the bonds of death; it was for us, too, that He went up openly to His Father, and sent His Holy Spirit to convince us of His righteousness; for us also does He ever sit, the Sun of Righteousness, in the heavens. When the sun rises to convince the world of light, he does not keep his light to himself: he does not journey through the sky merely to convince the world that he himself is light. He sheds his light abroad on all that will unfold themselves to receive it. So, too, does the Sun of Righteousness. On all who will open their hearts to receive it, He sheds His righteousness; he pours it into them, that they may have it in themselves, and manifest it to each other, and behold it in each other.

When we are thoroughly convinced that Christ's righteousness is ours, the righteousness which He purposes to bestow upon mankind, — that He came not for His own sake, but for ours, in order that He might give us all that we lack out of His exceeding abundance, - then

indeed a bright ray of joy and comfort darts through the heart, startling the frost-bound waters out of their year-long sleep. Then the soul, which before was as a wilderness and a solitary place, solitary, because God was far from it, yea, the barren desert of the heart rejoices and blossoms as the rose. All its hidden powers, all its suppressed feelings, so long smothered by the unresisted blasts of the world, unfold like rose-leaves before the Sun of Righteousness; and each and all are filled and transpierced with His gladdening, beautifying light.

MISSION OF THE COMFORTER.

WILT Thou not visit me?

The plant beside me feels Thy gentle dew;

Each blade of grass 1 see

From thy deep earth its quickening moisture drew.

Wilt Thou not visit me?

The morning calls on me with cheering tone;

And every hill and tree

Lend but one voice, the voice of Thee alone.

Come! for I need Thy love

More than the flower the dew, or grass the rain Come, like Thy holy dove,

And let me in thy sight rejoice to live again

Yes; Thou wilt visit me!

Nor plant nor tree Thine eye delights so well,

As when, from sin set free,

Man's spirit comes with Thine in peace to dwell.

JONES VERY.

BEARING THE CROSS.

"O Cross, we hail thy bitter reign;
O come, thou well-beloved guest,
Whose sorest sufferings work not pain,
Whose heaviest burden is but rest!"

By the thorn-road, and no other,
Is the mount of triumph won;
Tread it without shrinking, brother
Jesus trod it: press thou on!

S JOHNSON.