point for all hearts, that being softened there by divine love they might be united to God, and that being divested there of all selfishness they might be united to each other in the bonds of a holy, loving brotherhood. Savior, "give I unto you, that ye love one another." Hence the words of the apostle, "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." This is a good emblem of Brotherly Kindness. The burdened pilgrim represents the Christian traveling on in the way of duty, bearing affliction and contempt. Afflictions such as are common to men press heavily upon him; contempt and tribulation, pecu-"A new commandment," said the liar to those who will live godly in Christ Jesus, almost overwhelm him. His soul is among lions; he is ready to sink beneath his burden. His head is sick, his heart is faint. He says, "I shall one day fall by my enemies; I may as well give up first as last." Just now some Christian brethrensignified by the pilgrim's two friends above-hearing of his circumstances, call upon him, find out his trouble, and immediately propose to help him. They furnish him with pecuniary aid, assist him with their prayers and counsel, and being disciples of Jesus, they resolve to bear a part of the reproach of Christ. They unite with their afflicted brother in stemming the torrent of wickedness that runs down the streets, and in advancing the kingdom of God on the earth. All this sympathy and aid makes a new man of him; he again lifts up his head, and goes on his way rejoicing. The blessed Redeemer established his cross on the earth as the rallying Even under the Jewish dispensation it was ordained that "if thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, thou shalt surely help him." How much better is a man than a beast! and compared with the Jews, how much more powerful is the weight of the Christian's obligation! Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love, We share our mutual woes; Our mutual burdens bear; The sympathizing tear. Before our Father's throne We pour our ardent prayers; Fawcett Without shedding of blood there is no remission. Rom. ix: 22.- BEHOLD where Justice, with her sword raised | Love hastens, prostrate at the claimant's feet. high, In words that echo through the trembling sky, On wings of grace, and heavenly motion fleet, "Me! me behold!" she cries, "on me be pour'd My life for his! so Justice shall be paid." In this picture, Justice is seen | Justice one is seen in the attitude of standing with her sword raised high, a culprit; he hangs his head down in ready to fall upon the guilty one. In her left hand she holds the scales of equity; at her side the two tables of law appear, at the foot of which lies the Holy Bible. In the front of acknowledgment of his guilt. Between the offender and Justice, behold one of celestial mien, in a kneeling posture, with wings outspread; her countenance beams with compas sion; addressing Justice, she points | the heart of the Son of God bled for to her uncovered bosom, and asks that the sword may be plunged therein, and that the guilty one may go free. This is Divine Love. This is an emblem of human redemption. A book of laws is given to man, which is holy, just, and good, the substance of which is contained in the decalogue or ten commandments. These laws, whether engraved on tables of stone, or written on rolls of parchment, or printed in books, or impressed on the human heart, have been violated by all mankind, for "all have sinned," and consequently have come short of the divine approbation. The penalty is "death." "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." Thus the matter stands when the sinner is brought before the tribunal of Justice. Justice never forgives, nor makes any allowance for circumstances or human infirmity. The plea put in by Lord Nelson when dying, that "he had not been a very great sinner," will be utterly unavailing. The reply of Justice is, "He that offends in one point, is guilty of all." But ere the sword of Justice is bathed in the blood of the guilty, Divine Love, in the person of Jesus Christ, interposed, "and poured out his soul unto death, and made intercession for the transgressors." On the hill of Calvary, this wonderful scene took place. There Divine Love received the sword of Justice; there guilty man; there he "who knew no sin became a sin-offering for us." Mercy and Truth now meet together, Justice and Peace kiss each other. "Greater love than this hath no man, that a man lay down his life for his friends; but God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us." Shout, heaven and earth, this sum of God to man, that God can now be just, and the justifier of him who believes in Jesus. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ..... God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself.... Be .... Be ye reconciled to God. 2 Cor. v: 18, 19, 20. BETWEEN the bleeding victim, cut in twain, This engraving represents two men standing between the two parts of a divided calf. They have been for a Jong time enemies to each other. Now they earnestly desire to become friends again; they wish to bury all past differences in the ocean of forgetfulness, and to enter into an agreement mutually to assist and defend each other in time to come. To accomplish this object, they have met The past to bury in oblivion's sea; together. As a proof of their sincerity, they offer a sacrifice to the object of their religious adoration. The blood of the victim is poured out, the animal is divided into two equal parts. The parts are placed opposite to each other, space enough being left for the parties to enter between. When this is done, they meet in the middle of the divided beast, where the contract is read or repeated, and by a sol emn oath sanctioned and confirmed. | stows more than kingly dignities; This was an ancient and almost universal mode of making contracts. It is referred to by Jeremiah the prophet: "And I will deliver up the men that have transgressed my covenant, which have not performed the words of the covenant which they had made before me, when they cut the calf in twain, and passed through the parts thereof." here the kingdom of grace is exhibited, and the splendors of the kingdom of glory shadowed forth. But for these "who count the blood of the covenant an unholy thing, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin, but a certain fearful looking for of fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries." The reconciliation of a soul to God The above is a significant emblem is perhaps the greatest event that can of that reconciliation which is pro- come to pass on the earth. It affects claimed by the everlasting Gospel. three worlds: heaven, earth, and hell. The holy God and sinful man consti- When this takes place, angels, in their tute the parties. Man had, by his flights of mercy, passing over fields sins, separated himself from God, and of renown, where empires are won had, in fact, become an "enemy." and lost, stoop upon the wing, and God, the offended party, proclaims a stringing their harps to a loftier meltruce, and proposes a reconciliation. ody, they sing the anthem of all-reThe place of meeting was Mount Cal-deeming love, "Glory to God in the vary. There Mercy and Truth met highest, on earth peace, and goodtogether, Justice and Peace embraced will toward man." cach other; the victim, the Lord Jesus Christ. Without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness, and without forgiveness there is no reconciliation; but "God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself," and "Christ is our peace, who hath made both one." The terms of the covenant are: "He that believeth shall be saved, and he that believeth not shall be damned." On this ground, i. e., "in Christ," God has sworn to receive to friendship all who come to him. Here he opens his heart of love; here he be God, the offended God Most High, And Jesus begs us to be friends. Us in the stead of Christ, they pray, And find forgiveness at his feet. |