him, walking with him, interesting himself in his behalf! And it seems to us that in the pity of the Prince and the confidence of the boy we may get a lesson. Led by the King's Son, we may venture into the presence-chamber of the King, and prefer all our requests, and tell out all our need. More than this; when we have learnt to know and trust the Lord Jesus, we are safe for time and for eternity, which shall be spent in that presence where there is fulness of joy in knowing even as we are known.

Recognising the power and august presence veiled and hidden in His humanity, an unclean spirit cried out to the Saviour, "What have we to do with Thee, Thou Jesus of Nazareth ?" The rebellious heart still cries, “What have we to do with Thee?" but it never finds rest and peace till it hears God's explanatory answer to the question: “I have laid help upon One that is mighty;" "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners," and "He is the propitiation for our sins;"2 and learns to say, in another spirit than that of the poor possessed man, "I know Thee whom Thou art, the Holy One of God."

Is it thus with us? or is it still, alas ! true, "There standeth One among you whom ye know not." One who has paid the debt, that the debtor may go free; One who has fought the fight and gained the victory, that the captive may be released; One who stands surety for all who, knowing their own liability and inability, look up to Him saying, "Thou shalt answer for me. Be Thou surety for Thy servant for good." One who says, " I will give it health and cure," to every one that feels the need of a Physician; One who comes to us with His hands full of blessing and His heart full of love; and yet, not knowing, we turn away unblessed. We wonder how many in that crowd who heard John the Baptist thus speak were ready to take the application of his words, when the next day he said, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world," and how many are ready now? 2 Ps. lxxxix. 19; 1 Tim. i. 15; 1 John ii. 2.

1 Mark i. 24.

Once when He walked on the sea His disciples knew Him not, and cried out for fear. Once when a yearning heart was breaking for the longing that it had for Him who was close by, He was mistaken for the gardener.2 Once when two of His friends were walking and talking together "concerning Jesus of Nazareth, and how the chief priests and rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified him," He drew near, "but their eyes were holden that they should not know Him." But what joy filled their hearts when their bodily eyes were opened, and they recognized their Master and Friend, and their spiritual eyes were illuminated and they knew Him.3 "Then (indeed; were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord."4

And it may be now that some sorrowful disciples are walking in darkness, having no light, just because for the moment they have forgotten that there standeth One by them whom indeed they know full well. And they do not recognize Him in the dark hour of trial, or temptation, or perplexity; they go on "toiling in rowing," and cry out for fear because they are looking down instead of looking up; because they have suffered their eyes to grow dim for want of anointing with spiritual eye-salve; because they were not expecting Him to appear in the way He did. But even as He left not His disciples to mourn, but recalled them to recognition by His loving words and acts, so does He draw near with a fresh revelation of Himself as the 66 same Jesus," who knows His sheep and is known of them; who "having loved His own which were in the world, loved them unto the end," and said out of the fulness of that love, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." "Truly this was the Son of God!"

"Lord! that our eyes may be opened."

know Him."

1 Matt. xiv. 26.

"That I may

2 John xx. 15.

Luke xxiv. 16, 19, 20, 31.

4 John xx. 20.

IN

I.

N lighted hall where Christmas board
With flowers was spread and dainty fare,
The whole bright household band was met,
Ten souls, and not one vacant chair.

For death, whose tread at other's door
Had blanched the cheek with frequent fear,
Aye turned aside and left unscathed
Parents and children sheltered here.

And so they feasted through the hours,
› Mid flow of wine, and jest, and story,
Yet though their blessings' cup ran o'er,
None paused to give to God the glory.
He had no child in all that home,

Their hearts were cased in earthly leaven;
Ah me! to those whose trust is gold,
How hard to reach the gate of heaven!

II.

A stone-cast from the rich man's house,
In a poor chamber cold and bare,
A lonely woman vigil kept;

No Christmas cheer was hers to share !
Husband, and sons, and daughters slept,
Nor kith nor kin on earth had she;
No gold or silver, nought possessed,
But the old Bible on her knee.

Yet she was rich. For in her heart
A jewel trembled like a star,
Than all the treasure hand can grasp,
That made her wiser, nobler far.

With her the angels sat that night,
Ambrosial food her strength to stay,
Nay, Christ Himself the message brought,
“My peace be yours henceforth, for aye.”

O blessed sense of perfect trust!

O faith that bringeth endless rest! O happy soul, this hallowed hour,

That hath the Lord her glorious guest!

J. C. S.

Looking unto Jesus!

The Emmanuel !

King of kings in heaven,
God with us as well.

Looking unto Jesus!
Dayspring from on high,
Through God's tender mercy,
Came for us to die.

Looking unto Jesus!
Mighty God He is,
Wonderful, and Counsellor,
Father, Prince of Peace.

Looking unto Jesus!

Our example, too; Patient, loving, gentle, Humble, kind, and true.

Looking unto Jesus!

Help us, Lord, by faith, In the last dread hour

Thus to conquer death.

Jesus, keep us ever

Looking unto Thee; Till in realms of glory Thy blest face we see.

F. II. M.