into commission with Himself, and they shall sit and approve his righteous judgment. "Do you not know that the saints shall judge the world? Know ye not that we shall judge angels 1?" Were it not for the word of Christ that speaks it, this advancement would seem incredible, and the language arrogant. Even Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied this, saying," Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints to execute judgment upon all "." Thus shall the saints be honoured, and "the upright shall have dominion in the morning "."

(Baxter's Saints' Rest, p. 36-7.)

What did the Lord see in me that He should judge me meet for such a state? That I, who was but a poor diseased, despised wretch, should be clad in the brightness of this glory? That I, a creeping worm, should be advanced to this high dignity ? That I, who was but late groaning, weeping, dying, should now be as full of joy as my heart can hold? yea, should be taken from the grave, where I was rotting, and from the dust and darkness where I seemed forgotten, and to be here set before his throne? That I should be

1 1 Cor. vi. 2, 3. 2 Jude, 14, 15

3 Ps. xlix. 14.

taken with Mordecai from captivity, and be set next unto the king; and with Daniel from the den, to be made ruler of princes and provinces?

(Baxter's Saints' Rest, p. 63.)

The people of the Lord persevere in this covenant unto the end. Though the believer may commit sins, yet he never disclaims his Lord, renounces his allegiance, nor repents of his covenant; nor can he properly be said to break that covenant, while that faith continues, which is the condition of it.

SELECTIONS.

(Bickersteth's Christian Hearer, p. 113-14.)

An attendant on an eminent minister began to think he got no good from his ministry, and began to relax in his attendance. Complaining to a friend that he could not profit by what he heard, he was advised to go to his minister, and converse with him. He did so, and after some conversation explicitly told him that he found no profit under his ministry. The minister, with great humility, said, "I am not surprised at it; my only wonder is, that any human being should have profited by such a poor ministry as mine is." This humble dcclaration at once overcame the hearer. He saw his own error. The veil over his own eyes was removed, and bursting into tears, he said, "O Sir, it is all my own fault; I have been getting worldly and neglecting prayer, and that is the whole reason why I have not profited."

It is noticed of the excellent Sir John Barnard, a Lord Mayor of London, six times chosen member for the city, and called the ornament of the human race, that he constantly attended twice every Lord's day, to pay honour to his Maker in the great congregation, where he behaved with exemplary seriousness, hearing the preacher (though his inferior in knowledge of divinity no less than in strength of intellect) with evident signs of meekness on his countenance, and reverence for a mode of religious instruction appointed from above.

(Bickersteth's Christian Hearer, p. 116.)

If God graciously send his ministers, it is obviously the duty of those around them to hear. Ministers should be heard, where it is practicable, by their stated congregations, whenever they preach. The being absent whenever a stranger is to be heard, does not show steadiness of Christian character. There are those who are always hearing, running after different preachers, and that to the neglect of duties. They have been compared to Pharaoh's lean cattle-always eating, but still ill-favoured.

(Bickersteth's Christian Hearer, p. 2.)

Bishop Jewell observes, “Some there are that thus say, O that I might hear Christ, or Peter, or Paul! I would verily believe what they should preach! This is fondness and curious vanity ; for whensoever thou dost hear the minister of God preach unto thee the word of life, and teaching thee the truth of the Gospel, thou hearest Paul and Peter, and Christ Himself. If thou despisest the word of God spoken unto thee by him, and grace which God offereth thee by him, thou despisest Christ Himself, and heapest up the heavy displeasure of God against thee."

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When the ministers of God speak according to the will of God, and by virtue of their office, it is to be regarded as if God himself addressed us. The foundation of their office is a divine commission-" Go, and teach all nations.... to observe whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo! I am with you always, even unto the end of the world'." Our Lord told the seventy disciples, whom He sent out as teachers, "He that heareth you, heareth me; and he that despiseth you, despiseth me." The whole dispensation of the

1 Matt. xxviii. 10. 20.

2 Luke x. 16.