SIN

What a damper to spirituality what a rude extinguisher on all its feelings and contemplations is sin ! An unforeseen gust of anger will put them all to flight ; and the objective truth is lost in that disturbed and so darkened medium by which the subjective mind is encompassed. There is one lesson, however, to be gathered from the connexion which obtains between obedience and spiritual discernment on the one hand, between disobe dience and spiritual dimness or obscuration on the other. A strict and conscientious perseverance in the walk of known duty may at length conduct to those manifestations after which we aspire or, in other words, the humble do ings of our every-day obedience may prove a stepping-stone to the higher experiences of the divine life. Certain it is, that to cast off this obedience is to cut away the first round of the ascending ladder; and so to make a com mencement impossible. Ltt me then undervalue not the very least of the commandments. Let me be watchful and maintain a steady guidance and guardianship over all my words and works and ways. Above every thing, let me keep my heart with all diligence, and ever pray against those wretched aberrations of unruly temper and wrong affection which are breaking forth there. The order is, Awake, sinner, and then Christ shall give thee light. That light I am profoundly sensible must be given re vealed by God, not discovered by men. It comes by an act of creative power when the same Spirit which moved of old on the face of the waters begins His work of resto ration on the chaos of our ruined nature. Lift upon me, God, the light of Thy countenance. Thomas Chalmers

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