January 16

Unto him shall the gathering of his people be.— Genesis 49:10.

CHRIST, as the Shiloh, or "the sent," has a specific work assigned him, in this interesting and ancient prophecy. He is to collect the people to himself. Sin separated man from God, and men from each other. It is the very nature of sin, to divide and scatter. Christ came to redeem men, from all its consequences. Hence his work, includes the gathering of wandering lost souls to God, and their union through himself, as the Mediator, to the Father. Men, like sheep, had left the divine pastures; Christ came as the good Shepherd, to seek them on the black mountains, and to bring them to the fold of his church. Men had revolted from God, and in rebellious hostility had united with the Prince of darkness. Christ, as the Captain of salvation, came to collect them to himself, that he might conduct them in one spiritual army to eternal glory. Men had lost their way, and were perishing in darkness and unbelief, and were going down to the bottomless pit; Christ came to shed light around them. He is the "light of the world;" and he also came to bring them from darkness to light, and to guide their feet in the way of peace. In this gathering, he first came to his own people, but afterwards, his gospel was sent into all the world. As the Shiloh, souls are gathered to him in the day of conversion. He receives their souls to himself, when they die. And in the day of his millennial glory, he will gather all his ancient people together, with the whole company of his saints, and he will reign gloriously in the midst of them, in Jerusalem. And finally, he will gather all the redeemed family to himself, in the realms of glory, and wipe away all their tears, and be their God for ever and ever. Reader, ask thyself; has Christ brought thy soul into a state of saving union with him? if he has, rejoice; if not,

"Fly sinners, fly into those arms, Of everlasting love."