March 6

and from what materials are the subjects of his grace to be formed? "Princes shall come out of Egypt." "Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God." "Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir-tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle-tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off." "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid." "The beasts of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls."

Much of these announcements is indeed highly figurative, but the meaning cannot be mistaken, and the truth of it is perpetually accomplishing. For, blessed be God, these changes are not imaginary representations. The pictures are from real life; and the originals are to be found. We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen. We have seen the profligate becoming not only moral but holy—the proud clothed with humility—the niggard and the churl learning to be bountiful and kind—the earthly-minded seeking the things that are above—the curses of the neighbourhood going about doing good. Well may the Author of all good say, "This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise"—What displays, what triumphs are they, of the freeness, the riches, and the power of his grace!

Let none despair. However desperate their case is with regard to their own resources, there is hope in Israel concerning this thing. Nothing is too hard for the Lord.

Neither let us despond with regard to any of our fellow-creatures. We may be tempted to think some of them beyond the possibility of reclaim. But God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. Let us not abandon them, but persevere in the use of means—animated by prayer—and strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.

MARCH 6.—"Do not all go to one place?"—Ecclesiastes 6:6.

WHAT place? There are four places; and a universality of passengers is approaching each of them. An absolute universality with regard to the two first; and a specific universality with regard to the two second.

There is the grave. Do not all go to this place? Yes. "All go to one place—all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again." No one denies this; and yet no one seems to believe it, at least with regard to himself! Who would suppose that thousands around us ever said, "I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living." What a proof is this, that convictions however clear, and belief however firm, may be paralyzed and rendered uninfluential!

There is the judgment-seat. Do not all go to this place? Yes: "We must all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ." The high will not be excused; the low will not be overlooked. "I saw the dead," says John, "small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened." And the Judge himself tells us, that "before him shall be gathered all nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats; and