of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves," Job. xxxiv. 22. When you have waited patiently for every human eye to be withdrawn, when you are just about to do the deed of sin which you would not dare to do even in the presence of a child; when all is hushed around you, and you are rejoicing in the thought that you will never be found out; oh then, in that moment of danger, call to mind these awful words, "Thou God seest me.'

But does our gracious God mark only the evil that is done? Does he not also witness every deed whereby the humble, faithful believer in Jesus seeks to glorify his Master? Our God is the same God who said to Nathanael, "When thou wast under the fig-tree I saw thee;" and of penitent Saul, "Behold, he prayeth." Let the follower of Jesus take courage; the eyes of his Lord are upon him. Those who truly love their God and Saviour Jesus Christ, can rejoice in feeling that he is always with them. The slave is full of fear when his master is watching him; but the loving child delights to know that his father is looking on him. The child of God is always most happy when, realizing his Father's presence with him, he can look up to him for a blessing upon every occupation, and every pursuit. What do the eyes of God behold, then, among his own dear family on earth? He sees every struggle, every conflict in the believer's heart. He sees when the angry look gives way to the smile of tenderness. He sees the outstretched hand of forgiveness. He sees the sacrifices made in secret for the good of others, and known only to him.

Christian parents, God sees the tears of sorrow you shed over your rebellious children. Believing husbands and wives, he sees you excusing each other's faults, and bearing each other's burdens. Christian young men, he sees you fleeing from the snares that encompass your path, refusing to look on the wine, turning a deaf ear to the words of the dishonest, and the impure. Christian young women, he sees you shutting your eyes against temptation and forsaking the company of the flatterer. CHRISTIANS, young and old, rich and poor, his eyes are upon you, for they "run to and fro throughout the earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards him," 2 Chron. xvi. 9. What more can your souls require? You walk in the light of his countenance, he marks every step of your way, and as you wage your warfare against Satan and his armies, he notes down every victory gained; and when the last fight is fought, when Jesus your King shall come forth in his glory, and you are called to meet him in the air, you shall each one hear and answer the joyful summons, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

THE LAW AND THE GOSPEL.

HAVE you ever been present in a court of justice, when a prisoner has been charged with a breach of the laws? If so, you have perhaps watched with interest the progress of the trial. You have seen the prisoner, in the presence of his judge, called to plead "Guilty" or "Not guilty" to the charge against him. He has there stood to clear his character, or be convicted of his crime. If he admitted his offence, or if, on evidence, his guilt was proved, he received the sentence awarded by the law he had violated. Perhaps in that prisoner's case, you felt deep concern; and as the evidence slowly but clearly brought out the fact that he was a guilty man, your compassion was moved towards him. At the same time, when the sentence which banished him for life was pronounced, you admitted its justice, and the necessity and equity of the law under which he was condemned. You felt that without such laws there would be only strife, confusion, and misery; and that the severity of the penalty was required for the good order, peace, and safety of society at large. Now, there are some persons who are ready to admit the necessity and value of good laws, faithfully administered, in a nation or a family, who strangely forget that the same are necessary for the government of the whole family of man. They do not consider that God is the Father and Ruler of us all; and that it is right, wise, and benevolent in him to maintain his authority. They disregard the fact that none of his intelligent creatures are left

to act independently of him. In heaven the angels are obedient to his will. When man was created, a plain command was given to him to be kept, as a proof of his obedience to God: this was a law to Adam, simple in its kind, but suited to his nature and condition at that time. In every age of the world since then, man has been under Divine laws; and it becomes all of us to inquire how we stand towards them,-whether we have kept or broken them. To this end, we should consider that all God's commandments are "holy," pure, excellent, and opposed to all sin; they enjoin what is morally right, and prohibit what is morally wrong. They are "just," or such as he has a right to require, and such as it is proper should be obeyed. They are "good," or beneficial, and lead to goodness and happiness.

A law which requires obedience consists of a command and a penalty. When a king or a parliament enacts any law, there is what is called the "penal clause;" it declares the punishment that shall be inflicted on those who break the command. Without this clause, the law would be little better than advice, or entreaty, or vain threatening; it would be of no effect in securing obedience. It seems quite necessary, then, when God gives laws to man, that he should also declare what will be the conseof disobedience. And so we find it. When he says, "Do quence this," we have the command. And when he says, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die;" this is the penalty: and it is a fearful, though a just one, for it includes the death of the body and the loss of the soul.

It is of great importance to inquire what kind of obedience the law of God demands. Notice, then, that it claims universal obedience; ALL the commandments must be kept: "If a man keep the whole law, and offend in one point, he is guilty of all," Jas. ii. 10. It must be perfect. There must be no defect or flaw; it requires supreme love to God, unqualified and unfeigned submission to his will in all things, and the love of our neighbours as ourselves. It must be perpetual, unbroken from the earliest period of life to its close: "Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them," Gal. iii. 10. It must be spiritual. When the law forbids a sin, it equally forbids every thought and feeling towards it. When it commands a duty, it enjoins every habit and desire that would lead to its proper discharge. All rash anger it regards as heart-murder; all indulgence of impure thoughts is a breach of the seventh_commandment; see Matt. v. 21-28. It must be personal. It admits of no proxy. It is an awful delusion to suppose that any mere creature has an excess or surplus of merit which can be placed to the account of another person, or that he can obey on behalf of another. And then, the law cannot

THE LAW AND THE COSPEL.

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account of promises of amendment; nor does it make known any provision for pardon. It is not in its nature to do anything of this kind; if it did so, it would undermine its own authority, and lead men to have slight views of duty and of sin.

Look now at this standard of holiness, and say if you can plead "Not guilty," and are ready to abide your trial at the bar of God? Does not your own heart condemn you? Are you not conscious of almost innumerable sins, in thought, word, and deed? Have you not done the things you ought not to have done, and left undone the things you ought to have done? Are you not oppressed with a sense of the greatness of your guilt? And under such feelings, will you not present the earnest cry, that God would not enter into judgment with you, seeing that in his sight shall no man living be justified? Psa. cxliii. 2.

When a criminal is about to receive the extreme sentence of the law, it will not avail him to say, "I have kept some of the laws of my country;" the answer would be, "You should have kept them all:" or, "I have kept them during the greater part of my life;" to which the judge would reply, "You should have continued in your obedience;" or, "I repent of my offence, and promise for the time to come not to repeat it :" to which would probably be said, "I cannot regard your plea or your promise: you are convicted by the laws of your country, and it only remains for me to pronounce your sentence. Your prayer for mercy must be presented at the throne of your sovereign, who alone can save you from the doom you have brought upon yourself."

But, reader, there is an important and encouraging difference between this supposed case and your own. The same Holy Scriptures which make known to you the LAW, contain also the GOSPEL. They teach you that He who is your Lawgiver and Judge, is slow to anger, and ready to forgive; that he can be merciful and still be just and holy. While they declare your lost and ruined condition as an offender, they direct you to a Redeemer, "mighty to save." To you, a prisoner under the curse of the law, they proclaim a way of escape which free grace has opened to you. They make known to the condemned that Christ has fulfilled the command of the law, and that all its claims have been met by his perfect righteousness. A complete obedience was required in every particular, and they tell you that Christ fulfilled all righteousness; that he kept the whole law, and did not offend in one point; and that he freely did so for mankind, that through his merits the sinner believing in Him might be justified, or approved before God. And while he thus perfectly fulfilled its precepts, he also paid the penalty for sinners, by his sufferings and death: "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is

written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree," Gal. iii. 13. His Divine nature gave dignity and worth to his obedience and sufferings, and made them of more value and more honourable than the personal obedience of the whole human race could have done. All that the law demanded has thus been met; and God has declared that he can now be just while he justifies the ungodly. A release is obtained from condemnation and punishment; and a title is bestowed for an eternal life of happiness. If you ask, Who are they to whom these privileges belong? it may be answered, They are those who believe in Jesus; who go to him in faith, who yield their heart to him, and show their love and gratitude by living in his service. Surely, this is gospel -"good news"—"glad tidings" of great joy to all people!

What then, reader, is your ground of dependence before God? Are you trusting to your own supposed goodness and freedom from sin? or, are you seeking acceptance for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ alone? If the former is your case, then you are "under the law;" and must keep every part of it, in heart and life, at all times, and throughout the whole of your days, without the least failure. Have you done this? Can you do it? Do not vainly think that some supposed good points in your character will make up for some bad ones; or that because you think you are free from what are called gross iniquities, therefore failures now and then will not be noticed. Remember, if guilty of one point, you are guilty of all, and are liable to the same punishment as if you had transgressed all; for the whole law is dishonoured when you break one of its commandments. Say, then, I renounce such delusive hopes; I joyfully accept the salvation which grace has provided, and trust alone in Christ as the Lord my righteousness.

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No more, my soul, attempt to draw
Thy life and comfort from the LAW;
Flee to the hope the GOSPEL gives,

The man that trusts the promise lives.

But it may be, you are ready to declare, "I am not likely to deceive myself in such a manner. My sins are too open and public for me to deny them, and too great and vile for me to defend. Mine iniquities have gone over mine head; as a heavy burden they are too heavy for me,' Psa. xxxviii. 4. I have no obedience to plead. My life has been a continued course of rebellion. I deserve to be utterly condemned. Yet is there no hope for me?" Yes, there is hope for the most guilty. The Lord Jesus Christ is able to save to the uttermost. His merits are more than your transgressions; and if you make him your trust, he will save you from the curse of the law, and at last present you faultless before the presence of your God.