we do not become Christ's, we are not numbered amongst his own, nntil we so hea1 and heed and feel that we resolve to be and strive to do what we know is his holy w,11 concerning us. We may fail frequently to realize our own intention; we may strive upwards and God wards with many a stumble on our way; but if there be an honest and earnest effort towards the good and the true, animated and inspired by the fear and the love of God, then Christ acknowledges us as his, we are citizens of his kingdom. We are something more than that; for we learn from the text: 2. That those who are truly united to Christ are in very close affinity with him. So much are they to him that the nearest and dearest human relationships are called in to express it. Dear as the mother is to her child, as the sister to her brother, so dear are all true and earnest souls to their Divine Lord. With filial, with brotherly love will he watch and guard them, will he provide for their necessities, will be sympathize with them in thei~ eon·ows, will he attend their steps, will he secure their lasting interest in the Father's home.-O. Vere. 22-25.-l'hrist the Lord of nature. We shall find two things concemin~ the miracles of Jesus Christ-that be never refused to put forth bis power if by its exercise he could do an act of pure pity and kindness; and that he never consented to do so for the mere purpose of display. Hence there is a most marked difference between his "works" and the pretences of the impostor. The perfect suitableness of the occasion and the moral character of the action are the signature of Divinity. Yet it was fitting that the strong desire on the part_ of the Jews to see a miracle wrou'.!ht "in the heavens" should, if occasion offered, have at least one fulfilment. And such it certainly bad in this stilling of the storm. And in this incident we have- I. AN IMPRESSIVE ILLU8TRA'fl0N OF CHRIST'S DIVINE COMllAND, It would only he right, we may argue, that our Lord should give to his disciples one illustration of his Divine power that would be exceedingly impressive, and therefore convincing and permanently effective. There was no more virtue or force in the stilling of -the storm on the lake than in the expulsion of the demon on the other side of the water; to <'.Ontrol the elements of nature did not require more Divine power than to control the will of an evil spirit; perhaps less. But the moral elfo::t upon the observer's mind was much greater in the former instance than in the latter. It appealed most influentially to the imagination as well as to bhe reason. .And considering all that these disciples would be called upon to pa.ss through in his cause, remembering the severity of the trial of their faith, it was surely well that;in addition to many other proofs of their Lord's Divinity, they should be able to recall this scene upon the lake, and be assured that he whom the winds and the waves obeyed was the Christ of God indeed. II . .AN ASSURANCE TB.AT HE IS LOBD OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF OUR LIFE. As we ply our little bark across the lake of our life, we shall find storm as well as c:i.l.rn, rough adverse winds as well as favourable breezes. It will help us to think that the Divine will which subdued that tempest is the will that is ruling wind and wave beneath every sky; that Christ is Lord of the circumst:i.nces of our life ; and that if only we have him on board as our chief Passenger, we may count on his controlling power in the time of danger or of trouble. But we must be sure that Christ is with us; for the promises of gracious guidance and merciful interposition can only be pleaded by those who are loyal to him and to his cause. IIJ. .A PI0TUBE OF THE PRESENT CHRIST IN THE TRIAL-HOUR OF HIS CHURCH. Jo that little boat was the Christian Church: if that vessel had sunk, the Church would have perished with it. But the Church that has Christ with it cannot sink. Tlie question of questions, therefore, is this-ls Christ with us or not 1 .And the answer to that question will be found, not in the shape of the vessel, but in the character of the crew; not in the peculiarity of the ecclesiastical structure, but in the spirit and charact<:r of thoso who compose and who direct the Church. Is his truth, is he himself, preached and taught i.n our sanctuaries and our schools? Are his principles inculcated in our homes and illustratod in our lives? Is bis spirit breathed by us iu our intercourse with one another, and with" them that are without"? These are the questions we must answer satisfnctorily if we would reply in the affirmative to that one vital question-Is Christ with us or not? IV A BEIIINDEn OF THI!: DIVINE PEAOE-BRINOEB TO TIIE HUMAN SOUL. There ill TIIE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. [on. vnr. 1-:,IJ.
~ornetiiin(( unsprak_ably grand_ in 11 ~~rm in natur_o; we e.r~ alfecte<l, e.we<l, subdued, by 1t. But rn the est.Jmate ?f D1vme WIBdom there 1s somethmg of profounder interest in tbo unrest and perturbation of e. human soul. Jesus Christ cares moro to speak peace to one troubled human heart than to produce the most strikina0 chanae in the whole face of nature. There are many sources of ~piritual disquietude• but th: most constant and the wo!'llt. of all is guil_t, the sin wi~h which we have sinn~d against the Lord ond the sense of h,s con<lemnaUon we ce.rry lU our hearts. It is that which takes the light o_ut of our skies, the joy _out of our homes, tho beauty and the brightncu out of our lives. The deepest question that wells from the human soul is this- " Oh I where shall rest bo found- Rest for the weary soul ? " Aud In reply- • The voioo of Jesus sounds o'er la.nd and sea ; • a voice which bas brought and will ever bring peace to the aching, burdened, stricken heart; "Come unto me, all ye that labour and a.re heavy laden, and I will give you rest.~-C. ·