In the gospel of Matthew, chap. 18:20, we read, "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst." These are the words of our blessed Lord, and they speak to our hearts of love-yea, love unspeakable,-of forgiveness and peace unlimited,-of joy too, because it is Himself is there. We find the apostle Paul, by the Spirit, reiterating this blessed truth in Heb. 2:12, "Saying, 'I will declare Thy name unto My brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto Thee." Yes, beloved saints, Jesus in the midst!-the earnest to our hearts of a time not far distant, when we shall behold Him with our eyes, the center of all glory, and we forever with Him, clothed in bodies of glory like unto His own. (i Jno. 3:2; i Cor. 15:49; Phil. 3:21.) Glorious anticipation this, when we shall gather around Himself once more ! This time, all radiant and bright, shining in the full blaze of His glorious presence ; crowned, as He only knows how to crown those who have not (in ever so small a measure) been ashamed to confess His name down here. And if the blessed realization of His love and grace has led them, while in this scene of sin and sorrow, to cast away as worthless, for His dear name, many hurtful weights once prized, what will be their joy to declare in that blest scene above what they have tasted down here, and have sought to declare, even His own great worthiness! So we see them cast their crowns of glory at His feet-a testimony to the value of His own peerless self. (Rev. 4:4, 10, 2:) This is the ending in glory of what has begun in grace on earth. But oh! beloved saints of God, what of that which comes between ?-the sowing now.

But is it not a blessed privilege now to have Him "in the midst" of the two or three gathered to His name- Himself making our hearts glad as we realize by faith His personal presence? Like the gladness that filled the hearts of the disciples of old when He appeared to them, the doors being shut. Jesus, their Saviour and ours,- the mighty Conqueror ! having burst the bands of death, and risen triumphant over all the powers of darkness, holding them under His feet, He stands in their midst- the Blesser. (Jno. 20:19, 20.) And this blessing extends to you, dear believer in Jesus; for He says, in ver. 29 of this same chapter, " Blessed are they which have not seen and yet have believed." It is God's eternal Son who is before us, and has promised thus to meet us who value His presence more than the praises of men. What wondrous grace is this! Jesus our Lord "in the midst"! What a joy and strength for our hearts !

"If here on earth the thought of Jesu's love
Lifts our poor hearts this weary world above,-
If even here the taste of heavenly springs
So cheers the spirit that the pilgrim sings,-
What will the sunshine of His glory prove ?
What the unmingled fullness of His love ?
What hallelujahs will His presence raise ?
What but one loud eternal burst of praise ? "

Let us look now at another scene in which we find "Jesus in the midst." The most momentous the world has ever seen or will ever again witness, and the foundation of all of which we have spoken. We read, "He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem." And why? Because "the time was come that He should be received up." Outside Jerusalem's walls they raised three crosses; "there they crucified Him, and two other with Him,-on either side one, and Jesus in the midst." (Jno. 19:18.)
Solemn hour that was on Calvary's hill when He, the Son of God, the Lamb of God's providing, was made an offering for sin ! "Jesus in the midst" of sinners–the Sin-Bearer-the sinner's substitute. All the waves and billows of God's wrath going over Him. "Brought into the dust of death," and there was none to pity. (Ps. 22:, 42:, 69:) For you, dear reader, He suffered,-for you He died. Oh ! turn your eyes to this amazing sight. A sinner on His right, a sinner on His left, and Jesus the spotless holy Lamb "in the midst"-made sin. Heart that agonizing cry, " My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me ?"

Has it no answer in your heart? Did not Jesus bear that awful load for you ? " Stricken, smitten of God," and "forsaken." In the midst of sinners, their Saviour. Oh ! that cry, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" Words of awful warning to those who go on heedless of this great sacrifice,-who see no beauty in that " visage marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men." But how blessed for those who have believed the testimony from God concerning His beloved Son, setting to their seal that God is true ! " He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him." (Jno. 3:36.) "Unto you therefore who believe, He is precious." (i Pet. 2:7.)

Let us, then, have Him before our hearts, taking pleasure in remembering Him-Himself, the blessed One, the eternal Son of God; His incarnation; His path through this world manifesting the heart of God to men; His mighty work on the cross meeting the sinner's need and glorifying God in respect to sin; His perfect obedience to the end. Well may our hearts believe, and bow and worship. Gladly may we yield ourselves up to Him as His own purchased possession. (i Cor. 6:19, 20.)

In conclusion, let us remember, God always speaks to us through His Son. By Him He made the worlds, and through Him ever revealing Himself since. It was the glorious Son of God Isaiah saw (Isa. 6:) when he had his needs met as an undone sinner; and forthwith we see the prophet as the ready messenger, and hear from his lips that great prophecy of grace and glory. (Isa. 53:) It was the glorious Son of God the apostle Paul saw when on his way to Damascus, full of hatred against the lowly followers of Jesus, and had his eyes opened, and heart set right to worship and serve Him in a devotedness that has not since been equaled. It was the same glorious One who appeared to John, quelling his fears when he had fallen as one dead in the presence of such glory; assuring the beloved disciple that He was the One who had died for him, and was alive for evermore-" the first and the last." (Rev. 1:17, 18.)

And we too, in these last hours, are privileged to look upon the same glorious Person. Called "out of darkness into His marvelous light," it remains our inestimable portion, with unveiled faces "beholding the glory of the Lord," to be "changed into same image from glory to glory." (i Cor. 3:18.) Wondrous blessedness ! Reader, is it yours ? J.F.G.

" We think of all the darkness
Which round Thy spirit pressed,
Of all those waves and billows
Which rolled across Thy breast.
Oh, there Thy grace unbounded
And perfect love we see;
With joy and sorrow mingling,
We would remember Thee."