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unable to say, we know whom we have believed," yet feeling the power of His burning words, and that "never man spake like this man," if only they will persevere, if only they will "follow on," they shall "know the LORD." He will go in to tarry with them, and they shall know Him in the breaking of bread.

"Their eyes were opened, and they knew Him, and He vanished out of their sight." It may be so, but their faith is not weakened then, their eyes have been opened to behold JESUS, so though His sensible Presence is withdrawn they do not despond; they seek others, to whom they confide their new found joy, when there, JESUS is once more in their midst.

"He vanished out of their sight," and "the King is held in the galleries," the twofold training of the soul, both necessary, the rapture, the certainty, as well as the doubting, and the withdrawal. Ever remembering that after "the King is held in the galleries," comes, "I said, I will go up to the palm tree, I will take hold of the boughs thereof :" the Cross which He went up, the Cross to which we must follow, to which we must be conformed, for "this thy stature is like to a palm tree." Never undisturbed rest, uninterrupted joy here; never, “until the day break, and the shadows flee away,” and “turn, my beloved," is changed to "ever with the LORD."

"Therefore they sought again to take Him, but He escaped out of their hand, and went away again beyond Jordan where John at first baptized; and there He abode. And many resorted unto Him."-S. John x. 39-41.

JESUS had been speaking words full of tenderness and love unto the people. He had enunciated unto them wonderful mysteries concerning Himself, but the loving words were unheeded, the mysteries spoken of as blasphemy, stones taken up to cast at Him, they strove to make Him prisoner in their wrath, so that He had to escape out of their hands.

"Mine hour is not yet come." How calmly when that hour came did He give up Himself into the hands of men, now He escapes because His hour is not yet come. 'Lo I come to do Thy Will, O God!" Wonderful is that harmony of His Will with the Will of GOD! Blessed truly for us if we could thus lose our wills in His, then indeed might we serve Him with a quiet mind." Think of how JESUS had been speaking unto the people of His union with the FATHER, and when they turn against Him how He escapes "beyond Jordan unto the

a man.

place where John at first baptized." Is there not something touching in those few words? for may we not think that it was because of its memories He chose that spot? He Who was one with the FATHER, by Whom all things were made, the Mighty GOD, had yet the heart of He came unto His own, but His own received Him not. He had spoken words of tender love, unveiled mysteries unto them of the kingdom of Heaven, but they turn against Him and threaten His life, so He sadly turns from them and seeks a spot where one had been who loved Him with no common love, a love passing the love of women, and there He sought refuge and a shelter "from the strife of tongues." This insight into the sacred heart of JESUS is even more touching, coming as it does after the proclaiming of His Godhead, it seems to tell us that though He is GOD, He can feel as man; that though He dwells in the light which no man can approach unto, He can have compassion upon our infirmities; that though His habitation is in Eternity, He can remember the things of time.

There He abode, and many resorted unto Him. The hidden life with JESUS. Such a life may we lead if we turn our backs upon this present evil world, pass over Jordan and take our place by His side. Many resorted unto Him, many believed on Him, as now the Church of CHRIST gathered from the midst of the world; but among them were the disciples, the chosen few who forsook all and followed Him, who were to drink of His cup, and be baptized with His Baptism, and to them were revealed the hidden things of GOD. They were with Him when He heard that His friend Lazarus was sick, and instead of going to him, "abode two days still in the same place where He was." They stayed by Him when He raised the dead man from his grave, and learned then the truth of those words: "If ye would believe ye should see the Glory of GOD." Mysteries unfolding to them bit by bit, as they now daily are unfolding to His secret ones. Think of the calm of resting thus with JESUS, resting as the dove, "in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs," the turmoil of this world forsaken, the provoking of all men forgotten, the strife of tongues hushed, past into a new life, as Jordan is crossed over with JESUS.

But what thoughts must have been His then? memories of the past, forebodings of the future, for His hour was coming on, and if we too are troubled with suchlike thoughts, if the heart is sorrowful as it muses on times past or fearful of what is to come, where best can such memories, such fears be brought, but there where He abides; where

"At our gates are

best can they be hidden, but in His human Heart ? all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for Thee, O my Beloved." Such a life may His secret ones lead, learning to know more and more of His Will, the revelation of things unseen, the mysteries of His Love, the unfathomable depths of His sacred Heart.

And such more especially might our Communions be. The storms of this world may have blown hardly upon us, "the archers sorely grieved us," the words and deeds of men made us afraid, but where He abides is safety, by His Side is peace.

"Though cold the storm

And fierce the blasting wind,

I do not fear,

For in His Breast a covert safe I find,

No storm comes there."

And there let us listen to the voice of the Beloved, hold our peace, and wait patiently, even when He utters things too wonderful for us, things that we understand not, follow Him onward to what seems the impossible, and through our humble believing, see the glory of GOD. "I will hearken what the LORD GOD will say concerning me; for He shall speak unto His people, and to His saints that they turn not again." "That they turn not again!" Yes, let that be our aim, follow the Blessed Saints "in all virtuous and godly living," and having crossed over Jordan, turn no more to the world, but keep in their “communion and fellowship," with JESUS our LORD.

"John did no miracle, but all that he spake of this Man was true." Well wert thou rewarded, thou Blessed Saint, when thy words led others to find JESUS for themselves! "He must increase, I must decrease. This my joy therefore is fulfilled." Thy loving Master in His sorrow sought the spot full of memories of thee, and the people gathered round Him remembered thee also-thy burning words, thy passionate love, thine eye ever looking towards the Lamb-they too follow Him, and thus, thou being dead yet speakest.

"Sorrow vanquished, labour ended,

Jordan past,"

for thee, sought out that quiet Haven at the other side, perhaps thou art allowed to see the reward of thy works. And in this thought there is encouragement for those who toil for their LORD on earth.

Far, far behind the Saint, yet humbly striving to walk in his steps: no reward here it may be, labour in vain, strength spent for norght, but hereafter, “Who are these that fly as a cloud, as the doves to their windows?" they know, and shall rejoice with exceeding great joy when He "looketh forth at the windows," and stretcheth out His Hand to take them in. "Surely my work is with the LORD, and my reward with my GOD." "John did no miracle, but all that he spake of this Man was true. This my joy therefore is fulfilled."

N. C.

THE FORE-CASTING OF THE DOOM.

THOUGHTS FOR GOOD FRIDAY.

"Recordare JESU pie,

Quod sum causa tuæ viæ

Ne me perdas illa die."

"Watch therefore, for ye know not the day neither the hour."-S. Matt. xxv. 13.

It has an ill

TO-DAY is a very sad day, so very full of sorrow. omened name even among men of the world. It has given an illomened name to all the weekly anniversaries of this day. It is a curious fact that undertakings begun on a Friday rarely succeed. Sailors have a superstitious dislike for the day. There are sailors who would not for any money set out for a voyage on a Friday. Many are the vessels, I believe, which have sailed on a Friday and have never more been heard of. And the reason of this superstition is, I imagine, because this day is tinged with the Blood of our dear LORD. I think to the end of time, it will never lose the mark of Blood, which GOD has set upon this day.

In more Churches than I can tell you of, Christian men keep the Three Hours Agony, and GOD's Sanctuary is full of prayer, silent and uttered prayer. So we ought to be greatly comforted by the many prayers which are ascending ever and ever to-day to our dear LORD.

Many Churches will be hung with black on this day, and the Cross on the Altar, the emblem of our Faith, (the Sign that in that House the worshippers are the worshippers of the Crucified,) is draped with crape. This is an outward accessory. The real feeling should be that of the heart; but while we live on earth we must naturally be affected by

outward signs. Black is a sign of mourning in civil life. Old-fashioned people used to dress in black on Good Friday.

This, however, is by the way. Do you know what is coming? What may be near? ay, coming closer than what we think, but coming, COMING most assuredly? It is the Day of Judgment,

"That dreadful day,

When heaven and earth shall pass away."

When and how it will begin, we know not. What day, we know not. We know who will be our Judge, we know that He will be our LORD and SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST,

"The Judge, Who comes with mercy,

The Judge, Who comes with might."

He, Who to-day is so full of sorrow, hanging upon the Cross, cursed, reviled, rejected, a spectacle of grief to men and angels, saying so silently, "Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? Behold, and see, if there be any sorrow like unto My sorrow." Oh, for a fountain of tears to weep for Him day and night, as He hangs there helpless and alone, with none to cheer Him, or to comfort Him on His hard dying bed, the hard wood of the holy Cross. He, I say, will be the Judge ; He, Who to-day is the judged, He, Who to-day has in the dark hours of the early morning stood before Annas and Caiaphas, Pontius Pilate and Herod, and back to Pilate again in the Hall, which is called the Pavement; He will be the stern Judge, the infallible arbitrator, the arbiter of life and death, and from His mouth will go forth "the word of a king," which the stern and pitiless Angels shall obey ruthlessly, unbiassed by silver or gold or earthly favour or landed possessions.

There will be no sign of change on earth that He is coming. Men will as usual meet their fellow-men, giving the good-day and talking of common things. The husbandman will be in the field. In the streets there will, as now, be a talk of markets, of the price of land and corn, of the neighbour who is lately dead, of the neighbour who has lately married, of what So-and-so has done. The newspapers, telling the latest news of the world, will be issued as usual, but they will contain no news of Him that cometh to judge, of the coming of the Crucified, save perchance only of a strange restlessness in the affairs of men, portending some great and terrible change. Arts and sciences will have had their glut. There will be no end of " pleasant pictures." Time and space will be bridged over and annihilated, so that distant