January 23

Alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake. — 2 COR. IV. 11.

He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. — JOHN xii. 25.

OUR Lord describes the career and close of two kinds of life, of which one is to love the present world with its pleasures, which is deplorable loss now, and will, unless faith and repentance prevent, lead to the fearful perdition of "the second death." The other is to hate life in this world by denying ourselves those delights which war against the soul, and to bear without shrinking reproach and suffering, to preserve the "inner man" unhurt and victorious.

The extent of the eternal life promised to self-denying believers is beyond our grasp of thought. There are some hints of its nature in the words of Christ and his apostles, of which the chief is the enjoyment of the glorified presence of the Redeemer, and the attainment of the promised recompenses of present sacrifices and faithful stewardship. Saint Paul's view of heaven was that of being with Jesus, while Saint John conceived eternal life to consist in being like him; and all who follow in their footsteps shall, after the wreck of all earthly things, escape with their life to the happy shore of perfect peace. They shall see him from whom shall flow those influences which shall change them "from glory to glory," and amidst the revelations of his love all life shall be Sabbath rest, all space temple, and all service adoring worship and praise.

J. S. Baight.

We are the Lord's; then let us gladly tender Our souls to him in deeds, not empty words; Let heart and tongue and life combine to render No doubtful witness that we are the Lord's.

C. T. ASTLEY (Translation).