THE PRAYER OF MOSES. "Return, O Lord, how long?"-Ps. xc. 13. Co sighed Moses, the man of God, when Israel was wandering in the desert, when death was sweeping away from the earth the rebellious generation which came out of Egypt, and when God, to a great extent, kept at a distance from them. And so may we, under our present depressing, discouraging circumstances, as the visible church of Christ. God has covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud: and he has covered himself with a cloud, so that our prayers will not pass through. We sigh and cry, but he seems to shut out our prayer; we mourn his absence, but he does not favour us with his

but marked change took place in them; but now professors remain very much what they were, which makes us exclaim, Return, O Lord, how long?" Once more, the saving operations of the quickening Spirit are withheld. Once sinners were converted by thousands: great multitudes both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed. The hand of the Lord was with his servants, and multitudes were turned unto the Lord. The Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. The gospel was accompanied with an invincible power, and the hearers were born again by the word of truth. The gospel came not in word only, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. Now how few are

really converted to God; and even in the converted how slight the work appears. Once the soul was like softened wax, and the image of Christ was deeply impressed upon it; now it is rather like drawing paper, and the likeness of Jesus is only seen drawn in faint ontline upon it. Well, therefore, may we cry, "Return, O Lord, how long?"

And we do so, because we can find no substitute for the divine presence. We have learning, eloquence, argument, pa

thetic appeal, earnest entreaty, and loving tenderness; but all will not do, things remain just as they were. We can be satisfied with nothing less than the presence of God. We value the servants, but we want the Master. We prize the instruments, but we long for the divine Agent. We have the wells, but we want the living, the life-giving water. And all will go to decay except the Lord return. In many places our churches decrease, our congregations dwindle, our pastors are dispirited, and dull discontent pervades all the living in our Jerusalem. These things make us cry, and cry with painful earnestness, "Return, O Lord, how long?"

But what answer may we suppose that the Lord will give to many of us? Perhaps he may say, that he will not return as we desire until we separate from the world as he has bidden us. His word is. "Come out from among them, and be ye separate." But, like Ephraim of old, we have mixed ourselves among the people. Politics, speculations, carnal associations, and a worldly mind have led us astray; so that there is but very little difference between us and those who know not God. He requires us to stand out in bold relief

from the world;-to be distinct and distinguishable;-to be like a city set upon a hill, which cannot be hid. While professors have balls, dances, concerts, &c., we shall be left to cry, "O Lord, how long?" Again, we may not expect him to return until we realize the end of our vocation. We are called with a heavenly calling. We are called to glory and virtue. Our vocation or calling is, to publish and preserve God's truth,-to represent and set forth the true nature of Christ's holy religion, to endeavour to pluck sinners as brands from the burning, and lead them on to glory, honour, immortality, and eternal life, to live for God,-to live like Jesus,to aim at the honour of God in everything we do,—to live as saints, or unearthly persons, who are born from above, buried with Christ, risen with Christ, ascended with Christ, and identified with Christ,-the temples of the Holy Ghost-the companions of God the Father, and of his Son Jesus Christ, with whom we profess to live in close, constant, and sensible fellowship,to make God's glory the one great end of our existence, so that, whether we think or speak, rest or work, worship or visit, eat or drink, or whatsoever we do, we do all to