September 30

night. Yea, faith in the sure word of promise, realising not only the nearness, but the certainty, considers the salvation as accomplished—"It is done." "Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling."

SEPTEMBER 30.—"Seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses."—Hebrews 12:1.

—We should be encouraged to go on in our Christian course, or, as the apostle expresses it, "lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us." Let us notice the fact, and see how it bears as an argument. Some suppose that Paul here refers to spectators rather than examples. Persons in running a race had many gazing on them, and the presence of the lookers-on, as well as the prize itself, served to animate them. From hence, if successless, they were mortified as well as disappointed; if crowned, they were not only rewarded but applauded. It is a solemn truth that we are never unseen in religion; many eyes are upon us; and we should pray to be led in a plain path, because, as the margin reads it, of our observers. The world and the Church, our fellow Christians and our ministers behold us; we are a spectacle to angels as well as to men; we are seen by the Judge of all. But though this be a truth, we are persuaded the Apostle alludes not to spectators, but examples. He refers to the characters he had recorded in the preceding chapter, commencing with pious Abel, and reaching down to the close of the Maccabean period of the Commonwealth of Israel.

These he says, "encompass us about." Their bodies were long ago laid in the grave, while their spirits returned to God who gave them; and in this state it is commonly, perhaps justly supposed, that they have no intercourse with the affairs of this lower world; Abraham is ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledges us not. But, rescued from oblivion, their names, words, and deeds are found in the Scriptures; and by perusing these writings we bring them around us from every quarter; they strike us in every direction. We seem to see them looking anxiously on us, and seem to hear them saying, "We were once in the same state with you, and you will soon be in the same glory with us. Wherefore, gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

He remarks their number—"a cloud," "a great cloud of witnesses." They were few compared with their cotemporaries of the same age; but collectively considered, they were a multitude which no man could number. In the most degenerate period, the Lord had a people for his Name; and they often exceeded the estimation of hope. When Elijah supposed he was the only true worshipper in the land, the Lord had reserved unto himself seven thousand men who had not bowed the knee to the image of Baal, and whose lips had not kissed him. But if the aggregate was great when Paul wrote this Epistle, what has it become since? And what is it now? How many millions have been added since to the general assembly and church of the first-born?—In whose fellowship we reckon up

not a few of our own connexions, with whom we have taken sweet counsel together, and gone to the house of God in company!

He gives this number a name—They are a great cloud of “witnesses”—This name God gives to all his people: “ye are my witnesses.” According to the Apostle, these glorified beings testified to the nature of faith, and proved it to be “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” They testified to the truth and the cause of God; and they testified by their lips and lives, and especially by their sufferings. They attested from experience that religion was a practicable thing, for they exemplified it, though they had been men of the same nature, passions, and infirmities with others. They showed also from their own experience that religion was not an unprofitable thing; they never served him in vain; but were always more than indemnified for every sacrifice they made. They all found it good to draw near to God. He was always better to them than their fears. He not only delivered but indulged them. They were troubled on every side, yet not distressed. They trod on briers and thorns, but their shoes were iron and brass. They had arduous services and trials, but as their days so was their strength. They always complained of themselves, but never of their Lord and Saviour—They spake well of his name, and have left this confirmed, this inviting testimony behind them, “O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” “Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; hear it, and know thou it for thy good.”

OCTOBER.

OCTOBER 1—“As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness.”—Psalms 17:15.

This is the language of a man whose mind is made up; who has decided for himself; who does not suspend his conduct upon the resolution of others. “This is my choice, my hope, my relief, my comfort. If the whole world should go another way, this is mine. I would draw others, I would draw all into the same course, for I know the blessedness of it—But I dare not be governed by them—As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness.”

It is the language of a man rising in life, and with great prospects before him. From a mere shepherd he had become a hero and a conqueror; he had married into the royal family, and knew he was to fill the throne of Israel. All this he overlooks, like a true son of Abraham, who “by faith sojourned in the land of promise as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. The sun conceals the stars, not by a diffusion of darkness, but of superior splendor. To one who has looked within the veil, and seen the glory that shall be revealed, what are all earthly honours, riches and dominion. “Men of the world have their portion in this life—as for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness.”