For complete descriptive list

named will bo scxt, post fret, on receipt of price.

"ChristianLiving," etc., etc.

wilderness during the desert wanderings could hardly have had more pleasure in their work than

1 have had in preparing a daily meal for many of

itations are now published in a permanent form; and it is hoped that they will be largely used in the private closet and at the family altar; espe cially where the holy habit prevails of reading the Word of God through, in due course, from cover to cover.

They do not profess to be comprehensive or

profound. " A Homily,"says an authority, 6` is

cause the latter is addressed to the understand

ing, while the Homily is meant to affect the heart

also, and to persuade those who hear to apply the lessons of Scripture for the reformation of their

lives." This definition admirably describes my purpose. I have endeavored to build an exhor tation to the heart from a careful consideration of the selected passage, often in the fresh light thrown on it from the Revised Version.

first; but darkness overshadows his fairest hopes aud best-concerted schemes. The Creator's days

in autumn shadows; the foundation-stone of re demption was laid amid the gloom of Calvary;

tli5 work that lasts generally begins amid disap

coinfort, no sign of deliverance. Yet every dark hour is hastening toward the dawn. Thou shalt

are dark, and threaten to get darker. But if the first creation began in the dark, can it be won

,dered at that the second must begin there to? But as the one emerged in daylight, so shall the other. The morning cometh; see the star of

day standing sentry ! Time is bearing us to a day that shall never go down to night, but shall mount ever toward its meridian.

Memories of Eden, exquisite as dreams, weave the background of human life. Fellowship with the Creator, who walked its glades; its

river, trees, and fruits ; its blessed companion

ship; its light and ennobling toils-how fair the picture !

When men point thee to the scars on the world's

face, left by the trail of the Arab slaver, the march of the army, the decaying glory of human

civilization, and ask how such things are con sistent with God's love, point to that garden and

feited Paradise, the Saviour was revealed to re gain it. He trod the winepress alone in the shadowed garden of the olive trees, that through its glades He might pass to Hiscross, and so make the wastes of sin bloom again as Eden. Is

it wonderful that another Paradise is possible, when He sowed its seeds and watered the soil with His blood?

wrought as God's fellow worker; and we are called each day to do something toward recon structing the Lost Paradise. Find thy part in

delving, sowing, watering, or tending the tender shoots ! Seek that thine heart should be an Eden,

kept sacred for thy King, and endeavor thy best to plant gardens where hitherto sand-wastes and

thorn-thickets have prevailed. Then, 8` instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and in stead of the briar shall come up the myrtle tree ; and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."

a

over the fevered landscape, is an appropriate time for man to hold fellowship with God. We

need to have His hand laid on our throbbing

temples, stilling, trauquillizing, shedding His serenity throughout our being. What the breath

of evening is in summer, fellowship with God will be for thee, my soul; see that thou art not so absorbed with thy sins, thy love, or thy busi

ness, as to miss the tryst, when the sun is wester ing.

ship was much to Adam, and it was more to

God. Love, God's love, craves for fellowship. As the musician for his lute, as the hart for the

brook, as the mother for the twining arms and babbling talk of her child-so does God long for the free outpourings of His child's heart in prayer ; misses them when withheld ; is jealous when they are fitful and intermittent.

Adam found his way back to His side. But He hastened in search of him. So through the glades He comes to seek thee, 0 truant one ! Where art

thou, that for these many days thou hast withheld thyself from the hour of prayer? Wilt thou not

say with the psalmist, `(When thou saidst, Seek ye my face, my heart said unto Thee, Thy face,

one version, are rendered, Alas, for thee: as though the heart of God were wrung with sorrow for our loss, as well as His. But He does not content Himself with regret. By the pang of

travail, by the prick of thorns, by the necessity of labor, by sacrifice and gifts of covering for our nakedness, He brings us back to Himself.

3

is Abel thy brother? " We are our brothers

keepers. Each within our reach, all who need our help, all related to us by the ties of the

family, have a claim on us. We must not take an advantage over them; their weakness and need are strong claims on our resources of every

kind; we are bound to keep them so far as we can ; we may at any moment be called to give an

touches them is, therefore, instantly known to Him. It is as though they were part of Hisvery

other, to convert the wanderer from the path of the destroyer, and to wash stains from his feet. The cure of souls is the work of all the saints. But this is only possible to those who have been baptized into the Spirit of Christ. Remember that you have just as much love toward God, as you are willing to show toward the brother whom you have seen. `1 This commandment have we

from Him, That he who loveth God love his brother also."

We know nothing of Enoch but this brief record ; but it tells us everything. It was not an act or a

number of acts, but a high tone of life constantly maintained. Better to walk with God every day

Be sure fo go Gags l&zy.-He will not walk with thee in thy way, but thou mayest walk with Him in His. To this He calls thee. Each mo

diverge, look up to Him, and say, " Which way art Thou taking, that I may accompany Thee?" It will not be so hard to forsake inviting paths and engaging companions, if only the eye is kept fixed on His face, and the track of His footsteps determines thy road beyond hesitation or dis pute.

ness. Put them off, and put on the armor of light. Walk with Him daily in stainless robes,

washed in the blood of the Lamb. Then thy fellowship shall be with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and with all holy souls every where.

ancient world, where sin reigned unchecked, to discover one grateful spectacle. But they were doomed to disappointment, till they lighted on Noah. He found grace in the eyes of the Lord,

because him only had God seen to be righteous in all his generation. Like Antipas, he dwelt where Satan's seat was, held fast the Divine

name, and was God's faithful witness. Be thou loyal to God, my soul, though thou stand alone. There are three characteristics in the man who finds grace in the eyes of the Lord.

by the white light of eternity; but blameless, so far as his own consciousness is concerned. He wears ever the white flower of a blameless life. His strength is as the strength of ten, because his heart is pure. He exercises himself to have al

ways a conscience void of offence toward God and man. This condition is only possible to

faith, that opens the door of the heart to receive the life of God. Wouldst thou be just, welcome

that Just One. Let Him live within thee.

keep his eyes bowing down to the ground in

into one deep accord with the Divine nature; to answer to Him with one full, responsive chord;

to be always found where God is, and never `where He is not-that were life indeed.

6

Most of our sorrows and disappointments have Come on us because we have chosen our own

sense and experience, and with much that he held dear as life. But walking on each day, he grew

strong to trust in the bare word of his Almighty

Guide, and grasped it as men in the catacombs will keep their hand on a tiny string or cord, un til the first streak of daylight appear. Obey ab

solutely the voice that speaks in thy heart; the way is dark, but it is the way.

i hundred and twenty years the long-suffering of

1 God waited, and during that weary period this

`! true heart failed not. Then for seven days the

' patriarch waited within the closed doors. It is not easy to bear the long strain of endurance.

To rush into the battle, to do something desper

ate, to strike for liberty-this is the choice of the / flesh; but to live in hourly fear, to toil on with ; out result, to see the years stealing away the bank

\or shoal on which our heart had erected its struc

tures of hope-this is hardest of all, unless our hope is anchored beyond life's ebb and swell.

that these creeping things and flying fowls, these living creatures, clean and unclean, entered the Ark so tamely and submissively? Surely a

Divine constraint was upon them. When we are under authority, wecan say, `6 Go," `6 Come,"

" Do this." All things serve the man who serves the Divine Master, Christ.

nearest when there is none else to intercept His love. The floods but bear us nearer to His heart, ,

God, as Jacob did. It is far better simply to obey, sure that whatever the highest honor may

demand, God will be equal to it. He will have prepared more than we expected.

when it is said that God shut him in, it was from inside that the door was locked. Whatever hap

pened to Noah was an experience for his Al mighty Friend. They had walked together on the earth; they now shared together the seclu sion of the Ark. God is identified in the experi

ences of His saints. Their pangs, and tears, and waiting-hours are His. He can no more for

death, the cross of Jesus has brought Him and His own : so that we now belong, not to the old world which is under the curse, but to the world of Resurrection-Life. The dark woes of Calvary

were imaged there : how could God forget? Reckon on God's faithfulness : He will not leave thy soul in Hades.

resting on certain conditions, with a sign or token attached to it. The rainbow on the raincloud,

the Lord's Supper, the wedding-ring, are signs and seals of the respective covenants to which they belong. Whenever we see them we should

bethink ourselves of the covenant. Whenever you see a rainbow, recall the covenant into which God has entered with thee; for as He has sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so His kindness shall not depart from

thee, nor the covenant of His peace be removed. Three things are needed to make a rainbow.

A cZooun'.-When man's sin overshadowed Par

adise, the bow of promise shone ; and when the thunderclouds gathered about the Saviour's path, the Divine voice assured Him that as He had glorified the Divine Name by His life, He should glorify it much more by His death. When the

&&.-There are no rainbows unless there be

' falling drops to catch and unravel the sunbeams.

It may be that all evil is worse in its anticipation than in its endurance; but this is certain, that

,the big drops of sorrow have to patter on our souls before we can realize all that God is pre pared to be to us.

our grief that we can see the treasures of Love and Grace which are stored for us in Him. We

never know how great a blessing sorrow may be till we carry it into the light of the King's face. It is the dark canvas on which the artist produces his most marvellous effects.

of names. This chapter is the key to ancient

histories and contains many of the names that lie on our modern maps. What teeming myriads

are here ! We learn three things.

hath made of one blood all nations of men to dwell on the face of the earth." The slave that

crouches in the African wood, the meanest out cast that creeps along in the dark, the veriest ruffian red-handed in crime-are bone of our

bone, no less than the kings and saints, the prophets and martyrs.

Jesus. " There is not one child of man who may not find his consummation and bliss in Jesus, the One Man. All men are but broken lights of

Him; and of all men that have ever lived He is the one flawless, sinless, perfect Man, the apex of the pyramid of humanity, the Head and Prince.

races of mankind have sprung from a common

stock, the experience of one is the key to all. Each may learn from his own heart to estimate the hopes and fears, the yearnings and tempta

tions, the weariness and sin-consciousness of the rest. The Gospel which has brought the blessing

will do as much for each of those who bear, however obliterated, the print-mark of our race.

" Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gos pel to every creature."

resist Him in open rebellion, by making a unity apart from Him, and in exclusion of His corner

Ne comes down to see.-He will not pronounce 7 judgment till He has satisfied Himself by per !

sonal inspection how things stand. He comes : down to our bedrooms, and overhears the words I we speak, the deeds we do there; to our home

incidents; to our shops, warehouses, and bank parlors, auditing our accounts, casting up the

columns, examining our samples, our weights and measures, our advertisements and circulars. From Him no secrets are hid.

side of God's character. How easily He asserts His power ! He can disorganize the memory, breathe on the brain, touch one small nerve or

muscle, and the best-concerted schemes fail. Why shouldst thou fear every day the fury of the

Ne colfles down to save.-If there be one Lot, He will bring him forth. What was the Incar

nation, the descent to Calvary and the grave, but the coming down of the " us " of the blessed Trinity. He that ascended is the same that also

first descended. He has come that He may heal our wounds, take us in His arms, and bear us with Him far beyond all principality and power. He is the way, by which we may pass from the confusion of Babel to the love of Pentecost, and the one speech of heaven.

into the ground to die. It seemed as though he wvcre urgently needed in his country and among his kindred; but man's thoughts and ways are not God's. The blessing of Abraham's life

God's desire to get him beyond the reach of in fection, that he and his race might remain

monotheistic. Hast thou had communion with

darkness, with Belial, with idols? Get thee out and be separate ; touch not the unclean thing. Be clean, thou who art to bear the vessels of the Lord. Reckon thyself to have died.

to abide alone, thou must fall alone into the ground and die. God must reduce us to a min

imum before He can work through us to the maximum. But there is also no loneliness to the

soul who is one with God. Alone against the world, it is still in a majority.

venture ; but as he stepped out on what seemed a void, he found it rock beneath his feet. Day

by day a track appeared across the desert, and

all his needs were met till he reached the place of blessing. Death was the gate of life. Having died to Haran, he began to bring forth much fruit in every soil of the world.

separation. But out of these experiences sprang his rarest joys. The separate and obedient soul

step out in obedience, the Lord spake freshly to him. But in Egypt we find no trace of the

long been silent to thee-no fresh command, no deeper insight into truth ? See to it that thou art not in Egypt. JSeparate thyself, not only from Haran, but from Lot; not only from what is clearly wrong, but from all that is questionable;

a& the Lord will speak t.9 thee things it is not possible for men to utter. "

I;lrrt!zer fiJiott.-Lot lifted up his eyes to

espy what would make for his advantage and well-being, and beheld only the plain of Sodom, which indeed was well-watered, but the seat of exceeding sin. But when Abram lifted up his

eyes, not to search out ought for himself, but to see what God had prepared, he looked northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward words which remind us of the length, and

breadth, and depth, and height of the love of Christ. The single eye is full of light ; the far

climber gets the widest horizon; if thou wilt do His will, thou shalt know.

Ul/nlZret~oZ~ Co~~~@nsafion.-Whatever Abram

renounced, when he left his home, or gave Lot the right to choose, he received back in the usual measure of God, with an overflowing overplus. God gave him the entire land, including Lot's portion. We can never give up for God, with

out receiving in this life more than we gave.

living outside the busy rush of the world, that this new name of God was given. `There are some to whom God gives these direct revelations of Himself, that they may communicate them to others. These are our seers. This title for God,

which Abram immediately appropriated, was the source :

and Possessor of heaven and earth induces the profoundest humility of heaven. 6` They cast

their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou didst create all things." How great God is 1 His greatness is unsearchable, Earth and heaven

are His handiwork. Take time to think of this, but never forget that He is Love; then, with the familiarity of the child, thou wilt combine the lowly reverence of the creature.

are mine also. What I need He will assuredly give. What He withholds I will receive from no

other source." There is no need for us to get wealth wrongly ; God can supply all we need.

His empire ; wherever we travel we are within His dominion, breathe His air, are ministered to by His angels. We have a right to the best in

all good things, since they are our Father's, and we are heirs of God, joint-heirs with Christ.

these fire-emblems passed slowly between the divided carcases it was as though God accommo dated Himself to the methods of human oath

Scatter thy life through every part,

God as a $a%&g To&z.--The torch guides

the footsteps through the dark ; and God's Spirit waits to shed light on many dark and hidden

Her proud Arab independence and the sense of coming motherhood made her rebel against Sarah's hard dealings. We have often meditated flight,

if we have not actually fled from intolerablecon

ditions. Of course, when God opens the door out of a dungeon we need not hesitate, as Peter

did, to rise and follow. But this is very different to flight from the post of duty.

Penninah ; for David, Joab; for Jesus, Judas; for Paul, Alexander the coppersmith. Life as sumes hard and forbidding aspects. Sometimes

the cross is not a person, but a trial-the pressure of a slow and lingering disease; the demand for grinding and persistent toil; the weight of over mastering anxiety for those dearer than life, who have no knowledge of God.

Oztr Deflzeanor.-Return and submit. We

are apt to suppose that we shall get rest and peace

heartsease. The Master's advice is that we shall take His yoke, and bear it as He did; remain where God has put us, till He shows us another place ; and bear what He ordains and permits,

even though it comes through the means of others.

our lot unless we believe that what God permits is as much His will as what He appoints. Be

hind Sarah's hard dealings we must behold His permissive providence. Through all the disci

pline of life we must believe that God has a pur pose of unfailing love and wisdom. Then our submission is not stoicism, but loving acquies cence in our Father's will.

lations of Himself, that obedience is rendered easily possible. Before calling Abram to perfec

tion, He described Himself as El Shaddai, the Almighty. What may we not do if we learn to

avail ourselves of the all-might of God? Oh to know the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe I Our lack is that we do not

know our God, and therefore fail to perform ex ploits. " Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise

man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory iu his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth

Me." Lie on thy face, and let God talk with thee, and tell thee the conditions on which He will make thee exceeding fruitful. First- bP'&

God. Every chamber must be freely placed at His disposal ; every relationship placed under

His direction ; every power devoted to His serv ice. All we have and are must be entirely His.

one aim of our Lord was to bring glory to His

Father; and we should never be satisfied till we are so absolutely eager for the glory of Christ that we would seek it though at the cost of in famy to ourselves ; and be as glad for another to

bring it to Him, as we should be in bringing it ;,ourselves.

talking with His servant, he took Isaac and per formed the rite which had just been enjoined.

Gewsir xviii. 23.

taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes." `l'he place whereon he

stood was holy ground ; and if he trod or crossed it, in the intensity of his desire, he never forgot that the most intimate fellowship of man with God must be mingled with the reverence of godly

blessed prevision of the day of Christ. There

hat1 been revealed to Him that one perfect and sufficient Sacrifice, in virtue of which sinners are welcome to draw near to God. They have bold

so near God as when we plead for others. At such times we enter the holiest and innermost

chamber, and talk to Him with an urgency which we dare not use for ourselves. Whilst the Syro

phenician pleaded for her daughter, she came to the very feet of Jesus. Wouldst thou know the

pears to hesitate; it is only to draw us on, ever

further ant1 deeper, tiil we awake to find ourselves alone in His prescncc.

this loyal heart ! With the spring of day he was where, probably, Lot, years before, had looked on the face of the couatry, and beheld it as a garden of the Lord. But how great the con

trast ! The smoke of the land went up as the smoke of a furnace !

may not always be to speak to Him, but to be spoken to, to be judged, to have the motives and intentions of the heart winnowed and sifted. Well

is it to stand each day before the judgment-seat of Christ, and to receive His verdict on our in nermost life. Oh that the grass of that trysting

place may be well worn through our frequent intercourse with our beloved Lord !

tions with unbelieving monotony, as though they were not safe in God's keeping; but we should remind Him by our upward look that our expec tation is from Him.

searching a judgment 011 ourselves. But we need sometimes to see sin as God sees it. Stand on

Calvary and learn what sin is, and how much it. has cost the Saviour. There, too, you will learn

the color on the porcelain vase, that temptation is in rendering permanent the lessons and im pressions made by God's providence and grace.

stood open before him ; but he was withheld from the fatal act. We must never infer that occasion

confers license. The fact of an opportunity be ing present does not warrant indulgence in wrong doing.

keep? Did He not implant that desire? Will He not do exceeding abundantly above what we ask or think? Is not the good Shepherd strong

she, who a little before had thought she was giv ing Abraham his heir, found herself and her boy homeless wayfarers on the desert sands. Their one need was water; they little deemed it was so near. No need to create a new fountain, but to

open their eyes. We need the opened eye to see :

propitiation for sin is complete. We are not re quired to add to it one tear, or prayer, or vow.

`(It is finished." To go to heaven to bring Christ down, or to the deep to bring Him up, is alike superfluous. All we need is the opened eye

to see what Jesus has done, ant1 recognize that it is all that was demanded to meet the claims of

hnth given us in Jesus all things that pertain to life and godliness. There is no possible gift or

grace, in which we are deficient, that is not stored in Him, in whom the fullness of God abid.es. But

we are blind ; the eyes of our heart have not been opened to see the hope of our calling, the riches of our inheritance, the greatness of God's power. Did we know these things, surely not a moment would elapse without our availing ourselves of

is no desert without its springs; no dying child without the angel of the Lord.

have stood the ordeal. It was with an unfalter

ing tone that the patriarch told his young men

that they two would presently return. Even though he should actually take Isaac's life, he was sure that he would receive him again from the altar in health. It was only at the very last

moment that God indicated the ram as the suffi cient substitute. So God's deliverances always

come; they are provided in the mount of trial and sacrifice.

So you may have come to an end of your own strength, and wisdom, and energy. The altar,

wood, and fire are ready, the knife upraised, your Isaac on the point to die: but even now God will provide. Trust Him to indicate the way of escape.

corded to emphasize the fact that, though the whole land was Abraham's by the Divine gift, he would not enter on its possession till God's time was come. We may be sure of certain

blessings-ours in God's safe keeping-though they are withheld till the moment that His wis dom sees best. It was a touching confession. The aged patriarch had for long years owned no settled dwelling-place. After years in the land

of promise he was still without land enough for a grave.

world, in comparison with the vision of eternal

realities, are as the glare of the streets compared with the steady glory of the constellations of the night.

to be called our God, because He has prepared for us a city.

master." We may learn from him how to speak of our Master, whenever we get the opportunity.

6` Rabboni, which, being interpreted, is, My Master."

gotten, and are attracted to Him of whom Jesus

self, he alleged as his plea that it would be sbowiug kindness to his master Abraham. So

24

of all the myriads of our race, that are not loved by some fond heart. In some cases the infant

life is cradled in love. But Satan is glad when he can get the soul to break away from all earthly

affection, which might possibly soften and refine

is born into a redeemed world; the propitiation of the blessed Lord, the blood that flowed on

Calvary, the cancelment of the effects of Adam's

sin, are for all. As all the world was affected by Adam's sin, so all are included in God's love in Jesus. But again Satan is eager to induce men

to abjure and cast away these benefits ; he blinds the eyes of those that believe not, so that they

up a strong and beautiful character by yielding to the Holy Ghost's gracious promptings. That

grace knocks, like sunshine, at the windows of every soul; but how often it is sold for a mess of pottage ! The choice between these two is con

stantly being presented to us. God help us al ways to choose the divine, the spiritual, the eter nal !

themselves in our children. Here is Isaac fol lowing in the precise steps of Abraham, who had acted in a similar manner toward Sarah when en tering Egypt. In each case there was a sad lapse

Abraham's example to warn him. But a man may pass blessings cm to his children, as well as the sad entail of evil habits.

after thee." So a godly ancestor may be able to secure for all his seed a share in the divine grace and favor. The spirit that is put on him does

not depart from his seed, or his seed's seed for ever.

over-estimate the effect of a good man's prayers; they are as streams or trees, which go on flowing and bearing fruit long after they were originated. The legacy of a good man's prayers is of price less worth. He may have long since passed to

his rest ; but God remembers them, and answers them in blessings to the next generation. How

leave that, if we can transmit nothing else. To

God, pleased God; who was on intimate terms with Him, and could speak to Him, as a man with his friend-illumined the ordinary nature and existence of Isaac with unearthly beauty. Let us live so that our children may be ranked as nobles, because they bear our name.

evil moment Esau yielded to these, and sold his birthright to secure their gratification; he found afterward that the choice made in that hour was

irrevocable. How needful that we watch and

mind; guard us against the sudden oversetting of passionate appetite.

want to go back again to the charnel-house with its corruption.

passed with Him on to Resurrection ground ; so that we belong to the new heavensand new earth, wherein dwell&h righteousness.

evil, closing doors and windows against its en

trance, reckoning ourselves " not at home " to

it, and yielding our members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

Jacob. The moorland waste, where he lay, and Laban's home, whither he journeyed, were as near God as his father's tent. Earth is linked with heaven :

ever upon us, His ears always open to our cry, and His angels go to and fro on our world per forming ceaseless ministries.

the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of hIan."

daily living amid the glories of the eternal world ; but our eyes are blinded. Oh that by humility and purity we may become more sensi

tive, and awake to the things that are unseen and eternal ! Lord, open our eyes, that we may see !

that glorious Ascension ladder; and as she does

so, again we see the heaven opened, and our des tiny unfolded at Christ's right hand.

the rest. This old-world love was of the same quality as our own. Oh, blessed God I what a

tedious, but always too short ; labor never hard ; distance never long ; sacrifice unheard of, the

word almost in disuse-where Love is queen. This is how we would feel to our dear Lord : so that the missionary away from home and friends, as well as the invalid suffering for Jesus, might feel years of loneliness and pain but a few days, for love of the beloved Master. We may acquire

the Apostle beneath his cross, and say, each time with deeper appreciation : He loved rile, He gave Himself for ?/le. Do not think of your love to

Him, but of His. It is well to take the Lord's Supper frequently, as affording opportunities for remembering His dying love.

like people or not, do to them as He would do; let His love flow through you to them; what we manifest to others for His sake, we shall come to feel toward Him, and them also. "This com mandment have we from Him, That he who loveth God love his brother also."

selfish, low motive for desiring the postpone meut of his departure ; and Laban was destined,

alas ! to be terribly undeceived. He would wake up one day, to find that during his sojourn with him, and under the cloak of religion, Jacob had been ruthlessly plundering his property. It

was a shameful betrayal of trust on Jacob's part ; and it conveys a searching warning to those who, because of their religious professions, are trusted by their relatives or others :

sible for your employer or friend, who has en trusted his interests to you, acting toward him as the servant and steward of God. Bear in

mind that God has bidden you undertake the office for Himself, and accepts your fidelity as rendered to Him : He will recompense.

God puts us into one another's lives, that we may be the medium through which His love and tenderness may enter them ; but there is such danger of our monopolizing for ourselves the place He would fill. Sometimes we almost un consciously deteriorate rather than elevate our friends by the intrusion of our own personality.

occupy only as God's stewards. There is such subtleness in the temptation to attract men to

sion on Laban. He refers to it afterward as re

straining him from injuring his runaway son-in

law. Jacob, too, was struck by it. It is very wonderful to find the Holy God casting the mantle of His protection around this crafty and deceitful soul. No doubt it was due to His cove

nant relationship with the family and race, of which Jacob was a most unworthy member (13,

42). But if God thus interposed for Jacob, will He not much more interpose for those who de sire to be His obedient children?

you shall walk amid it unscathed, if only you trust. No weapon formed against you shall

always on our pulse ; and the moment the pain becomes more than we can bear, He will stay it. His eye is ever upon His own.

Only-begotten of the Father keeps the sheep whom His Father has entrusted to Him. Not

one of them can be devoured by the lion of hell. If only we believed this, we should be calmer,

happier, even though circumstanced as Jacob. No need to altercate with Laban, but to look be yond him to the ~`Fear of Isaac."

pain, and purchased at the cost of the humbling of the flesh. Jacob learned that the secret of prevailing with God and man was not in the

strength, but in the weakness and suffering of the flesh. It must ever be so. The victor Lamb

bears still the scars of Calvary, and appears as one who had been slain.

Had Laban met Jacob that morning, he would have pointed to that limp as an indication of

God's wrath and displeasure; but if he had looked into his face, he would have seen all its hardness and cunning gone, and would have been arrested by the unwonted tenderness in his voice.

self-esteem. But God anticipated the possible temptation by this physical infirmity, which was constantly present to Jacob's consciousness.

years of my pilgrimage "-such is his epitome of his life. ~

the night before, had seen the face of God, and learned to prevail. The man who had seen God,

and prevailed, was doubtful of His newly-given blessing ! He did not realize that it would carry

colors have been laid on, the vessel is plunged into the furnace, that they may be burned in.

manfully, he would have found that Esau would have acquiesced and left him. The angels who

had gone forward to deal with him (Gen. xxxii. 2) had done their work effectively, and God had changed his purpose.

33

are. Here is Israel, the prince with God, who had power with man, in a very sorry plight. His children had involved him in it; but first, he had involved them.

Dizak.-Little did she realize all the evil which that visit of hers would bring on her peo ple and on those whose guest she was. What took her there? Had her upbringing been un necessarily strict, and did she want a little more freedom? There is an inevitable rebound with young people to the other extreme, if needless severity has been brought to bear on them in their early days.

The probability, however, is that the laxity of her father's home, and the effect of her mother's

gods, had made the line of separation a very faint

one, and she felt no difficulty in overstepping it.

this treacherous cruelty and pronounced their scattering in Israel ; though Levi undid the effect of that bitter curse by his obedience and devo tion. In after days it was said, "My covenant

was with him of life and peace," and though

scattered, he was as salt. In Simeon's case the curse was not cancelled by any subsequent mani festation of obedience and devotion, and ran out its course. There is encouragement and warn

Jacob.-The real mistake of it all was that Jacob bought that land, and settled too near the city (xxxiii. 18). As a pilgrim he had no right

to do this. If Christian parents will settle down in fellowship with the world, they have them selves to thank for all the misery which accrues to themselves and children, and the dishonor to God.

34

He had given him a glimpse of His ideal at the Jabbok ford, but his nature was not then capable of taking in the Divine conception; and, as we have seen, both in his subterfuge to Esau and his settling outside Shechem, he had fallen back into the schemer and money-maker. In this chapter God uses several methods of awakening and re newal.

The Divine summons.--" Arise, go up to

Bethel." He had been in the lowlands too long :

clustered around that name and place of Bethel ! It recalled his distress and fear ; the angel-ladder,

Arise, let us go up to Bethel, and I will make there an altar unto God."

again. For long there had been no vision of God; but now that the idols were put away, his eyes were opened to see Him who had been be side him amid all his backslidiugs.

Death.-Deborah, the beloved Rachel, the old

father-one after another were taken from him; and there came the far-away look into his eyes which showed that he had imbibed the pilgrim spirit and had become Israel the Prince. So God

stripped him that he might be better able to run the race set before him.

l&%zt he escaped-For him there were no few and evil days of pilgrimage ; nor the pressure of

famine; nor the going down into Egypt; nor the forty years of wanderings in the desert; nor the vicissitudes of the Judges. All these he es

caped-and must have congratulated himself merrily. But he had no vision of God; no com

munion with Jehovah ; no contact with the mes sengers of heaven.

mat /le en/by&--A line of dukes; a royal dynasty, which was old when Israel's first king ascended the throne; a rich and fertile territory; peace and comfort. He reminds `us of the

Now he bore /2i??zsc&---His heart was gener ous, full of good nature, jovial, and free-handed. When the land could not bear both Jacob and

himself, he went off into another, and settled down in Mount Seir. It was no hardship with

of the world; the other had been selected of God as the channel of blessing to mankind. The

flower and fruit which are to be propagated re quire the special attention of the gardener's

36

Grnfsis sxnvii. 24.

The dreams of empire, which are so certainly to be realized, when we shall see Him acknowl edged as King of kings and Lord of lords (7).

The bitter grief which His rejection has brought on the Jewish people (35).

It is as though the Holy Ghost, eager to glorify the Lord, could not wait for the slow un folding of history, but must anticipate the story of that precious life and death which were to make the world new again.

of which Reuben had shown himself unworthy; and yet this chapter is a dark story of his un bridled passion. 0 my soul, remember that the

pure in heart are the children of the presence

chamber-entrusted with secrets hidden from the wise and prudent-vessels by which God does not hesitate to quench the thirst of men, because the water of the crystal river will not be diluted or contaminated by contact with their natures. Above all other gifts, covet that of a cleansed heart. You may be very conscious of tempta

tion, and that naturally you are no better than

others, and yet if you will constantly live in the

Spirit, and walk in the Spirit, you will be kept absolutely pure ; and the sea of ink that is

the former : that, like a Rembrandt background,

misunderstood, misrepresented, accused falsely, and punished wrongfully ? Yet God reigns : and

in His own time `( He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday."

know what we are, or where we stand, till we are compelled to choose. Insensibly character is ever forming-unconsciously we are taking sides ; but the testing-hour that compels us to declare ourselves causes the solution suddenly to crystal

Egypt there was not a purer soul, and yet Joseph lay under a terrible imputation; but he com mitted his cause to God, sure that He would not leave him in Hades; and the time came when

the King's word cleared him, and he stood forth vindicated. `1 Fret not thyself. Rest in the

bearing grief. Joseph might have become moody and sullen, absorbed in his own misfortunes, and pessimistic about the course of human life. How

ers, and he ministered unto them. A new inter est came into his life, and he almost forgot the heavy pressure of his own troubles amid the in terest of listening to the tales of those who were more unfortunate than himself. Do not nurse

wept ; adept at comforting, because he hid been comforted of God. We gain comfort when we attempt to comfort, Out of such intercourse we

get what Joseph got-the key which will unlock the heavy doors by which we have been shut in. Light a tire in another's heart, and your own heart will be warmed.

ity, loneliness, separation from those he loved, could not quench his faith in God. Still God was near and precious to him. The stifling dark

ness and oppression of the prison were irksome to the free child of the camp; but God was as near as in Jacob's tent. There is no evil to them

that love God ; and the believer loses sight of second causes in the contemplation of the un folding of the mystery of his Father's will.

His words, and works, and plans, were not His

own, but the Father's. Ouce, when a ruler called Him good, He reminded him that only One was good, and that all goodness was derived from God. Men kuew little enough of Jesus, be

not he, but the grace of God in him; that he

" It is not in me ; God shall give." If our hearts were inditing a good matter, they would boil

over, and we should speak more frequently of the things that touch our King.

ably more than it does us. Often when some unusual severity has been evinced, if we could but see His face, it would be full of pity, pain, and pleading on our behalf. He feels yearnings

over us which He restrains, and dares not betray till the work of conviction is complete.

must be repentance and confession before God can take us to His heart. We must confess the

feel toward each other : was there rivalry, or bit

terness, or angry feeling? Beneath his biting

words, Joseph would mark their behavior ! Would they disown each other, or cling to one another? There was an opportunity for their doing one or the other; and he was glad to notice how their

love approved itself. So we are led over stony roads, that God may know what is in our hearts. He gives us opportunities of showing our real feeling toward our brothers, that He may test our love toward Himself.

in the sack's mouth, we are reminded that salva tion and satisfaction are all of grace. They are

may have it for the seeking. The law is-ask, and have. What if you have no money with

which to purchase, no earnestness, no merit ! Nevertheless the best wheat of heaven may be yours. Our Father's love is constantly devising

means of expressing itself. It puts money into our sacks ; it invites us to its home, and spreads

banquets before us ; it inclines stewards to meet us peacefully ; it washes our feet ; it takes a ten

der interest in those we love; it wishes us grace from God; it adjusts itself to our temperaments and puts us at our ease, so that gleams of light as to the love of Jesus strike into our hearts !

pathetic intercession, with the hope of softening the Governor's heart, and moving him to spare Benjamin at least. They are very sad, and, with

out doubt, justified by the vision of that blood stained coat. Yet there was another interpreta

tion to the sad and dark suggestion which it made : Joseph was alive, and they were soon to

know that it was he with whom they were deal

that certain things are against us, when, if we would only look beyond appearances and circum stances to God, we should find that He had been

working, and was working, mightily on our be

Do not say that you have lost your Joseph ; he lives, and will yet be a comfort to you. He was

the best. `I In all these things is the life of the spirit." Do not judge Him, or try to understand ;

be still and trust. You will some day be ashamed of your little faith.

And He will make it plain.

Genesis xZv. 5. THERE was great delicacy in Joseph's com

mand, (* Cause every man to go out from me." He did not want tu expse his brethren; yet he wanted to say words which could not be under stood by the curious courtiers. Then he made

himself knowu, and said, " Be not grieved, nor

angry, for God did send me before you." This was not only a kind way of alleviating their re morse and sorrow, but was the standpoint from which Jose# was wont to review his life-course. It was his habit to trace the working-out of God's

plan, and the interposition of His Providence amid aud through the malevolence and treachery of men (1. 20).

Man goeth, as it was writteu of Him." "The cup that My Father giveth Me to drink."

It is one of the inexplicable mysteries of Provi dence that bad men subserve God's purposes and unwittingly execute His plans. It is not for us

to explain it, but to consider the perplexities and disaster which we suffer at the hands of evil men as being permitted by God for the furtherance of some Divine and hidden purpose. Paul's prayer

that he might preach the Gospel at Rome was fulfilled through the hatred of the Jews ; and he went to Rome at the Emperor's expense. We may comfort ourselves whenever the storm is

high, that God is at the helm, and is making the wrath of man praise Him, whilst the remainder of it shall be restrained. Yes, Joseph, God is sending you through that pit and prison: but there is a way out into sunlight.

45

experiences of Abraham, was very fearful to ad venture himself into Egypt. Besides, was it not

as though, in going thither, he renounced the Land of Promise? Therefore this special bid ding and assurance were the more necessary.

sands; but who would have supposed that the promise would be realized amid the pressure and persecution of Egypt ? Yet so it happened. " I

"Fear not to go down into the grave: I will surely bring thee up again." Thus He speaks to

us. He is with us, and will deliver.

acknowledgment from those proud Egyptians. They were willing to serve their saviour. No

doubt, had there been no provision made by Jo

seph, the streets would have been filled by emaci ated skeletons picking their way feebly amid the heaps of the dying and the dead. Gratitude

brought them into the dust before him who held the keys of the granaries.

perfectly satisfied till lie has triumphantly en tered all closed gates, as King.

worthy, . . . for thou wast slain." His empire depends on the sacrifice by which He has saved a multitude whom no man can number. Medi

tate much on the love of Calvary, and you too will feel that His empire should begin with your

heart, and hasten to subdue the kingdoms of the world.

days. The Egyptians could not do so well for themselves as he for them. We shallnever know

the real blessedness of living, its peace and joy and strength, till we have utterly surrendered to

Christ's supremacy. To serve such a Master ut terly is to drink of the river of perfect blessed ness.

47

aged patriarch could not die without seeing him. i His presence lit the dark valley. His hands P closed the tired eyes of the aged pilgrim. And

! Joseph was as quick to come at the first intima tion of his father's desire to see him. There

was a perfect sympathy and reciprocity betlveen

them, just as there may be between Christ and those who owe all to Him.

and the trumpets sounded for the striking of our

tents. But there is a Divine motive in it all. Jesus cannot rest satisfied with less than the best for those He loves, as Joseph could not permit Jacob to remain in Cauaan whilst Goshen with its plenty awaited him.

before Pharaoh, Joseph brought him. When he lay a-dying, Joseph was at his side to receive his last commissions. So, trembling soul, if Jesus

presses you into the unknown, He does not leave you there, but keeps comiug again, meeting you at every point of anxiety and distress. Yea, He

does what Joseph could not do. He stands, not on this side only, but on the other side, of death. Here to calm with His benediction ; there to re ceive into His glory.

us. He is the Saviour of the body in this life and in the resurrection.

Remans came and annexed Palestine as one of the provinces of the empire, did the semblance of the Hebrew monarchy expire. And it was

then that the Shiloh came. Surely these words must often have been quoted by the pious Jews, with whom Simeon and Anna consorted, as pointing to the near advent of the Messiah. Let

a malicious meaning ; are we equally apt to detect the Divine and benevolent one? Our enemies are many, and they hate us with perfect

hatred; they are ever laying their plots, and working their unholy purposes. But there is a

greater and wiser than they, who, through all these plottings, is prosecuting His Divine pur pose. There is another and deeper meaning than

devil, all creatures are under the Divine control, holding to our lips cups which the Father's hand has mixed. He has no complicity with their

sometimes reach an eminence from which we de tect the meaning of the path by which we have been conducted. It may have been rough and

Pharaoh had entered ; fur he opposed not the

Hebrews, but Jehovah. It is thus that the great ones of this world have ever spoken and acted.

(` Let us build a tower ; " I` Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from

us." 4` Against Thy holy child Jesus, both Herod and Pontius Pilate were gathered to

gether." In every case, He that sits in the heavens has laughed at the boast of human pride. His cause and His people's are one. Yet &es

made her greatest number of adherents? When her pulpits have been filled with eloquent

preachers, and her aisles crowded with fashion and wealth ? No ; but when she has been driven

to the dens and caves of the earth, and her sons have been proscribed outcasts. The real triumphs

of the early Church were in the first centuries of opprobrium and persecution; her decline began when Constantine made Christianity the religion of the State.

rarely the case that we make much spiritual head way when winds and currents favor us. We do

best when all is against us. We grow quickest in the dark. In times of persecution we realize

the security, and comfort, and joy, which are in Christ Jesus our Lord; and as God goes the round of the world, it is in chambers of pain,

sickness, and bereavement, that He beholds the multiplication of the choice graces of holy char acter and temper. The affliction, which is for

the moment, is working out an exceeding weight of glory.

creature-passion, and ending in creature-failure. Moses stood on an eminence, and reached down to these poor brethren of his with a passing spasm of pity. He was very careful to look this

way and that, so as not to invalidate his own position at court. Aud fear for himself carried him swiftly from the scene of his people's woes. It was a brief effort to do the Divine work of redemption in his own energy. Long years must

pass, during which God would drain away drop by drop his strength, his resolution, and his very desire to be an emancipator; that when he had become nothing, God through him might effect His almighty will.

to rid ourselves of its thrall originate and are prosecuted in our own resolve, At first the con

flict seems easily our own; finally the dead weight of all the Egyptians within is more than a match for us.

gambling, impurity. It seems at first as though we should carry the position by our sudden and impetuous rush. But Egypt conquers in the end,

No : we need to learn for the inward and out ward conflict the lesson that forty years in Midian taught Moses, that only the Spirit of God in man can overcome the spirit of the world. By dis appointment and repeated failure, by the silence of the desert, we are taught that we are nothing then God becomes our all in all : and all things become possible to us as we believe.

full of God. If the previous one, in its story of human striving, reminds us of Rom. vii., this as surely recalls Rom. viii. There is little mention

of the part that Moses was to play, but much is said of what God was about to do. "Iamcome

down." `I I will bring you up." "1 will put forth Mine hand." 0 weary soul, bitter with

weary bondage, groaning beneath cruel taskmas

ters, afflicted and tossed with tempest, the I AM has come down !

for the poor, and to the dunghill for the needy. You cannot be too lonely or broken in spirit for IIim to notice and help. In proportion to your

also. If you suffer in the line of God's will and providence, you are sowing the seeds of light and gladness. Oh, anticipate the harvest !

self; but the resources of I AM were sufficient for every need, and they will be for yours and mine. This is God's blank check; fill it in ! Insert after these majestic jtiords, wisdom, or courage, or love, or whatever you need most. And He

will be all this, and more also : not for a moment, but always ; not spasmodically, but unchange

the words than of the message ; more of our elo quence or slowness of speech than of the King's seal and signature. Moses had learned many

wholesome lessons through his long sojourn in Midian ; but he had to learn this last one, that God does not want excellency of speech or of language in His messengers, but the unction and power which come on those who speak after direct audience with the Eternal. Aaron, who came to

man, whose alliance with Moses caused his no bler younger brother much anxiety and pain.

However, God determined to send Aaron with

him, to be his colleague and spokesman. Better a thousand times had it been for Moses to trust God for speech, than be thus deposed of his pre miership.

said that the Corinthians were enriched in all ut terance ; and he said that he spoke the Divine

mysteries in words which the Holy Spirit taught. Ask for these, and you will not be disappointed.

another force at work, more subtle and penetrating than the most eloquent words of man-the power of the Holy Ghost. Seek for His Divine demon

stration and co-witness. And it shall come to

pass, that mysterious influences shall move over the hearts of those that listen to thy words, which shall attest the mighty fellowship and coiiperation of One whom the natural man cannot detect.

an end of ourselves. When Paul was summoned to the greatest epistles and labors of his life, his strength was drained to utter weakness, and he despaired even of life. So in the case of Moses

~K.re~, for forty years, had been undergoing the emptying process; but perhaps when God called him to this great enterprise, there may have been a slight revival of confidence in him

self, in his mission, his miracles, the eloquence of Aaron's speech. So in the rebuff he received

from Pharaoh, in the bitter remonstrances of the elders of his people, in the sad consciousness that his efforts had aggravated their condition, the lesson was still further taught him-that of him self he could do absolutely nothing.

heaven-sent deliverers. They had, however, to learn that all such hopes were vain, and to see that the brothers, at the best, were as weak as themselves. Then the way was prepared to lean

OldrseZves.-By repeated failures all along our life-course God is teaching us the same lesson. We fail to justify and then to sanctify ourselves. Our efforts to serve and please Him only end in increasing perplexity. The tale of bricks is

doubled; the burdens augment; the strength of our purpose is broken; we are utterly discour

aged; and then, when the soul is utterly deso

late, the heavenly Bridegroom draws near and

says, " I will do all ; I am Alpha and Omega ; I am thy salvation."

66

Thus God with Israel. The people had come to relish the dainties of Egypt-the leeks and

onions, the fleshpots and sensual delights; there fore the need for this cruel bondage to wean

them, and prepare them for marriage union with Himself. Moreover, they placed great hopes in

Moses, and such appeals as might be made to move Pharaoh's pity ; from these too it was neces sary to withdraw the people's heart, that they might look for all to their heavenly Lover, and find in Jehovah their infinite supply.

fellows-these take the place of Christ in His dis ciples. We must be taught to despise these

in anything we can call our own, and be prepared to find all our satisfaction and delight in Jesus only.

sevenfold " I will." He looks on us with in finite delight, and commences to bring us into such blessedness that we forget all else, and be hold our Bridegroom only.

posed to reveal Himself to Egypt : so that when He led forth Israel's hosts, in redemption power, from the brick-fields of slavery on to resurrection

ground, there might be afforded such a display of His love, and pity, aud power, as the world had never before witnessed. Egypt and all sur

rounding nations should know the character of God in the Exodus, as the Lover and Redeemer of His own.

principalities and powers shall discern the mani fold wisdom and grace of God. When God has

brought all the ransomed hosts up from the Egyptian bondage of the world to stand in the radiance of the eternal morning, then the uni verse shall ring with the ascription, "Great and marvellous are Thy works. Righteous and true are

us has been formed for Jesus Himself, that we might show forth His praise. In growing purity

and sweetness, in our deliverance from the clinging corruptions of the world and flesh, in our pa tience under tribulation, our submission and steadfast hope, in our willingness to sacrifice our selves for others, let us be revelations of what Christ is, and of what He can make sinful men become.

Believers are the world's Bibles, by studying which men may come to know the Lord Himself. Let us see to it that we be clear in type, unmis takable in our testimony, pleasant to behold, thoughtful and helpful toward all, commending the blessed Bridegroom whom the world sees not.

council chamber of the Godhead the Father chose Jesus and all who should believe in Him unto eternal life. We cannot understand the

reason of that Diviue choice ; we can only affirm

it, that in those ages of the unfathomed past, Christ and His seed stood out from the rest of

maukind, the people of God's own possession and inheritance.

It was afected by the G-ass of Jesus.-By it

we are crucified to the world, and the world to us. The cross, with its outstretched arms, stands

sentinel between the Church and the world which cast out her Lord. The grave, like a great gulf,

yawus between those who gather round the risen Master on resurrection ground, and all men else. From the moment that Jesus ascended, the rally ing centre of the Church was removed from earth to heaven, from the cross to the throne.

But, deeper than this, if only we will let the Spirit of God work unhindered, He will effect au inward division. Our tastes and desires, our

hopes and aims, will become different, and we shall be aware of a growing dissimilarity between ourselves and the world.

Then to the separate soul the Bridegroom comes. He says tender and loving words. In

one hour He teaches more than all human teach ers could; and sheds forth by the Holy Ghost the torrent of Divine Love. There may be dark

ness without, but there is light in the dwellings of Goshen : there may be plague and pestilence

in the world, but there is peace, joy, and bliss, in the separated soul.

68

around them, but the great angel, who ascends from the east, cries with a great voice to the angels to whom it is given to hurt the earth, and the sea, and the trees, saying, Hurt them not till we have sealed the servants of God in their fore heads (Rev. vii. 3).

The only spot on which the soul is safe is withiu the encircling provisions of the covenant. Israel stood there, and was safe-not only from the hail, but from the destroying sword. The invulnerable walls of that sacred enclosure were the oath and promise of God to Abraham. God

had bound himself by the most solemn sanctions to be a God to this people, and deliver them ; it was necessary, therefore, that He should be their pavilion and canopy, catching the hailstones on His outstretched wings and securing them from hurt.

The covenant is entered, not by merit nor by

works. There was neither the one nor the other in that race of slaves; but they stood there simply because of their relationship to the Friend of God. So we enter the blessed safety of the

better covenant, through our relationship with the Lord Jesus, who is the Beloved of the Father, the one glorious and blessed Man. Without

beauty or merit, the soul attaches itself by faith to Him, and discovers that it was loved before the worlds were made.

Ah, blessed Lover of souls, we see how the storm swept Thy heart, that it might never touch us. Thou art our hiding-place, our shield, our

deliverer, our strong tower. Without dismay we can anticipate the storms of death, judgment, and eternity, sure that wherever Thou art there can be no hail.

within, light. This should be the condition of each believing heart. The sun tnay have gone

down, and the moon withdrawn herself in the firmament of the world ; the darkness of per plexity and trouble may envelop Pharaoh and all his chosen counsellors; all things may wear the aspect of approaching dissolution : but with the Lord as our everlasting Light we walk in the light of life.

in the heart, the beams of His lovely purity must irradiate and beautify the life.

teries, which the mere intellect could never give, but are the product of the Divine indwelling in the holy soul. All around men may be groping

aimlessly after truth, trying to discover the secret of the Universe, whilst to the loving, childlike

soul, in which God has taken up His abode, these things, which are hidden from the wise and

~&`zt is Zove.-It steals so gently over the

world, blessing flowers and birds, little children and invalids. Everywhere it is the symbol of the 8

beneficent work of its Creator. His eldest daughter ! Thus amid the selfishness of the

world, let Jesus dwell deep in thee, that thou mayest be rooted and grounded in the love of

God, which shall illumine thy dwelling, and ray out to the world.

would never see their jewels again ; and the peo ple of Israel were thus, to some extent, compen sated for their unpaid toils. The Lord gave

them such favor with the Egyptians that they gave them whatever they asked ; so that " they spoiled the Egyptians."

These jewels were employed afterward in the adornment and enrichment of the Sanctuary. They flashed in the breastplate of the High

Priest, and shone in the sacred vessels. In this they remind us of the treasures which David gathered by his conquests from neighboring na

tions, and which w&e afterward incorporated in the Temple of Solomon. They recall also the glowing predictions of the prophet, that the kings of the earth shall bring their treasures into the New Jerusalem.

The jewels of the Church, whether they stand for her graces or her choice children, have often been obtained from the midst of Egypt. Was not Saul of Tarsus just such a jewel ? The world

counted him one of her rarest sons; but God set him as a jewel in the breastplate of Immanuel.

Let us ever seek jewels from the land of our captivity and suffering. It will not do to come

away empty. It is not enough merely,to bear what God permits to fall on us for our chastise ment ; but to go further, and extract from all

trials, jewels. Let every trial and temptation enrich you with the opposite grace. There are

Egyptians in your life, which hav'e grievously tormented you with their heavy whips, yet even these shall yield wealth--" jewels of silver and jewels of gold " ; which you shall consecrate to

holy service, and which shall shine in the fabric and worship of the New Jerusalem.

tian life. The Blood is ever speaking to God for us; though we see it not, God sees it, and hears its prevalent plea. We in the meanwhile are called upon to feed in faith daily, hourly, on the flesh of the Son of Man, according to His own command. In all Christian life, even in its

hours of greatest rapture, there must be a touch of the bitter herb.

bliss, whenever we catch sight of the print of the nails in His hand, we shall remember the agony and bloody sweat, the cross and passion, and eat the feast with the flavor of the bitter herb. How

much more on earth, where we are so constantly requiring the efficacy of His precious death !

Ah, those years of rebellion and perverseness be fore we yielded to Him; and those years of self will and pride since we knew His love! They will sometimes come back to us, and give us to eat of the bitter herb.

tion, of death to the world and to the will of the

flesh, which were the characteristics of His cross. Deep down in our hearts, the drinking of His cup and being baptized with His baptism, will be the touch of the bitter herbs in the feast. But " the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

so broken that they could only lie at the bottom of the pit, and moan. God's hand reached down to touch and grasp them at their lowest. So God's help is not conditional on our doing

something, whilst He will do the rest. When we are without strength, when we have expended our all in vain, when heart and flesh fail-then God comes where we are, and becomes the strength of our heart and our portion forever.

a child's, and God's than Pharaoh's. So Satan may have held you in bondage ; but do not fear him any more, look away to the strength of

God's hand. What can it not do for you?

lieve, as a locomotive may be next a line of car-

riages; yet there must be a coupling-iron con necting them. So you must trust God's strength,

and avail yourself of it, and yield to it. Re member that His arm is not shortened, nor His hand paralyzed, except our unbelief and sin in tercept and hinder the mighty working of His Power.

63 \

So in life we are permitted to see the dreaded temptations and evils of earlier days suddenly deprived of all power to hurt us. The Egyp tians are dead upon the shore; and we see the great work of the Lord. Let us take comfort in

which God is not cognizant, and which He does not permit. Though the pressure of your trial is almost unbearable, you will one day see your Egyptians dead.

dying. But as the morning of eternity breaks, they will awake with songs of joy to see death and the grave and all the evils that they dreaded, like Egyptians, strewn on the shores of the sea of glass.

of nature, lie very close together. One moment we are singing the joyous song of victory on the shores of the Red Sea, and vow we will never again mistrust our God; and then, by a sudden `

transition, we find ourselves standing beside the Marah waters of pain and disappointment, in clined to murmur at our lot.

There is, however, a tree, which, when cast into the waters, makes them sweet. It is the tree

of the cross. (6 He bare our sins in His own body on the tree." The cross means the yield

ing up of the will. Now, it is in proportion as we see God's will in the various events of life, and surrender ourselves either to bear or do it, that we shall find earth's bitter things becoming

God, as it is shown in the circumstances of our lot or the revelations of His Word. It is the will of a Father whose love and wisdom are be yond question.

them, they are His will for us. Ry the time they reach us they have become minted with His die, and we must patiently submit.

divided thus : Eight hours for work, eight for rest, eight for recreation, food, etc. There should

be a counterpart of this in Christian living. Each day there should be a portion for work, a portion for restful meditation and sitting before the

Lord, and a portion for the gathering of God's manna.

pathway, so that we may come to them one by one. He has apportioned to each one some office

to fulfill, some service to render, some function in the mystical body of our Lord. It is comfort

ing to know that we have not to scheme for our

selves, but to look up for guidance into the Divine plan.

startled were she told that she would have to carry the coals, which it has taken two horses and a great cart to bring to her master's door; but she will be comforted by being reminded that they will be borne upstairs only a coal-scut tle full at a time.

daily bread was constantly being enforced ; for as the day came the manna fell. Those who fol

lowed the cloud were always certain of their sus tenance. Where the cloud brooded the manna

fell. Whatever any day may bring there always will be within reach of you, lying ready prepared on the sands of the desert, just what you require. Go forth and carry it ; there will be no lack.

tion between God and His servants in providing for the needs of His people. Clearly the smiting

of the rock was a very small item in this inci

dent, the main consideration was what God was doing in the heart of the earth. But the two wrought together : Moses in the eyes of the peo

ple, God in hidden depths. Similarly we are fellow workers with God.

One of the greatest revelations that can come to any Christian worker is the realization that in every act of Christian ministry there are two

agents, God and man : that God does not need to be implored to help us, but wants us to help Him ; that our part is the very unimportant and subsidiary one of smiting the rock, whilst His is the Divine and all important part of making the waters flow.

Did Moses go to the rock that day weighted with care, his brow furrowed with the anxiety of furnishing a river of which his people might drink? Certainly not; he had only to smite: God would do all the rest, and had pledged Him self to it. So, Christian worker, you have been

worrying as though the whole weight of God's inheritance were upon you, but you are greatly

In every congregation and religious gathering the Holy Spirit is present, eager to glorify Christ, and to pour out rivers of living water for thirsty men ; believe this. See that you are spiritually

in a right condition, that He may be able to ally you with Himself. Keep reckoning on Him to

do His share; and when the river is flowing, be sure not to take the praise.

his son-in-law. It could hardly have been bet

ter. It is always better to set one hundred men to work than attempt to do the work of one hundred men. There is no greater art in the

world than to develop the latent capacities of those around us by yoking them to useful service. But good though the advice obviously was, Jethro carefully guarded Moses against adopting it, un less the Lord had been consulted, and had com manded it.

mistakes we are making, and can suggest some thing better. But we are wise to get alone into

the holy presence of God, and ask what He com

in advising us to prove all things, and to try the

spirits, whether they were of God. There are four tests for truth : what glorifies Christ ; what humbles the flesh; what is in accord with the Word of God; and what has stood the trial of Christian experience in the past.

There is no teacher like God, and we may always detect His voice. It is small and still; it

casts down imagination, and brings our thoughts into the captivity of Jesus; it is definite and dis

tinct. When there is an indistinct murmur of many sounds along the wire, you may be sure that you are not in communication with your

Father's person. When He speaks, there is no mistaking His voice or His will.

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ple, to purchase whom He gave up all that He

had, even to His throne (Matt. xiii. 44). "Ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy na

tion, a people for God's own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous

it is in fabrics, he guards against moth; if in

metal, against rust and thieves. And is Christ less careful for His own? Does He not guard with equal care against all that would deteriorate our value in His esteem ? Need we fear the thief?

mercifully veiled to the weak eye of man. This

is why Christ spake in parables-that seeing, they might not see. As Moses veiled his face when

he spake to the people, so God veils Himself in the flesh of Jesus, in which He tabernacles ; and in the mysteries of His providence, beneath which He conceals a smiling face. The Sun of

Righteousness in whose beams we rejoice must needs hide beneath the cloud, else we should fall at His feet as dead. It may be that His light seems to us darkness, because of its excessive

brilliance; but God dwells in the thick darkness

hidden secrets, hidden from the wise and prudent. Do not fear them; be content to accept things you cannot understand; wait patiently. Pres ently He will reveal to you the treasures of dark

ness, the riches of the glory of the mystery. Mystery is only the veil on God's face.

enter the cloud that is settling down on your life. God is in it. The other side is radiant with His

glory. "Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's suffer

loneliest and most forsaken, God is nighest. Jesus once cried " Forsaken," and immediately after, " Father." God is in the dark cloud.

Plunge into the blackness of its darkness without

flinching-under the shrouding curtain of His pavilion you will find God awaiting you.

rendered permanent. But not otherwise could he serve forever. That awl represents the nail that affixed Christ to the cross, and we must ex pect it in every true act of consecration. For want of it so many seem to go through that su preme act, and shortly after go back from it, bringing discredit and shame upon the teaching they had eagerly welcomed. There are two

stages in the Christian life: that in which we serve with the spirit of a slave, and that in which we freely yield ourselves to serve our Master for

ever. This is the service represented by the pierced ear.

The awl spiritually means the humiliation and pain with which we surrender the self-life. We

are tempted to consecrate ourselves in our own

the daily fret of some uncongenial associate ; the pressure of loss and anxiety for the sake of Jesus; the humiliation of your pride by perpetual sense of failure. Whatever it be, welcome all that binds you to His cross, because through death you live.

" I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."

there is far too little in ordinary Christian life. We try to make amends for injury done to au other by an extraordinary amount of civility ; but we are reluctant in so many words to frankly confess that we have done wrong, and make proper reparation for the act or speech. We often excuse ourselves by the thought that we were fully justified in speaking or acting as we did, whereas we may behave ourselves

wrongly in courses of conduct which are them selves legitimate.

been thus allowed to stray; and, as we let it loose, we should make amends for our carelessness in respect to our brother's interests. We wrong an

other not only by what we do, or permit to be

that kindles a great matter. If we drop fire brands and lighted matches in the inflammable material of a circle of gossip, we should make amends to the person whose character may have been thereby injured.

Bon-owed goods (14).-To return a house, a

book, a horse, in the state in which we received

it, fair wear and tear excepted, or to make good any injury, should be a commonplace of Chris tian morality. Trustees are responsible for not

72

the covenant in whom is God's name, always precedes us. In our march through the wilder

ness we perceive His form, which is viewless to

others, and realize that His strong hand prepares our path. Let us be very careful not to grieve or

disobey Him, lest we lose His mighty champion

ship. Strict obedience to His slightest whisper secures the certainty of His vindication of us from the wrongs we suffer at the hands of our foes. A little further on the same voice promises

for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be trc,ubled." But see to it that you cherish no spirit of hatred or retaliation toward them. Think of the misery

of their heart, which is full of jealousy, envy, and bitterness. Pity and pray for them.

it was of Christian professors that the Apostles

secular, between Sunday and weekday, between

God's and their own. This divorce between re ligion and daily life is fatal to true religion, which was meant to be the bond between the commonest details of life and the service of God.

as well as in their spirit. They obey the apostle's injunction, " Whether therefore ye eat, or drink,

or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." Oh for the grace to be able to combine the vision of God with every common incident-to live always beneath His eye in the unrestrained glad ness of little children in their Father's presence !

14

ble for the material that was needed for uis plan. If Moses, or the people, insisted on put

ting in more than was in his original plan, they would have to bear the anxiety of securing the

life, which would not have been there if we had but been content with God's pattern, and ac quiesced in His programme.

This injunction is repeated in four different passages, showing the importance with which

God regards it. Indeed, to be on God's plan is the only place of rightness, safety, and joy.

in the human life of Jesus. We are to walk as He walked. Having been called according to His purpose, let us never rest content with any thing less than being conformed to the image of

crowned with success, and we shall bear much fruit to the glory of God.

scheme for the employment of every hour, and will show it to us by the indication of His Spirit, or by the trend of circumstances. Let us abide

in Him, doing nothing that He does not teach, doing all He does. So life will become a taber

nacle, in which the Shekinah will shine and sacrifices be offered.

75

Holy Ghost signifying that from that moment ac

cess was free into the Holiest. All believers are now welcome to draw near and live in the per petual presence of God, their Father, even as Jesus did in His earthly life, and as He does in the Heaven of Heavens. This is the clear teach

ing of Heb. x. 19-22 : -`I Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He bath consecrated for us, through the

But there is a deeper significance still. The new and living way was opened through the rending of the flesh of Jesus Christ. As His flesh was

rent on the Cross, the Temple vail was rent from the top to the bottom. And it is only when we

of Atonement, the laver of daily washing, the golden altar of intercession ; but they are never admitted to that blessed intimacy of communion which sees the Shekinah glory between the cherubim and blood-sprinkled mercy-seat.

0 Spirit of God, apply the blood to sprinkle our consciences, and the water to cleanse the habits of our daily life; and lead us where our Forerunner and Priest awaits us.

tuary." And be strove never to present to his people truth which had not been beaten out by

But there is yet another thought. That lamp in the Holy Place was an emblem of the testi mony of the Church, that is, of believers. As the incense table was a type of their aspect to ward God, as intercessors, so the seven-branched candlestick was a type of their aspect toward the

world, as luminaries. In the Book of Revelation the Lord compares His churches to candlesticks :

`6 the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven chuiches."

The oil is, of course, as always in Scripture, a type of the Holy Spirit. He in us is the only

source of light-bearing. But the beaten oil re minds us of the chastisement and discipline through which alone our best testimony can be given. The perseczctions of the Church have

always been the times when she has given her

derest, strongest words for the Master, whether by the sick bed or in the hospital ward. That

brokenness of spirit, which is the surest mark of mature work of God in the heart, is also a rare condition of light-giving. The more beaten and

broken you are, in poverty of spirit, the purer will be the heavenly ray of love and light which will shine forth from your life; and it is the pur pose of God that you should be 6` blameless and

blue, the color of heaven, of deep lakes, of the glacier-crevasse, of the gentian and forget-me not. On the hem of the robe were these alter

arm; but, thank God, there is a place for each of us at the skirt, near the foot; and the holy oil will reach us there, for the Psalmist tells us that it descended even to the skirts of the high priest's

robe. It is a blessed thought, that we may re ceive the droppings of each anointing that falls ou the head of Jesus.

Glut the anointing of the Holy Ghost always shows itself in sweetness aud fru'itfulness; the sweetness of the golden bell, tinkling with every

movement, and the fruitfulness of the pomegran ate.

wrought; they are peevish and fretful. When they come back from meetings on which they have bestowed their last energies, they are neither sweet nor gentle to the home-circle, which has been so lonesome during their absence.

strong, healthy, helpful, fruit-bearing. Some seem to think that to attend moving meetings, to be profuse in emotional tears and smiles, to make profuse use of the word deny, is to touch the

high-water mark; let them learn that the worth of our life is measured by its influence on others, and its bearing fruit, which has in it the seed of reproduction. `( Herein is My Father glorified,

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-which is ourselves, who believe-are one. \Ve too must be sprinkled by the blood on ear and thumb and toe, as those who have been re deemed. We too must be consecrated and

anointed ; and there must be the cleanliness of which these words speak.

office; but have not remembered that their bodies must first be washed with pure water.

clean, it must be pllt away. There seems some incongruity bet~en the anointing of the IIoly Ghost and the smell of spirits or fumes of to

bacco. Any excessive indulgence of the flesh, even in legitimate directions, and all indulgence in wrong ones, are inconsistent with the life of consecration.

the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love

the spring of so much of our religious activity. Everywhere we need the laver, the hourly wash ing of John xiii.

Holy Spirit, under the symboi of the Anointing i Oil, meet us in these chapters. It becdmes us to

f ask ourselves very seriously whether we lay an

equal stress on it in our daily experience. Is it true of us, as of those to whom the Beloved Apostle wrote, that the anointing which we re ceived abideth in us? It is not enough to have the Spirit ifz us for sanctification ; He must be 07t us for service and ministry.

But He cannot come on the flesh of the natural man ; He descends only to those who are washed,

consecrated, set apart for God. Many claim the Holy Spirit's anointing, and try to reckon they have received it; but they find it fail, because they desire it for the flesh.

reverent, self-disciplirled nature is alone fitted to be the seat of the Holy Ghost, His nest and home.

Ghost, that they may be able to make a name, or gather an audience ; but God is not likely to give us His river of throne-water to turn the mill wheels of personal ambition.

wilz, that He draws near and gives the best of all His donations.

ministry ; another to the bar ; others, like Beza

lee1 and Aholiab, to work in all manner of work

manship. Each should realize, therefore, that

faculty, desire, circumstance, constitute a Divine

call, and that there may be as distinct a vocation in the merchant's office, the tradesman's shop, or in the work of a domestic servant, as in the Church itself.

The morning bell that sumtnons us to daily duty is the call of our Father, bidding us to en gage in the toils to which He has assigned us.

He, who gave Moses the plan, gave the artificers the power to work it in gold, silver, brass, and

wood. Let this be your faith; and each morn

ing, as you go to your work, however distasteful it may be, say, 4` God has called me to this ; and He will till me with all the strength, wisdom, and

or dishonorable one, it is better to stay in it than to become restless and changeable; and if you must leave it, wait for God to open another door.

duty, remember that in Christ you are free ; if free from daily toil, in Christ you are a slave. The supply of every deficiency, the rectification of every hardship, is to be found in Jesus.

and for Him, remembering that He sees and ac cepts all, not according to the results accom

plished, but to the heavenly and holy motives that prompt the worker-this is to be blessed.

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days God had been telling him about it, and speaking it over and over to his heart. He

seemed, however, to feel that no ordinary sacri fices would avail : the blood of goats and bulls would surely be insufficient to put away the black transgression into which Israel had fallen. But

there was rising in his heart a resolve, to which he gave expression when he returned to God:

"Blot me, I pray thee, out of the book which Thou hast written." He did not realize that

his blood would not avail, but that the blood of

Christ, who should, in the fullness of times, offer Himself without spot to God, alone could put away sin.

temples, altars, and sacrifices, which have marked the history of every nation under heaven. Man

has felt as by a natural instinct that some repara tion was necessary to the broken law.

willing to be cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of His people; and because He died, there is no longer the I`-" which in

Moses' prayer speaks of uncertainty ; but a blessed assurance that we are at one with God, with each

the position of Moses, first on the rock, and afterward in its cleft, was a moving emblem of the position in which alone we can dare to look out on the sublime progress of God's glory.

ments of history which evolve His plans, and are leading to Christ's advent ; in the passage of the

ages, which are His swift chariots ; in storm and catastrophe, which break up old forces and forms of evil ; in the goodness of His daily mercy; in the revelation of His character-we are always living in the very midst of God's presence and power.

Herschel says that when sweeping the heavens with his telescope the brilliant Sirius suddenly burst on his v:ew, he nearly fainted. Who then

could behold God ! But in Jesus, we are stable, established in Him, accepted in the Beloved ; and in Him we are covered. The full blaze of the

Divine glory is tempered to our gaze ; it comes to us through the medium of the pierced hand. We stand on the rock; we are hidden under the cov ering hand.

great Alps ! Their sides have been split by the action of tempest, avalanche, earthquake, frost, and glacier. Hence their clefts. But who shall enumerate all that .has been borne by our dear Lord for us ! What storms have pelted on Him,

that we might have a safe hiding. On Calvary, a niche was hollowed in which a world of sinners may take shelter !

a main elemeut in the highest forms of good ness : in the same way that unconsciousness is

characteristic of the worst forms of depravity.

Directly people become conscious of their superiority to others, and boast of it, it is certain that they have never really seen the beauty of

God's holiness, and have no clear knowledge of the condition of their own hearts. They see

that they have been cleansed from their old sins; but they do not perceive that the spirit of selfish ness has retreated into the springs of motive and intention.

We are all tempted to this terrible self-con sciousness. We are proud of being humble,

complacent for being lowly, self-congratulatory because we take back-seats. In all this we betray

the vanity of our pretensions. This sort of good ness is like a thin veneer of mahogany on very common deal.

The real goodness is more conscious of the remaining evil than of the acquired good ; of the lingering darkness than of the hilltops smitten with the dawn; of that which has not been at

tained. But we can only attain this blessed con dition by intimate and prolonged fellowship with

God, in solitudes where human voices and in terests cease to distract. The brightness of which

Moses was unconscious was caught from the

Presence-chamber of the Divine Loveliness. Ah, what patterns are seen on the Mount ! What cries are uttered there! What visions are seen there ! What revelations are made there ! What

injunctions are received there ! Oh for the closer access, the nearer view, the more intimate face to face intercourse, such as is open still to the friends of God !

84

THERE was an infinite variety in the contri

butions made to the Tabernacle, from the pre

cious jewels of the rulers to the acacia wood of the poor, am1 the goats' hair of the women. The completed structure was a monument of the united gifts, handicrafts, and gems of the entire people. But in all there was the unity of the

1 spirit, and plan, and devotion.

plishment, in coijperation with Himself. It is a mistake then to turn back daunted by difficulty and opposition. As Caleb autl Joshua said of

the possessors of Canaan, " \Ve be well able to ~ overcome them."

~ IIim; but yield ourselves to His hand, and our members as instruments of righteousness for His service. We may differ from at1 others in the

special character of our work; but it matters not, so long as God effects through us His purpose in

calls us out, as He did Moses, Beznleel, and

deluge, and the Alpine heights of human rcbel lion were more than atoned for when Jesus died. Grace overtops sin.

that if God were to give only a fraction, we would be thankful. How we strniten Him! He

cannot do much because of our unbelief! He yearns to do not only enough, but much more than enough for us. See His prodigality in na

ure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. God is not niggard. If He withholds, it

is that we may cling to the Giver rather than the gift. But for the most part, He gives all things

than enough to meet it. He has riches of grace and of glory. Trust Him, obey Him, appro

priate thy share in thy Father's rich provision. Weak and needy as thou art, there is much more than enough strength in God to perfect what concerns thee.

tables of the law, which even Moses had bruken, almost as soon as they came into his hands, but which had beeu renewed. Concealing and

covering them lay this golden lid, encrusted with the blood which successive generations of priests sprinkled there on the Great Day of Atonement.

He obedience by the things which He suffered."

the story. He held nothing back; but yielded all to bloocl-shedding. Blood is life, and life is

the Divine Fire trembles, and we may draw near with boldness. We are beloved children; but let us never forget that we are redeemed sinners.

There is a place where Jesus sheds

The oil of gladness on our heads ; A place than all beside more sweet It is the blood-stained Mercy-seat.

b7

The women were so deeply interested in the work which was afoot, that they counted no sacrifice too great. But the main suggestion for

ourselves is the wisdom of renouncing self-in spection.

life, studying its mechanism and operations. Our fingers often on our pulse; the atteutiou of the soul turned back on itself; the study of symp toms carried to the grievous extent of inducing the diseases which we dread. Of course, where

there is evident mischief at work, we do well to take heed ; but we must guard against a morbid self-anatomy, a perpetual aualysis of motive and

intention, an inwardness which diverts our atten tion from the person of Christ and the perform ance of duty.

volved in a maze of perplexities and disappoint ments. The disease cannot be cured by cease

lessly pondering its symptoms. The soul cannot lift the soul. Self can never expel the spirit of

the worse; the higher cast out the lower. Go out of yourself, find some work to do for God and man ; seek in the laver the removal of the

strains of human sin; find your centre in God and His plans ; and you will abandon the habit of morbid self-scrutiny. For every look at self,

take ten at Christ: He " healeth all thy dis

88

to be written on the bells of the horses. The sacred inscription, which stood on the brow of

Aaron, designating his separation to his sublime

office, was to become incorporated with the busi ness of the farm and city, where burdens were borne and heavy weights drawn with difficulty. The inscription befits all bells that ring in the

home, the shop, the factory. We are to be God's priests everywhere.

must be sensitive to its approach, and quick to put the covering presence of Christ between.

down at His altar, like Zechariah the son of

Berachiah, than prove a delinquent. We cannot all do the inner service of offering incense and of blessing men, but we can render every act as a sacred service to God; always treading the holy

floor, and within sight of the holy presence, and within earshot of the Divine voice; eating, drink

ing, doing everything for the glory of God. Throughout this chapter we are reminded that all was made as the Lord commanded Moses; this should be the law of our life.

telling that we are Christians, is a sign that we are far from what we should be. But so to live

that the first and slightest glance at us should be tray our heavenly calling, is to adorn the Gospel alld please our Master.

heart of which was fire, the symbol of the pres ence of God. Probably this fire was always

present, but only visible against the background of the surrounding darkness. In the New Testa

ment fire is always associated with the ministry of the Holy Spirit ; and in Isaiah (iv. 5) we learn that in the coming time God would give, on every dwelling-place in Mount Zion, and in all her assemblies, the same cloud of smoke by day, and flaming fire by night, as had been vouchsafed to the Tabernacle where God dwelt, What a

rare, but they are possible. Let those who are founding a new family make this their ideal.

ple, so in the Pentecostal Church the Spirit was

Guide, Director, Executor. " Separate Me . . . to the work to which I have called them." We

must rely most absolutely on Him, waiting for His initiatian, His teaching, the settling down of His infinite benediction. Then there will be glory and defence.

the Father ! " Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacri fice to God for a sweet-smelling savor " (Eph. v.

Jesus saw the inability of man to keep the holy

law, and volunteered to magnify it, and make it

honorable; when He laid aside His glory, and stepped down from His throne, saying, " I de light to do Thy will, 0 my God " ; when He be came obedient even to the death of the cross-it was as sweet to God as the fragrance of a garden of flowers to us.

Let us never forget the Godward aspect of the

cross. The sacrificial fire fed on every part of the sacrifice, on the inwards as well as the car case ; so did the Holy God delight to witness

the spotless and entire devotion of the Son to the great work in which the entire Godhead was most deeply interested. The fragraut graces of Christ were madr manifest on the cross, aiid are perpetuated in His intercession.

There is a sense also in which our consecration

to God is fragrant and precious. When we see His claims, and yield to them ; when we submit to His will, and commit our lives wholly to His

direction; when we offer and present ourselves to Him, a living sacrifice, keeping nothing back

-His heart is gladdened, and His fire of com placency feeds on our act. Always count on

this; you may feel no thrill, and see no light, but reckon on God, believe that He accepts what you give, and will crown your sacrifice with the fire of Pentecost. Who to-day will surrender to

the blessed Master; but as we are to be con formed to His image, we may humbly take the ingredients of the meat offering as indicating various qualities in our personal character and behavior.

Ziil2e jour.-There should be nothing coarse grained or rough to the touch ; but all even and

again, but was led as a lamb to the slaughter. David Livingstone said that the promise of Christ was the word of a perfect gentleman. This

02 @on it.--We must be mingled with oil that is the Holy Spirit must have access into the secret places of the inner life, and we must have the anointing of the Holy Ghost for service. In

Christian work nothing is of any value or perma

nence, useful to man or pleasing to God, in which the Holy Spirit is not first.

ing forward in Christ's triumphant procession, bearing aloft the incense-bowls of thought,

were full of grace, and also of truth. There was a pungency and purity and uncorruptness in His

speech, which have in every age arrested the progress of the world's evil. Let us give Him our lips.

Na Zeaven-the symbol of the rising of pride and self.

No honey-that which is merely attractive and sensuous,

in the peace-offering a part only was burned,

Thiuk of this blessed feast with God. We who were once far off in the wicked and hostile

for blessing; distance for presence; the husks of the swine for the fatted calf. The past is for

ever under the blood; above us is the clear heaven of God's love.

that fills our Father's heart, undisturbed by the storms of care and strife which sweeps this lower

world, is ours also. We sit in heavenly places; His peace, like a sentry, keeps our hearts and minds against molestation ; the peace of God rules in us, bringing every thought into subjec tion to itself. We have perfect peace because our

Apostle's fervent hope and prayer, He is with us. Not the gift, but the Giver; not I, hut He; not the river only, but the source. We may well

open our doors to admit such a guest, in having whom we received the Author and Giver of con

conscience convicts us. Our conscience may ex cuse or palliate our sins, or may fail to detect them for want of proper enlightenment, or may be misled by the practices and sentiments of those around. Therefore we may do things which are

grievously wrong in God's sight without realizing their evil or bemoaning it.

All such sin must be met and atoned for ere

God can admit us into His holy presence. Sin must be dealt with and put away, not only as it appears to us, but as it is in itself and in the sight of the All-Holy. So, in the types of Levit

icus, provision was made for sins of ignorance; and the blood of Jesus cleanseth from aZZ sin, whether known to us or not.

There is more sin in us than any of us know.

If we think we have passed a day without con scious sin, we have only to wait till an intenser light is flashed on our motives and intentions for firelight to be exchanged for electric light and we shall see specks and flaws. If we do not

actually violate known commands, there may be a grievous coming short of the infinite standard of the Divine perfection. Who shall dare to say

that be has loved God with all his heart, and

soul, and strength? Besides, there is always the liability to sinfulness; and this needs to be per

It is very needful, then, for us to be perpet

ually cleansed in the precious blood of Christ. We must ask to be forgiven for the many sins which we know not, as well as for those we know. The work of confession and forgiveness

must therefore go on to life's end, applied to each heart and conscience by the Holy Spirit.

from the battle bleeding from a hidden wound which he has received without knowing it. So in the rush of life we may contract defilement by touching uncleanness, or speaking rashly, which in the sight of God will leave a foul stain upon the white robe of the soul.

The presence of unconscious sin with us is the

reason why we are often unable to pray or read the Word of God at night. We are aware of a

certain distance, a vail, a cloud, which has set tled down between us and the beatific vision. At such times we do well to examine ourselves and the past more critically; for probably we shall be able to detect the hidden cause, which, when we know it, must be confessed and placed on the head of our guilt-offering, whilst we yield ourselves to God as a whole burnt-offering, in a new act of self-surrender.

But confession is all important. We must

confess our sins, if the faithful Lord is to forgive

them. Confession is taking God's side against ourselves. It is the act of judging evil in the

light of the Throne. It is like the unpacking of a box, in which one begins with the lighter things at the top, and works steadily down to the heavy articles underneath. It is the repetition in the heart of Joshua's calling the roll of Israel until Achan, the son of Carmi, was taken.

When the atonement has been made as touch

ing sin "in any of these things," there is for giveness, Dare to believe that this is so, 0 peui

tent soul, who hast made Christ's soul an offering for thy sin. He says : "1 have blotted out, as

a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and as a cloud thy sins. " Go thy way, and sin no more.

2%~ Love of God.-There never was a time

when God did not love. The bush that Moses

saw gave no fuel to maintain the holy flame that trembled around it, because the love of God to Israel and to the human race demands no suste nance. Through the ages it burns and will burn ;

however much indifference and neglect and re jection are heaped upon it, or poured over it, like barrels of water over Elijah's sacrifice, it never goes out. It is as fresh and vigorous to

day as ever, and waits to consume your sin and mine ; for God is a consuming fire.

this sacrifice retains its merit. What He did as Priest on the cross, He does as Priest on the throne. It is always I` this same Jesus." What

He was, He is, and will be; and as generations of saints bring their gifts to the altar, He takes

them, and lifts them up to God, as the fire bears up the substances which are submitted to it. He

ever liveth to make intercession; and the fire that burned through the long night in the Taber nacle bore witness to the undimming, unwaning virtue of our Saviour's work.

that was lit on the Day of Pentecost burns still in the Church. There has been no intermission

to its presence from the first day till now. Mul titudes of unknown sects and persecuted saints have kept that fire burning in the world. On the perpetuity of its existence in our midst de pends the constancy of our own love and purity and prayer. If the fire shall never go out in our

hearts; if the life in our spirits is indeed ever

96

present in this holy feast, inasmuch as it stands for the essential principle of evil, which intrudes into our holiest worship. The self-life is an all

pervasive leaven. We may not be conscious of it ; there may be no sufficient recognition of its

on the conscience, which he might remove by confession and repentance. If there were, he

must be cut off; that is, he must be debarred from all participation in holy rites, and suspended from entering the sacred enclosure of the Taber nacle.

This cutting off answers to the suspension of a believer's communion with God, because of un confessed sin. The presence of the leaven of the

self-life is no barrier to the enjoyment of the Divine fellowship, for we meet God in Jesus. But permitted. sin makes such fellowship im

maketh an atonement for the soul."

are ! You can easily see that they have been cut off; their joyless faces and powerless prayers, their inability to bear testimony for God-all tell the sad story. If you have been cut off, search

your past history to discover the cause. Put away your sin, and seek the blessed cleansing of John xiii. ; then come to feast with God, in holy

FOR seven days Aaron and his sons, newly

consecrated by the blood and oil, waited together in the Holy Place. They were prohibited from

going beyond the door, but fed on the consecrated food till the eighth day summoned them to begin their priestly duties. Similarly we are shut in with our Great Aaron, the High Priest of our profession. We are in Christ in the purposes of

God, for we were chosen in Him before the foundation of the world. We are in Him, as Noah was in the ark, and as the child is in the home ; as the member is in the body, and the

branch in the vine; as the sponge in the ocean, or the jewel in the sunbeam. We are in Him as

a strong enclosure, through which the malice and strength of our foes cannot break-a fortress, a strong tower, a castle keep. We are in Him, as

a banqueting-hall, a Tabernacle with its shew

It is highly necessary that we should maintain our walk and experience on this blessed elevation. The great enemy of our souls is perpetually tempt ing us to leave our abiding-place, and to try issues with him in the plains beneath. What is

temptation but his subtle solicitation to come out from the secret place of the Most High. Beware !

the bait may be very attractive, but the end is death. Keep the charge of the Lord, and abide

day and night in the company of the Great High Priest. " He shall dwell among them."

On what viands do such happy souls feast with Christ ! A table is provided before them by the Lord Himself, and they feast on all that pertains to Him in blessed partnership.

`( Son, thou art ever with Me, and all that I have is thine."

day is not far distant when He shall be mani

fested, and then we shall be manifested with Him in glory. That group of priests, following the high priest out from the recesses of the Holy

Place, is a picture of the Second Advent, when Christ and His own shall come forth to bless the world. When Jesus was parted in the Ascension

from His disciples, He was in the act of blessing them ; and in that attitude He will return. Who

in company with our blessed Lord ; gazing on His face we shall reflect His likeness; the lineaments of the Divine beauty shall pass into our life, and light it up with a loveliness which is not of earth. Thus shall we bring glory to our

the sob, staunched the flowing tear, and con tinued to perform thk holy duties with which he was charged. He was no stoic, and tears are not

God's work and service above their own ideas. Aaron was able to appreciate that position, and saw the sin of which his children were guilty. They had forgotten the voice which said, Sanctify thou Me. Obedience is the foundation of rever

ence, honor, and service; and if it were relaxed with the priests, how for the people ! How care

ful they should be who bear the vessels of the Lord ! With what fear and trembling must they

God's anointed priest, and the office must come

first, even to the denial of the dues of nature, if that were necessary: so always with us, there Gust be the subordination of everything to our service and work for God.

THE animals, in which these two characteris

tics met, were reckoned clean, and therefore lit for food. It is certain that the minute particu

larity of these words has some further reference than to the diet of Israel, important though that

was, or to accentuate with every meal the lieces sity of their being a separate people. We, at

least, may gather this lesson, that in our daily experience we must combine meditation and separation.

cud. It is not enough to peruse our allotted Scripture portion ; we must ruminate upon it,

comparing spiritual things with spiritual, and scripture with scripture. `I'he Holy Ghost will

take of the things of Christ and show them unto

us, and He will bring all things to our remem brance.

Separath`1 Whosoever doeth not righteous ness is not of God." `1 The Word of God is

quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asun der of soul and spirit, and of the joints and

marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." We have not med~tatetl to

good purpose unless we have felt its keen edge. Detachment from the world must fcCllow ~11 true attachment to Christ. Love to Naomi will draw

love his BibIe, but the supreme test is his daily separation from evil. On the other halId, our

daily life ought to emanate, not from without, which is Pharisaism, but from within, where we chew the cud of holy meditation.

Ltv. xii. 8.

is preached. The Divine call is to those who have no money. Salvation is to him that work '

eth not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly. `I IC is nigh thee."

work, which might be compared to the bullock of the priest. The question is not as to the quantity but the object of faith. Is it fixed on Jesus? All faith directctl to Him cannot but be

genuine. It may but touch His garment's hem, yet it saves.

in anticipation of the mother of our Lord, who gladly availed herself of its provision. What a

Himself that we might be full ; became poor that we might be made rich ; was made human that we might bc made Divine.

show itself, and whilst the marks were hardly dis

the crown of the head to the sole of the foot, the priest pronounced the leper clean.

not by steps up to them, but by steps down to them. It is the publican who beats his breast,

saying, " God be merciful to me the sinner," that goes down justified to his house. It is when

sin abounds, that grace much more abounds. He `hat humbleth himself shall be exalted. `I For

thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth

iquities have come between thee and freedom, like the bars of a cage to a bird caught from its native woods and imprisoned. See the quickly

palpitating breast, beaten against the bars, pining for the open Geld-is not that an apt symbol of thy deep yearning for deliveralice from the tyranny and thrall of besetting sin?

water-here is symbolized the precious death of thy Saviour, in the earthen vessel of His human

nature, and in connection with the living power of the Holy Spirit, which bore forth the tidings into all the world. We have been dipped into

the crimson tide aud are freed-as the leper

was-from the taint of our disease. He might go freely among men, and join the congregation of worshippers : and we may mingle with the

saints, and enter the very presence-chamber of God.

from the thralldom of evil by identification with the risen Lord; and the Holy Spirit, entering our hearts from our exalted Head, makes us pos sessors of all the privileges which are ours iii the Divine purpose (Rom. viii. 3, 4). Fly away, happy soul, to thy nest in the heart of Cod ! Seek those things which are above ! It is your

104

of the greatest sanitary codes in existence. God iuatle religious duty enforce regulations essential to the physical health and well-being of His

people. Rut there were deeper reasons yet. The whole of these arrangements were contrived to teach profound lessons lo us all of the nature and evil of sin, and of the need of being continually c.lc,msed in the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

on, was polluted. Even those whv came into con tact with him were defiled. How wary all true

Israelites must have been of their associates, lest they should contract pollution ! Let us adopt similar precautions, and not voluntarily associate with the unholy or unclean. And if our business

calls us into their daily company, let us seek cleansing for ourselves as we return to our homes, that any adhering germs of evil may be removed.

nary processes of life are not necessarily clean.

vitiate the most natural functions. We must

commonest, and the most secret acts. Nothing is outside His jurisdiction. Though hid from

uisite, and ever ready. Amidst and after every act, incident, and episode of life, we should he quiet before God, considering if we have aught to confess, and asking to be ever kept from stain ing our white robes.

cious death for men. Its various aspects are set

forth under these diverse sacrifices, as light re flected from the many facets of a diamond. We

think now only of the Zivve goat which was led away into the wilderness. We see in it :

symbol, transferred all the iniquities, sins, and transgressions of the people to the head of the

goat, which became so identified with them that it was accounted an unclean thing; and even he who led it away must needs wash his clothes and bathe. This is what the apostle means when he

says that Jesus was made sin fur us. Our sins met in Him; were assumed by Him; He stood

before God as though, iu some mysterious sense, they were His own.

away, the eyes of the people followed it, and they were taught to believe that sin was no longer reckoned to them. Aaron put off his lineu gar

ments and arrayed himself in festal robes, and came forth to bless the congregation. What re

joicing must have broken from the crowds! So Jesus, in His matchless grace, has borne away the sin of the world into a land of forgetfulness.

" Their sins and iniquities will I remember no

mediatorial work. None could bear Him com pany. Loved ones might stand beside His cross,

or in after ages suffer, as He did, deaths of mar

tyrdom; but none could do what He did as the sacrifice for sin. Ah, how lonely He was ! Even

the Father seemed to have forsaken Him ! Ue fore the universe, in that dread hour, the Saviour stood in awful, unapproachable solitude !

words than man has ever fathomed. The R. V.

marg. translates " life," so2J.Z. Why that rever ence for blood; that horror when it is unright eously shed and gurgles forth; that perpetual reference of Scripture to the blood of Christ? Probably the answer to such questions would be

given, if we perfectly understood the affirmation of this remarkable verse.

takes this blood, this life, in his hands, and pre sents it to God as his plea. Does the broken law require satisfaction, homage, acknowledg ment? Here it is in this priceless, pure, and sinless blood, never infected by pollution, never heated by passion. Let this shed life atone for

thee ! 4` God be propitious (because of the sac rifice on the altar) to me the sinner."

They strongly plead for me : `6 Forgive him, oh, forgive," they cry,

natures more and more of the soul and life of our Blessed Lord, so that we may dwell in Him, and He in us,

mand of His chosen people. Why should we claim to be exonerated from an equally exact obedience to the commands of Jesus? And yet

selves under the excuse that it is not essential, and therefore may be omitted. But what do they mean by essential? It is not essential to

salvation, because that has been achieved by our

Lord; but it may be essential to show that we love Him, that we have a genuine faith, that we are ready to take Him as King. Surely a soldier

clearer than others, it is the reiterated charge of the New Testament that we should rather suffer wrong than avenge ourselves. Yet how many

men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Yet there are hundreds

of Christ's professing followers who are at feud with their relatives or fellow members.

Let us remember the imperative tone of these words, and ask God to work in us to will and to do of His good pleasure.

thought of God should ring in our lives, as a perpetual chime.

otherwise than lovingly, when His love encom passes us with its persuasive bands?

Thus the perpetual consciousness of God be comes the source of holy and happy living. But

how may it become ours ? We may make many resolutions, only to break them. We forget after

our most definite purposing. There is no help ; but in the Holy Spirit, wbse office it is to teach us all things, and bring all things to our remem

~ brance. He is able also to help our infirmity :

I` for we know not how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."

In the morning let the thought of God's pres ence with you in your secret closet sink well into your heart. Wait till His presence is made real

to you, and you cry, Lo, God is here. Then entrust yourself to the Holy Spirit, asking Him to keep you in the current of the love and thought of God. Reckon on Him to do so. Now and

then in the course of daily duty stop and remem ber God. Thus you will live in His fear and love all the day long.

the Holy Ghost. And in after days Paul spoke of himself as being separated unto the Gospel of God. It is a mistake to make the act of separa

tion our own resolve and deed. We shall inevi tably drop back unless God has come into the

We are needed for a specz;tic purpose.-God can bless men only through men. As once He

used the Jews to be the medium of communicat ing His truth to men, so now He is eager to use His Church; if only she will allow Him to de liver her from the taint of sin and the world, and separate her for a peculiar possession unto Him

What an honor is this ! To be for God Him self: to do His errands, to fulfill His behests and give Him pleasure ! Rejoice greatly when God

says, "Thou art Mine." We also can take up His words, and answer back, " Thou also art

mine." Let us be glad, if we know that the oil of separation has come on our heads, and let us walk worthily of our high calling, separated to the Holy Ghost, and counting it sacrilege to be used for any unholy purpose.

against anything that might delile the priests, the sons of Aaron. The holiness of God was set in

a clear light by the care that there should be no ceremonial pollution or personal defect in those who ministered before His presence. What

worship, that Jesus and His people are in the spiritual dispeusation which has taken its place.

THE holy things referred to here are the of

aerings made by Israel to Jehovah, a part of which was presented to God in tire, and the rest partaken of by the priests and their families.

None, however, might feed on them whilst cere monially unclean. This suggests some useful

precautious for ourselves, if we would fully en joy the privileges and blessings attending the worship of the holy God.

of the bent head at the commencement of the public service, in order that the soul may be made clean from any contracted stain, and re solve henceforth to abstain from all evil.

God's house. Those that ascend the hill of the Lord must have clean hands and a pure heart. The reason why religious exercises do

112

rest. No servile work was done on penalty of

death. Probably for the most part the people abode in their tents. No sound was heard save

of our Substitute on Calvary. But being for

given, we wash His feet with our tears, we break our alabaster boxes on His head, and Iove much.

cakes of fine flour were to be before the Lord

continually, as symbols of the twofold oflice Ilis people were to sustain, on the one hand to the

candle in the hand of the housewife, who sweeps her house diligently; as a lamp in the hand of the virgin expecting the bridegroom; or as the lighthouse on a rocky coast. We must dispel the darkness, and guide wanderers through the murky night. Light is soft and still, and is thus

a fitting emblem of the influence of a holy life, which burns steadily on before the Lord contin

ually, and is unaffected by the heed or comment of man. If no one seems the better for our con

sistent testimony, aim to satisfy the Lord. The lamps of the pure candlestick of a holy life are not for man only, but for Him. But they can

sense we feed on God, but God also feeds on us. He finds satisfaction in beholding His people's unity and love, in receiving their sacrifices of

praise, and in watching their growing conform ity to His will. The two rows of six cakes fore

shadow the unity and order of the Church; the fine flour, its holy, equable character ; the pure

frankincense, the fragrance of Christian love. There is a testimony in all these to the world; but we do not always realize the satisfaction af forded to the great God, who has made such costly sacrifices on behalf of His Church.

~ case it is Jesus Christ. Kedemption, as described in this chapter, had to do with persons and

pened that a Hebrew waxed poor, and was com pelled to sell himself to some wealthy Gentile who sojourned in the land. He who had owned

his own patrimony now wrought as a bondservant for another. But after he had sold himself he might be redeemed by his next kinsman. So we

had sold ourselves for nought ; we wrought the will of the flesh; we were enslaved to the fash ions of the world ; we obeyed the promptings of the prince of the power of the air. Alas for us !

; But we have been redeemed, not with corrupt ible things, but with the precious blood of Christ. We have been made free by right, and

have only to claim and act upon the freedom with which the risen Christ has made us free.

Jesus, our GBeZ and Redeemer, liveth ; and that He will come to redeem us from the power of the grave, and receive us to Himself.

How can we be secured from the dread of men and things which so easily besets us?

ments, was the first condition of Israel's immu nity from fear. When we know that there is no

cause of controversy between us and God, we feel able to count confidently on His protection and deliverance. `( Perfect love casteth out

Ifear."

6perate with Him : will He allow us to incur re sponsibilities in His name, and then leave the burden on our unassisted resources? Fear will yield before a clear sense of God's might ; but it is still more likely to yield before a deep sense of God's perfect faithfulness.

Absalom, slept in the open, he believed that the Angel of the Lord encamped around him. More

are they which are for us than those that be against us. The mountain is full of horses and

chariots of fire. Lord, open our eyes that we may see !

God, they will vanish like a puff of smoke. "For, lo, the kings assembled themselves. . . . They were arrayed, they were dismayed, they hasted away."

words. When once a person or possession had been solemnly dedicated to God, it was not per missible to withdraw from the obligations which had been assumed. Once given, the offering

was regarded as God's property, a.nd might not be resumed by the offerer, or placed to any in ferior use.

This regulation is specially applicable to our

conception and practice of consecration. We are Christ's: by the gift of the Father, by the pur chase of the blood of Christ, by the sealing of the Spirit ; but a moment often comes in the life of the earnest believer when the Lord appears to claim a more earnest recognition of His rightful

When once this is done, we must reckon that

God has accepted us, and that we cannot repeat the gift. We may perpetually refer to it, and acknowledge its abiding obligation, and apply its principle to all those new departments and func tions which are perpetually increasing on us; but we can no more repeat it, than could the Israelite give God the firstling lamb, since it was already His (ver. 26).

If we go back from the attitude we have once

a man must be able to show his descent. The

care; and there was a holy pride in being able to vindicate the claim of having the blood of the patriarchs in the veins.

It is a blessed thing to be sure that we have passed from death unto life, and are the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. True, our eter

nal destiny does not hinge on it. Many will doubtless be saved at last, who have spent their lives between hope and fear. But it is very needful for our comfort and growth in grace to be able to declare our pedigree, and to know that we have been translated into the Kingdom of God's dear Son.

many seek this knowledge in the wrong way, and are exposed to endless questionings. They try

past, when they were incorporated into the Di vine family; and because they cannot point to

these, they imagine that they are still outside. Nom for every one that has had a definite ex perience of the new birth, there are perhaps a score who entered the Divine family almost as a sailor passes the line of the Equator. Yet it is

again, though you may not be able to tell your birthday.

needful for the order of the camp, whether at rest or on the march, that each man should know his place, and keep to it. But though there were

different standards and positions, there was one

Each believer has an appointed place in the great army of God. It is indicated by the voice

of God, and by the circumstances of our life ; aud it should be jealously retained. Repeatedly

parish, or the difficult foreign post. But, on the whole, you should stay where you are; unless the Captain of our salvation moves you by some unmistakable indication of His will. The apos

tle Paul ever lived in such dependence on the Holy Spirit for guidance, and for the unfolding of the Divine purpose, that from some apparently trivial circumstance he would `I gather " the movements of the pillar of cloud by day, and of fire by night. And interval there was none he

tween his apprehension of the Divine purpose and his endeavor to strike his tent and follow wherever it might lead (Acts xvi. 6, 7).

The main point with us all is to face the ark, to which the doors of all the tents looked, so that we may ever catch the first symptom of the movement of the cloud. On the whole, we do best to pitch and fight under our own standards. There is a closer bond of brotherhood possible between those who think alike. But whilst we are positive in what we affirm for ourselves, let us not deny that other standards represent necessary aspects of the common faith.

of the Exodus, as the firstborn of Egypt were

stricken, so the firstborn of Israel were hallowed. God claimed the right of their service in His

Temple, to serve there as priests and attendants. But instead of them, He accepted the whole tribe of Levi ; and for the overplus of firstborn sons above the number of Levites, He accepted re demption money, which went to maintain Aaron and his family. Thus, each firstborn son was rep

resented, either by a substitute, or by a money payment.

blessed custom if, in all our churches, the first born child was, in a special sense, regarded as God's, and trained for some branch of His holy service in the home and foreign field ? What a

blessing would rest on our homes if this were the

custom! It would lead to very definite prayer, that the young soul might be truly converted and led to realize the parents' ideal.

yourself into the service of God, at home or

abroad, or send a substitute. Consider yourself under obligation to do some special work for Christ and His Church. And if you cannot, earn money to support your representative. This is

Christian family become a missionary society, sending one of its mqmbers forth in the name of the rest, who should bind themselves solemnly to

" hold the ropes " ; and thus obey the Master's parting commission, " Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature " 7

pute, to bear which we need special grace, and must continually seek the aid of the Divine Spirit.

thou in the world ? The Maker of all waits for thee to enter His great workshop and become His apprentice and co-worker. To be an idler, or an

absentee, will land thee in inevitable disgrace. The appointed place cannot be left vacant, and thy tools untouched, save at thy grave peril.

our brothers' keepers, liable at any moment to be called upon to give an account of how they fare ; and we cannot rid ourselves of this responsibility by annual donations or subscriptions to charitable

we are called to bear up His hands in this holy

/We must consider the work of daily

F$F'for His Church, for sufferers, and for the

world, as part of the burden of the Lord, allotted to us because we are members of His body.

redeemed, the representative of God, the pil grimage of the saints. Amongst His people God

and in her as the Body of which the risen Lord is Head. When the one Advocate went up, the

How many days in our life have been made void ! Days in which we have learned no new

lesson of God ; have had no access into His pres ence ; have done no kind and helpful act ; have spoken no loving, tender word. It is all-impor

tant that even our days of rest from active engage ments should be days of learning deeper lessons, of vision, and of reception from the fullness of

Each day comes to us fresh from God, likesoft metal, waiting to be stamped with our inscrip tion ; or like a piece of yielding clay, to be

moulded into some shape of beauty or use. Each morning the slate is brought for us to write

on; the canvas on which we may paint. But too often we miss our opportunity, and a blurred,

If you would avoid this, let God plan each day; follow the guidance of His Spirit ; do all you touch with your might and for His glory;

; .put away all known sin, and be separate from

evil; in everything learn to submit to His deal j ings, and to commit yourself to His faithful keep

/ ing. Then each day will have something to

keep in charge, and resemble a chalice filled to its brim with holy service. We must ever re

member that `(every man's work shall be made manifest : for the Day shall declare it, because

when Moses went into the Holy Place to speak with God he became conscious of the Divine

voice, that opened out to him the thoughts and purposes of God in such a way that he was caught up on the current and borne back to God.

This is the true conception of prayer. We 1 often go to God with ow thoughts and desires, and having uttered them we go our way. \Ve do

not wait long enough to see the cherubim and the light of the Shekinah, or hear the Divine

voice. Thus our prayers fail of their answer. We do not ask what is according to the will and mind of our Heavenly Father; and the heavens seem like brass. We have not because we ask

not, or because we ask amiss. We must ask in faith, nothing wavering.

The true conception of prayer is that it orig inates in the purpose of God, and passes from the Father to the Son, who is also the Head and Representative of His people. From Jesus it is

brought into our hearts by the blessed Spirit, who unites the Head with each member of the mystical body; and from the saints it returns to the source from which it came.

If, then, we would pray aright, we should wait before God until the Holy Spirit suggests what we should pray for, and indeed begins to plead within us for the saints. Silence, solitude, wait

ing before God ; the return to God of His own thoughts; the being burdened with the weighty matters that lie heavily on the heart of Jesus such is the noblest kind of prayer. It is those

strength, that mount up with wings as eagles; that run and are not weary, that walk and are not faint (Isa. xl. 31).

Levites were substituted for the firstborii of Israel. They were first separated from the rest of the peo

also may be consecrated." Wheu He offered Himself without spot to God, to do His Father's

will, though it cost Him the agony of Calvary, the heavenly Aaron waved us before God to be

death, that we should be wholly for God. But what is ours in the great deed of Christ, must become ours by our owu choice and deed. We

THIS was the supreme test of obedience. It

was comparatively easy to strike the tents, when the fleecy folds of the cloud were slowly gathered from off the Tabernacle, and it floated ma jestically before the host. Change is always de

, Psalmist says, 1`1 waited patiently for the Lord, and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry." And what He has done for the Old Testament saints He will do for believers throughout all ages.

Still, God often keeps us waiting. Face to face with threatening foes, in the midst of alarms, encircled by perils, beneath the impending rock. May we not go? Is it not time to strike our tent? Have we not suffered to the point of utter

collapse? May we not exchange the glare and heat for green pastures and still waters? There is no answer. The cloud tarries, and we must remain, though sure of manna, rock-water,

Wait, domestic servant, before you give notice ! Young man, do not be in a hurry to make a change ! Minister, remain at your post ! Until the cloud clearly moves, you must tarry (8th verse). Wait, then, thy I,ord's good pleasure ! He will be in plenty of time !

was called to a stewardship of the manifold bless ings of their lot. Whatever good was entrusted

to them, they were called upon to distribute and pass on. As the Lord did them good, they

would do Hobab good; making him, Gentile though he were, a fellow heir, a fellow member of the body, and a fellow partaker of the promises of God.

that it receives constant supplies from the crystal

fountain-head. So, if we keep God's good things to ourselves, we make it impossible to receive

more. You cannot put more water into a full

glass. But as we part with them we get more and better. Distribute five loaves, and you have

ering what we do not know, and getting grounded in what we do, like that of imparting what we have learned to others. Would you learn, teach.

Would you grow in grace, tell of the grace which has saved you.

scattereth, aud increaseth yet more; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth only to want" (Prov. xi. 24). This is folly to the worldling, but sober fact to the child of the King.

monopolists. `I'hey like to be goad aud gir`ttxl, becailse it gives them a kilid of superiority to

others; but they dislike to see a leveilillg-up process at work by which the Eldads and Medads are lifted to stand by their side.

.

longs that all should be as he is, and better; he takes a deep delight in the spread of vital godli

ness; he is glad when others are endowed with greater gifts than himself, that they may make the Gospel better known than he could ever do; he is content to decrease, if Christ may only in crease ; he is willing that affliction should be added to his bonds, if only Christ may be magni fied ; he prays that the Lord would put His Spirit on all His people. This is very unnatural to any

God Himself. He held his peace, but his Al mighty Friend spoke up for him. It is thus that

the meek inherit the earth am1 rejoice themselves in the abundance of pence. Oh, keep still, ye

Notice to what faithfulaess leads ! The vision of God is not given to great intellectual ability or mental gift ; but to those who as servants are faithful in the administration of God's House

hold, and the performance of such duties as are entrusted to them by the Great Householder. Such are they that enjoy the face-to-face fellow

These words about Moses are quoted in Heb. iii., as though it was pleasant to the Holy Spirit to commemorate in all ages the faithfulness of His servants : and there is this further thought

added, that the Household is one, and that all dispensations are included in its precincts.

"Whose house are we." It is inspiring to know that we are in the same house with

Moses, and may have the same blessing. Are

God's dealings with you in dark speeches, in mysterious and perplexing enigmas? Be patient and faithful in well-doing: He is but testing