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soul when it cries, I will not let thee go until thou bless me? Then con sider well the truth with which our text concludes.

"As Jacob passed over Peniel, the sun rose upon him." The night was past, the morning dawned, the sun rose upon him. Esau came and was friendly. Jacob crossed the Jordan, and saw his father and mother again. The land of his father is his home, and in the years of his man-hood he traversed its mountains and plains, over which even then gleamedthe dawn of the sacred promise of the coming of the Son of Man. At a later period, the conduct of his sons, the early death of Rachel, the lose of Joseph, might cause him heart sorrow,-still it was day, for since he had passed over Peniel, the sun, which then rose on his spirit, stood higher in the heavens, and in its beams, near the close of his days, he blessed his grandsons, and said, "The angel who redeemed me from all adversity, bless the lads." "The sun rose upon him as he passed over Peniel." Oh, how the sun ever rises after such wrestlings, and the scene of them becomes a Peniel, restoring our souls! The whole mystery of our life is expressed in these words. For what is this our pilgrimage through time, which only in hope we call our life, but such a night-long wrestling, and such a progressive restoring? Still we wait on in blessed hope. When once we have passed over the Peniel, which earth shallo then have become, the Sun of Eternity will rise on us, and, when all is over, the night, and the weeping, and the shrunken sinew, how joyfully shall we shout, I see God face to face, and my soul is restored!

MAN'S FOLLY AND GOD'S TESTIMONY.
BY THE REV. JAMES SMITH.

"Be sure your sin will find you out."-Num. xxxii. 23.

These solemn words were uttered by Moses to the tribes of Reuben and Gad, in reference to their conduct in wishing to remain on the Egyptian side of Jordan. He seems to be suspicious of their motives, and to fear they would act wrongly, therefore he thus warns them. But the words are as true respecting sinners now, as they were then, and thus let us consider them. Sin will, sooner or later, find the sinner out, and punishment o chastisement will be inflicted. Here we have,

MAN'S FOLLY INTIMATED. He supposes he can hide his sin. He may attempt, but he will never accomplish it. Sin cannot be hid. What is sin? It is deviation from rule. God has placed man under his law, and requires him to walk by rule. In reference to himself, he requires us to love him with all the heart, mind, soul, and strength. To love him supremely. To love him every moment, in every place, and under all circumstances. He always deserves to be thus loved, and he just requires what he deserves. In reference to our fellow-creatures, he requires that we should love our neighbours as ourselves; or do unto others, as we would they should do unto us. If I am a Jew, and my neighbour is a Samaritan, I am to love him as myself. Whatever countryman I may be, in whatever circumstances I may be placed, I am to look upon every man as my neighbour, and God's law requires me to love each one ag myself. There is no exception. If any man is my enemy, even them Jesus, the true expounder of the law, says, "Love ye your enemies, blessthem that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you." This is the rule, and every deviation from this rule, in thought, word, or deed, is sin. But the reference may be especially to allowed sin, that which we deliberately and wilfully commit. Every sin is an offence to God. God loves his law.

and is pleased when his creatures make it their rule, and endeavour to walk by it; but when they cast it behind their backs, neglect it, or wilfully violate it, he is offended. Therefore it is written, "God is angry with the wicked every day." Every action is either pleasing or diepleasing to God; but deliberate violations of his law are insults offered to him, and must be peculiarly offensive. And such insults, unless repented of, confessed at his throne, and pardoned through the blood of his Son, will be visited with his rod or sword. Man's sin casts dishonour on God's perfections. He was intended to reflect the moral perfections of God, and thus show forth his glory. All God's moral perfections appear to be run up into one, "God is love;" therefore all the requirements of the law are included in one, "Thou shalt love;" and love is the fulfilling of the law; if man therefore had kept the law, he would have reflected the glory of God's nature and character on all around him. As when God created the glorious sun, and hung it up in the heavens, he created also the moon, to catch and reflect its brightness and beauty on our world by night; so be created man to catch and reflect his moral beauty and glory on all around. The moon continues to answer the end of its creation; but, alas, for man, he "sinned and came short of the glory of God." If we deviate from the rule God has given us we sin, if we sin we offer an insult to God; and if we do so wilfully, we may be sure our sin will find us out. If we fail to reflect God's glory, especially his love, on all around us, we fail to answer the end of our creation; and if we fail to answer the end of our creation, wilfully and deliberately, our sin will find us out, and we shall smart for it.

It is folly, gross folly, in any man to think that he can hide his sin, There are no secret places when God is concerned, for all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. The omniscient eye of God rests upon every sinner, penetrates his nature, and searches the depths of his soul. It surveys his motives, intentions, and designs. "Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering." "Darkness and light to him are both alike." How then can the sinner hide his sin? The folly of our first parents, who attempted to hide themselves among the trees of the garden from the omniscient eye of their offended Maker, is repeated every time the sinner tries to hide his sin. The very nature of sin forbids it. It is a disease like the leprosy, and will break out. As the leprosy came out on the forehead of Uzziah in the temple, so will hidden sin break out on the countenance of the sinner. It is a fire, it may smoulder for a time and appear feeble, but at length it will break forth, and there will be an awful conflagration. Sinner, beware of indulging in such folly. God reads thy heart. He sees every action of thy life. He registers every transgression of his law. Let us now attend to,

Are you

GOD'S TESTIMONY. "Be sure your sin will find you out." Yes, your sin. Your secret sin. Are you covetous, and do you try to hide it? It will find you out. Are you proud, and do you try to conceal it? It will find you out. Are you dishonest, and do you try to practise your dishonesty in the dark? It will find you out. Are you idle, and do you cover over your idleness with a cloak? It will find you out. gluttonous, fond of indulging the appetite? It will find you out. Dishonest servants, who secretly rob their employers, first of little things, and afterwards to a greater amount, their sin will find them out. Oppressing masters, who exact from their servants more than they ought, and pay them less than they should, their sin will find them out. Deceitful children, who practise deception on their fond and unsuspecting parents, their sin will find them out. Foolish parents, who spare the rod

and spoil the child, ruining their offspring by fond indulgences, their sin will find them out. Sly drinkers, who indulge in strong drink in secret, and pass for sober and consistent persons, their sin will find them out. Deceiving tradesmen, who use short weights, or adulterate their articles, or mislead their customers by falsehood, their sin will find them out. Could we see as God sees, this one text would account for much that takes place in families, in churches, and in the commercial world; and many who are now pitied would be blamed; for many family trials, church troubles, and commercial panics, are but the effects of sin finding parties

out.

Sin cannot be always hid, for God's eye watches the sinner, and he has said, "What is done in secret shall be published on the house tops." Satan, the great tell tale, sees it, and he will not always conceal it. ́He first tempts to sin, then accuses of the sin, and then exposes the sinner. He persuades us to sin on earth, and then accuses us day and night before God. The judgment will disclose it, if providence does not. "For God will bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." Oh, what an exposure will take place then! Earth's secrets will be known both in heaven and hell. "Exposed! what if I die unpardoned, unsanctified, and unsaved, shall I be exposed before devils, angels, and men? Yes, you will be so exposed. "Will my whole life be laid bare, and all my secret sins, my hidden crimes, be brought to light?" Yes, your sins will find you out, clothe you with shame, fill you with agony, and expose you to everlasting contempt.

Sin always has found sinners out. It found out Cain, when his brother's blood cried unto God for vengeance. He slew his brother when they were alone in the field; he thought no eye saw him, but God called to him, convicted him, and sentenced him; so that he cried out in deep horror of mind, "My punishment is greater than I can bear." It found Achan out. He saw the wedge of gold, and the goodly Babylonish gar. ment, he coveted and he took them, though it was prohibited. No one saw or suspected him. He hid them in the midst of his tent in the earth, but the eye of God rested on them, and they must be brought forth, and Achan and his house must be stoned; for "that man perished not alone in his iniquity." It found Gehazi out, he ran after Naaman, obtained the talents and the garments, stored them away, went into the presence of his master, and pretended that nothing had taken place. But he was detected, exposed, and punished; for "he departed from the presence of his master, a leper as white as snow." It found Judas out. He brought the thirty pieces of silver, for which he had sold his Master, into the temple, and in agony of mind exclaimed, “I have sinned, in that I have betrayed innocent blood." The only reply he could obtain from the cruel priests, his employers, was, "What is that to us? see thou to that;" and feeling life to be a misery rather than a blessing, he went out and hanged himself. It found Annanias and Sapphira out; they tried to deceive the apostles, and keep consecrated property for themselves; but they were questioned, convicted, and struck dead in the presence of the assembly. Vain, vain is the attempt to sin in the dark, or to think of ultimately concealing our transgressions.

See that poor, dejected, disconsolate female, going alone to the house of God. She takes her seat, hangs down her head, appears unhappy, and full of thought. She is a professor, she married an ungodly man, she knew Scripture forbade it, she had heard her pastor preach against it,

but passion prevailed over principle, and now her sin has found her out. She cannot keep from the means of grace, or go with her husband into the world, for the root of the matter is found in her; he does not sympathise with her in her religious feelings and views, and she is wretched. When she seems to be hearing the Word, her thoughts are often following her husband to the alehouse, or some pleasure party, or in the indulgence of some carnal appetite. She mourns now, but she ought to have taken heed in time. Look at that young man, pale, weak, and dejected; he was once strong, healthy, and comparatively happy; but he threw the reins on the neck of his lusts, he yielded to temptation, he joined the company of gay, worldly, vicious companions, and now his sin has found him out. His few remaining days will be spent in feebleness, pain, and remorse; while he is obliged to acknowledge that "it is an evil and bitter thing that he has sinned against the Lord his God." Enter yon prison; go into that cell; see that picture of misery; he was once respectable, loving, and beloved; but he gave way to evil company, was led away by the deceitfulness of sin, and now sin has found him out; apprehended on suspicion, he pines in solitude, dreads appearing before an earthly judge, and grieves over his folly too late. Go to that sick chamber; cast your eye on that dying bed; there lies a victim. Hear his heavy sighs, his despairing groans. He was brought up in a Sabbath school, experienced conviction of sin, and was impressed with the importance of religion; he was exhorted to look to Jesus and live; but he trifled with convictions, and they died away; he hardened his heart against God; he went out into the world, seeking for pleasure and satisfaction, and now his sin has found him out, and he is dying in black despair. How hopeful his case once, how hopeless now! Mark that backslider; once he was happy in God, alive in the ways of religion, and diligent in adorning his profession; by degrees he grew cool, drew back from the means of grace, neglected his bible and his closet, and now there he is, his evidences beclouded, his comforts lost, and his prospects most dreary. Satan accuses him, and conscience seconds the accusation; the Holy Spirit is grieved, and refuses to comfort him, and he is truly wretched. Ah, sin has found him out! Think of hell! What is hell? What see you there? Sufferers, hopeless sufferers! For what are they suffering? For sin. In what degree are they suffering? In just proportion to their crimes. In hell, sin has found the sinner out, and like a scorpion it stings him, like a never-dying worm it gnaws him, like devouring fire it torments him. Oh, sinner, sinner, beware in time, sin will find you out!

"Your way is dark and leads to hell;

Why will you persevere ?

Can you in endless torments dwell,
Shut up in black despair!

"Why will you in the crooked ways
Of sin and folly go?

In pain you travel all your days

To reap immortal woe !"

Reader, unless we find out sin, carry it to the cross of Jesus, confess it before God, obtain the pardon of it, and forsake it, it will find us out. It has found thousands, millions out; think not to escape, for you cannot. "He that hideth his sins shall not prosper, but he that confesseth and forsaketh them shall find mercy." This is God's Word, and cannot fail of its accomplishment. Think of being found out by sin when it is too late to obtain a pardon, or find deliverance from its dreadful consequences. Repent, therefore, and seek the Lord, so iniquity shall not be your ruin. God stands pledged to expose sin, and punish the impenitent sinner. His Word requires it. His justice demands it. His nature prompts to it.

Just direct thy thoughts forward to the day of judgment; see that multitude, pale as death, quaking with fear, trembling with anguish of soul, trying to avoid the eye of the Judge, dreading the sentence about to be pronounced upon them. What is the cause of all this? Sin has found them out, and they are about to receive the due reward of their deeds. Reader, if you should be one of them! If you should! Is it possible? Can you bear the thought? Can you endure the idea? Oh, make sure work of it, fly, fly to Jesus at once, believe in his dear name, confess thy sins at his feet, get his blood sprinkled on thy conscience, and his Spirit imparted to thy soul, then, then thou art safe, and safe for

ever!

Cheltenham.

Manchester.

LINES FOR THE LOWLY.

BY THE REV. F. TUCKER.

A tear-drop of the morning
Hung on a blade of grass,

A simple bead of water,

-A thousand you might pass;
But when the slanting sunlight
Streamed down in morning pride,
Then you might see my water-drop
Transfigured, glorified.

I looked-it shone a diamond,
Bright, sparkling, clear, and keen;
I looked again-an emerald
Hung pure in living green:
Again-it beamed out golden,
A topaz to the view;
Then flamed a ruby, fiery red;
Then sapphire, summer blue.

I saw thus how a water-drop
Is kin to all things fair;

Can give as bright and beauteous hues
As arching rainbows wear:

Can shine with light as radiant,

And show as varied gem,

As the holy city fresh from glory,

The new Jerusalem.

And I thought how many an action
Of simplest, lowliest guise

May yet, beneath the beam of heaven,
Shine lovely to all eyes:

May show such beauteous motive
As angels shall applaud,
Truth, honour, virtue, goodness,
The love of man and God.

Two mites, that make a farthing,
Insured the widow's fame;

A single cup of water

Can buy a deathless name:

The humblest work for Jesus,

The gentle word or look,

The soothing sigh, the cheering smile,
Stands written in His book.

Fear not, then, lowly christian,

Though deep in shade thou dwell;

Thy Lord will mark thy faithfulness,
He will requite thee well:

The dew that waits the dawning
Shall glitter in the ray,

And bright shall shine thy jewell'd crown
When Christ shall bring the day!

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