Hast thou, with the Bride in the Canticles, been wandering about the city, in the streets, and in the broadways, in quest of her Beloved? Surely thou canst say whether that inquiry has gone forth from thy eager heart," Saw ye Him whom my soul loveth?" It is almost impossible for thee to have these emotions, without having, at the same time, some consciousness of them. We ask not the extent of them, but our inquiry is, do they exist at all? If thou hast, thou wilt be quite ready to admit the truth set forth in 1 John iv. 19, "We love him, because he first loved us." My seeking him is the fruit-the effect-of his first seeking me. He first sought my acquaintance-not I his. If, therefore, thou art conscious of these movements, thou wilt perhaps join with us a little, as the Lord shall enable, in considering the very gracious visit,before us—that of Jesus to Zaccheus. First, it was sovereign. And all the Lord's visits are sovereign. It was of his own sovereign, free choice, He first came upon his one grand mission at all. He might have remained in glory, and still occupied his own eternal throne, had he pleased, but his mind was bent-intently fixed-upon his errand of mercy. Having set his love upon his bride -the Church-He could not leave her in her thraldom-her destitution ―her sin, and all its consequences; but to her rescue He would and did come. Zaccheus did not send for Jesus, but Jesus came to him. Zaccheus would have been about the last man in the world to desire a visit from the Lord. "Chief among the publicans, and rich;" his heart too full -too much set upon his gold-to make room for Jesus. A covetous man is an idolater, and Jesus never dwells with idolaters. Jesu's visits are sovereign and free-at the same time he is very determined in his mode of acting. He does in every heart of which he takes possession, just what he did in the temple of old, "overthrows the tables of the money-changers" (Matt. xxi. 12). In this respect the Lord is not satisfied with a mere partial possession of the heart; he can admit of no rival; but it must be Christ all in all, or nothing! hence much of our keen suffering! Secondly, it was timely. Zaccheus was at the place, and to the time, eternally appointed. There was no peradventure in the matter. He was to hear that Jesus was coming; was to be rightly informed of the road which he would take; and to be at the identical spot at the identical time; not in another place, not too early nor too late. The same facts are sweet to contemplate, in reference to the effectual calling of every poor sinner. It is in vain for men to say, some men are lost who might have been saved. The heavenly Builder had his eye eternally fixed upon every stone He should require for the spiritual temple; nor has He in the rearing of that temple, ever overlooked one, or put one in another's place. Decision in plan and execution most marvellously characterizes all his movements. Thirdly, it was by appointment. Jesus had sent for Zaccheus, but he had, as it were, disguised his hand-writing. In other 66 66 words, the Lord the Spirit had secretly moved upon the heart of Zaccheus to desire a sight of Jesus (oh what a heaven-born emotion !) and out of mere curiosity, as he thought, he set out for that purpose. Just so does the Lord in every case. He issues his letters of invitation, but they are written in obscure characters; however, they never miscarry— they always reach the right person. And the moment they are received, a certain something possesses the heart of the individual so receiving. A mixture of curiosity-desire-envy-longing-fear-anxiety-suspense, till at length venting itself in some such language as this, "Men and brethren, what shall I do to be saved?" O God, be merciful to me, a sinner." "Who art thou, Lord ?" "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" "Lord, I believe, help thou my unbelief." "Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation." All these are so many certain marks or evidences that the letter was from Jesus, and that it has found its way to the heart of the person to whom it was addressed. Fourthly, it was peremptory. "Where the word of a King is, there is power." 'Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power." There is an outward or common call, or proclamation to all. Men, as the Ministers of the Lord, go forth and sound an alarm, blow the Gospel trumpet; draw the Gospel bow at a venture; but all their proclaiming, and sounding, and shouting, is vain, until the Lord infuses life into the dead sinner-awakens and arouses him, and causes the arrow of conviction to stick fast in his heart. 66 Zaccheus, make haste and come down." Did he parley?—was there any hesitation?-the least disposition to refuse? It would be robbing God of his glory (if such a thing were possible) to say so. Zaccheus, come down ;' Lazarus, come forth;" "Son, daughter, be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven thee." All, all are effectual in a moment. "He speaks, and it is done; He commands and the thing stands fast." How delightful is it, thus to contemplate the dignity-the majesty the Almighty power of Jehovah-Jesus; and how (we had nearly said by instinct, but we would rather say), by the secret, yet effectual operations of the Holy Ghost, are the heart and eye drawn to look up to Jesus for health and cure. Oh, blessed, sure position! A poor, needy sinner, looking up to an all-sufficient Saviour, who is more glorified in giving out of that super-abundant fulness of grace which is treasured up in Himself, than the sinner is blessed in receiving! Marvellous grace! wonderful mystery! How well might the Apostle exclaim, "Oh the depths of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God." 66 99.66 Fifthly. The visit itself! Jesus come to pay a visit, and that to bring salvation. What blessed society-what heavenly intercourse! How sacred! And what an errand too! "This day is salvation come to thy house." Why, in point of fact, Jesus never goes on an errand of love-never pays a visit-without bringing salvation, because He himself personally is that salvation. Do we want wherewith to satisfy the claims of a broken law? "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." Is not the huge weight of guilt removed from the conscience? "The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." Are we afraid of the Father? "Look upon me in the face of thine Anointed." "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." "Whoso hath seen me hath seen the Father also." Is Divine Justice a terror? 66 Are we ignorant? Payment God cannot twice demand, Christ is our wisdom. Weak? "Christ is the strength of Israel, and will not lie nor repent." Have we any apprehension of being after all spiritually dead-dead in trespasses and sins? "Christ is the resurrection and the life," and hath most emphatically declared, "Whoso liveth and believeth in me shall never die." Again, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Herein Christ is the way itself the truth itself—the life itself; the way, the very way, the only way from the city of wrath to the celestial city, the city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God; the truth-the identical truth, in opposition to all error-all false creeds, doctrines, and Anti-christian notions or observances of men; the life life from the dead; life to see, feel, hear, and walk in the way of life, as set in contrast to the downward road to death. Sixthly. The length of the visit. To-day I must abide at thy house. None can picture what passed between Jesus and Zaccheus but those who have known somewhat of the Lord's visits. As wide apart as heaven and hell is the friendship of Jesus, and all the friendships of the world. But perhaps the reader is concerned because the visit of Jesus has been short. He is saying, "My beloved hath withdrawn himself." Ah! but He will come again; one visit is the sure pledge of many more; they may be short, but they will be certain. The Lord never changes. "He is no fickle friend." Once a friend, a friend for ever once pledged, He continues eternally the same. But His visits will be when most needed and when least expected. He will often send messages,-love-tokens—when He does not appear himself. And by His partial absence, He will render more keen and ardent the longing for the eternal, uninterrupted visit; when no more clouds or darkness intervening, we shall see Him face to face,-gaze on his lovely countenance, and sing with Him and to Him the rapturous song of Moses and the Lamb, for ever and ever. Oh, glorious prospect. Lastly. The effects-the fruits—of this visit. First, Zaccheus "made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully." This contradicts at once the opinions of some about a long and distressing law-work,a certain fixed, and invariable time of sorrow, lamentation, and woe. We deny not that men-most men-when called, pass through a fiery ordeal; strong convictions-dismal doubts-and gloomy fears, as to the effects the consequences of sin; but we hope ever to contend that the Lord, as a Sovereign, can and does deviate from this his more accustomed rule. He finds, when He pleases, the readiest access to the heart. Instead of tapping gently-by little and little-He will now and then, as shall seem good in his sight, lay the sinner low at a stroke. Witness Paul. (Acts ix). The Lord spoke, and received his answer in a moment. "Who art thou, Lord?" Here was instant recognition and instant resignation. So in the case before us, the Lord spoke to Zaccheus, and, as the effect, he made haste, and came down; moreover he received him joyfully. And now, to prove that the call was effectual-that it was not a mere momentary impulse-that conscious,-as a sinner, how great and glorious the visit and the salvation of such a Saviour, we read, secondly, of the fruits. And Zaccheus stood, and said unto the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold." And we think it not unlikely that this latter resolve took the remaining half-put an end, a finish, to Zaccheus's riches. See, reader, the wonders of grace. Mark the blessed effect of a visit from Jesus. Oh, that He would be pleased to visit some poor sinner into whose hands this work may fall, with this same precious salvation. What a new-year's gift this would be to the Editor-the richest, the most costly, the most ardently desired-of any, of all the gifts you can possibly enumerate. "This day is salvation come to thy house;" this day hath the cry burst forth from some poor reader's heart, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!" Talk of the value of a soul, why we commonly think that if the Lord were but pleased to bless us to our own poor services-to the conversion of one soul, it would be worth living a life of suffering to realize. Next to the salvation of our own dear children, there is nothing lies so close to the heart as this one ardent desire. Nor do we ever seem to get beyond that-" one soul, Lord; give ONE." Dear readers, a happy new-year to you, in the best sense of the word. We wish you many a precious visit from the King of kings during the year; and "Tell Him when you see His face, We long to see Him too." THE EDITOR. A FEW THOUGHTS ON UNION. In these days of universal agitation of the subject of union, when truthtrampling alliances, and Popish confederacies, are foisted upon the Church as God's heaven-born gift of love, a few thoughts upon the point of vital union, may not prove unprofitable, as matter for more enlarged meditation among our readers. We hear much of union in the form of alliances-the object of which is, to endeavour to unite antipathies; and to effect this, the standard of truth, personally received, must be lowered by each, and concealed by all, to preserve the semblance of peace. And we have further still, Satan's counterfeit of union in Popish confederacies, which stand in external fellowship-conformity to rites, and adherence to systems. Now for once we may turn the enemy's words upon himself, and say of both these, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are ye?" For the sake of order, we would cast our passing thoughts under two leading divisions : I.-The blessing of union. II. The benefit of disunion. Union in, and with, the church of the living God, being a fruit and effect, we must first look for a cause. Whence springs union? Says our Lord, "I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in One." Here we have both root and fruit, cause and effect; here we have the foundation of union-not faith, as some talk; not regeneration, not fellowship; these are effects, not causes; but the foundation of union stands in God's eternal oneness with his Christ, and the church's everlasting union with God, as one with Christ; "I in them, and thou in me." The Church one with Christ, and Christ one with God. Hence the indissoluble nature of the union, which secures the church in Christ, "I in them;" and abidingly provides for her relative, as well as federal union, "that they all may be made perfect in oue.' But from this cause flows the effect; and because united thus in Christ to God before time, the hidden family are manifested in time-called by grace, quickened by power, and given to realize union in three important points. They partake of a common salvation (Jude 3), common to the church elect in all ages-the revelation of which, to the soul, forces every individual believer "to embrace the rock for want of a shelter,' and drives him as a doomed wretch, deserving damnation, to venture upon the blood of the Lamb, with this thought, "If I perish, I perish!" Hopeless, helpless, ruined, he stands before the cross, and says, "Other refuge have I none." Such prize a common salvation ; they know the worth of Jesu's blood, by the want of it; and they |