tend to holiness, it cannot be from evil. Grieve not the Holy Ghost by mistrusting His gift. Neither think of it as a distant attainment which you are not yet privileged to possess-or that is reserved for the hoary saint only-if not for the heavenly state alone. Regard it as enjoined upon the very babe in Christ: for is it not written, "Let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord?" You may stagger at appropriating a promisebut can you stagger at obeying a precept? But "Rejoice in the Lord always," is as much a precept as "Thou shalt not steal," or "Thou shalt not commit adultery." And do you not need the blessed cordial to strengthen you for life's toil and struggle? Do you not need it to bear you up against the world's disappointments and disheartenments to secure you from the world's seductions, and arm you against the world's assaults-to inspirit you in the evil day, and calm you in the stormy hour? Follow after it, then-for it is commanded; accept it-for it is promised. Anticipate your home-where "in His presence is fulness of joy; and where at His right hand there are pleasures for evermore." Let the sun of heaven be the morning star of earth.

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LECTURE X.

NEHEMIAH'S UNWORLDLINESS OF MIND.

"Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work."-NEH. v. 16.

Ir was the peculiar and predicted character of Israel, that they should "dwell alone, and not be numbered among the nations." Such was their condition in Egypt; such it remained whilst they dwelt in the land of promise; such has it continued to be since they were scattered abroad as chaff to the four winds of heaven. However dispersed, they are still distinct; a Jew is everywhere a Jew; his nationality has not been lost in his dispersion; the people are like oil upon the waves of the sea-everywhere diffused, yet nowhere blended. In this respect, as in other things, Israel after the flesh were an ex

pressive type of Israel after the spirit. Not more truly were the former nationally separate from the nations of the uncircumcised, than are the latter spiritually separated from a world that lieth in wickedness. They are so, however scattered, however interspersed amongst the ungodly, however they must have their habitations and their occupations in the midst of the men of this world, "who have their portion in this world." Still they are a "peculiar" people, as designated in the second lesson for this evening's service. The word in the Greek signifies an "appropriated," a "purchased" people-because they are redeemed by the blood, and set apart by the Spirit of Jesus from "the present evil world."

Nehemiah, a beautiful model in other points of view for the man of God who is busied in the world, is especially an example for him in this feature of his character. We find, that whether in the voluptuous court of Persia, encompassed with the fascinations of pleasure; or whether at Jerusalem, in the midst of harassing difficulties and besetments; or whether as Governor of Israel, surrounded by the seductions of power and position, he still demeaned himself as a citizen of heaven. Hence it came to pass, that whilst many of the nobles and great men at Jerusalem were chiefly intent on aggrandizing themselves—taking advan

tage of their poorer brethren, and adding field to field, and house to house-he did not so much as entangle himself with any purchase of property, but devoted himself wholly to the work which God had assigned him. Not in the spirit of vainglorying, but in the integrity of his heart, he testified of himself " I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither to the work." So clean were his hands, so disinterested was his heart, that he sought no earthly return; "his witness was on high, and his record in heaven;" "he had respect unto the recompense of the reward." Yea, and whilst he forewent the usual revenues of the Governor, he maintained a large and generous hospitality; entertaining at his table, with a princely munificence, numbers of strangers, as well as of the resident Jews. " Moreover," he said, "there were at my table an hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those that came into us from among the heathen that are about us. Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this required not I the bread of the Governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people." Thus he not only forbore to exact what he might have fairly demanded of the people;

but at the same time he made his dwelling the abode of hospitality and kindness.

Our subject for this evening is, therefore, the unworldly spirit which ought to distinguish the servant of God amidst the occupations and relationships of this house of his pilgrimage. The Lord God vouchsafe to us His good Spirit, to enable us so to hear and obey His word, that we may have our treasure, our heart, and "our con versation in heaven."

It can hardly be denied, that those whom Christ calls are called out of the world, called to be of another spirit than that which actuated them when they were of, as well as in, the world. It is specified as the grand purpose of Christ's suffering, that "He died for our sins to redeem us from this present evil world, according to the will of God." Can we, then, be partakers of his redemption, unless we are rescued from the world? To the same effect is the language of God addressed to all His people, "Come ye out from among them, and be separate, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." In like manner the Spirit spake by St. Paul, "Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." No language could be more expressive. It is