just now; you are called on to believe God's Christ Jesus came into the world to save dependent upon your feelings or experience, sinners. You are a sinner; you are entitled but upon the same precious work which is of to apply to your own soul, the benefits of His changeless efficacy, and of changeless value, precious sacrifice. Before you can possibly in the judgment of God. Oh! rest on that exclude yourself therefrom, you must be some-precious Jesus whose blood has cancelled all thing else than a sinner. "The Son of Man your guilt, and justifies you now and for ever. is come to seek and to save that which was I am, your anxious.... lost." This is just what you are. You may, then, as unreservedly and unconditionally as though you were the only sinner on the face of the earth, adopt the language of faith, and say, 'He loved me, and gave himself for me.' Read Rom. v. 6, 8, 10. Can anything T. W. M. Brief Notes on the First Epistle to the Thessalonians. 66 CHAP. IV. As to THE chapter before us easily admits of a short summary in three parts. In the first, which ends with v. 8, it treats of the habits of a Christian towards others, in the separation of his person from everything that is unclean, and, therefore, unholy. This is the will and call of God; viz., our practical sanctification. He that despiseth (v. 8), despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us His Holy Spirit." It is not only His Spirit, but His Holy Spirit; and there can be no fellowship between His holiness and our unholiness. admonition to peaceable conduct, and to labour Vers. 9-12 treat of brotherly love, with an with our own hands, lest we should give occasion of reproach to those outside. the first, they being taught of God (codidakтol) to love, might well increase in it; for there is "I know all this," you impatiently answer, no measuring of Him. A very subtle plan "but I don't believe aright." I reply, if you of the enemy is to make natural amiability or it is, believe me, most need-generosity (the honey of the flesh) stand in believe at all, you cannot believe in the wrong ful that you have simple and clear views as its place; but "love is of God; and every way, just because there are not two ways of to what it is which constitutes the groundone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth believing. You have been troubling yourself work of your peace. You have been mixing. God." (1 John iv. 7.) about the way you believe, instead of simply so many things up with the work of Christ, looking to the object of faith. Trust in Jesus in any way, and you are saved by Him-safe in Him. Trust in Him any how, because, no matter how you trust, you can't trust in vain -that is impossible. Oh! let me entreat you to look more simply to Jesus! Never mind about your feelings, they will come all right in good time. Look to Christ without feelings; look to Him alone. Let none other object divide your attention for one moment. The finished work of Christ was finished for you; that work satisfies God. Oh! let it satisfy you! It is all sufficient; you need nothing beside. It is divinely that your soul, in consequence, has been plunged in darkness and uncertainty, as to the basis of your acceptance. I want you, not only to know that there is no other way of being saved but by the blood of Christ, but to know also that you are saved, absolutely, perfectly, eternally saved. To know this with blessed assurance, you have simply to rest upon God's testimony about His Son's work; to set to your seal that God is true. When you believe that God means what He says, and is faithful to His promise, that will give you abiding peace. In confidence, quietness, and assurance, you may rest your soul, finished, and perfectly accepted. You are in knowing that you are safe, because God has Jesus, and Jesus is responsible for your ulti-accepted Christ in your stead. It is not what mate security. you feel about the blood, but what God You have been, for a very long time, far which should satisfy your heart. more occupied with yourself, and with your Christ has, by His death, brought in a changeable feelings, than with the word of spotless righteousness; by the shedding of God. This has been, and is, the fruitful His blood He has made a perfect atonement source of those endless troubles and perplex- for your sin. He is now in the presence of ities which have harassed your soul. You, God for you; and the Scripture assures you having experienced a change in yourself, that everything is settled on your behalf. have hastily concluded that Christ to you is Only believe. All the claims of justice have not what He once was. You have judged been fully answered: sin has been perfectly the Lord according to your own feelings, in put away; the full tide of redeeming love place of believing in Him according to His now flows down from the heart of the Father, own word. You have been looking to self along the channel which Christ has opened in place of Christ, and have been governed for it-flows downward to you, and for you. by your own feelings in place of the unchange- Do believe what God says, because He says able truth of God. it, and not because you feel it. says, own corrupt nature; the source of Divine The source of human affections is in our love is in God; and we know nothing of the latter until His regenerating power has taken enlarged to love all His saints, as the Thessaeffect upon us. When this happens, we are lonians loved "all the brethren in all Macedonia;" yet they were told to "increase more and more," because they had an inexhaustible fountain out of which to be filled. be quiet, and to live peaceably, and to labour Vers. 11, 12 is an exhortation to study to with their own hands, that there might be no reproach from without, and that they might have need of nothing. It is evident, from such language as this, that in those days the chief energy of the Spirit was amongst the are to have any distinct idea of the Church at poor, to whom Christ was everything. If we its beginning, we must imagine a community of handicraft men, artizans, and labourers, with a great mixture of women and widowspeople earning their bread by the sweat of labour. Among such the Gospel had its first their face, realizing the curse, full of toil and fruits and its chief glory. The last portion, from t. 13 to the end, treats of the coming of the Lord with reference sition was natural, from his having previously to the dead saints, to which subject the transpoken of the Divine love which was in them to one another. Inasmuch, then, as the coming of the Lord was a living hope, what was to become of their dead brethren, whom they had known and loved in life? Hence the apostle rant concerning them which are asleep (Kouwsays, "But I would not have you to be ignoμevov)." The word, it should be noticed, has the meaning in the active voice (here it is in the passive) of being lulled to sleep. The word of the death of the saints, which is, to them, may mean sleep, but most generally is used really only a falling asleep. "That ye sorrow, not even as those which have no hope," that is, with the sorrow of the world (comp. Eph. ii. 12, 2 Cor. vii. 10), Salvation-free as the sunbeams, full as the My beloved one, ponder this deeply. See ocean, permanent as the throne of the eternal the simplicity of the ground on which your God-is proclaimed for you, because you are peace is to rest. God is well pleased in the utterly lost, guilty, and undone. Receive finished work of Christ-"well pleased for this salvation by faith. Your title to salva- His righteousness' sake." That righteous-who are left in uncertainty of ever seeing their tion is, that you are a poor, good-for-nothing, ness is not founded upon your feelings or ex-departed friends again, still less of seeing guilty, hell-deserving sinner. Be satisfied perience, but upon the finished work of God's them in a joyful resurrection, with glorified with that title; you need no other. precious Lamb; and hence your peace is not bodies. Ver. 14. "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him," or, as some would render, "which have fallen asleep through Jesus;' "the idea being, that Jesus had been with them,-had, as it were, lulled them to sleep. Waiting for God's Son from Ver. 15. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord." It would seem by His special mention of "the word of the Lord," as if this truth of the first resurrection was MANY have believed in the Lord's coming, circumstantially made known to the apostle how many are watching? There is a very have in the Gospels "the resurrection of the great difference between knowledge of projust" (Luke xiv. 14), and "the resurrection of phecy, and hope. Many have knowledge life" (John v. 29); but these would admit of who are not exercising hope. Those who a different interpretation, had we not the as a Christian doctrine. It is true that we We need the anointing of the Spirit of God as much to show us the dark work of Satan, as the glorious work of God. Hence, when John saw the false thing, the harlot, we are told he "was in the spirit" before he saw her; and the same took place when John saw the Bride. In the former case, the apostle says, "He carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness, and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet-coloured beast," &c. (Rev. xvii. 3); and in the latter case, he says, "He carried me away in the spirit......and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God." (Rev. xxi. 10.) apostle Paul's especial doctrine to fortify those are really watching, are certainly holy in Let this cast us humbly upon the Spirit of texts, as well as the direct announcement in walk. If we are not watching, it is to be God in considering these things. Rev. xx. 5, "That we which are alive and feared that Satan will get an advantage remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent (go before) them which are asleep." Here, then, he introduces the order or arrangement of the first resurrection: the living ones shall not go before the dead ones to meet Him. Ver. 16. "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and the trump of God." This is the recital of the accompaniments of the Lord's descent from heaven to meet His saints; although these sounds announce it, yet it would appear that He meets them alone. We are told it is to be "with a John saw the Bride of the Lamb" descend distant and ultimate home revealed to us. over us. We must be practical. In Matt.ing out of heaven from God." It is clear then xxiv., the "evil servant" did not watch; that she must have ascended before this, and he said in his heart, "My Lord delayeth we are instructed about her being caught up, His coming." He was not watching, but in 1 Thess. iv. Now the world knows not the sons of God, but then they will be manifested went about his own will. The virgins in glory with Christ. Yet this is not the unwere very different to the "evil servant"- changing, everlasting destiny of the saints; they were slumbering and sleeping, and perhaps the "Father's house" is the most why? Because they were not watching. Think, beloved brothers and sisters, of our Any teaching that puts me off watching, "having the glory of God"—this is what we cannot be true; it practically goes right are called unto; this is what God will give us. Did not Jesus say, The glory which thou shall be sharers of His honour, dignity, and glory. Now we are suffering with Christ; then we shall be reigning with Him. How wonderful! How thoroughly undeserved by us! shout" (Keλevoμari). The word which is only against the teaching of the word of God, gavest me, I have given them"? Thus we - 64 66 Christ says, "WATCH, therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh." (Matt. xxv.) The Church received into Glory, REV. xxi. 9-27; GEN. xli. and xlv. But what are we to understand by the church? In Eph. i. 22, 23, the church is called Christ's body, 66 the fulness of Him as a noun, used on this occasion, means a cry of command, such as would be given by a general to his own troops, or a boatswain marking time for the rowers (see Liddell & Scott's Lexicon). It is important only in this way, that it shews the cry or shout need not be heard by any but the Lord's own. It is for the purpose of wakening or shouting up the righteous dead. "With the voice of the that filleth all in all." The figure is that of a archangel"- one only is known in scripture human body composed of head and members. -Michael. (Jude 9.) "And the trump of WE shall have difficulty in understanding the Christ, risen and ascended, is the Head, and we God," (comp. 1 Cor. xv. 52,) " and the dead latter chapters of the Revelation, unless we are His members. The church of the First-born in Christ shall rise first." Observe, only see that the Holy Ghost is teaching us by is a body of saved sinners, not called from Egypt those: for the wicked dead do not rise until similitudes and contrasts. This is often the to a land flowing with milk and honey, but the end of Christ's millennial reign. (Rev. way of God in other parts of divine truth. from the degradation of sin and ruin to fellowxx. 5, 12, 13.) ship with Christ in heaven; having not only Ver. 17. Then we which are alive and It is very obvious in the types of the Old pardon and peace through the blood of the then," the saints who remain Testament, and also in reference to law and cross, but union with the earth-rejected, heaon the earth, who are living at the time, gospel. In the Revelation, Satan, with all ven- welcomed Son of God; quickened to"shall be caught up together (at the same his subtle work, is brought into juxta-position gether, raised up together, and made to sit time) with them in the clouds." It would thus seem that both parties, living and with Christ in relation to His church. The together in heavenly places, in Christ Jesus. Christ, the Head of the body; the church, His dead saints, ascend together from the earth devil from the beginning has been an imita-members-the fulness of Him that filleth all into the clouds, "to meet the Lord in the air." tor of God. God has wise virgins, Satan in all. In all ages there have been individual This recognition of the Lord in the air is im- has foolish virgins. God has a vine, Satan believers in the promised Redeemer; but portant, and for this reason, that it does not will have one too. God has all things headed there never was such a thing before Pentecost, as a body of believers baptized into a risen earth at all; will He not rather at that up in Christ, Satan will head up all in Anti-Head in heaven, and indwelt by the Spirit of time return to heaven to introduce the saints christ. God speaks of the "coming" and into those mansions, which He is now pre-"revelation" of His Son; there will also be, paring for them, (John xiv. 2,) and for the marriage supper (Rev. xix. 7-14) before He comes back with them (Jude 14, 15; Zech. xiv. 5) to the earth. remain". 66 follow that at that time He touches the And so shall we ever be with the Lord." There is great beauty in the way in which the apostle passes off from the subject of the future meeting of the living with the dead saints, into that of our ever beingboth parties" with the Lord," because it was in His love that they were linked together on earth; how inexpressibly blessed, then, to have His presence as the centre of to know is life eternal!" a coming" of the man of sin, before he is The church is spoken of as having in glory God. This gives us an everlasting union with Christ, and also with one another, and entails solemn obligations, for " we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones;" and, therefore, "members one of another." The descent of the Holy Ghost, consequent upon the ascension and exaltation of our risen Head in heaven, is a most blessed fact, and full of comfort and blessing. having "a wall, great and high," giving us This city, new Jerusalem, is spoken of as the idea of a distinct and separate body. Then in "the twelve foundations," we find "the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb;" and in the gates, "the names of the twelve Why does tribes of the children of Israel." one another, without also seeing Him, "whom we shall have the glory of God, we shall see the name of Israel appear in the heavenly Christ, be like Christ, and for ever with city? Because Christ has of twain, i. e., Christ. These deep things God teaches us, for the Holy Ghost takes of the things of Christ, and shews us things to come. To shut our eyes, therefore, to the testimony of scrip Ver. 18. "Wherefore, comfort one another with these words." The comfort is not that such an one is gone to be happythat he is better off where he is than where he was,-all this is without doubt true. The Some render it, "Even so them that sleep will ture to the coming glory, would be to reject the teaching of the Holy Ghost. God bring, through Jesus, with Him." Jew and Gentile, made "one new man" in Himself. And as to the foundations, it is exactly what we read in Ephes. ii., where the church is distinctively the subject, as "built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, (not prophets and apostles,) Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone." Then again, we find "no temple" in the new Jerusalem, because a temple necessarily implies the idea of worshipping at a distance from God, but there God and the Lamb are everything to us; we shall have the glory of God, and be with Christ, and like Him; therefore, it is said "the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it." No created light, either, will be needed to shine there, for "the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof." How heart-comforting and soul-elevating are these glorious truths! "O may the heavenly vision fire Our hearts with ardent love, Till wings of faith and strong desire Jehovah-Nissi- The Lord my Banner." EXODUS xvii. rightly in subjection to Him who died on the brought so far to be killed! Reader, has unCross to save sinners; and when every belief in your heart ever taken this turn? has creature in heaven, and on earth, and under it filled you with hard thoughts of God? ALL the earth, and such as are in the sea, will be that He has done, and is doing, proves that saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and He "IS LOVE." If you cannot yet feel that power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the you are His child, that endless life has been throne, and UNTO THE Lamb, for ever aND purchased for you, and you for endless life, ever. by the precious blood of Christ, still you are at least spared to this hour to read those blessed words, "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." (Rev. xxii. 17.) But is THE life of a believer must be one of pro- your thought of God rather, that He is "an gression. New life begins when the Lord hard master," whose favour it is difficult to Jesus is apprehended and rested in as the all-gain? Do you view Him as one who desires sufficient Saviour; but from that time the your death, rather than your life?—a severe Christian must expect a perpetual struggle, judge, who is ready at any moment to doom The blood of Christ is the foundation of all "Without were fightings, within were fears." as the Apostle Paul describes it by the Spirit, you to endless woe? Is this your thought of Him, "who spared not His own Son, but dethe glory of "the kingdom." "The church" There is something so inexpressibly sweet livered Him up for us all?" (Rom. viii. 32.) in the heavenlies shall eternally rejoice in to the soul in having "found" Jesus, that If so, BEWARE! This sin, this one sin of UNbeing made nigh to God, by the everlasting (the difficulties and trials of the way not BELIEF, is that which closes the door of heaven efficacy of the precious blood of the Lamb. being taken into consideration) all is some- against you! The blood of Jesus is sufficient The nation of Israel, in her earthly sphere, times, at the beginning, "joy and peace in to wash away all your sins; but if you will will know her blessings as secured only through Him who was of "the seed of David believing." But how soon this dream is bro- not believe this truth, you are living as if according to the flesh," and died for "that ken, and how constantly is the needed lesson God were a liar, and sealing your own doom! nation." How little did the heathen governor faithful and true believer has often much to in that simple and blessed verse (John iii. 33), repeated, "This is not your rest." For the We have the contrast to this state of mind know the meaning of the title he wrote: "He that hath RECEIVED His testimony, hath This is Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the encounter while following the Master through Jews." "The whole creation," too, now this "vale of tears," though sure of victory set to his seal that GOD IS TRUE!" in the end. Well may it be said of the way, this testimony? The testimony of God to the all-sufficiency of Jesus. This has been And then, O! how pleasant the Conqueror's song." plainly and distinctly given: and how many In the chapter before us, we have, perhaps, hear it, and know it in the head: but it is as clear a type of the long-continued Chris- only those who receive it that can have the tian warfare as we have in the whole Bible: full blessing. Unbelief is founded on either it is an important portion of Scripture, as it pride or fear, both of which are most disO listen to the pleadcontains another glorious title of the ever-pleasing to the Lord. blessed JEHOVAH ! ings of LOVE! for LOVE yearns over the sinner. "Why will ye die ?" Twice is this touching question asked, one with the assurance, and the other with an oath, that the Lord has "no pleasure" in the death of a sinner. (Read carefully Ezekiel xviii. 31, 32, and chap. xxxiii. 11.) Do you thirst? change your mind; repent, believe, and He will give you “living water." groaning with pain and bondage, and still yielding its sin-marked thorns and thistles, shall know deliverance, and be brought into the "glorious liberty of the children of God," entirely through Him who, in derision, wore "a crown of thorns," and whose blood trickled down from His wounds upon this sin-blighted earth. And when all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, and "all the kindreds of the nations" shall pay homage to their rightful Lord and King, they shall surely know that Satan is triumphed over, and millennial blessings established only by the death of God's Son, that "He might gather together in one, all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth, EVEN IN HIM." There is a beautiful picture of the coming kingdom, and reign of our Lord Jesus, in Gen. xli. and xlv., where Joseph is pre-eminently set forth as a type of Christ. He had been sold by his brethren, who hated him-put into a pit and dungeon; but after he is out of the pit and dungeon, he is elevated to a position of glory and honour. He reigns over all the land, with a Gentile wife (Asenath) by his side. His brethren, who hated and sold him, are first "Though painful at present, 'twill cease before long, The name " Verse 1. "And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the Lord, and pitched in Rephidim; and there was no water for the people to drink." (SIN is near the Red Sea, ZIN near the Salt Sea.) Rephidim" means beds," or "a place of rest." The waters had been sweetened, and food had been given. The presence of the Lord was with His people. What more could they need? they had found a place of rest. Ah! beloved brethren, there is in reality no place of rest on earth, not one. There is a PERSON in whom to rest, whose arms are ready and able to support us, and whose heart is our rich treasure-house of love; open at all times; ever freely supplying, as ever fully What is Ver. 4, 5, 6. "And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me! And the Lord said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and the rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go. Behold I will stand before thee in Horeb, and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. tation of a home of rest below is utterly of Israel." These few words of description vain. Here again in Rephidim, as elsewhere, may be interesting: "Horeb, a mountain in we find the great want-"there was no Arabia Petrea, near the head of the Red Sea, greatly troubled at his presence, but after- knowing our inmost need; but any expec- And Moses did so in the sight of the elders wards made to feel the kiss of reconciliation, and enjoy the best of earth's blessings; while all the Eyptians are commanded to bow the knee to Joseph. Thus the three circles of the glory of the kingdom, referred to in the latter part of Psa. xxii. and elsewhere, will water!" this comes out at every turn! Is it not that we could always reason with our- situate about 150 miles S. E. of Suez, almost in the middle of a vast desert. This mounthe Arabs Djebbel Moosa, and is so near tain belongs to the chain, which is called by Mount Sinai that Horeb and Sinai appear to be two hills of the same mountain: Sinai lies to the east, and Horeb to the west, so that when the sun rises, the latter is covered with the shadow of Sinai.” Ver. 2. "The people did chide with Moses, find their fulfilment only in the personal reign and Moses said unto them, Why chide you and said, Give us water, that we may drink! and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. His brethren," His Bride shall be with Him with me? wherefore do ye tempt the Lord ?" and like Him, sit with Him on His throne. O, the unbelief of the human heart! how and reign with Him. Israel, "the seed of Jacob," being turned away from their ungodliness by the coming of the Lord Jesus in the clouds of heaven, "bud and blossom, and fill From the top of Sinai the Lord, in the the face of the whole earth with fruit," having most solemn manner, proclaimed His law. their Messiah, the root and offspring of David, There is something very striking in the time reigning before His ancients gloriously; while chosen for this rock to be smitten-before "every pot in Jerusalem is holiness to the the giving of the law. "By the law, is the Lord." And, further, Jesus who is "Governor Ver. 3. "And the people thirsted there for knowledge of sin." (Rom. iii. 20.) The law among the nations," will be King over all the water: and the people murmured against did not make men sinners; they were sinners earth, creation delivered from the bondage of Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou already; but as the law is the Divine standcorruption, and every knee bowing to the hast brought us up out of Egypt to kill us, ard to which man ought to come up, this name of Jesus, and every tongue confessing and our children, and our cattle with thirst?" must always be a witness against man; for that He is Lord, to the glory of God the We see in this verse the fearful tendency of "all have sinned and come short of the glory Father. We know that righteous judgments unbelief: it is really to make God a liar!- of God." (Rom. iii. 23.) How blessed then will usher in this glorious time, before the neither more or less. All the dealings of the to know, that before the law was given the knowledge of the Lord covers the earth, as Lord with His people had tended towards rock was smitten, when out flowed freely the the waters cover the sea. But our hearts are LIFE, which He had given at first, and sus- clear and abundant supply for the sustaindrawn out in adoring worship and praise, tained constantly; yet such are the workings ment of life, and cleansing of all who made while we anticipate the time when all will be of unbelief, that they ask why they were use of it. O precious Lord Jesus! holy and we The enemy is always in earnest. There are two remarkable texts, containing the same words, one in 1 Sam. iv. 9, where the Philistines thus incite each other, "Be strong, quit yourselves like men." These words are quoted by the apostle Paul, (1 Cor. xvi. 13,) when urging others to "stand fast in the faith." Oh, if our great enemy be (as he is) always on the watch, should not we be "strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might?” beloved One! thou art the "Lamb slain 17-19, "Remember what Amalek did to thee were) a hand fight, man with man; but “ from the foundation of the world." (Rev. by the way, when ye were come forth out of may boldly say, the Lord is my helper," (Heb. xiii. 8.) Thou art still "the fountain opened Egypt; how he met thee by the way, and xiii. 5, 6,) "for He hath said, I will never for sin;" thou art always beforehand with smote the hindmost of thee, even all that leave thee nor forsake thee;" and though war, the supply bought for us by thy self-sacrifice. were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint perpetual war must be waged against this foe, The law, which would only condemu us, has and weary: and he feared not God." There we have one ever with us to fight for us. exhausted its full penalty on thee! It is is something so subtle, and we may add, so un"Lo, I am with you always," He says to all almost as if that rich stream which flowed utterably mean and cowardly in the workings who love Him. from Horeb, had been ready to quench the of SELF. Amalek smote from behind, he did flames of Sinai. "That rock was Christ!" not face the people outright; and we are so (in type.) "God sent forth His Son, made of unprepared for these insidious attacks "by the a woman, made under the law, to redeem way," particularly when "faint and weary;" them that were under the law" (Gal. iv. 4, 5); how apt we are to see things in the shade of and “Christ is the end of the law, for right-our own despondency, and thus let the enemy eousness to every one that believeth." (Rom.gain a little mastery, which may cost us bitter x. 4.) Horeb was lower than Sinai. Thou, grief in the retrospect. But how blessed the O Lord Jesus, wast made lower than all! prospect given to faith, the "remembrance o Thou didst take the lowest place, that thou Amalek" shall be blotted out from under mightest be crowned with glory and honour! heaven. Again, in 1 Sam. xiv. 48, we read Thou wast made lower than the angels! Thou it was the Amalekites who "spoiled" Israel. Verses 9, 10. "To-morrow I will stand on wast the poorest, the meekest among men! This is just what SELF does: we always lose the top of the hill with the rod of God in Scorned, despised, spit upon, rejected, cruci- by indulging it. One has said, "Give a selfish mine hand. So Joshua did as Moses had fied! yet, in that last fierce effort against man his way, and you only make him more said unto him. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur, thee, when Barabbas (meaning, "Son of a intensely miserable." Another has said, "Self went up to the top of the hill." How blessed father"—the devil!) was preferred to the Son has its way, heedless of the hearts it breaks." are these words, "To-morrow." We would of the Father, the Son of God, and thou wast In chap. xv. we find Saul sparing Agag the only venture the following suggestion, and nailed up to the Cross, to die the death of a king, (v. 9,) and this sin cost him his throne. not make the assertion; but there is an malefactor, there flowed out from thy side The Lord said by Samuel, (v. 23,) "Rebellion | interesting thought connected with these that priceless, free, pure, life-giving fountain is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is words. We may reasonably conclude that which could only come from thy heart; and, as iniquity and idolatry." These are solemn the Rock was smitten on one day, when while it silently told of the breaking of that words. We have in Col. iii. 5, "covetousness, the Israelites brought vessels for the flowing gentle heart of love, told also of the healing which is idolatry." The same truth is taught of the countless multitude who shall praise in both passages. Self, when made the idol, and adore thee for ever! engenders covetousness, it would absorb all. The longer this is indulged, the stronger selfwill becomes; then follows stubbornness, and self finds no place in heaven. There-God in Christ is all and in all. Verse 7. The people drank, and their thirst was quenched, but their sin gave the name to the place, "Massah and Meribah." Temptation, chiding over strife, became the name of that part of the wilderness. 0, To go on with our subject: in verse 8, we beloved brethren, are there not many of these find this subtle and tremendous foe rising up "spots of shame" in our history? Yet the against Israel. What were they to do? They Lord is "merciful and gracious, and indeed seem to have been helpless. It is very reslow to anger." Let us watch and pray ear-markable, we have not a word of theirs renestly against a spirit of murmuring and un-corded. Moses speaks for them; he takes belief. | 66 water, and made use of it in their dwellings; and that the following day, "Amalek" was detected. Moses would wait till the "morrow," before he went to the top of the hill," there to use the power granted him by God. And do we, not discern the blessed type here? The Lord Jesus smitten, then, while His body lay in the tomb, the enemy appeared to triumph, but "on the morrow.' He rose again, to be exalted head over all; to sit for awhile at the right hand of God, there to intercede for His people. Moses was to intercede for the people, while Joshua fought with them. There is an exquisite connection in this 9th verse, with verse 5 of the same chapter, "with the rod of God in my hand." With this rod he had smitten the Rock, and now he was to take it with him. The Lord Jesus willingly gave up His life; He said, "no man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself," &c. (John x. 18.) And thus He triumphed in "the power of His resurrection," which was the next step to His sufferings." (Phil. iii. 10.) And Phil. ii.: "He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross; wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name," &c. We must never forget this. All that our "great High Priest" is doing for us now, is consequent on His having died. The victory was fought for, and gained by Him. He, as our Joshua, has conquered for us on earth, and now, as our intercessor, He is all-prevail cognizance of the tactics and movements of Verse 8. Still we find the Israelites in Amalek, (v. 9) and acts at once. "Moses said Rephidim." A full supply of water had unto Joshua, choose us out men (v. 18), and go been given. There was "the shadow of a out, fight with Amalek." Joshua," means great Rock in a weary land" (Isa. xxxii. 2); "Jehovah, the Saviour." He was to choose their circumstances had improved: what could MEN who were to go out and fight; they were they need? The word is expressive, "THEN not to be left alone, Joshua was to to be with came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Re- them. There is much in the expression, phidim." The direct teaching is this. As "choose us out MEN," fighting men. O what soon as the soul is "satiated with Christ," as an honour to be allowed to do battle on the soon as the believer can say, "My Beloved is Lord's side. How many among the Israelites mine, and I am His:" "He loved me, and were "women and children," and how many gave himself for me," (Song Sol. ii. 16; Gal. ii. Christians are content only to be saved, and 20,) THEN the inward conflict begins. After there to rest! We want men in the Church, much careful study and thought, one is led to men valiant for the truth; men who are view AMALEK as expressive of SELF or THE neither ashamed nor afraid to stand in FLESH. The name is remarkable: "one who the foreground with their leader and fight; licks up or destroys." We see two parties at not unnecessarily, not for themselves, not war: one side must conquer sooner or later, for their sects, but for the truth of God; for if Israel did not vanquish Amalek, Amalek the word of God; "as the truth is would exterminate Israel. We should scarcely in Jesus." Men who do not wish to being for us above. have expected so fierce a foe to trouble this the prey of Amalek; who are ready to sink Verse 11. "And it came to pass, when people in the wilderness; but, alas! this self, that Christ may be all in all. Many Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: enemy is everywhere on earth. O that we a blow will they get, many a wound, perhaps and when he let down his hand, Amalek precould wake up to see and know what SELF a broken limb; much evil report must they vailed." We could never gain the victory, is! It meets us at every turn. "The flesh go through; but all these are only marks of were it not for the intercession of the Lord lusteth against the Spirit." (Gal. v. 17.) honour. The Master had far more to suffer, Many would answer, if asked "Who was our worst enemy?" "Satan." But self is the worst. Satan can and does tempt, torment, and desire to have us; he "goeth about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour;" but he cannot destroy us without our own consent. The word is to Israel and us: "Thou hast destroyed THYSELF!" how blessed is the next sentence: "but IN ME is thy help." (Hosea xiii. 9.) We must wage perpetual warfare with this enemy. O that this may be the prayer of our hearts: "O hide this self from me, that I No more, but Christ in me may live." How descriptive are the words in Deut. xxv. Jesus. His resurrection power is our strength. yet those wounds of His are His glory. He "But Moses' hands were heavy." Poor Moses, would be known by them to the disciples after how burdened he was. Of all the fatiguing His resurrection. "He shewed them His attitudes for a long continuance, perhaps none hands and His side." (John xx. 20.) There is is more so, than the holding up the arms; let a striking word in Isaiah xlvi. 8, it is said, any one try it. But, oh! what a work is going after the wonderful absurdity of idolatry and on now for us in heaven. Even the imagina idol-makers has been clearly shewn, "Remem- tion fails, when we begin to think of what the ber this, and shew yourselves men;' as if it constant intercession of the Lord Jesus inwere utterly beneath a man to be an idolator; volves; the intimate knowledge of the inmost and so it is; yet we must remember the words needs of every heart; the acquaintance with also inspired, " Stubbornness is as iniquity and every believer, and each believing prayer; the idolatry." "Covetousness, which is idolatry." power of sympathy with each and all; so that If we are not fighting manfully with this we may say as one has said, "When I sigh, He "Amalek," he is getting a silent and under-sighs: when I weep, He weeps." And this, handed advantage over us. It must be (as it night and day, on, on, on, till every redeemed one shall "see His face," and "be like Him." titles are given. In Gen. xxii. we read: in your mortal body, that ye should obey it "Thou bear'st me on thy bosom, Amid thy jewels worn, Moses was but a man after all, though a See in His face what wonders meet; But some faint shadows of my Lord; 66 "Abraham called the name of the place Je- in the lusts thereof." (Rom. vi. 12, 13.) We Verse 12. "And they took a stone, and put hung on the Cross-the one atoning sacrifice, Thy grief will have an ending, No more struggle, no more conflict, No more dreams of earthly resting, Where, earth's mists and shadows ended, I shall "see Him as He is." C. A. H. "Jehovah Nissi!" The Lord my banner! phant language in Rom. viii., beginning at "My tongue shall spread the Saviour's fame, For since my soul has known His name, In every conflict I sustain, My enemies shall prove, TO CORRESPONDENTS. ERRATUM. In the last number for "an Officer in India." 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