A WORLD OF LOVE AT HOME. UNION WITH CHRIST. The earth has treasures fair and bright, True sterling happiness and joy Are not with gold allied Nor can it yield a pleasure like A merry fireside. I envy not the man who dwells In stately hall or dome, If, with his splendor, he hath not A world of love at home. The friends whom time has proved sincere, 'Tis they alone can bring A sure relief to hearts that droop 'Neath sorrow's heavy wing. THE SHIP OF DEATH. We believe it is a German poet who, walking "silent and thoughtful by the solemn shore of the vast ocean we must sail so soon," thus speaks of "The Ship of Death."- [Harper's Magazine. By the shore of time now lying, He who on that vessel starteth, Sailing from the sons of men, To the friends from whom he parteth, Never more returns again! From her mast no flag is flying, To denote from whence she came : She is known unto the dying — AZAEL is her captain's name. Not a word was ever spoken, She herself seems not to be. Silent thus, in darkness lonely, Doth the SOUL put forth alone, While the wings of angels only Waft her to a LAND UNKNOWN. BY REV. W. S. PLUMER, D. d. THE best writers of the last three centuries have said much of the believer's union with Christ. Inspired men did the same. All grace and mercy flow to sinners through this union, which in the divine purpose existed eternally, but is actually formed when the Holy Spirit leads the soul by faith to embrace Christ. Once formed, this union shall never be broken. Grace will complete what it begins, and glory will crown what grace has done. The purpose of God according to election shall stand. Every redeemed man shall be an eternal monument of the faithfulness and unchangeableness of God. In Scripture, union with Christ is chiefly taught by figures of blessed import. These hold forth a sweet and heavenly doctrine, which has been the stay and rejoicing of myriads of God's dear children in their pilgrimage through earth to heaven. "Be A prophet, speaking for God, says: hold, I lay in Zion a chief corner-stone, elect, precious, and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded." An apostle takes up the figure, points to Christ, and says: "To whom coming as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house." Another says to his brethren: "Ye are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone, in whom all the building, fitly joined together, groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord, in whom ye also are builded for a habitation of God through the Spirit." No wonder that men having such views should exult even in martyrdom. The sooner dead, the sooner are they crowned. Believers rest their whole weight on Christ. This foundation cannot fail. The deluge of wrath, which shall melt the mountains, dissolve the elements, burn up the sea, and sweep away every monument of human greatness, shall not shake this Rock. Lot in Zoar, Noah in the ark, Elijah in the chariot of fire, were not more safe than are all those who have built on Christ. They are parts of a building the most stupendous and glorious ever reared. It shall stand for ever. The pledge of final salvation to believers is that they are now "lively stones," itation of God through the Spirit." 99.66 an hab- branches; as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me. Abide in me, and I in you." Wondrous vine! How sweet is its fruit to the taste of all who have been born again! From union with Christ believers draw sap and nourishment, and thus become fruitful. "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples." All things come from Christ. is made sure by love. "As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you." Sometimes union with Christ is compared to the union of the members in a living body. "Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? He that is joined to the Lord is one spirit; ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so is Christ." If this be so, how" Without me ye can do nothing." And all we should watch and pray, that there be no schism in the body; that the hand say not to the foot, I have no need of thee; that we dwell together in love, and seek each other's good! Christ is the head of the body, the church. Then she is sure of his sympathy; as no man ever hated his own flesh, so Christ never hated one of his own members, but loves and cherishes them all. "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" "Who art thou, Lord ?" "I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest." He has loved his church of old, from everlasting; he loved her unto death; he loves her still; he shall love her forever. When inspired writers mention this subject, they seem to be all on fire; and no wonder, for it is their life. Union with Christ secures every blessing to lost men, such as pardon by his blood, acceptance by his righteousness, sanctification by his Spirit, a holy and useful life by his grace, divine sympathy in every sorrow, support in death, a glorious resurrection, a public acquittal in the day of judgment, and everlasting life. If men make light of this matter, it is because they are terribly blind. They err, not knowing the Christ is also the husband of his church, Scriptures, and are sensual, having not the and she is his spouse, his love, his dove, his Spirit. To him who is taught of God, and undefiled. "The husband is the head of the born from above, union with Christ is a founwife, even as Christ is the head of the church. tain of joy. He has felt, and the longer he Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ lives the more he feels, that Christ is the Alloved also the church, and gave himself for pha and the Omega, the First and the Last, it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the Author and Finisher of Salvation. Sepathe washing of water by the Word, that he rated from Christ, no man is strong, or wise, might present it to himself a glorious church, or righteous, or holy, or safe; apart from not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; Christ, every man is a poor, dry, withered, but that it should be holy and without blem- useless thing, whose end is to be burned; but ish." If the union of Christ and his people united with him, any man becomes a ❝ vessel be so close and tender, she is safe. His power of mercy, prepared unto glory;” “a tree of is supreme in heaven and in earth. He is the righteousness, the planting of the Lord;" wisdom of God; none can deceive or circum-" an heir of God and a joint heir with Christ.” vent him. His love to his church is infinite, If these things be so, then it follows: eternal, unchangeable. None can turn his heart away from his people. None can pluck them out of his hand. He is mighty to save and strong to deliver. Though his church in every member is weak, yet she comes up safely from the wilderness, "leaning on the arm of her Beloved." 1. That the true child of God ought not to faint, nor be discouraged. The Saviour himself was tempted, afflicted, tormented, forsaken. "If we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him. If we deny him, he also will deny us." Hear him: "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne; even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." Therefore, "if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but glorify God on this behalf." 2. It also follows that real though feeble Christians are as truly and as tenderly be loved as their more experienced brethren. The Good Shepherd loves his sheep, and he "gathers the lambs in his arms, and carries them in his bosom, and gently leads those that are young." Christ's heart is full of all tenderness, and pity, and mercy. "The weak in faith shall be holden up, for God is able to make him stand.". "When weaker Christians we despise, We do the Gospel mighty wrong." 3. It is plain that the doctrine of the communion of the saints is as well founded as it is precious. Union with Christ, the head, secures the communion of all the members. We are one in him. So that true brotherly love is a bond that can never be broken, because real union with Christ is never sundered. There is "one family named in heaven and in earth." Unless we find our hearts knit to the godly of the earth, and feel a sympathy with them, we are not in Christ. If we love him that begat, we will love them that are begotten of him. No hand ever refused aid to a suffering foot belonging to the same body. 4. What sinners need in order to salvation, is union with Christ by a living faith. "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life." "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Come, sinner, come Christ, just as you are- poor, polluted, wretched, guilty, lost and perishing. As you come, say: "Nothing in my hand I bring, Come thus, and Christ shall be yours, and you shall be his for ever. Come, come, O come and welcome to Jesus Christ! ANECDOTE OF LATIMER. Ir is related of Latimer, that when he once preached before that tyrant, Henry VIII., he took a plain, straightforward text, and in his sermon assailed those very sins for which the monarch was notorious, and he was stung to the quick, for truth always finds a response in the worst man's conscience. He would not bend beneath the authority of his God, but sent for Latimer, and said: "Your life is in jeopardy, if you do not recant all you said to-day, when you preach next Sunday." The trimming courtiers were all anxious to know the consequences of this, and the chapel was crowded. The venerable man took his text, and, after a pause, began with a soliloquy, thus: "Now, Hugh Latimer, bethink thee, thou art in the presence of thy earthly monarchthy life is in his hands, and if thou dost not suit his fancies he will bring down thy grey hairs to the grave; but, Hugh Latimer, bethink thee, thou art in the presence of the King of kings and Lord of lords, who hath told thee-Fear not them that kill the body, and can do no more; but rather fear him who can kill both body and soul, and cast thee into hell forever. Yea, I say, Hugh Latimer, fear him." He then went on, and not only repeated what he had before advanced, but, if possible, enforced it with greater emphasis. After he had finished, Henry sent for him, and said: "How durst thou insult thy monarch so?" Latimer replied: "I thought if I were unfaithful to my God, I could not be loyal to my king." The king embraced the good old bishop, exclaiming -"There is yet one man left who is bold enough to tell me the truth.” AN ACT OF CHARITY IS NEVER THROWN AWAY. A YOUNG man, by name Eugene A-, clerk with a rich merchant, at a salary of twelve hundred francs a-year, recently came into an inheritance in a very unexpected way, and under some curious circumstances. Eugene, in going to his counting-house each morning, at nine o'clock, generally followed the same route, and thus was in the habit of meeting, daily, at the same spot, an old beggar, whose venerable aspect had made a strong impression on him, and to whom he every week his modest alms. The beggar and the young man, without ever having spoken together, had formed an acquaintance with each other. One day last winter, to- which means, wards the end of the month being interpreted, that the golden tide in Eugene's purse was running very lowyoung friend, after having given to the old beggar his last sous, saw a poor woman con. gave - our ing towards him, carrying her child pressed PLAIN TALK ABOUT PREACHING. existing in the ministry, as amongst the peo- If there is a tendency of this sort -a tendency to falling off in pulpit efficiency, then ought the ministry and the church to consider it, and ascertain to what it is owing, and apply the remedy, that the tendency may be seasonably checked, and, if possible, arrested. It was one object of the speaker to account for the diminished effectiveness of the pulpit. He premised that it was not that the former days were better than these — that the times in which we live are degenerate times, nor that the truth, Christian truth, has grown decrepid and passed into its dotage. No, Christian truth is in its freshness. Its vigor now is all its vigor was. If there is a seeming oldness arising from repetition, yet again the truth will become life and spirit. Several reasons were here adduced for the present comparative ineffectiveness of the pulpit - - reasons existing among the people. Here the speaker noticed the competition to which the pulpit is now subjected. The preacher, in former days, stood alone - the instructor of the people- the weekly orator THE following is the report of an address delivered before the Nettleton Rhetorical So--but now, who is not a speaker? Speaking ciety, in the Theological Seminary, at East Windsor, Ct., at its late anniversary, by Rev. Dr. Shepard, Professor in the Seminary at Bangor, Maine. Professor Shepard is an able man and an accomplished scholar, and illustrates in the clearest manner in his own preaching the value of the principles which he inculcates upon others. His remarks are worthy of the attention of all, especially of students for the ministry. We quote from the Puritan R corder. -[New York Recorder. is no longer the gift or the privilege of a class. It is a democracy, done everywhere, by all sorts of people, in all sorts of places, on all sorts of subjects. The adversary (no figure of speech) is putting in requisition all the vigor of his vast genius, hitting now new devices, contriving new schemes and systems, and issuing them in new editions-multiplying his lying gospel-spawning upon the world all sorts of fooleries in the name and shape of religion, and drawing multitudes of gaping disciples to every monstrous thing he chooses to start. Such are the themes, and such are the men, so that the preacher now stands in a contested position - in a disputed field. He speaks to minds seized-pre-occupied; to ears all the time assailed with counter voices, &c. Again, the people now concede not to the preacher the authority which clothed him in other days - there is less reverence for the office. Another thing, is a growing incompetency to receive and digest the solid meat of veritable argument. There is, indeed, some eternal. degeneracy in the times- not so much paThere are causes, subjective and objective, tient, productive thought as once-a ten Preaching is God's ordinance, which he greatly honors, as it has pleased him by the foolishness of preaching to save those that believe. The effect, however, depends much upon the mode and spirit with which it is done. 66 Barnabas, in the synagogue of Iconium, so spake that a great multitude, both of Jews and also of Greeks, believed." The Gospel preached in one way, its benign effects are witnessed; preached in another way, but little fruit is gathered unto life dency fostered by the kind of reading now in vogue- so great a proportion of which is light and trashy a sort of drugged and confectionary diet, and under which the mind pines away, and becomes incompetent to think. Hence, many are ready to cry, "Give us something flashy, brilliant, beautiful, entertaining, or give us nothing-just clear out with your heavy, jolting, old-fashioned lumber cart- - we don't choose to travel so now-a-days." as before, is to make the truth more palatable. The intellect insists upon the privilege of showing itself in some of its curious feats and pranks, at the expense of obscuring the glories of the Great Master. The trouble is in the display-the effort to make literary sermons, intellectual sermons, great sermons The doctrine is wrought up with other things the message of truth comes diluted and weakened; comes added to, and so diminished; mended, and so made worse. There is a tendency of this sort in the evangelical pulpit of the present day. The hearers feel it; the most pious and discerning hearers mourn over it. Such difficulties in the way of preaching naturally suggest such modifications in the preacher's style as shall give his labors a stricter adaptation; and some improvements may have been made, but all changes are not for the better. There are some tendencies in the pulpit which take from the strength of its ministrations -some things in the occupant which go to account, in part at least, for the diminished effectiveness so generally admitted. Two qualities are vastly important in the preacher - viz: deep piety and sound practical talent. In both these, there seems somewhat of a falling off, owing in part to our present mode of training ministers in pub-in preaching-viz: to meet man's soul with lic seminaries, rather than in pastors' families; the present mode tending to foster too much confidence in the intellect a disposition to aim at distinction of scholarship, while piety, simple godliness, the executive element, is too much neglected. The speaker did not undervalue seminaries, but would guard against this tendency. There is a beginning in some places to give out a mutilated, diluted Gospel, rather than the Gospel in its purity and strength. This artificial cast and tendency, so injurious to pulpit efficiency, is further helped by certain peculiarities of style and language. As in other matters, there is something ambitious Another unfavorable practical consequence is an abatement in the fullness and strength of doctrine. Doctrine is the leading element of power-doctrine, clearly stated and thoroughly discussed, is indispensable to the authority and cogency of preaching. There cannot be too much vigilance and earnestness in preserving those clear and definite and solid qualities. Sermons must be well written out and well thought out, and the mere offhand, shallow, extemporaneous dribble, avoided. Again, all attempted improvements of doctrine come into the series of enfeebling tendencies. Truth must not be marred, but stated in a biblical way. We must use the very instrument furnished at our hands in the Bible. It must be presented in God's own type. Another enfeebling device is the truth mixed with something else. The object here, something away from the ordinary track something splendid, high-wrought, &c. In this there is a sad missing of the great object God in truth. Here the speaker was eloquent in painting the miserable vague style of discourse prevalent in some quarters, showing that the discourse is about everything, and ranges all about in time and space, particularly in the realms overhead, before the flood and since, from the river to the ends of the earth. The speaker here introduced another quality of preaching, more important to our times, the quality of which will do much to retrieve the pulpit, and preserve it wholesome and effective. It is the grace of humility in the preacher- -a disposition to put himself out of sight to lay off the laurels of genius, originality, and adorning literature. The chief potency of preaching lies in the vivid ut.erance, not of the curious novelties, but of the naked truisms; what everybody knows, and everybody can be made to feel. Another retrieving quality of the pulpit is gained by habits of intercourse with the people; another, by intercourse with God and his Word. The Bible in sermons will prove in them an element of power. This is what a large proportion of our modern sermons need. Ministers should be more men of one book, and that the Bible. This biblical element of sermons brings God before |