if all are indebted to the same cleansing flood, how can we stand aloof as if we were strangers? If even the ten lepers associated together in their misery, shall not those who are healed associate together in their thankful union?

"Lift high thy banner, Prince of Peace;

Let discords die, and love increase."

CHAPTER X.

THE SACRAMENTAL SERVICES.

In the dark parts of the earth we find shadowy intimations of Scripture truths. Some have three united idols for their god. Some have traditions of the original pair who peopled the earth. Some have an account of Noah's flood, not very unlike the truth. All these are valuable, as intimating the one source from whence they draw their origin.

They have by tradition a dim representation of what we have by inspiration. Even those things which are distinctly stated in the New Testament become modified in the course of ages, and under the different degrees of light or liberty of the Christian Church.

Thus, some baptize by immersion, some by sprinkling, some in a house, others in a running stream. But all derive the rite itself from the divine record. And so of the Lord's Supper, which continues to shew forth the wonderful sacrifice made for man. It will remain "till He come," but under varied forms. It has been touching to me to observe such

variations, and to feel that in spite of them all the believers are one in heart and in hope.

At the communion service, in an ancient village church in Switzerland, the pastor was raised two steps above us. He took from a small table by his side a long strip of bread, as thick as his finger. From this he broke a morsel, which he silently gave to each communicant, who then passed behind him, and received the cup from one of the two elders stationed at another little table on the same platform, and passing downward, the people returned to their places by entering the pews at the opposite end from that by which they had left them.

In Belgium, on a similar occasion, the church having been lately painted, the elder who had charge of the communion plate was absent, and had locked it up. Were the children to fast because of the absence of the regular order of vessels? Nay, verily. Their pastor treated the matter in a more practical way, unfettered by any solemn consecration; and using simple goblets of glass, and a common china plate, the tokens of redeeming love were dispensed to us—and the accompanying exhortations and prayers were never more strengthening or quickening.

Some of these services in the United States had only so refreshing a variation from ours, as to be the more arresting to the mind. One of these, which we enjoyed in New Jersey, I shall describe as correctly as memory will enable me.

We had public worship on Friday afternoon and evening, and again on Saturday at two o'clock. It was lively to see the country people congregating from distant hamlets, and to count upwards of seventy vehicles on the green-the number on Sabbath being increased to upwards of a hundred. Each vehicle carried four persons-many of them six-and in some there were children above the regular complement. They were chiefly plain country people, who in our own country would walk a few miles to church without weariness. The vehicles comprised many of fashion new to me- -the waggon, the rockaway, the dearborn, and so on, up to the comfortable brougham. The spacious church was wellnigh full-the services instructive and edifying. On the Saturday, all who were to join the church for the first time came up the middle aisle to profess their faith. Their names were mentioned by the minister, and also the names of those who were to be received from other evangelical churches. The covenant was read, and after a short affectionate address from the pastor, the new members resumed their seats. This brought to mind the simple country church in Dumfriesshire, where, several years before, those very dear to me had stood in the band of young communicants to receive such welcome and such admonition.

After this address the minister invited any strangers who might wish to commemorate the Master's dying love, with an affectionate reference