nature, but throughout my whole ministry on earth, I have sought my Father's glory, and the salvation of guilty. man; and you, too, must walk the same weary path; if you would be my disciples, you must crucify the flesh, with the affections and lusts. You must forget the things that are behind, and press on to those that are before. You must pass through earth with your hearts and hopes set upon heaven; you must seek not your own glory, but refer all to him that seeketh and judgeth. (John viii. 50.) Being part of my mystical body, you must imitate the Head, and as in all things I have denied myself, so must all those who profess to follow me do likewise, otherwise they are not my genuine, true disciples.' Again, he adds, 'Whosoever will save his life, shall lose it; and, whosoever will lose his life for my sake, shall find it.' (Verse 25.) 'The noble army of martyrs praise thee.' Yes," continued Mr. C, his eye kindling as he spoke, "a noble army, indeed; young and old, poor and rich, men and women; persons who loved not their lives, neither were they dear to them, but willingly laid them down for the love they bore to Jesus, and to the word of his testimony, have found the truth of this great promise; for while they poured out their blood upon the earth, they were welcomed into the realms of bliss amid the shouts of the immortals, and from the hands of him for whose sake they died, received a crown of glory, that shall never fade away."

"But, dear sir," said Hyford, "I fear many a one denies his Saviour for the sake of ease and profit."

"Alas! too many," replied Mr. C, sorrowfully; "but it brings with it, even in this life, its own condemnation. Never do you find a backslider happy; it is said, ' he shall be filled with his own way,' (Prov. xiv. 14;) and it is true to the letter; he is denied that peace which the Spirit alone can give, and which is so far beyond all price, that those who possess it would not part with it if they could. Our Lord may well ask, 'What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?'.(Matt. xvi. 26.) Here is the balance; now, my friends, put the two opponents into the scales, and see the result. The world, riches, honours, and death, on the one side, against the soul, trials, and eternal life; and which is best? Supposing you have gained all that the world could bestowyou were loaded with titles and riches, and you possessed

all that is called desirable; what is the result? a fatal disease is sent upon you; the decree goes from the Lord Jehovah, that your days are numbered; and what then? 'Vanity of vanities; all is vanity.' This was the cry of the wisest of men, even Solomon; and it will be your cry too, when death and the grave appear before you, and with mockery declare that you must leave your cherished all to go with them, and say to corruption, Thou art my father; and to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister.' (Job xvii. 15.) I have laboured," added Mr. C"to enforce this most important scripture upon your minds, and to show you, that if you forsake Christ, you sell yourselves to Satan. You must belong to one or the other, for there is no other master for you to follow. that you may learn rightly to know the value of your souls by considering the enormous price paid for their redemption, and that in the estimation of Jesus, the world itself is worthless in comparison. 'For,' says he, what

Oh!

is a man profited, if he shall gain the WHOLE WORLD, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?' (Matt. xvi. 26.) And then, though in appearance he spake as one of themselves, their equal, in dress, figure, and manner, he suddenly changed his theme, and added, 'For the Son of Man shall come in the glory of his Father, with the holy angels, and then he shall reward every man according to his works." In order to make this declaration plainer, and convince them of its truth, in a few days afterwards he became transfigured or changed into a bright, glorious form. It had been my intention to enter fully upon this remarkable part of our Lord's history, but I find that time fails me to-day. When we next meet, I trust, with the Divine assistance, to dwell largely upon it, for it is a vast and glorious subject, the consideration of which is calculated to warm and animate our drooping faith, and urge us to perform the work assigned us by Him, who was dead and is alive again, and alone possesses the keys of death and hell; to Him be ascribed power, glory, and honour, for ever and ever. Amen."

R. CLAY, PRINTER, BREAD STREET HILL.

THE

NEW TESTAMENT HISTORIES.

"of the

"I HAVE thought many times," said Mr. Csubject we have taken for our instruction and consideration to-day; it was much too grand and beautiful for us to have hastily noticed it last week; and I trust, with the assistance of the Spirit from on high, so to enter into and consider it, that a blessing may rest upon my endeavours, and your minds be elevated to a full appreciation of the happiness such a glorious display of the Divinity of our dear Redeemer is calculated to produce. Hitherto he has walked throughout the land as a teacher and instructor; we have followed him to the banks of the Jordan, to Galilee, to his own city, Capernaum, to the proud Jerusalem; and mercy, pity and kindness have accompanied his steps. Multitudes crowded round him, either to hear the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth, or to receive some benefit, some mercy which he only could bestow. But his time of suffering was drawing on, and he was graciously and gradually preparing his disciples for his departure from them. He looked upon them as a tender friend beholds those dear ones he feels he will soon be called upon to leave; he knew that ere long they would be as sheep deprived of their shepherd, and exposed to the scoffs and insults of a rude and heathen world; he, their Master and Head, would be removed, and the happy time of their sojourn together would only be as a past dream of bliss, never more to return. To support and console them for his loss was now his gracious object; to lead their minds to a correct knowledge of himself and his wondrous mission, from henceforth occupied his leisure hours; and in order to convince them that he was indeed the Christ, the Son of the living God, 'six days afterwards he takes Peter and James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them :

and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light."" (Matt. xvii. 1, 2.)

"This is an event well deserving our attention," continued Mr. C "for the more we dwell upon it, the more our faith will be confirmed, and the brighter will be our views with regard to that glorious future state of existence thus clearly revealed. Our Lord repaired, it is generally thought, to Tabor, a lofty mountain in the north of Galilee; there, only accompanied by three of his disciples, he went to the summit, and began to pray. To meditate on Jesus praying gives rise to thoughts both wonderful and grand. How it identifies him with ourselves! setting us not only the example of diligence in the performance of this duty, but showing us the simple way whereby we may receive a supply for all our necessities. Nothing can more fully establish the love of the Lord Jehovah towards us his creatures, than the continual encouragement and instruction given in his word on this mighty and important matter. When man by sin had completely lost his way, the road was revealed, and the path made plain; the love of God in Christ Jesus was made manifest; and in order to induce us to approach him without fear or reserve, he declares, Before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.' (Isa. lxv. 24.) Lay this Scripture to heart, my people, and with that before you, say, What is there that God my Father will deny me, when I approach him in the name and through the blood of Jesus? for I remember it is written, He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him freely give us all things?' (Rom. viii. 32.) Yes, it was to ensure a reception for his ransomed ones, his own people, that Jesus prayed; he pleaded for them, and prevailed. Love brought him down into the Garden of Eden, to declare his determination of destroying the fell purposes of the great enemy of souls; and the same unfailing love marked his treatment of his creatures from that moment to the wondrous hour when he became a babe in Bethlehem, while his heralds at his command were proclaiming to the universe, peace and pardon to the guilty and the lost. The same unwearying love directed his human footsteps; and not in one single instance do we find it fail. The event before us is a still further proof of this, for how surely was it calculated to strengthen the faith of his disciples, and lead us also to regard him as our Saviour and our God! Jesus prayed, he