Hear Ezra too, "Oh my God, I am ashamed, and and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God; for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens." Daniel said, "Oh, Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of face, because we have sinned against thee." Ezekiel, speaking of the repentance of Judah, says, "Then shalt thou remember thy ways, and be ashamed; and I will establish my covenant with thee, that thou mayest remember and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified towards thee, for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord God." And again, "Then shall ye remember your own evil ways and your doings that were not good, and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities and for your abominations. Not for your sakes, do I this, saith the Lord God, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel." Paul also says, that his brethren to whom he writes, in Rom. vi, 21, are now ashamed of unprofitable things previously done by them. If the sense of shame for having sinned, be not felt now, it certainly will be hereafter. David in speaking of the resurrection says, "Some shall awake to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." The sense of shame will be one ingredient in the perdition of the ungodly. There will be the burning blush, as well as the scalding tear. "AND THE LORD TURNED AND LOOKED UPON PETER." Its He uttered no word-he made no sign-he simply looked the eye of the disciple met the eye of the Lord, and it was enough. I dare not attempt to describe what that countenance expressed, and what that steadfastly fixed eye conveyed. No language can set it forth-no pencil has power to represent it. It was not one simple expression. It was not reproof alone, nor was it all pity, nor all indigntion, nor all sorrow, but a mingling of many emotions into one compound expression. It chided, it convinced, it pitied, it lamented, it invited, it subdued. Peter understood its manifold meaning, and felt its mighty power. eloquence was irresistible. Its pathos pierced his very soul. It was a look of mild upbraiding: "Thou dost not know me, Peter!-me, thy Lord, whose glory thou sawest on the mount; whose sorrow thou didst witness in the garden. Didst thou not know me then? Was it not thou, that saidst a little while ago, that thou wast ready to lay down thy life for me?" It expressed a deep sense of injury. "And thou, Peter, art thou too among mine enemies?-hast thou also taken side against me?-did I deserve this at thy hands?" It was a look of compassion. It seemed to say, "Poor unhappy Peter, alas! what hast thou done?-how thou hast wounded thy own soul!-what work for repent ance thou hast made!" It did not indignantly repel him. It did not say, "I disown thee, as thou hast done me. I cast thee off from me now, and I will deny thee before my Father." It seemed to say, "Notwithstanding thy perfidy, I have still a place left for thee in my heart, if thou wilt return to me. I will still own thee, though thou hast disowned me. Go and commune with thy heart on what thou hast done." There was also power in that look of Christ. It convinced, it melted, it overcome him quite. Grace went with it to his heart. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord: (how astonishing that he should have forgotten it until now). The tender scene that had taken place in the communion chamber, his promises and his protestations, all rushed into his mind at once, and he went out and wept bitterly. WHAT WE HOPE FOR. Think not, ye whom God has called by his word and Spirit out of the community of the world, that the object of your vocation is mere service or mere suffering. It is true you are called to serve and to suffer, but you are also called to enjoy. Are you acquainted with the labors of your calling, and the trials of your calling, you should also know "the hope of your calling." Light is the task imposed upon you, and it is soon performed; and short, though sharp it should be, is the trial ye have to undergo. What are these to the exceeding and eternal weight of glory, which these not only precede, but work for you. "I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us." "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." "For our conversation is in heaven, from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body; then, this corruptible having put on incorruption, and this mortal immortality, shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, "Death is swallowed up in victory." "There remaineth a rest for the people of God; there is no night there; the Lamb that is in the midst of the throne, shall feed them, and shall lead them to fountains of living waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." O, Christians, "know what is the hope of your calling.”—and yet it passeth knowledge. "It doth not yet appear what we shall be -eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor heart conceived, what God hath prepared for them that love him." Peter speaks of the object of the lively hope, as an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, unfading, reserved in heaven for us. John says, "We shall be like him.” Paul says, "We shall be ever with the Lord." And the Psalmist testifies, "In his presence is fulness of joy, and at his right hand are pleasures forevermore." Jesus himself, says, "I give unto thee eternal life-I appoint unto you a kingdom-ye shall sit with me on my throne." Hereunto are ye called. And And ye should know it, that ye may admire and celebrate the goodness and grace of Him who hath called you into his eternal glory by Christ Jesus. Ye should know it, that ye may derive consolation in every sorrow, and support under every trial. Ye should know it, that the prospect may animate and inspirit you for every service and every suffering; and that, forgetting the things that are behind, ye may press towards the mark for the prize of your high calling. In short, ye should know what is the hope of your calling, that ye may walk worthy of it. Know then this hope, and forego every other expectation, and reckon every other object of pursuit, in comparison with this, inferior, yea, base and unworthy of you. LOVE. Religion is the most excellent of all things. Love is the most excellent of all exercises. Religion is love. God is the most excellent of all the objects of love. And religion is the love of God. The benevolent spirit of the Gospel forgetteth nothing but itself. He who does not love all the saints, does not love any of them aright. If one loves only Christians of |