ing off unto Him. "We see Jesus."

It is a most salutary habit to say often, when one is alone, "Thou art
near, O Lord." "Behold, the Lord is in this place." We may not at
first realize the truth of what we are saying. His presence may be
veiled, as the forms of mountains swathed in morning cloud. But as we
persist in our quest, putting away from us all that would grieve Him,
and cultivating the attitude of pure devotion, we shall become aware of
a Divine presence which shall be more to us than a voice speaking from
out the Infinite.

III. WE MAY ENJOY THE PERPETUAL RECOGNITION OF THE LIVING
CHRIST.--"Because I live, ye shall live also." There are many
life-verses in this Gospel which shine like stars in the firmament of
Scripture. Amongst them, in the first chapter, that, in the Word as
manifested to men, was _life_; and in the fifth chapter, that, "as the
Father had life in Himself He gave to the Son to have life also in
Himself." The Father is the fountain of life. Eternal life is ever
rising up in His infinite Being with perennial vigor; and all things
living, from the tiny humming-birds in the tropical forest to the
strongest archangel beside the sapphire throne, derive their being from
Him. Thus we have seen ferns around a fountain, nourishing their
fronds on its spray. All things owe their existence and continued
being to the unmeasured life, which has been from all eternity
treasured up in God, and is ever flowing out from God.

This life was Christ's, in the mystery of the eternal Trinity, before
the worlds were made; but it was necessary that He should receive it
into His human nature, so as to become the reservoir and storehouse
from which all who were one with Him might receive grace on grace. "I
am come," He said, "that they might have life, and that they might have
it more abundantly." This life dwelt in Him during His earthly
ministry, though comparatively few availed themselves of it; His death
set it abroach for all the world; the smitten rock yielded streams of
living water; the last Adam became a life-giving Spirit; from His
throne He proclaimed Himself as He that liveth, though He became dead,
and is alive forevermore.

_We live by His life._--Our life is as dependent upon Him as a babe's
on its mother. Could ought happen to Him, we should instantly feel the
effect. Long before He succumbed, we must. We have no independent,
self-derived, or self-sustained life. Apart from Him w