But in whatever visible form the Holy Ghost had alighted upon the Saviour's head, the miracle would have been the same. But the symbol would not have been the same. His descending in "a bodily shape like a dove," was intended to be an emblem. First, an emblem of the dispensation he had to announce. The Law is called a fiery law; and it worketh wrath to every transgressor. The nature of it was intimated even in the very manner of its promulgation. The mount shook, and burned with fire. There were blackness, and darkness, and tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words. The people could not endure that which was commanded. And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake. But Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ. And how? The moment he is inaugurated, and is stepping forth to preach the Kingdom of Heaven, the heaven opens-not for the thunder to roll and the lightnings to flash, but for the Holy Ghost to descend in a bodily shape like a dove upon Him!

Did the dove return into the ark with an olive branch, thereby announcing that the flood had subsided? And has he, with a leaf in his mouth, ever since been viewed as the image of a Messenger of Peace? Who came and attested deliverance from the wrath to come? Who came and preached peace to them that were afar off and to them that were nigh? What says the Church? "Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away: for, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth, the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land." But who was the harbinger of another spring; of a nobler renovation ?-Who cries, "Come, for all things are now ready?"

Secondly, an emblem of his personal character. All the love, tenderness, gentleness, mildness, for which the dove seems always to have been con

sidered as a kind of representative, were to be found in him. So the prophecies going before had described him. And if we observe his miracles, if we enter into his life, his whole life on earth, we shall see him going about doing good. How kind to friends! How merciful to the distressed! How gracious to the guilty! How ready to forgive! How patient under provocation! He was compassion alive and embodied.

Thirdly, an emblem of the temper of his disciples. For there must be a conformity between him and them. In all things he has the pre-eminence; but if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. He that is joined to the Lord is of one spirit—and how did the Holy Ghost descend upon him? As a dove.

Estimate, therefore, your religion by your resemblance to this image. Do not judge of your having the Spirit, by opinions, but principles; by impressions, but dispositions; by gifts, but grace.-Some fear they are strangers to the Spirit because they have not received it in a particular way: that is, after great terror and anguish of soul. This is, indeed, sometimes the case; but it is not always so. In this manner the Jailer's religion commenced: but it was not thus with Cornelius, nor Lydia.

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Whatever distress or horror of conviction we have felt, they are nothing if they have not brought us to Christ and if we have been brought, let us be thankful and rejoice, "if by any means.' The best thing is to judge, not by the manner of the operation, but the influence itself, and its effects: or by the fruit of the Spirit-And "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. Against such there is no law." "And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God."

JAN. 21.-" And the Lord said unto Moses, get thee up into this mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel. And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered." Num. xxvii. 12, 13.

REFLECTIONS on death can never be unseasonable while we are in a dying world, and a dying church; and are conscious that we ourselves are dying creatures. It is said God sees no iniquity in his people. But he has threatened to visit their transgressions with a rod. Some tell us that sin never hurts a believer. But it hurt David. It hurt Eli. Moses was also severely chastised. He was very dear to God, and could plead great provocation; but because he rebelled against his commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, he was excluded the land of Canaan; and though he was very importunate, he could not obtain a repeal of the trying sentence. Yet in judgment God remembers mercy. He here orders him to die; but the order is attended with three softenings to reconcile him to it.

First. He must die-but he shall previously go up, and "see the land which the Lord has given to the children of Israel." Some might suppose that this would tantalize him, and add to his affliction at the loss: but it was designed as an alleviation ; and it was accepted by Moses as a favour. For this purpose, his natural sight continued uninjured; and his extent of vision was perhaps also enlarged. Thus not only was his curiosity gratified, but he saw, with gladness and praise, the goodness and truth of God's promise to his people: while in type, he hailed the prospect of a better country, even a heavenly; and which he was going to enter. Oh! say many, apprehensive now of the solemn event,

"Oh! could we make our doubts remove,
"These gloomy doubts that rise,
"And view the Canaan that we love,
"With unbeclouded eyes!

"Could we but climb where Moses stood,

"And view the landscape o'er;

"Not Jordan's stream, nor death's cold flood,
"Should fright us from the shore."

And they are generally indulged. And often those have been peculiarly favoured, who all their life-time have been subject to bondage through fear of death.

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Secondly. He must die-but this will be а gathering unto his people." To Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and Joseph, and the Israel of God. These he so prized on earth, that he chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Some had departed that he had known: and numbers that he had not known:—but he was to join them—not in the same grave; for he was buried alone, and no one knows of his sepulchre unto this day; but in heaven -not as to his body, but as to his soul, which was to be united with the spirits of just men made perfect. The believer expects a family meeting. There, says he,

"There my best friends, my kindred dwell,
"There God my Saviour reigns."

Thirdly. He must die-but "only as Aaron his brother was gathered." And are we better than those who have gone before us? And is there any reason why we should be exempted from their lot? The previous removal of the pious, especially those of our own relations, tends to render death more familiar. It comes near enough for us to view it. It enters our very apartments. It also tends to diminish our forebodings and despondency. We have seen that God was better to them than their fears. He was with them in the valley.

Their end was peace. They were supported; they were comforted-and we thank God, and take courage. Why should it not be so with us? It also weakens our attachment to life. We have fewer attractions below, and so many more above. Who has not felt the sentiment, "Let us also go away, that we may die with him?" Surely the bitterness of death is past.

"I could renounce my all below,

"If my Creator bid;

"And run, if I were called to go,
"An die as Moses did."

JAN. 22.-" And they said one to another, did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the Scriptures?”

Luke xxiv. 32.

THAT is we have now discovered him. How is it that we did not discover him earlier? and find him out upon the road? Why did we not distinguish him by his very speaking-the manner of it-the effect of it-in touching and animating the heart?

Ah! my soul, it is thus his teaching is to be known-it is always FELT. And while other teachers reach only the ear, he penetrates the heart; and causes it to burn with ingenuous shame, with abhorrence of sin, with holy revenge, with love to his Name, with zeal for his glory, and earnestness to save sinners.

He now converses with us by the way, and he opens to us the Scriptures; and he does it in three

ways.

First, by his dispensations. As the word explains Providence, so Providence illustrates the word. How many passages are there in the Bible, the beauty of which we should never have seen, the sweetness of