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He

There is something very beautiful, and no less delicious, in this errand of Gabriel. was a real being, occupying time as he moved through space; for he says he was sent forth at the beginning of the supplication, and he arrived after its close, having been caused to fly swiftly." If we were more in the habit of taking God at his word, we should discover many sweet things respecting these unseen friends of ours, whom, by mystifying our faith, we contrive to shut out. Popery thrusts them into God's place; so we, in the fearfulness of our hearts, must needs thrust them out of their It is not only foolish and ungrateful, but unbelieving so to do. Daniel found no superfluities in God's revelation; he received it in all its parts, therefore he enjoyed all its privileges, and reaped all its blessings.

own.

The Author and Finisher of our faith, the Lord Jesus Christ, is also its great object. Out of him there is nothing to which man may dare to look; but in him there is a great deal that man does not care to see. There are some zealous believers who have never acted upon, even if they have ever considered those words, "the testimony of Jesus is the

spirit of prophecy" (Rev. xix. 10), with the time and circumstances under which they were spoken, marking their reference to prophecy yet unfulfilled at the closing of the canon of Scripture. Such a faith can never be acceptable, which goes picking and selecting through God's book what it will receive, and declining what it will not receive, lest certain pre-conceived opinions might be unsettled by the entrance of more light into the mind. Hence, when any great undertaking presents itself, having for its object the promotion of Christ's cause upon earth, men are not thoroughly furnished unto the good work, because they have cheated themselves out of much that the Lord had provided for them, and know not, like Daniel, by books of God's writing, how short is the time left for his people to work-how near the approach of that period when he shall take to him his great power, and reign. To the Christian, "faith is the substance of things hoped for." It brings into his immediate possession what is secured by the Divine promise, “he that believeth on me hath everlasting life;" "when he shall appear we know we shall be like

D

him." Faith is also the evidence of things not seen, including those things that exist in the Divine purpose, and which have been shadowed forth to inspired writers for our information, and from which we are not at liberty to turn away. Blindness in part has happened unto Israel, until the fulness of the times of the Gentiles shall be accomplished; and blindness in part has happened to the Gentiles, until the time of Israel's restoration should arrive. That time is at hand; it is even at the door; and instead of conferring, as we are too apt to do, with flesh and blood, and calculating how much help we shall get, and how much countenance will be afforded us, let us emulate the faith of Daniel in matters comparatively light, taking God at his word for daily guidance and protection now, that we may not flinch when darker tribulations approach, nor falter at the mouth of a lion's den.

No. III.

ATTACHMENT-JONATHAN.

Ir must appear a bold thing to take up, in so brief a sketch, one of the richest subjects, illustrated by one of the loveliest characters in Scripture; but that devoted personal attachment which is given as the sweetest cordial of mortal life, the sunshine of the pilgrim's way -for the sun is a creature, and his rays come under the head of creature comforts-ought not to be overlooked: and Jonathan, of all the children of men, stands forth as the beautiful personation of that from which many of God's children seem needlessly to shrink.

Why should not the Christian, yielding to an impulse that all but the most selfishly coldhearted feel stirring within them even in early childhood, select from among his fellow-men one whom he may "love as his own soul?” That expressive phrase is used in Scripture,

and to me it always seems to imply that the soul of one man can sometimes trace in that of another a resemblance, a twinship, as it were, that, answering like face to face reflected in water, draws forth an affection far more intense than can be felt for any other individual. This sort of sympathy may exist between any two parties, whether of the same sex or not; always in the latter case barring the pre-existence of a claim that might render such preference unseemly or unsafe. And as well might we cut down our fruit-trees, and plough up our flower gardens, as put from us the blessing that combines the riches with the beauties of both.

Jonathan unquestionably felt and acted under divine inspiration: nor can we venture to trace, either to the vile selfish nature of fallen man, or to the suggestions of the evil one who delights to keep that selfishness in full operation, so ennobling a sentiment, as that of pure devoted attachment to a worthy object. Jonathan saw David under circumstances peculiarly unfavourable to the rise of such feelings; he beheld a youth, probably a little younger than himself, an obscure shep