precious Corner Stone unites and bears the whole weight of the vast and eternal building to which His Church is compared. This Foundation is laid deep in the purposes of Divine grace and God's everlasting love; and that one sentence just quoted, "Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a Tried Stone," is indeed sufficient. What higher authority can we have than this, and this alone is the "Foundation?" Every other must fail, with all that is built thereon, in the solemn morning when God's word shall speak their destruction; but not one on this Living Stone shall ever be ashamed. When every false hope shall become a complete wreck, and the candle of the wicked be put out, this Foundation, with all the spiritual polished stones placed on it shall stand in everlasting security, "and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

II. As the anointed Head. Christ is the Head of the Church. Here is another precious truth which the Word that cannot pass away gives us concerning Him who is the Head of the body, the Church, Col. i. 18. Strike thy harp afresh to celebrate this marvellous name : "Is He the Head each member lives,

And owns the vital power He gives?"

Let this be our motto-No Headship for the Church but Christ. Whoso owns another, has not this; who has not this, has not Christ; who has not Christ, must perish. The government shall be upon His shoulders; and none but Him, who is the Anointed One, can rule in or for His Church. Who dares rob God by giving to any creature the power which only belongs to Him? He is the Righteousness, the Peace, the Joy, the Love, the Light, the Life; and all we have of these must be through Him, who is all this to His people. As the Head He has all knowledge, so that all we are, and have, as well as all we need, is known to Him. Can any of His members in their persons or necessities be overlooked by Him? As the Head He feels for and with each member; yea, so close is the sympathy and interest between the Head Christ and the body the Church, that "thus saith the Lord, he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of His eye." As the Head He dwells in the high and holy place, the palace of the great King; so also must we : He is with His people now, according to His own promise,-"Lo, I am with alway, even unto the end of the world!" but we shall dwell with Him in His own mansion: for "I will come again, and receive you unto Myself, that where I am there ye may be also; so shall we ever be with the Lord."

III. As the anointed Redeemer and Resurrection. Oh, precious pair of special offices, given to the Christ of God, who has richly filled and fulfilled them both in Himself and for His Church. As Redeemer, both prophets and apostles, Old and New Testament saints speak of Him. Job, in spiritual exaltation, rejoiced when he said, "I know that my Redeemer liveth." Isaiah also, "As for our Redeemer, the Lord of Hosts is His name, the Holy One of Israel." So the highly favoured among women sang, My spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour." Again, that great apostle of the Gentiles did say, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us." Gal. iii., 13. Is not this the fulness of redemption? and will not this constitute the glorious song of the redeemed when the ransomed of the Lord shall be brought home, the whole Church shall join in that grand chorus which shall swell the anthem of praise to our Redeemer? "For thou wast slain,

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and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood." And is not a knowledge of this in relation to us the spring of our joy, peace, and love even now? As our Resurrection we view Christ as the confirmation of all our hopes and expectations; but for this our Redeemer, redemption and hopes, however sanguine, must have been for ever buried in the same sepulchre. "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept." Therefore are our hopes gladness, and our redemption everlastingly secure. Thus, Christ's own words, "I am the Resurrection and the Life," assure every believer in Jesus of his personal resurrection to eternal life.

Doubtless you with myself have looked into the cold, dark grave with its narrow earthen floor, and rough mud walls, and asked the startling question, Must I lie here? Yes, you and the noblest earth's sons can share but little better; but the humblest, the poorest member of the redeemed family may rejoice in this, that his Saviour is the Resurrection, and that as his forunner Christ Jesus rose at the appointed day; so at the appointed moment shall he also rise and reign with Him in endless day.

IV. As Intercessor. See this glorious part of the great work assigned to the Christ referred to in Isa. liii., 12, and lix., 16, and then rejoice that as your Intercessor He ever lives to make intercession. Did He not nobly begin this work on earth? O listen to His earnest cry for His people in that remarkable chapter, the 17th of John, and select from it those golden sentences in reference to them: "I pray for them: Holy Father, keep through Thine own name those whom Thou hast given Me. I pray that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil. Sanctify them through Thy truth. Father, I will that they also whom Thou hast given Me be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory." Again, on the cross hear Him with strong crying to Him who always heard: Father, forgive them, for they known not what they do." And if so earnest then, is it less now? May we not say in reference to this, If when we were enemies He pleaded thus, much more being reconciled will He not carry on for them those pleadings in Heaven? O yes, "He ever liveth to make intercession for us;" and as He loved us even unto the death, so now He loves to intercede for us in heaven. Has not that cry uttered on the cross, Father, forgive them," been echoed in heaven on behalf of His wanderers below? And is not that same sentence,"I pray that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil," used on behalf of His children as they travel through and are exposed to the temptations of the world, sin and Satan? may we we not sing,

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"Still He remembers Calvary,

Nor lets His saints forget."

V. "I (said Christ) am the good Shepherd," not only pleading up there, where all is pure and happy, but as a Shepherd guiding down here, where sin and dangers beset on every hand,-pouring out a loving heart there for His erring ones who are still in the wilderness; imparting wisdom, mercy, and goodness down here to instruct, lead, and provide for them as they ever require; and it is when this is known by Christ's sheep that they can sing,

"The Lord's my Shepherd, I'll not want;

He makes me down to lie

In pastures green; he leadeth me

The quiet waters by."

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The great Shepherd knows His sheep, and is known of His; they know His voice, and follow Him; they know His love, and feast on it; they desire to know His way, His will, His work. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, they shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

Happy the man who by the teachings of this wise Shepherd can say, "Thou shalt guide me by Thy counsel, and afterwards receive me to glory." No foes, no dangers, no paths, nor wants to which such are subject, but are known to Him who is their Shepherd, and who will lead them in " paths of righteousness for His name's sake." Note one short question, Is the Lord thy Shepherd? If so, take one last point for your special comfort.

VI. Christ your triumph,-your Conqueror and Conquest is the Christ of God. Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; be of good cheer, ye followers of the Lamb, for He hath "overcome the world." God has set His Son on His holy hill, and there will He reign until He hath put all enemies under His feet; and that complete conquest includes that of all His followers. His enemies and theirs are one army, against which the spiritual host are marching, with Christ the Messiah leading them on, the King Himself heading all His troops, and in the exercise of His infinite wisdom cheering on His loving people, saying, "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of glory." Mighty King, who among Thy blessed host can be conquered whilst Thou art with them? "A feeble saint shall win the day,

Tho' death and hell obstruct the way."

A complete victory is before thee; not such as some great warriors have won, mixed with much disappointment and loss. Not one unconquered rebel, not a single unsubdued thought, not a sinful desire, not one lofty look-all, all shall be brought down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day; and each and every one of His exalted with Him. Everything that is the cause of pain and sorrow lost; in the conflict everything giving peace, and joy, and unmixed happiness, gained,-and that for

ever.

Banbridge.

S. J. B.

Sudden

Death.

THE PROVIDENCE AND THE GRACE OF GOD are so tenderly and beaufully delineated in the Memoir of the late Benjamin Tatham, by his widow, that we can heartily recommend it. Mr. Tatham's life was one singularly marked by special manifestations of mercy, and his settlement as minister of the Gospel at Eastbourne, it was hoped would have been a long and happy one. He had, however, scarcely become planted there before an unexpected and brief illness carried him away from all that was dear to him on earth, to all that was ten thousand times dearer to him in heaven.

His death-bed scene is given in a few words. They had just removed into a new house; of which, and the subsequent events leading to his death, Mrs. Tatham says:

"We removed to Ceylon place in February, and I think I never saw

him in such a sweet spirit; everything was right; he appeared well both in soul and body. About a week after we had entered our new habitation, we thought we should like to invite a few friends for an evening to join with us in thanking the Lord for His manifold mercies, and to ask Him for His blessing to rest upon us for the future; and I think all that were present could testify the Lord was with us, and my dear husband spoke of it several times afterwards. He continued well until the 21st of March, when he complained of a slight cold. On the following evening he was very happy in his own soul while preaching, and was heard very sweetly by several friends; one dear woman said to me after service, "I do believe, but I cannot lay hold." It appeared she had her feelings traced out, but wanted the application, which the Lord saw fit to withhold from her at the time. After my husband left the chapel, he complained of the cold, and walked home very fast. On reaching the house he went in, and drew up to the fire, remarking, "How nice to have such a comfortable home; and added, with tears, "How good the Lord has been to us." The next day, Friday, he was out collecting for the chapel fund, and on Saturday morning he went to visit some of the poor amongst us; the remainder of the day (as was usual) he spent in his study. On Sunday the 25th he was better from his cold; in fact, I never saw him look better, and he was very cheerful and comfortable through the day. He preached from the 118th Psalm, 14th verse, "The Lord is my strength and my song, and He is become my salvation." The word that day was very much blessed. Several friends remarked how much favoured he was in speaking, and he appeared so fully to enjoy in his own soul the substance of his text. It was the quarterly collection, and his people manifested their love indeed; for they gave him a better collection than he had ever received. He said after the service, "I do think the dear people love me more and more." He was very tired, and after supper lay down for half an hour before reading and prayer. On Monday he was out, and caught a fresh cold, and at night was very poorly. Tuesday morning he was not so well; his cold tried his head very much, but he was very comfortable, and entered freely into conversation with a friend who called. He left the house to give a man instructions as to his gardening, saying he should “ come back, and remain indoors by the fire all day." At eleven o'clock I made him some cocoa, which he enjoyed; and employed himself during the day getting the school-books ready for the children's prizes. He enjoyed his dinner of mutton and carrot so much that I feared he had taken too freely of the latter, and mentioned it; but he replied, “It was so very nice." He was very happy all day, and in the afternoon we had some nice conversation on the things of God. He spoke of the goodness of the Lord to us, and how He had led and guided us, bringing us together out of our families, as there was not one on either side we could talk to upon the best things; remarked, he "believed the Lord intended the children of God to be our brothers and sisters;" and added, "If either of us are laid aside by affliction" (as I was far from being well), we cannot but see the Lord's hand in bringing us to this house." As he complained of pain at tea time, I gave him a little brandy, which eased him, and he sat very quiet all the evening, until he left the room to pay a man for chopping some wood, when he felt the pain coming on again, and, returning, said he "feared the cold had caught him.' I

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soon

again gave him some brandy, which relieved him. At half-past eight he read the 38th Psalm, and was very much helped in prayer. I gave him gruel with brandy and honey in it for his supper, put his feet in hot water and mustard, and warmed his bed. As he laid down, he observed, “How nice to have such a comfortable bed when one is tired!” I immediately retired to rest, but had not been in bed more than ten minutes, when he cried out, "Oh dear, the pain is coming on again, what shall I do?" I gave him more brandy, but it did not relieve him this time. I made a bran poultice, and while doing so, heard him retching, and ran up stairs; he had thrown up some carrot, and said he felt very ill. I advised sending for the doctor; but he said, "No, I shall be better soon." However, I called our servant, and sent her to the doctor's, but some time elapsed before he came, during which my poor dear husband felt very sick, but could bring nothing off his stomach. He asked for mustard and water, which caused him to vomit again, and said, “The pain is removed to the left side, I shall be better soon; come close to me, and let me catch hold of you." I did so, and he squeezed me very hard twice. I asked him if that.eased him. "Not much," was his reply; but I don't think he thought his end was near. The doctor then came, and examined him very closely, inquired what he had taken, and said I could not have done better; adding he "would take the servant back with him, and send some medicine, hoping he would be better in the morning." He directed me to put on the poultice, which I at once made ready, but delayed putting it on, fearing it was too hot. My dear husband said, "Put it on, I can bear anything." I had just done so, and was covering the bedclothes over him, when he lifted up both his hands, and screamed out, dropping his hand on the bed. I cried, "Oh, my dear husband, don't do so, you frighten me." Thinking he had fainted, I got water and washed his face, and applied vinegar to his head; one of his eyes kept moving, and his tongue moved. I begged him to speak to me, and said, "Do look at me! but he gave three deep sighs, and then I heard the rattles in his throat. O the agony of my feelings! I knew he was gone. My poor heart felt hard. I cried, "O Lord, my heart is hard; my husband is dead, what shall I do?" The Lord enabled me to cry, and I said, "Lord, help me! Lord, support me! Lord, strengthen me!" And, while leaning over the body of my dear departed husband, the Lord enabled me to commit myself into His dear hands-and He has been my help, my strength, and my support. Oh, how good and gracious has He been to one of the unworthiest of His children!

David, when penning the Psalms, was moved by an internal teaching; and while speaking his own experience, set forth the sufferings, glory, and majesty of Jesus Christ, and also the experience of all true Christians in all ages.

Christian, lean on the promise of Him that can help, and not on man, or thy God will let down that prop,

Christians don't like to live in Lapland or Iceland, they want to be in a warmer climate.

All for whom Christ died, shall enjoy the saving benefits of his death. He accepts nothing of us, who is author of all. Christian: art thou afraid of thy Judge? consider who he is, viz., Christ, to whom the Father has committed all judgment; can He damn thee, who has redeemed thee by His death, for whom he offered Himself, and whose eternal life He knows to be the reward of His death? Would He not say, what profit is there in my blood, if I condemn him whom I have died to save?