Year: 1860

We cannot all become rich in worldly
sense. Many seek to become so, but are
not able. 1t is not SO with regard to spir-
itual riches. Here, whosoever will may be-
come rich by taking of the water Of life
freely. Let him that hath no money
come and buy wine and milk, without
money and without price


Come where? " here is this wine and
milk--this water of life? All, we all
need the admonition that Paul gave to the
Romans - Say not, who will ascend up to
heaven-that is to bring Christ down from
above? but the word is nigh thee, even in
thy mouth and in thy heart Nothing is
nearer, nothing more accessible, than this
rich supply SO freely offered. 1t is not
away up IN heaven, beyond our reach it is
not afar off, in some vague, dreamy region,
Of which We can form no definite concep-
ton; but in our hands-in that blessed
book whose treasures Of wisdom and grace
are perfectly inexh ,ustible.


Now, it we only look at a richly-spread
table, it will not satisfy our hunger; so the
mere reading Of the Scriptures never
satisfy our spiritual wants. We must ap-
propriatc them in humble, child like faith.
The bare knowledge that God so loved
the world that he gave his only-begotten
Son, that Whosoever belicveth on him
light not perish but have everlasting lite,'
will do us no good unless we comply with
the conditions The affecting narrative of
blind Bartimeus will do us no good unless
it causes us, as poor, blind creatures, to run
to the same Saviour with the same cry.
What benefit is it to me to know that Je-
hovah was David's Shepherd =? but let me
adopt David's language, and then too am
placed beyond the reach Of want, or fear,
or any evil | too may look forward to
comfortable life and happy Immortality.
When | read the gracious words, | am
the Lord thy God,' aud can feel that he is
speaking to me, then drink Of the water
of life freely.


How rich, how blessed, is he whose mem
ory is stored with the words Of eternal
truth 1t is a treasury from which he can
draw in every time of need. While en-
gagged in the duties of his calling, they
will bc floating through his mind, excrting
a sanctitying influence, even when he Is
almost unconscious OF it. They will ena-
bic him to resist temptation, to bear up
under the trials of life, and in the most Sc
questered hours they will be with him, as
friends and companions, to give form and
expression to his holiest thoughts.


We think in language: but, unless the
words of inspiration came to our aid, how
cold, feeble, confused and indefinite are
our spiritual meditationsl Well, then, if
the words of God are not in our memories,
how can we mediate? Nay, how can even
the Holy Spirit operate upon our souls +!
The Saviour says My words, they are spir-
it and they are life And again: He
(the Comforter) will take of mine and
show them unto you;' but where shall he
get them if they are not read or not treas
ured up in the mind? Here, then, we are
to come Here are the wine and the milk.
Here is that which will make your soul de-
light itself in fatness. These are the
words of God, upon which the soul feeds
as the body feeds on bread This is the
great storehouse whence we must draw our
supplies. 1t is not enough that we look in
and admire its fulness. We must draw
upon it for ourselves, continually, diligent-
", eagerly. Like Bunyan's Pilgrim, we
mus carry the roll in our bosom, so as to
have it always near, always ready.