so happy, but it was the love and kindly feeling which pervaded every heart; it was the sweet peace which had taken the place of enmity; it was the consciousness of the victory which had been achieved by persevering gentleness and good will. The blacksmith had gained his revenge at last! The prejudice and ill-will, which covered Mark's better feelings, as with a barrier of thick ice, had gradually melted away, and the warm streams of brotherly kindness and affection now gushed freely forth.

Would that all our readers, both young and old, who are cherishing in their hearts, and manifesting in their lives, dislike towards some churlish and disagreeable companion or neighbour, could be persuaded to take a lesson from Roger Saunders. The best way to get rid of an enemy, is to heap coals of fire on his head; that is, by the irresistable warmth of generous and loving actions, to dissolve all his unfriendliness and opposition. Just give it a trial, and satisfy yourselves that we are right.

FELLOWSHIP MEETINGS.

[The writer of this seasonable and earnest appeal-a Sunday school teacher-was successful in gaining one of the prizes offered by Mr. Drummond of Stirling, for the best essay on "Small Fellowship Meetings." We are glad to introduce it to our readers.-ED.]

CHRISTIANS on earth are a spiritual community, professing certain doctrines, enjoying certain privileges, maintaining certain ordinances, and discharging certain duties. They have assemblies for the purpose of celebrating the worship and advancing the interests of their Master's kingdom. All of these differ considerably from each other, and all are necessary and important. The Sabbath congregation is more especially for the public profession of faith, and the maintenance of Divine ordinances; the prayer meeting, for the exercise of special united prayer; the religious instruction meeting, for growth in spiritual wisdom and knowledge; and the FELLOWSHIP-MEETING, for the interchange of love, mutual edification, and association,

to promote, by combined wisdom and effort, the welfare of the Church and the world. By this we mean a special meeting of believers-of all such as, of old, "feared the Lord"—of all who are brethren in Christ, and of the household of faith. It is peculiarly the family circle, to whose unrestrained and blessed privileges none but brethren are admitted, and from whose cherished benevolence and trained affection spring those virtues that are to animate and comfort all.

Unhappily, fellowship meetings are, in our day, few and seldom; nor can we overlook the cause. Some may be unconscious of the duty, others doubtful of the blessing, but many, we fear, are pervaded with sloth and worldly-mindedness-those sure causes of that fatal individualism of feeling, which, in our day, makes so many to be Christian to themselves and for themselves; and which is going far to make Christianity a mere idiosyncrasy of character-a certain turn of the religious feelings in every individual-a something personal, independent, and isolated from the experience and sympathy of all others. Such, alas! is too much the state of many in our congregations. The fellowship meeting would go far to remedy this a union of sympathies and feelings—a union, not of name, but reality-a union, not like that of the forest trees, that grow together on the same soil, but like that of the kindred branches that twine round and enclasp each other. Too little has the duty and blessing of such meetings been insisted on. We should warn and exhort with all diligence. And surely the task is neither thankless nor ungrateful. The sympathies of many are on our side, and we but require to stir up" their pure minds, by way of remembrance, to have them count it their glory to lead in the van of duty and love.

Our object here is to show, as fully as our space will allow, the duty and the blessing of such meetings. THE DUTY.-We fear few seriously consider that

I

fellowship is a Scriptural duty; yet so it is, and one very strictly enjoined. It is founded on precept, and enforced by example. The great and fundamental law of fellowship is the law of love, promulgated by Christ: the great and practical end of that law is unity and edification. "Love in deed and in truth," says John; "bear one another's burdens," says Paul," and so by this active sympathy, this mutual interchange of good offices-" so fulfil the law of Christ." It is as if he had said "This law of Christ is a practical law. It is not a nominal affection, but an operative one. It is not merely 'love one another,' but 'help one another'—not merely 'cherish affection towards each other,' but 'feel, and work, and pray for each other.' We are not only to follow after the things which make for peace,' but things wherewith we may edify one another.' We are not only to pray for unity, but to exemplify it-to seek out those things which promote it-to practice all those mutual kindnesses and sympathies in which it practically consists."

Such truly is the fellowship enjoined in Scripture; and, consequently, all the active duties necessary to its accomplishment are laid upon us. There is a "labour of love;" there is a "comfort of love;” there is an "edifying of love;" there is a "service of love." We are to "look on the things of others;" "to consider one another, to provoke to love and good works; to "minister to each other" of the gift we have received; to “comfort,” and “ edify," and "exhort" one another; to "comfort the feeble-minded," "support the weak;" to teach and admonish "in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs; "to form concerts for prayer, and, in a word, to do all that in us lies to strengthen, edify, and unite our brethren. "Love one another, as I have loved yon" Such is the Divine

pattern, and let any one try to fathom the height or depth, the length or breadth, of that love, or to outdo what it has done. The highest endeavour of humanity

will be to it, but as the tiny sun of the dew-drop to the resplendent orb of day.

But example is no less decisive than precept, in commending and enforcing brotherly communion and prayer. In an age long gone by, and amid abounding wickedness "they that feared the Lord" were wont to speak often one to another; and, even earlier, the royal Psalmist found brethren with whom to take "sweet counsel together." He was companion to all that feared God, and could say from experience that the dwelling together of brethren in unity was like the dew upon the hill of Hermon, where the Lord commanded a blessing. And the example of the pri mitive Christians, and of those who, in all ages, have been the true, living Church, is equally emphatic and convincing.

Of such a kind then are the duties of fellowship, of such extent the mutual obligations of real Christians -duties as binding as those of the sanctuary-obligations as real as any that are laid upon us. No mere

church communion, or ordinary casual intercourse, will ever make up for the neglect of them. Designed to promote the unity and love of the saints, and to be a medium through which to communicate greater blessings to them, they can be rightly discharged only in special communion and fellowship. In no other way can we fulfil the law of love, accomplish the end of Christ's prayer, or reap the benefits of unity.

THE BLESSING.-This is threefold-blessing to ourselves, blessing to the church, and blessing to the world.

Blessing to Ourselves.-Think of the unity, the growth in grace, the efficacy of prayer, and the food for it, which fellowship engenders; think of the mutual love, the mutual instruction, the mutual memories, the mutual hopes; think of the zeal and watchfulness, the gentleness and forbearance, the growing wisdom and diffusive philanthropy, the light, the

confidence, and the foretastes of heaven. What hopes does it not help to brighten! what fears does it not tend to allay! what difficulties to remove! what virtues to cherish! what faith and love to strengthen! and and what duties to gladden and consecrate! It is the precious ointment, that spreads beauty and freshness -the dew upon Hermon, that crowns all we do with blessing. In the fellowship meeting, more than in any other, those diversities of gifts and temperaments which God has designed, not for the dividing, but for the increase of the Church, have their most appropriate field of usefulness. As the union of the various colours produces the pure light, so the union of the various graces produces the perfect body. The whole body is "compacted by that which every joint supplieth;" and, "according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."

In the little number there may be a John, with his all-comprehensive love; a Paul, with his knowledge and indomitable energy; an Apollos, with his persuasive eloquence; a Peter, with his burning zeal; and a Boanerges, with his stern discipline. How beneficial do we find this variety of gifts and experience! "Iron sharpeneth iron," and, "Two are better than one," says Solomon; and so even the very fellowship of saints is a blessing. The man of large faith assures some weak and doubting brother; the man of large experience comforts and animates some tried and drooping disciple; the slothful are stirred up, the wavering are confirmed, the backsliding admonished, and the flame of piety kept clear and vigorous.

How many an one has such intercourse kept awake on the enchanted ground, as well as delighted at the table, with Piety, Prudence, and Charity! for, as Bunyan quaintly says,

"Saints' fellowship, if it be managed well,

Keeps them alive, and that in spite of hell."