March 7

he shall set the sheep on his right hand, and the goats on the left—and these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal."

Now therefore a separation takes place, and what before applied to all with regard to nature, will now apply to all only with regard to character.

There is hell. Do not all go to this place? Yes, all the wicked: "The wicked shall be turned into hell, with all the nations that forget God." Their sin is very diversified; and though all go astray like sheep, they turn every one to his own way. The covetous and the cruel, the hypocrite and the profligate, the scoffer and the formalist, the swearer and the slanderer, are all in various directions going the downward road, and will meet in the same place of torment. There is something inexpressibly dreadful in the thought of mixing with such society. And when we consider the number of the damned, their malignity, their mutual accusations, their hatred of each other, their freedom from all the restraints which check the bad and vile while here, their power to curse and tear each other, under the empire too of the devil and his angels—who would not cry, "Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men."

There is heaven. Do not all go to this place? Yes, all the righteous—all who are justified by faith, and renewed in the spirit of their mind. We need not ask where this place is; it is enough to know that Jesus has said, "I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again, and receive you to myself, that where I am there ye may be also." There, out of every period of time, and out of every kindred, and nation, and people, and tongue, he will gather together in one, the children of God which were scattered abroad. Here they differed in their outward condition, in their religious opinions and usages, and in the degree of their grace; but they were all one in Christ Jesus, and now they are all one with him. Is this candour and comprehensiveness in heaven an excellency? Let us approach it as much as possible; and as we are all going to one place, let us not fall out by the way. Let us pray, "Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity;" and let us show by our freedom from bigotry, that our prayer is not hypocrisy or formality. Many a persecuting and many a censorious spirit has had liberality enough upon his oily lips, especially at public meetings, who has only scowled hate or dislike towards his differing brethren at all other times. But the Master says, "Out of thine own mouth will I condemn thee, thou wicked servant."

MARCH 7.—"Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me."—Luke 22:28, 29.

THE dying Patriarch said of Reuben, "unstable as water, thou shalt not excel." Stability is essential to excellency. Without it no reputation can be acquired, no confidence can be supported, no usefulness can be insured. Even obstinacy, which is ignorant resolution, is more allied to excellency than versatility. You may build

upon a rock; but what can be done on shifting and sliding sand? If a man be one thing to-day and another to-morrow; if he yields to every fresh impression like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed; and is governed by circumstances instead of principles; he can never display character, for character is the effect and fame of habit.

Nothing recommends a man more than stedfastness in friendship, especially when the adherence has to struggle with difficulties. This is what our Lord here commends in his disciples—They had “continued with him in his temptations.”

If the enemy ever left Christ, it was only for “a season;” he soon returned again to the assault; and urged him even to infidelity, presumption, suicide, and idolatry—How well is it said—

“He knows what sore temptations mean, For he has felt the same.”

But our Lord does not here refer to such temptations, and especially those he endured in the wilderness. In these his disciples were not present—he was alone—of the people there was none with him. In the Scripture temptations do not always, nor most commonly, signify enticements to sin; but any events that morally try us in the way of duty. In such trial his disciples continued with him; they found him poor and despised; bearing the contradiction of sinners against himself; slandered; menaced; and in danger of death. And they were willing to share in the same treatment. They denied themselves, and took up their cross and followed him. They deemed it enough for the servant to be as the master, and the disciple as his Lord.

There are trials now to which they who are with him are exposed. They are called, “the sufferings of Christ;” “his reproach;” and here his “temptations;” as they accompany his cause, and are endured for his sake. They are not all of a painful nature, or consisting in various degrees of persecution. His followers are often tried in other ways. There are the dangers of prosperity as well as of adversity. The world has its allurements as well as frowns, and is more perilous in its friendship than its enmity. There must be heresies, that they who are of a contrary part may be made manifest. There will always be many who will turn again to folly from the holy commandment delivered them, and will endeavour to draw away others. Happy they, who while the Saviour says, “Will ye also go away?” can answer, “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.” For, “blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive a crown of life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”

Observe, O my soul, how he insures and amplifies the privilege: “I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me.” The grant is not an estate, a province, a principality, but a kingdom! And observe two things with regard to it. First. See the Saviour’s authority and dominion: “I appoint unto you a kingdom.” The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: and he has given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as the Father had given him. The fulness from which he should dispense to the myriads of the saved all the blessings of grace and glory, was the joy set before him,