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THE BABNEST CHBISTIAN.IiimTRUTH.BY CLABK JONEaThis is on6 of those abstract realitieswhich is more easily conceived of thandefined. Among the definitions givenby Mr. Webster is that of constancy;and this is as good a substitute or representativeof the word (as we hope touSe it,) as we may be able to find.Constancy primarily comes from con,(to or together,) and sto, (I stand,) andhence the term simply means a standing together or an agreeing, Ti-uth, inaU its appUcations, however much itmay be analyzed, synthesized, chiseled,cut, mutilated, misrepresented, praised,taunted, despised, or esteemed, is alwaysfound, when its parts are broughttogether, to fit exactly withont the leasttrimming or poUshing; and, if thesemethods be made use of they only tendto obscure its beauty and value ratherthan increase its currency,. Truth—native, simple trath—statedin homely but sincere language, commendsits own value, and is not likemany of its professed admirers who findit convenient to make an alloy by mixinga little deception with it, whichsurely removes the edge of it, which isone of its characteristic beauties. TheApostle Paul says, "And take the helmetof salvation, and the sword of theSpirit, which is the word of God." But,thank God, truth wiU not enter intocomposition with any baser essences.It may be mixed by the art of man -withen-vy, pride, hatred, anger, and ill-wUl;but, like water mixed with oU, it soonseparates when an opportunity is given;but it ia never—no, NEVEB—^by the beatmanipulations of man, found to changeita nature so as t*) have an affinity forthings of an opposite nature. In fact,such elem^ts of man's fallen nature asjealousy, vainglory, etc., flee before itas darkness before the morning lightIts very nature is to stand opposed todarkness of a spiritual kind; and it isvery difficult to cast such a mantleabont it as to prevent its rays frompenetrating all these false garbs so asto shine forth in real beauty and power.But are there not some who think tobuy off tmth ? Buy it off! You mightas weU think of hiring the stars to fallfrom the heavens. There never hasbeen such a thing heard of. Again, itis characteristic of truth to repel itsopposites as magnets repel certain substances; and, as it does this, it throwsUght upon them so that individuals maysee and avoid danger. Like colors, itappears in its native exceUence themost strongly when placed in close contactwith its opposite.0, that men who claim to preach andadvocate the cause of truth could see,the nearer trath, strictly speaking, isplaced alongside sin, the stronger andclearer is the light in which it shines!Men who claim to preach the truth andyet adulterate it are like thieves in thelivery of heaven, and should be lookedupon in their true Ught, and branded asthe worst of criminals.Moreover, truth, like the preciousmetals, is very scarce and very valuable; but it differs from them in that itsscarcity does not occasion its value.Gold, silver, and diamonds, are largelyvaluable because it is difficult to supplythe demand; but truth would bein justas good demand and far more prized insome places, if its contrary were notkno-wn, 0, how that truth which makesmen free is despised by reason of thefact that so many who claim'to be inpossession of it are destitute thereof!Again, truth like some of the metals,bears testing, and a,lways appears bestwhen tried in the furnace and comesout simply freed from contact with suchthings as cannot bear severe tests.Truth never possessed such valueamong the Medes and Persians, aswhen Daniel came out of the lion'sden. Gold and mercury form an amalgam,but heat wUl separate the latterand leave the former in a pure state;and so the severer the test the finer theshade of tmth when it comes out.Fire was not sufficient to vaporize thetruth possessed by the three Hebrewchildren, even though the famace washeated seven times hotter than was