You are not ostentatiously to say "come and admire my gems," but you are meekly to wear those celestial adornments with which the Spirit decorates the children of God, and which make them lovely in his sight.

FRAGMENT IX.

THE SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

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"UNTO you that fear my name, shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings." When the sun is in its greatest power over the southern parts of the world, our winter comes on; vegetation ceases, and nature seems to rest for awhile; but when the sun returns to us, all revives again and spring begins. The lovely plants of the earth, cheered by its invigorating beams, put forth their leaves and expand their beauties every day. And O when the Sun of righteousness comes upon the people of the Lord, he calls forth the graces of the Holy Spirit, and his saints bud, blossom, and bring 1 Mal. iv, 2.

forth fruit unto his praise.

The flowers of

God's garden are as sweet and lovely as the little blossoms of spring; lowly and pleasant are they as the lilies of the valley; their perfume is pleasing to the Most High, and he says "I will come and dwell in my garden." The beams of the Sun of righteousness awaken the vegetating powers of the souls of true believers; and I long to know that you feel this effect upon you, beloved; that God is making you holy and fruitful, and is pouring down upon you the dew of his blessing. In the warm summer's shower, how beauteous is the rainbow; yet all its prismatic colours are produced by the refraction of one white light. So all the lovely graces of believers are but different hues of one perfect holiness, produced by the beams of the Sun of righteousness shining on his children's hearts. Thus the Lord grant that you may all bring forth fruit and shine.

But the Sun of righteousness is to arise "with healing in his wings." How salubrious are the beams of the sun; his rays are very gentle though powerful. A burning fire would not make things grow. All vegetables are nourished by light; keep them in the dark, they soon droop, lose their verdure, and become pale, lan

guid, and unhealthy. Thus we must have light to live to God. Hence Christ is called "the light and the life" of men; and they who trust in Him shall have light and glory too. If you desire to be in a healthy state, you must keep in healthy places, where the Sun of righteousness shines forth in his strength, and upon which he has arisen "with healing in his wings." Healing in his wings! Why is the expression introduced, the wings of the sun! There are things innumerable brought to life by the sun. Millions and millions of curious little creatures arise from their eggs by the power of its rays, and fly forth to proclaim the wonders of infinite intelligence and skill. Thus when the Sun of righteousness enters the soul, he gives life to countless dormant graces, which take wing in joyful haste and exultation to obey a God's commands, becoming active in holy things under the all powerful energy of the divine Spirit.

FRAGMENT X.

DISTINCTION OF PERSONS BELONGS ONLY TO GOD.

INFINITE wisdom alone knows what will be the ultimate character of any man. We cannot say that the worst man before God at this moment may not hereafter be converted into one of his best servants. We know not what mercy may be provided for many that are now far off indeed from the Lord, or how they may be "made willing in the day of his power." The language of the gospel is plain, "whosoever willeth let him come;" and there is no sinner living who longs to fly to Christ, whom the sacred volume does not invite to seek refuge in him from the wrath to come. We are very imperfect and short-sighted creatures, and are totally ignorant of the designs of the Most High. I may see a very wicked man, and say that he is in the road to hell. But the same might have been said of Saul when he persecuted the church of Christ, and longed to be the murderer of every saint.

Yet unexpectedly to all the disciples, a miracle of grace was to take place in this slayer of christians; and what a wondrous change was completed in him to the praise and glory of God! How should this encourage ministers to "preach the gospel to every creature" in the world, and to tell all sinners that if they live and die in their present state they must be lost for ever, but that if blest with repentance, and enabled to seek forgiveness of sins through Christ Jesus, vile as they are, there is "redemption in his blood" according to the riches of his grace and mercy. We have no business to make distinctions. There never will be a man sent away from the judgment seat of Christ into the regions of despair, who will not be made to acknowledge that his own stubbornness alone cast him down there. Blessed be God it is not decreed that we shall be lost because we were born in sin. Yet we can hardly fathom the mystery of the salvation of some, and the condemnation of others. But I find my way very plain, and I mean to labour for the conversion of souls as long as I can. My business is to alarm sinners in their danger; not to bring this man and that man, but all to see their awful state and their need of Christ; not to be look