is made to consist in conduct; a willingness and a determination to give up sin, and to obey at all costs the commandments of the Lord. A man who is conscious that he has this Spirit in him, only requires FAITH IN THE WORD OF THE LORD to enrol himself amongst the blessed; for he is of the number of those who hunger and thirst after righteousness; and it is unbelief alone that can hinder him from resting in the promise that he "shall be satisfied."

As a rule, I think it is after a man has been enabled by God's Spirit to lay hold of Christ, and to realize on the faith of God's Word that, in spite of all that he has been and still is, his sins are forgiven him, and he is a saved mạn; that then it is, as he sits in some quiet solitude reflecting on the marvellous difference between being lost and saved, and on the marvellous love that sought him when he was lost, and found and saved him; that then it is,-love and peace at work together in his heart, that the tears of godly sorrow run

down his cheeks, strengthening that "repentance" which first showed itself in a willingness to forsake sin, and deepening that "change of mind" which first made him turn to God.

No man, however, can lay down an exact rule for these things. God is a Sovereign, and will bring His people to Himself, “ in the way that He shall choose." But this we do know, that every one who confesseth and forsaketh sin, and believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, goes to God in His name, shall most certainly not be cast out, but shall be saved. He will not be saved, however, because of his repentance or change of mind; neither will he be saved because he confesses and forsakes his sin; he will not be saved even because he believes in the Lord Jesus, or because he goes to God in His name. Without these things it is most true that he will be lost; yet, for all that, the only and alone procuring cause of his salvation is "THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB!"

XI.

The Exodus.

The New Name.

ET us bear in mind then that the children of Israel were saved BEFORE they took one step out of

the land of Egypt. They listened to what God said, and considering nothing else, obeyed Him, and WERE SAVED.

But, being saved, what was their IMMEDIATE conduct? How long did they remain in the land after their salvation? A few days-a week perhaps, or a month, to make their necessary preparations? NOT ONE DAY! But on the very same day-the day on which they were saved the day of the blood-sprinkling— without even waiting to bake their bread

"with their dough before it was leavened, and their kneading-troughs bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders," did these Israelites, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, with their children, and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle, go out from Egypt, and start on their wilderness journey, for the land of Canaan.

And as it was with them, so must it be, and so will it ever be, with him who truly receives God's way of salvation. Having been taught by the Holy Ghost to accept Christ, his body has become the temple of the living God; having fed by faith on the true Paschal Lamb, he HATH, as Jesus Himself tells us (John vi. 54, 56), "EVERLASTING LIFE"-" He dwelleth in Christ, and Christ in Him"-and the devil cannot for one moment keep him longer in his kingdom. As no thought, even for necessary food, could detain these Israelites in Egypt, so no earthly consideration can detain the true believer in the world. Satan is still in him, but the Holy Ghost is in him also; and it is

the Holy Ghost who leads him now, and not Satan. Satan will still tempt, and harass, and strive to hinder-and alas, even sometimes may gain a triumph; but he can no longer rule, and reign, and exercise dominion: a stronger than he has bound the strong man, and delivered "the lawful captive;" and the slave of Satan has become Christ's freed man, and is led by the Spirit of God. That leading is invariably the same—OUT OF THE WORLD. (2 Cor. vi. 14-18.)

It is to be remarked also, that these Israelites, though they came out on the very day, not only did not, but could not get out of Egypt, until after their salvation. Before this, they were anxious to get out, and in many ways they had proved it; and even God Himself had fought manifestly on their side, and against Pharaoh, to compel him to let them go: yet their anxieties, and strivings, and contendings, had effected no deliverance. In spite of God and man, Pharaoh still held the Israelites in his power, bond-slaves in the land of Egypt.