perfect world can be imagined than a Sabbath-keeping world, a devout world, a world of spiritual worshipers. Crime, disorder and violence would cease from such a world. The earth would become the ante-chamber of heaven. Songs and rejoicing would take the place of profanity and cursing. Smiles would play upon the faces of humanity in the place of frowns. Flowers would bloom where only weeds now flourish. Wars would be heard of no more, desolation would vanish, dissipation come to an end, and an era of good-will and brotherly love be ushered in. A world with faith and spirituality enough, rightly and from choice, to keep God's holy day, would be a world well advanced toward the peace and glory of the millennium.

WORSHIP AND ITS DELIGHTS.

Man is a worshiping creature. There seems to be in his nature an element which moves him to adore a superior being. The history of the various races of men shows that all, however blindly, are feeling after God. In all ages and in all climes humanity has been bowing down to something. Heathens worship. Having not the written law, they "are a law unto themselves," and worship in proportion to the spirit given. Some have followed the light far enough to worship from choice the true God, though as a being unknown. The Apostle Paul found some such in Athens, and at once declared unto them a knowledge of "the unknown God" they had "ignorantly worshiped."

Worship is pure and elevating in proportion to the light the worshipers follow and enjoy. A very little light does not lift man above idolatry. He sees God in stock and stone, in storm and star. In his deepest darkness he bows down to gods of his own make. In the twilight of a little better knowledge he worships one or more of God's creatures-the sun or moon or planet. In gospel light he advances to the adoration of God himself, and becomes a worshiper in spirit and in truth. The Christian, to the full measure of his light, must worship. God in Christ is the object of his worship. Christ is God near by. "God *** manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, scen of angels, preached unto

the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." (1 Tim. iii. 16.) And, as he said, "Let all the angels of God worship him.” (Heb. i. 6.) And, in the language of the Psalmist, “Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy." (Ps. xcix. 5.) Christ has ascended up on high, but he has given us his spirit that we should know him.

If our worship is pure, we shall offer clean hands and a pure heart. "Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully."

If our worship is holy, we shall keep God's holy law, and observe and do his will. "Keep my commandments and live, and my law as the apple of thine eye." "He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me; and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and we will come to him and make our abode with him."

If our worship is humble we shall present our bodies a living sacrifice, which is but a reasonable service. If our worship is from the heart, deep, fervent, spiritual, we shall practically acknowledge that "the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold. *** And in keeping of them there is great reward."

True and acceptable worship will be constant and cheerful. It proceeds from the conviction that worship is man's highest duty, and that God is worthy. "And the four beasts rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was and is and is to come." "And the four and twenty elders fell down before him that sat on the throne, and worshiped him that liveth forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power, for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."

Divine worship is delightful. There is no pleasure comparable with it. Here the soul feels itself in its true sphere. It is comforted, uplifted, thrilled and blessed, Worship allies man with angels.

"By faith the upper choir we meet

And join with them to sing
Jehovah, on his shining seat,
Our Maker and our King.

"For God, made flesh, is wholly ours,
And asks our noblest strain!
The Father of celestial powers,

The Friend of earth-born man."

"I know of no pleasure so rich," says Richard Watson," none so pure, none so hallowing in their influences, and constant in their supply, as those which result from the true and spiritual worship of God. Pleasant as the cool water-brooks are to a thirsty hart, so pleasant will it be to us to approach unto the living God." Were it not so, worship would die out, Christian temples would be closed, and the last vestage of Christianity perish from the earth. It is because Christian worship exactly comports with the purest and best aspirations of the heart that it has such a hold upon the rational convictions and practical life of men. This is why every man of God can truthfully say, with Arthur Cleveland Coxe:

"Right glad was I when unto me

They said, with one accord,

'O let us up to Zion's hill,

The city of our Lord!'

Our feet shall stand within thy gates,
Jerusalem our home,

And to thy temples beauty-built,

Our wearied steps shall come."

HIGH ATTAINMENT IN RELIGION.

The views of one whose own life was a beautiful illustration of the principles he set forth, and whose ability as a writer on religious subjects had few equals, cannot fail to enlist the sympathy of all who are at pains to know them. He sets up no arbitrary standard.

He assumes not to be the only authorized interpreter of the will of God. He simply writes the truth, broadly, earnestly, and so candidly that he carries conviction with him. Be it ours, then, to sit as learners at the feet of Bishop Davis Wasgatt Clark :

"Growth, enlargement, is one of the striking laws of physical, intellectual and spiritual being. The little rivulet, trickling down through pebbles and moss, and overhung with spreading branches, gradually enlarges into a stream, which in turn becomes swollen into a mighty river, rolling on its ceaseless tide of waters to the everlasting ocean. Such should be the ever-enlarging, ever-expanding stream of Christian love.

"The little twig that writhes and bends before the slightest gust of wind, gradually rises, till its mighty trunk towers toward the heavens and its arms spread abroad, defying alike the stormy blast and the freezing cold. Such is the development of the Christian's spiritual character—once a frail and feeble twig, now a mighty oak.

"The intellect of childhood, how feeble! It stumbles at the least difficulty; it is bewildered by the slightest mysteries; its simplicity, its little wonderments, its childish feebleness awaken our sympathy and almost excite our pity. But to that intellect-so feeble in its beginning the law of development is applied. It acquires new energy, develops new power, rises in might and majesty, till, with Newton, it fathoms the profoundest mysteries of the universe; with Herschell, it walks among the constellations of heaven; and with Locke, analyzes the profoundest mysteries of thought. Similar to this is the law of spiritual development. It contemplates an unceasing approximation toward the great source of purity and love. Christian development—the attainment of a high standard of piety -is the law of our spiritual life. This is one of the primary ends of the gospel. The spiritual and moral elevation of our nature is the crowning glory of our salvation. It is the element of selectness that makes desirable the exalted society of heaven.

"In a character which attains to a high standard of godliness there must be a combination of Christian graces, harmonizing with each other, full in their development, firm in their action, and beautiful in their combination. John Angel James has well said that 'real personal godliness consists of the union of Scriptural opinions, spirit

ual affections, a tender conscience, good morals, and Christian love.' A high standard of piety implies the development of these traits in a high degree.

"In such a person there will be a constant, earnest, and successful warring against the motions of sin. There will be a constant and successful effort to strive against sin,' 'to mortify the deeds of the body,' 'to crucify the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof,' and 'to cleanse himself from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord.' The heart of such a man is the temple of the living God, and he knows that him who defiles God's temple will God destroy. No one who would attain eminent piety can be released from this warfare. It will mark every stage of his upward progress, and every conflict with his stubborn foe. "In the heart of such a person there will also be a strong and earnest love of evangelical truth. Is a man wedded to the cultivation of some one of the sciences? How deep will be his interest in the fundamental and established truths of that science! Their very enunciation will thrill upon his soul; and the presentation of their problems will arouse him to intense yet delightful mental activity. The Christian-such as we have described-is wedded to the science. of salvation. How will the great mystery of godliness thrill upon his heart! How will his heart cling especially to that great truth which lies at the foundation of all faith and hope in Christ!

"Another trait will be an exquisite tenderness of conscience. Such a conscience will be strong and clear in its monitions as well as sensitive in its susceptibility of impression. Like the telescope, it will sweep over the field of vision, descrying objects not discernible to the common eye. Delicate as 'the apple of the eye,' it is sensitive to the slightest touch. And yet so deep is the soul's hatred of sin, that it delights in that exquisite pain of conscience which warns it of sin's approach.

"Closely connected with this will be spiritual-mindedness, or an habitual relish for the things of God and religion. This is having fellowship with the Father and the Son; it is living by faith; walking with God; being dead to the world; setting our affections on things above. It implies a love for religious meditation, a delight in prayer, a fondness for the Scriptures, a disposition to