It is even thus that Jesus the great Physician will heal your wounded spirit, according to that sweet promise," The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit."

4. A heart thus broken and melted, thus wounded and healed, must henceforth be the Lord's. "My son, give me thine heart," is the Saviour's requisition. Oh, that we could give him our hearts in every prayer, in every sermon, in every song, and in every service! By nature a man's heart is divided and parcelled out, a part to this creature and a part to that, a part to this lust and a part to this pleasure. But the renewed heart is melted in the crucible of love, that it may there be transformed, and cast anew into a holy oneness; no more to be divided among the creatures, but so entirely the Lord's, that with all sincerity we may exclaim,

"Here's my heart, Lord, take and seal it;
Seal it from Thy courts above."

And to this let every christian responsive say, Amen, Amen.
Bury St. Edmunds.

THE CHURCH IN THE UPPER ROOM.

No. 2.

BY THE REV. W. WALTERS.

We have already noticed the place in which the church is assembled; let us now briefly sketch THE INDIVIDUALS OF WHOM THE CHURCH IS COMPOSED. Having entered into this upper room, we will tarry for a short season, that we may gather something of the history and character of the assembly. It is made up of men and women of various ranks in society, and natives of different parts of Judea-in many other respects very dissimilar, but all agreeing in this, that they are disciples of one Lord, and, through faith in him, children of one Father. They are united by the ties of a common belief and a common love. Most of them have made sacrifices of personal property and comfort because of this new bond, which unites them to one another, and to their ascended Master. They are met in this public manner for the first time after his ascension. They are met at his command, to wait for the shedding forth of that which is to qualify them for the future advocacy of his cause.

Let us sketch them in the order in which they are introduced to us by Luke. And first of all, our attention is arrested by those three men who seem to have been favoured of Jesus above all others. On several occasions they were permitted to accompany our Lord when no other disciple was allowed to be near. They were present at the raising of Jairus' daughter. They were with him on the mount of transfiguration. And in the garden of Gethsemane they were suffered to witness his agony. Thus, for reasons which our Lord has not disclosed, he honoured them with special confidence and privilege. Peter is of this number. Mark his fearless air-his quick, impetuous manner! He prays, and how earnest that prayer! He speaks to the brethren, and how impassioned his address! He was called, at an early period of our Lord's ministry, from his fishing-boat to the apostleship. His christian course has been a very eventful one, and is to be to its close. One dark cloud hangs over the past. That wicked denial! How the recollection of it pierces his heart! What a warning voice it utters through all coming ages to the saints of God! But dark as that cloud is, the sun of Divine favour, beaming forth from behind, has fringed it with a brightness and a glory that would otherwise have been invisible. Since his fall he has had some

striking proofs of the faithfulness and love of his Master. He is yet to be an honoured man. He is to introduce the gospel to the Gentiles, and is through life to play a prominent part in the organization and spread of the church. And his dying testimony to the truth is to be borne by suf fering crucifixion at the command of Nero.

Of this number is James too, whose life, in a short time, Herod is to take away; and who is thus to be honoured by leading the van of apostolic martyrdom.

And last, though the choice favourite of the three, is John "the beloved disciple." How modest and meek that countenance ! How soft and loving that eye! How gentle and kind that voice! He opens his lips, and in what tender and soothing words he comforts the bereaved flock. No wonder that Jesus selected him as his chosen friend. Congenial spirits are attracted by a general law. It was he who sat next our Lord at the last supper, and leaned, according to Eastern custom, on his bosom. It was he who, recalled from his momentary terror in Gethsemane, attended with Peter at the trial of Jesus. It was he who stood near the cross with the women, declaring, in a striking manner, his attachment to the sufferer, by publicly becoming the guardian of his mother. It was to him that Jesus gave his mother in charge, thus expressing his confidence in his friendship. It was he who outran Peter, and was first of all the apostles at the sepulchre. It is he whose Gospel is to give the world so much of Christ's instruction,-whose Epistles are to contain such affectionate cautions, and to express such deep concern for the culture of brotherly love, and whose Apocalypse is to reveal, in one joyous and highly coloured panorama, the history of the church to the end of time. He is now in the strength and vigour of middle age; but sixty years to come, oppressed with the infirmities of advanced age, he shall be carried into the midst of his church at Ephesus, and, unable to deliver a long discourse, shall lift his palsied hands, and exclaiming, "Little children, love one another," shall withdraw from the assembly.

Leaving these distinguished three, we come to Andrew, who was instrumental in the conversion of his brother Peter. And then stay a moment to watch those two kindred minds-Philip and Thomas. Both of them enquiring and strongly tinged with scepticism. Unwilling to believe what they cannot see or feel. Indisposed to rely on the testimony of others. Hence Philip at one time said even to Christ, when Christ was talking to them about his Father, "Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us." And Thomas, when his brethren told him they had seen the Lord after his resurrection, said, "Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe." Great need had they to offer the prayer, "Lord, increase our faith."

Of Bartholomew, nothing is said save that he was one of the twelve. Matthew once sat at the seat of custom, and collected the taxes of the nation. An office which, although it exposed him to the enmity of the Jews, was nevertheless very lucrative. Gainful as it was, however, as soon as Jesus said, "Follow me," he rose up, left all, and followed him. And he is now purposing to write, for the especial benefit of the Jews, a narrative of the deeds and sufferings of the Messiah.

And there are the two sons of Alpheus also-James and Judas, or Jude, -both of whom are to write, some thirty years hence, letters full of pointed reproof to the dispersed believers. The only remaining apostle present is Simon the Zealous, of whom we know nothing save the place of his birth.

Two men are not in that assembly whose names will be handed down

to the latest ages of the church the one covered with dishonour and never to be mentioned but with condemnation, the other bright as noonday, and fragrant as opening spring flowers-Judas the Betrayer, and Panl the Apostle of the Gentiles. The former has gone to his own place; the latter is yet in the darkness of his early faith.

Our attention has hitherto been confined to the apostles. But look at that group of females! Who are they? Are they, too, believers in the ascended Lord? Yes! They were among his first, and they continued his fastest, friends. No disgrace shamed, no danger alarmed, no desertion influenced, them. They always ministered to his temporal wants through life. At his death they were nearest his cross and last there. They followed his remains to Joseph's sepulchre to witness the interment. On the morning of the resurrection they were earliest at the spot. here we find them again in this upper room, waiting the fulfilment of their Lord's promise.

And

There is Mary Magdalene, out of whom Christ cast seven devils, and who was one of his most humble, consistent, and honoured followers. And Mary his aunt. And probably the two sisters of Bethany are there. She who used to busy herself in much serving; and she who preferred sitting at the Master's feet, that she might hear the gracious words which fell from his lips; who also, in the house of Simon, poured precious ointment on his head and his feet, and wiped his feet with her hair. And she who in Nain did a similar deed, whom Christ forgave much, and who therefore loved him much.

But there is one more distinguished than all the rest. "Mary the mother of Jesus" is there. How matronly her aspect and carriage! How many and how varied have been her thoughts and emotions during the last four-and-thirty years! Up to the commencement of that period she had lived a retired, quiet, maiden life in the small town of Nazareth. Circumstances then occurred which, it was feared, would seriously reflect on her purity, and render her an outcast from her friends. But God was her helper. The child Jesus was born. How her heart must have throbbed, and her eye lighted up with motherly pride, as the Eastern magi offered him their treasure and their worship! How intensely these maternal feelings must have been renewed, when, on the day of his presentation to God according to Jewish custom, the devout Simeon, his head silvered by age, and his eye bright with hope, took him up in his arms and blessed him, and spake of him as a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of the people Israel! What gratitude must have filled her soul at the thought of his deliverance from the murderous purpose of Herod! How delighted she must have been to find him, at twelve years of age, astonishing the doctors in the temple! Passing over the period of his private life, during which she kept all these things and pondered them in her heart, the three eventful years of his public work must have been years of deep and diversified interest to her. How her hopes and fears, her sorrows and joys, must have been interwoven with every step of his course from Jordan to Olivet! And there she is now-very probably a widow, under the special guardianship of John-as a mother regretting the absence of her son; and yet, as a believer, rejoicing in the glory of her Saviour, and waiting his promised blessing.

But we must not overlook the only remaining persons specified by the historian. They are three or four men, with nothing striking in their demeanour-nothing to distinguish them from the general body of the disciples-and yet it delights the heart to look upon those men. Who are they? They are the brethren of Jesus according to the flesh. They were borne in the same womb, and nursed at the same breast, and carried

in the same arms, as our Lord himself. One mother's love wept and smiled over them all. There was a time when they had no faith in the mission of their brother Jesus. They thought at one time he was insane. Hence, when at the outset of his ministry he was choosing his apostles, and the multitudes of his countrymen were pressing round him, "they went out to lay hold on him, for they said, he is beside himself." Then they supposed he was a vain, ambitious man, who courted popularity. Hence one year, about the beginning of October, when the feast of tabernacles drew nigh, they advised him (no doubt in derision) to go up to the feast and perform his wonderful works before the assembled thousands, that his fame might spread more rapidly and widely than it possibly could if he remained at home. "For neither did his brethren believe on him." But now they believe. When the change took place, or through whose instrumentality it was effected, we know not; but here they are, disciples of Him whom once they derided and persecuted. What feelings of sorrow and self-condemnation must now mingle with their natural affection for their brother, and that higher sentiment—love to him as their gracious and forgiving Saviour!

Thus we have endeavoured to increase our acquaintanceship with the church in the upper room. We are not to suppose the parties sketched were the only parties present. No doubt the number would vary much. The apostles, perhaps, would remain there continually. While otherspersons in domestic stations or civil office would have occasionally to attend to their appropriate duties. At one time we know there were as many as a hundred and twenty present. But the parties at whose history we have glanced are those whom Luke thinks fit to enumerate.

There we see them. Not warriors, or nobles, or politicians, or merchants; but believers in Jesus Christ, followers of the Messiah,-advocates of that cause which, though now in its infancy, and the butt of universal reproach and enmity, is destined eventually to win all hearts and lives to its obedience, and subdue every thing to itself.

There were many gatherings in Jerusalem and its environs during that feast in the reception rooms of the wealthy-in the public rooms of inns -in the chambers of the poorer classes. But you might have searched all Jerusalem, all Judea, all Asia, and have gone to the extremities of the inhabited world, and found no company like this one, either in character or purpose. Fanatics in the eyes of their countrymen-the off-scouring of all things in the estimation of the priests; yet they were the purchased possession of the Lamb,-the favourites of Heaven, kings and priests unto God. They cared not greatly for the opinion of men. They had the approval of Him who judgeth not as man judgeth. The friendship of the world was a small matter with them. They had seen Jesus, had shared in his love, and knew that, though absent, he was their friend still. The honours of the world were nothing to them. They had the honour which cometh from above. The riches of the world were nothing to them. They had a title to that, in the presence of which gold and precious gems become valueless as dust, the "better and enduring substance. They looked on the world as a splendid show, and all its parade and pomp as the poor pageantry of an hour. They were strong and joyful in the belief that there was in reserve for them perfect and permanent glory. And, careless of the scenes transpiring around them, their whole hearts were full of Jesus, their ascended Lord.

Hallowed, happy band! They have long since passed away from earth. The room in which they met has been buried beneath the ruins of a city demolished and razed to the ground by the armies of old Rome. It has again and again been trampled over by the charger of the Crusader, and

trodden on by the feet of Mussulmans. Nothing now marks the spot. The future lives of those who inet there were widely different, and spent far apart, Alike, however, in two things-in labour and suffering, and ever present in spirit at the mercy-seat of their Father. Their ends also were varied. Some perished on the executioner's block; others were crucified as their Master; while some, in a good old age, fell quietly asleep. Their dust has been scattered among the nations. Their glorified spirits are before the throne, forming a part of the praising church. Their names and deeds are sweetly embalmed in our memories, and are the themes of our choice meditation and song. Oh, that their example may quicken and cheer us all! May their faith and love, their prayer and effort, characterize our lives; that the world may again see the men who have been with Jesus!

Preston.

HINTS FOR THE HEART.

We shall never fall into the sin we fear while we fear it, for fear is our preservative. "Blessed is the man that feareth always."

The great thing in religion, is to receive Christ; and, having received him, to live upon him, and walk in him.

God loves his children too well to give them their way; when he crosses them he studies their real welfare; crosses are often more profitable than comforts.

Satan is always wakeful and watchful, his study is the christian's heart, his design is to lead us from Christ, and the means he employs are often of a religious character.

Our strength is in the knowledge of our weakness; the weak ivy clings to the oak, and the weak christian clings to Christ; therefore Paul said, "When I am weak, then am I strong."

Our losses, rightly managed, become sources of profit; for they drive us from empty creatures, to the overflowing fulness of the Saviour.

God's design is, to bring us into a state of absolute dependance on himself, and having done so, to keep us in that state.

Nature wants to have something on which it can depend in itself; but God says, "No, all you need is in Christ, it is there for you, and you shall live upon Christ or perish."

Nothing will preserve our sense of acceptance with God, or sustain our assurance of interest in his favour, but close walking with God. He that would be happy, must be holy; and he that would be holy, must live upon Christ.

The sinner never thinks of returning to God, until God calls him; and he never draws near to God, until divine power is put forth in him.

God mortifies those who will not mortify the flesh; and our most painful mortifications come from quarters where we least expected them.

The church that is not active for God, must expect to be frowned on by God; and if God frown, then comes deadness, dissatisfaction, and division.

He that gives up truth to-day, will be prepared to give up Christ tomorrow, except God step in with his special grace.

The Spirit of God is a loving Spirit, and a love-producing Spirit; if we were filled with the Holy Ghost, we should be full of love.

God loves us to be importunate at his throne; he says, "Ask, seek, knock :" that is, persevere until you obtain; he is not pleased when we take delays for denials.