March 31

security. Hence the admonition of the Saviour: "Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal." In a world like this, where nothing is safe or certain, how anxious, fearful, miserable, must those be, who have their portion in this life! But Christians can dwell at ease. None of these changes and dangers affect their essential welfare. They know in themselves that they have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. They have chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from them.—It shows us that it is principally future. At present they are not at home, but strangers and pilgrims on earth. They have remittances and supplies, but it is from God's riches in glory. The inheritance is reserved in heaven for them; and they cannot possess it till they are of age. Should they think of building their tabernacles here, something would soon tell them to arise and depart hence for this is not their rest. Seed is sown for the righteous; but the reaping-time is to come. Now is the conflict, but the crown of glory that fadeth not away is reserved for the hour of triumph.—Also by being laid up in heaven it is much concealed. O how great is the goodness, says David, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee! and says the Apostle, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. After all the developments of the Scripture, and the illuminations of the Holy Spirit in the experience of Christians, we read of a glory that shall be revealed. We could not in this weak state of flesh and blood bear the full disclosure. But the veil will soon be drawn aside; and the voice will cry, Come and see. And the sight will infinitely surpass the expectation.

MARCH 31.—"The ingrafted word."—James 1:21.

HISTORY is silent as to the time when grafting was first introduced. But it has been long practised; and the process is now generally familiar.

The image essentially includes union, vital union, between parts not connected before. The man receives the word into his heart, as the tree receives into its stock the scion, which by incorporation becomes thenceforward one with itself. The surprise seems here—We should imagine when the insertion is made, that the sap of the tree entering the scion which is so much smaller, would immediately convert the scion into its own quality: but instead of this the scion converts the sap; and the changed juice maintains, enlarges, fructifies the scion; and causes it in due time to produce—not according to the kind of the old stock—but of the adopted graft.

A metaphor is not to be pressed: but we cannot avoid remarking, That as the body of the tree continues the same after the ingrafting, so in conversion we remain physically the same as before: retaining the same relations, conditions, callings; the same corporeal powers and mental faculties—only the efficiency of them is changed, hallowed, and applied to other uses and purposes—and all through the medium of the word.

Grafting is one of the most pleasing exercises to those who feel delight in horticulture: and how eagerly and anxiously after the