tenoerness e.nd co.re. God also compensates his people for the l~ss of religious privileges, In his providence he sometimes removes us by sickD<lss from the services of the sanctuary, and we have a season of weary waiting for his restoring hand. We anticipate with sadness the Lord's day, when his people will be worshipping in the courts of his house, nnd we snffcring through the lonely hours at home. But tho day arrives, and with it a joyous disappointment. God himself becomes to us a Sanctuary. He compensates us for the loss of psalmody by inspiring diviner music in our heart for the loss of "common worship." by giving us deeper spiritual communion with hin;solf and with all holy souls, and for the loss of sacred ministrations by the immediate and blessed ministry of bis Holy Spirit to our spirit. And so the day we dreaded was rich in present blessing, and bright with gleams of the glory that awaits us in the future. Or in bis providence God removes us to a district where we are separated from the influence of a generous and godly friend, or from the ministry of a valued teacher or pastor. Our regret is very keen, our misgivings as to our future progress are serious and perhaps our dissatisfaction with providential arrangements is in danger of becomin; great. But in this also the Lord becomes to us a Sanctuary. To our increased need h: gives more of his infinite fuluess. And we find that by blessing us with another teacher or pastor, or by means of the devout and earnest study of his holy Word, or by the ministry of good literature, or by the immediate action of his Holy Spirit upon our spirit, be compensates us for all our losses. Herein is one of the great blessednesses of the portion of the godly. As our need grows, God reveals unto us bis own infinite sufficiency more and more fully, and out of that sufficiency he giveth more grace. The more loud and fierce the storm, the more closely does he enfold us in his inviolate protection. The more numerous and urgent our requirements, the more abundant and prompt are his supplies. Make him your Portion, and infinite resources are yours (cf, Ps. lmiv.11; Lam. iii. 24; Matt. vi. 33; 1 Tim. iv. 8).-W. J.
Ver. 19.-.A united heart the gift of God. "I will give them one heart." The exiles in Babylon, to whom the text was addressed, had long wandered from God into idolatry. Their heart had not been fixed or united. The promise was fulfilled in their case in this sense-that since their return from captivity they have never lapsed into idolatry. L Tms PROMISE IS APPLICABLE TO THE CHRISTIAN !)HURCH. Oneness of interest and heart in the welfare of a Church on the part of,ts members is essential to its prosperity. 1. Oneness of heart in brotherly unity is necessary. "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" etc. (Ps. cxxxiii.). To secure this we mu.st exercise mutual forbearance and charity, and cultivate an affect-ionate regard for each other. 2. Oneness of desire/or the prosperity of the work of God is necessary. There is reason to fear that this desire is not very deep on the part of some Church-members, who very often grumble at what others are doing, and do nothing themselves. If we have this desire, we shall take it to God in prayer. We shall "keep not silence, and give him no rest," etc. (Isa. !xii. 6, 7). If we have this desire, it will lead us to personal efforts to attain its fulfilment. To retain this unity of desire wo must be prepared to waive personal opinions as to minor methods, keeping the eye steadily fixed upon the grand objects which we are aiming at. Mutual concessions are necessary to abiding unity. In seeking unity in the Church let us trust the promise of the text, and 1.IBe appropriate means to secure it. II. 'JIIE TEXT IS APPLICABLE TO DIFFERENT CLABBES OF PERSONAL CIIARAOTER. Examples of hearts divided and purposes unsettled are to be found in every province of life-in business, in mental culture, in religion. Yet everywhere the thing is evil. Division is weakness. "The rolling stone gathers no moss." "A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways." One-heartedness is essential to progress in anything. The men who have attained marked success in any pursuit have followed it steadily and persistently. Concentration is power. "Unity is strength" everywhere and in everything, Let us specify certain characters to whom the text is applicable. 1. To tl,e insinr:ere. There are persons who are not true, whose thoughts and words do not agree, whose appearance and reality are not harmonious. _Our text is a. promise for them if they will receive it. The man of renewed heart 1s honest, true. The mere form of godliness, or profession of discipleship to Christ, will avail us nothing. Unless we have the life and power of Christ, the nm:p.e of Christiap. will be worse than worthless on. xtt. 1.......28.] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. 213