(2 Tim. iv. 16). God, in accordance with His promises, will not fail to make His power accompany His Word wherever Christ is faithfully preached.

But not preachers only, but hearers also may be reminded of their duty by the use of this emblem. Such may be said to be twofold. First, it is their duty to compare all they hear with God's Word, to refer all 'to the law and to the testimony,' to weigh all in the balances of the sanctuary. Truth never suffers by investigation. At first difficulties may arise in the mind of the student of Scripture, which he may find it hard to solve. Discrepancies may be pointed out between science and revelation, which some may seem to take delight in magnifying. But such are only apparent—not real. They arise either from science being imperfectly understood, or from Scripture being wrongly interpreted. Fuller acquaintance will not fail to prove that the voice of God in His works is not contradictory to that in His Word. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth His handywork' (Ps. xix. 1). Men distinguished in science are often found humble believers in the Gospel of Christ on whom alone they rest for salvation, and are not ashamed to avow it. Hear, for instance, the testimony of Selden, with whom, in the extent of his knowledge and high attainments, not very

many can compete: 'I have taken much pains to know everything that was esteemed worth knowing among men; but with all my disquisitions and reading, nothing now remains with me to comfort me at the close of life, but this passage of St. Paul: "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." To this I cleave, and herein find rest.' The relation between science and religion has been happily expressed by the ever-lamented Prince Consort, whose loss to his adopted country as an example, counsellor, and guide can scarcely be exaggerated. He, in the close of his address to the British Association at Aberdeen, used these striking words: 'Neither are philosophers daring and presumptuous unbelievers—a character which ignorance has sometimes affixed to them—who would, like the Titans, storm heaven by placing mountain upon mountain, till hurled down from the height attained by the terrible thunders of outraged Jove; but rather the pious pilgrims to the Holy Land, who toil on in search of the sacred shrine, in search of truth-God's truth-God's laws as manifested in His works, in His creation.'* When difficulties respecting Scripture arise which perplex our minds, we must not be faint-hearted, but rather remember that the Lord will defend His

*Life of the Prince Consort,' iv. 495.

own truth, as He did His ark of old. To act otherwise is to doubt the truth we profess to hold, and to dishonour Him whose Word we profess to receive. That Word alone will satisfy the longings of an anxious soul, whose prayer will be, ' Father, show me Thine own self.' God's children require to be fed. When they seek for bread they will not be content with a stone. The husks of the wilderness may satisfy the prodigal for a time, but afterwards when he comes to himself, or to a right mind, nothing will content him until he finds himself safe in a father's house, and rejoicing in a father's smile. Nothing short of the knowledge of Christ, through whom alone the Father has revealed Himself, can dispel our doubts and remove our fears. Reader, is this knowledge yours? Seek to know Christ in you as your highest privilege, Christ with you as your greatest happiness, Christ around you as your surest protection, Christ before you as your safest example, Christ above you as beckoning and encouraging you on in your heavenward course, and Christ at the Father's right hand, as the assured pledge that where He is, there you His servant must also be.

Secondly, the use of this emblem, reminding us of the minister's dependence on Him who 'holds the stars in His right hand,' teaches the duty of all hearers who seek a blessing through what they

hear, to be earnest in prayer to Him who alone can bestow such. 'Who is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man ?—So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase' (1 Cor. iii. 5). Pray, then, for your ministers, that they may know nothing else among their people but Jesus Christ and Him crucified; that they may ever preach the truth as it is in Jesus, faithfully, lovingly, and successfully. Pray for yourselves, that your faith may stand not in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God, that the Gospel may come home to you not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance. Pray for others also, that they may know the same Saviour whom you profess to follow, may love the same truth which you profess to have found precious to your own souls. Exhibit not the spirit of Cain, who said, 'Am I my brother's keeper?' but rather resemble Andrew, who when led to follow Christ, 'first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias,' and brought him to Jesus (John i. 41).

The use of 'stars' here as an emblem may further remind us what is the glory promised to the faithful minister, when we read God saying, 'They that be wise shall shine as the brightness

ences.

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of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever' (Dan. xii. 3). Their being termed 'wise' shows their equipment or preparation for their work; their 'turning many to righteousness' what is their success in that work. In what does the joy of the minister consist? Is it not in the successful accomplishment of his labours and desires? seeks to be made the means, like 'stars,' of guiding the Christian pilgrim through this earth's wilderness, the voyager over the waves of a troubled world to the haven where he would be. There is a present joy which the faithful minister experiOf this the Apostle John writes, 'I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth' (3 John 4). There is a future joy, which he anticipates. Of this another Apostle asks, 'What is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? for ye are our glory and joy' (1 Thess. ii. 19). But while they thus rejoice now, and will rejoice hereafter, all the glory will be Christ's, who alone can give success. Before Him, on whose head are many crowns, all crowns will be lowered. Before the blaze of His glory all the stars must pale their light. They who have laboured longest and most successfully for their Master here below will be ready to acknowledge,