e utters the best
tidings a lost soul or a lost world can hear: "God is in Christ
reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing unto men their
trespasses." What! _Scarlet_ sins, and _crimson_ sins! and these all to
be forgiven and forgotten! The just God "justifying" the unjust!--the
mightiest of all beings, the kindest of all! Oh! what is there in thee
to merit such love as this? Thou mightest have known thy God only as the
"consuming fire," and had nothing before thee save "a fearful looking
for of vengeance!" This gracious conference bids thee dispel thy fears!
It tells thee it is no longer a "fearful," but a _blessed_ thing to fall
into His hands? Hast thou closed with these His overtures? Until thou
art at peace with Him, happiness must be a stranger to thy bosom. Though
thou hast all else beside, bereft of God thou must be "bereft indeed."
Lord! I come! As thy pardoning grace is freely tendered, so shall I
freely accept it. May it be mine, even now, to listen to the gladdening
accents, "Son! Daughter! be of good cheer! thy sins, which are many, are
all forgiven thee."

"REMEMBER _THIS_ WORD UNTO THY SERVANT, UPON
WHICH THOU HAST CAUSED ME TO HOPE!"

2D DAY.

"He is Faithful that Promised."

"As thy days, so shall thy strength be."--DEUT. xxxiii. 25.

Needful Grace.

God does not give grace till the hour of trial comes. But when it
_does_ come, the amount of grace, and the nature of the special grace
required is vouchsafed. My soul, do not dwell with painful apprehension
on the future. Do not anticipate coming sorrows; perplexing thyself with
the grace needed for future emergencies; to-morrow will bring its
promised grace along with to-morrow's trials. God, wishing to keep His
people humble, and dependent on himself, gives not a stock of grace; He
metes it out for every day's exigencies, that they may be constantly
"travelling between their own emptiness and Christ's fulness"--their own
weakness and Christ's strength. But _when_ the exigency comes, thou
mayest safely trust an Almighty arm to bear thee through! Is there now
some "thorn in the flesh" sent to lacerate thee? Thou mayest have been
entreating the Lord for its removal. Thy prayer has, doubtless, been
heard and answered; but not in the way, perhaps, expected or desired by
thee. The "thorn" may still be left to goad, the trial may still be left
to buffet; but "more grace" has been given to endure them. Oh! how often
hav