During that early age in which Job lived, man was the same as he is today in his desire after wealth. He invented methods to attain his purpose, even if his life was imperilled thereby; but seldom did he evince the desire to know God and to walk in His ways.

A graphic description is given in Job 28 of the lust for treasure that overcomes those dangers that threaten to block the endeavor to gratify that lust. Therein man is seen as

A MINER DIGGING FOR PRECIOUS METALS,

silver, gold, iron and brass [copper]. To further his plans he secures a light that he may put "an end to darkness" in his operations in "the shadow of death." And a good translation of Mr. Darby's French Version says:"He openeth a shaft far from the inhabitants [of the earth]:forgotten of the foot, they hang suspended; away below men they hover." That is, the miner forsakes human companionship in order to exploit some region where, having opened a shaft, he lowers himself into the bowels of the earth in quest of gold.

Meanwhile the earth smiling in the sunshine, and presenting on its friendly breast

THE BREAD OR ANOTHER YEAR

is disemboweled;-"It is turned up as it were fire." Man ceases to find satisfaction in the living furnished by a farm, and digs for sapphires and gold. He spends his days tunneling mole-like beneath the earth's surface; he is engaged in making a subterranean path "which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen:the lion's whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it." He even learns to blast, and "overturneth the mountains by [at] the roots" to get at their treasures. And although new perils menace him, overflowing floods threatening his life, with fortitude he learns to divert those floods from his mine;

HE BINDETH THE FLOODS FROM OVERFLOWING

Thus undisturbed he examines the secret places, and "his eye seeth every precious thing" gleaming where his light penetrates, enabling him to appropriate what he seeks (28:1-11). Thus we find mankind in 1900 B.C. exhibiting the same qualities as his Klondike brothers of 1900 A.D.

Now these holy records of a past age are not condemnatory of such proceedings, but raise the question:If men go to such lengths to secure the hidden treasures of the earth, why do so few exhibit a desire after treasure so much more valuable? Where can we find eager and determined seekers who ask:"Where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?"

That these exceed in value the things men so eagerly scramble for is told us in verses 13-19. It is said that no expert can appraise them nor can explorers discover their source. Divers have been able to bring up from the depths vast treasures, but nothing comparable to the divine values so neglected by mankind in general. All the things men risk their lives to acquire cannot buy these values, no gem specialist can price them. They are in a class where the mention of coral, pearls, rubies or the topaz of Ethiopia is out of place. "Whence then cometh wisdom? And where is the place of understanding?" Thank God, we can say that, although unseen by "the fowls of the air," and even by "the eyes of all living," their fame has gone forth. "Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears." Who has not felt, even if not admitting it, that man has destroyed himself? Who has not mourned in the presence; of death? Yet into these conditions has gone forth the report of "wisdom and understanding." But who can answer our hard questions regarding these things? There is but One who can do so, and He is

NONE OTHER THAN GOD

He "understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof." And He it is who says:"Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding."

This wisdom and understanding comes from above. The world by [its] wisdom knows not God (1 Cor. 1:21), it stops short of this knowledge. And when the apostle Paul preaches it, "not many wise" receive it. No wonder he asks:"Where is the wise?" when, as a class, he finds they are not in the Christian assembly but knows they are in heathen temples worshiping idols. And no wonder he delights to preach Christ who is to those called, "Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God" (ver. 24), One who delivers from an evil authority and enlightens with the knowledge of God.

A wonderful example of the power of this gospel is seen in the penitent thief at Calvary. In the darkness of utter alienation from God he joins with his companion in railing on Jesus. Nevertheless there the Saviour of sinners is, impartially "in the midst" and available to both, the story of unutterable love portrayed before their eyes. And there too does one thief become wise and understand. There does he begin to see things; are; there does the fear of God make him and, confessing his own sins, confess the sinlessness of the vicarious Sufferer at his side. There too does the glory of the Lord, saying:"Lord, remember Thou comest into Thy kingdom," to be told:"' I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with Me paradise" (Luke 23:43).

True, he is not given the opportunity to demonstrate" his understanding by departure from evil, but his Saviour, who wrought redemption for him, perceives a work in him, whereby he abhors the evil he had done, and this abhorrence he confesses so publicly that wherever the gospel is preached that confession is related.

Verily that thief received wisdom and understanding, something infinitely better than gems or gold, and he found it in Christ. R. J. Reid

Calendar:Sept. 16th to Oct. 15th

DAILY BIBLE READING………. .Sept. 16th, Rev. 2; Sept. 30th, Rev. 16; Oct. 15th, Genesis 9.

The Book of the Revelation is the book of the Crowned and Coming Christ. The revelation was given to our Lord Jesus that He might show His servants that which soon is to have its fulfilment. For He IS coming. And He is coming SHORTLY. Thus He would have us be prepared in heart to receive Him. He would have us LIKE UNTO MEN awaiting their master (see Luke 12:36).

Special blessing is attached to the one who reads the book, and to those who hear its words and keep those things written within its pages (chap. 1:3).

"READ!"…"HEAR!"…"KEEP!"…"The time is at hand."

The enemy of God, and of us, "that old serpent, the devil and Satan," who deceives the whole world, would keep us from reading any portion of the Word of God, and perhaps from reading this part of that Word particularly, because it presents his full and final overthrow, his dire and dreadful doom, and that of those who are deceived and duped by him. It is well therefore for every believer to become conversant with the truths of the book. Some of its symbols may not be understood, and some parts of the writing may appear difficult of interpretation, but the careful consideration of its pages will have a separating effect as one sees what is to come suddenly and swiftly upon the world, where our Lord was crucified and where He is rejected by many today. The Holy Spirit brings the Lord Jesus before us in chapter 1:S in some of His many glories-"The Faithful Witness, the First Begotten of the dead, the Prince of the kings of the earth"-in the past, in the present, in the future.

As "The Faithful Witness," He glorified God in all His way, ever testifying for the truth. Before Pontius Pilate He witnessed a good confession. How different has been the Church! It has proved itself to be an unfaithful witness.

As "The First Begotten of the dead," Christ has come forth from the grave victorious. He is risen and glorified. He has been declared Son of God with power by resurrection of the dead. Thus it is He is known by Christians who are linked in life with Him risen.

As "The Prince of the kings of the earth," He will come to reign. Chapter 19 presents Him thus, "King of kings and Lord of lords." He issues forth to put down all authority and power, to be the "One Lord and His name one."

Suddenly as His glories are being unfolded there is

AN INTERRUPTION

A choir bursts forth in the praise of the Coming One. He is more to them than has been portrayed in the verses spoken of-He is the Eternal Lover of their souls. He is their Saviour and Blesser. So their praises declare as they cry, "Unto Him that loved us (loves us, we should read it) and has washed us (or, loosed us) from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests unto God and His Father, to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."

Loved by Him His people have been loosed by Him. Their sins had bound them. Until their sins were atoned for they could not be freed for the worship of His God and His Father. And so it was that He gave His life. His precious blood was shed, that they might be redeemed to God, and be able to sound His Father's praises.

Frequently this anthem is divided in the thoughts of Christians, as though it finished at the fifth verse. This would leave us with the loosing, as though it was our salvation from judgment only which our Lord had before Him in His holy sufferings. This is to the saint's loss. The Lord Jesus was here for the Father's glory and praise. With this in view He lived. With this in view He died. He has won by His redemption work a company of worshipers for His Father. Wonderful is the grace which has numbered us who now believe among them. Well may we join in the praise and cry, "To Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."

We worship because of Him thus. The next verse tells of many who will wail because of Him. "Behold, He cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him:and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen."

Solemn words indeed, yet to be made good in their season.

At the close of the book another interruption is described. The Lord is presenting Himself before the hearts of His own, as He says:"I Jesus have sent Mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David and the Bright Morning Star."

"I Jesus." How precious is that Name! It tells of His glory and of His grace. He is Jehovah. He is the Saviour. His majesty and His mercy are combined. His Lordship and His love are revealed.

"The Root and the Offspring of David" is what He is for Israel, and He will give that people deliverance and blessing in a near future day.

"The Bright and Morning Star" is for His Church. As the Morning Star He rises before He appears as "Sun of Righteousness." Then He will shine forth with healing in His wings for the blessing of a wide creation (Mal. 3). Today He rises in the hearts of His own before the dawning of the day. And "Bright" He is, amid the darkness of the night of His rejection.

As He thus unfolds something of His beauty and blessedness, "the Spirit and the Bride" break in with the cry, "Come." It is an interruption of longing desire and of welcome to the Absent One. The Holy Spirit is a stranger here, and He leads the Bride to the spirit of strangership also. But it is Himself, Jesus, presented before the heart which leads to the cry, "Come!"

Verse 20 gives the Lord's reply, "Yea, I come," and He adds, "quickly." Gladly we answer, "Yea! Come, Lord Jesus!"

Happy interruptions these! Holy praise and hearty longing are expressed by glad hearts. And may we not say that His heart, the heart of Him who loves His church and comes for it, is gladdened as He hears the Outpouring of the affections of His own. Inglis Fleming

At three different periods in his Christian career Paul seems to pause and take account of himself in the light of the Divine presence. And, let us remember, in the sanctuary is the only place where we can come to a proper estimate of self. If we measure ourselves among ourselves, we are not wise (2 Cor. 15:12). Such a standard is short of the mark, and when used the flesh will be sure to find something in which to glory. The balances of God's sanctuary never fail to register correctly, and when weighed there we are ever found wanting. It is the sense of this in our hearts that will keep us in a humble attitude before God and man. This is essential, for it is the humble in spirit whom God has promised to bless, while the proud He knoweth afar off.

THE LEAST OF THE APOSTLES

Paul was an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, and as such he occupied a unique place. There were, however, twelve other apostles. Each one was chosen by the Lord for a definite work. They would doubtless differ as to ability and gift. Some would outshine others, according to man's way of judging things, and here the flesh could easily be manifested in pride, envy and jealousy, and other obnoxious traits.

But it is indeed refreshing to behold the marked absence of the spirit of any of these in the apostle Paul. Comparing himself with his fellow-workmen, he could say:"For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God" (1 Cor. 15:9).

In what way, may we ask, was Paul "least of the apostles?" It is certain that he was not inferior as to office, power or ability. When the Corinthian saints questioned Paul's apostleship he could more than defend himself, deeming it foolish to have to do so, because of their carnal condition. He was not a whit behind the very chiefest of the apostles. He labored more abundantly than they all, and had every reason to glory in the persecutions endured for Christ's sake (2 Cor. 11).

However honorable his office as the great apostle of the Gentiles, and however mightily used of the Lord in the salvation of many precious souls and the establishment of the early Church, Paul ever exhibited the humble spirit of his Lord and Master. He esteemed others better than himself, remembering his former lost estate as a rebel against God. He had "persecuted the Church," but the Lord had showed him great mercy by saving his soul and calling him to be an apostle. This produced the sense of grace in his soul, and kept him humble.

How we all need to follow Paul in this! It is when we get high in our own estimation, and begin to look down on others, that we grow proud. May those of us who serve the Lord in a public way especially seek to emulate the beautiful and humble spirit of the apostle Paul. If we humble ourselves the Lord will do the exalting.

LEAST OF ALL SAINTS

At a later date Paul again speaks of himself in a comparative way. This time it is as a saint he speaks. "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ" (Eph. 3:8).
One of the strong and needed exhortations in God's Word for all His people is:"Grow in grace" (2 Pet. 3:8). We cannot grow into grace, but we can and should grow in divine grace. Paul is a striking example of this. Some years have elapsed since his first estimate of self as an apostle. During that time he has grown in grace, and now the circle widens to "all saints."

We can but marvel at the grace which shines so brightly in the life of this dear man of God. Paul had just been referring to the revelations which the Lord had committed to him. He surely was a chosen vessel, and he was used above all others, both in the Gospel and in establishing the Lord's people in the purpose of God for this age. But what was the secret of his success? we are here constrained to ask. "To me, who am less than the least of all saints is this grace given," Paul would reply. Ah, it was because he was so emptied of self in every respect that the Lord could fill him with divine fulness, and make of the former blasphemer a pattern saint.

I challenge my own heart as I ask:How do I compare with the apostle Paul in this? If only we possessed this lowly mind, how much trouble the Lord's people would be spared! It is when pride gets a place in our hearts that we become easily offended and insulted.

CHIEF OF SINNERS

The years sped on in Paul's eventful life of toil for his Saviour and Lord. Now we view him as a veteran, Paul the aged. With the years of Christian experience he has grown more mellow in spirit and in true holiness. The more he came to know Christ, and the nearer he approached the glory for which he so ardently longed, Paul's personal estimate of self sinks to a still lower level."This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners"-and Paul adds by way of personal testimony, "Of whom I am chief" (1 Tim. 1:15). Many deep-dyed sinners there have been, but Paul now places himself right at the top of the list. "I am chief!" he exclaims. Whilst Paul could exhort, "Follow me," he goes on, "even as I also follow Christ." The lowliness that marked him was the lowliness of Christ (Phil. 2:5). As he followed he became more like his Master. As we increase in years of Christian experience are our lives characterized by this? It is a searching question for all our hearts. If we are earnestly endeavoring to walk daily in sweet and intimate communion with our blessed and holy Lord, the characteristics seen in the beloved apostle Paul will surely be developed in us. Doubtless this is what Paul emphasized when he wrote:"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed in the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Cor. 3:18).

Let us consider these words afresh, and seek to respond to our Lord's mind and desire concerning us, His own blood-bought people. S. Stewart

It has been often said that Paul's return to Jerusalem and the subsequent events were the results of his disobedience to the expressed will of the Lord. It has been further stated that his payment of the charges of those who were under Jewish vows, also the previous circumcision of Timothy at the city of Derbe, while at the same time he was carrying the decision of the assembly at Jerusalem concerning the Gentiles' exemption from obligation to practice Jewish customs, reveals him in the same light.

As all this places the apostle to the Gentiles in the unenviable position of preaching one thing and practicing another, it behooves us to examine the scriptures that refer to these incidents to ascertain if these things be so.

First:One reason given is that because Paul's distinctive ministry was to the Gentiles, he left his proper sphere when he went among the Jews. Certainly, he was, in a special way, the minister of the uncircumcision (Gal. 2:7, 8). But does this mean that he was to be denied the privilege of preaching Christ to Jews whenever so led in the course of his ministry? Acts 9:15 answers this:for, while he is called by the Lord to be a chosen vessel to carry His Name among the Gentiles, still it is also added, "and to My people, Israel." And though questions have been raised concerning his return to preach at Jerusalem to Israelites, yet, comparatively, his labors among the nations far exceeded the time spent among the Jews.

Second:Much is made of the warnings he received in every city, and also that the Holy Spirit told him not to go up to Jerusalem. But a careful survey of the context, as well as of the texts cited for this, show that the apostle never regarded these warnings as definitely forbidding his journey. He apparently took them all as being solicitous for his personal safety. So in Acts 21:10-13 he says:"Why do you break my heart? I am not only willing to be bound, but to die at Jerusalem for the Lord Jesus." Was there ever such manifest devotion to the Lord Jesus as here? And where, one may ask, is there the evidence of wilful disobedience?* *The repeated warnings he received were concerning what he would suffer (Acts 20:22-24), except the distinct statement given in Acts 21:4. Paul evidently views all in relation to his suffering, and refuses to allow the certainty of it to deter him from going. Out of intense devotion to the Lord Jesus and his brethren according to the flesh he went, ready to suffer all.

Here, however, another question arises. While the spirit of the apostle is truly commendable, it is another matter to say that it was the Lord's will for him to suffer at that time in the way of which he was forewarned by the Holy Spirit. While utterly self-abandoned in his wonderful devotion, was his sensitiveness to the Lord's will at the time overcome by it? In other words, was it an excess which carried him beyond the Lord's intention at the time? I suggest this because we can hardly set aside the explicit word by the Spirit in Acts 21:4. Still we can see too how the Lord graciously came in, not with words of rebuke but of comfort and assurance. What tenderness HE shows, surely in view of His servant's great devotion, even though it carried him beyond bounds at the time.* -J. BLOORE.

Third:It is asked, What about the payment of vows and the circumcision of Timothy? Is this consistent with Christian liberty from the law? As to Timothy, his mother was a Jewess, but his father a Gentile. Because of the Jews in that place Paul circumcised him. The paying of vows was in deference to Jewish believers in Jerusalem to remove their distrust of him and his ministry, for they were weak in the faith, still clinging to the law and its ceremonies. What, then, was the motive behind Paul's actions? Let 1 Cor. 9:20 supply the answer, "Unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law," etc.* *The case of Titus shows an interesting contrast to that of Timothy. Do not both vindicate the principle of grace as the guide of the apostle's conduct in these diverse cases? Just because circumcision means nothing in the matter of salvation, he through grace has liberty to use it if he judges it will disarm prejudice among the unbelieving Jews and further the course of the gospel. In this case there was no issue being raised, or controversy being pressed, as to circumcision being essential to salvation for Gentiles as well as Jews, but this did exist in the circumstances when he took Titus with him. Titus was a Gentile, and Paul's action is an open avowal that he, a Gentile, is on the same footing through grace as Paul. To circumcise Titus would be to admit and practice what would have nullified grace. In both cases the apostle is acting according to the liberty of the gospel which the Judaizers would have destroyed (Gal. 2:3-5).-John Bloore.*

Again, after having been apprehended while in the temple, and in the course of his defense while speaking on the castle stairs, he refers to the Lord's words to him:"And the Lord said, They will not receive thy testimony" (Acts 22:17). Does not this prove that the apostle was in a false position? But this does not forbid him giving his testimony to them, any more than the words which follow, "Depart, for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles" (ver. 21), can be rightly construed to limit his ministry to them. Does he not introduce this to arouse Israel to jealousy? (Rom. 9, etc.). And seemingly it does, but not in the hoped-for direction; they hear him to this point and then cry out, "Away with this fellow!"

But now the great effort is over. The apostle is rejected by his brethren, the Jews. One can well imagine him sitting disconsolate and alone in his prison cell with the failure of the effort weighing heavily upon him. But the Lord Himself draws nigh. With words of rebuke and censure? Nay, but, "Be of good cheer, Paul:for as thou hast testified of Me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome" (Acts 23:11).

Yet he has not said his last word to his brethren. When finally settled in Rome he calls them to his house for a last appeal. He finds those in Rome, like those in Jerusalem, adamant to the true and rightful claims of Jesus, their Messiah. This results in his turning his ministry completely to the Gentiles.

But, it may be asked, did not Paul make any mistakes amid these changing scenes? As to this we know there was only One who as Man was absolutely perfect- "The Leader and Completer of faith" (Heb. 12:2, New Trans.). Rather than attempt to fix blame, let us think of the apostle's motives. They evidently were:the glory of God, devotion to Christ, the edification of saints, and the salvation of sinners, Jews and Gentiles. These formed the apostle's course in life, so that no danger to life itself or suffering in any shape or form could deter him in his self-sacrificing service. (See 2 Cor. 11:23, etc.) Let us remember his words:"Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample…. Those things, which ye have learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do:and the God of peace shall be with you" (Phil. 3:17; 4:9). W. B. Bigger

(Continued from p. 147)

Now we have to face the "King of Beasts," an enemy of great power and cunning. "Your adversary the devil," says the Apostle Peter, "as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour'" (1 Peter 5:8).

The true child of God may "keep himself" so that "that wicked one toucheth him not" (1 John 5:18). Those in whom the Word of God abideth "overcome the wicked one" (1 John 2:14). But there are some who are in terrible danger from the lion's paw. We shall see what I mean if we recall the part a lion played in a tragedy of old-time Israel.

King Jeroboam had made two calves of gold and set them up to be worshiped, one in Bethel and the other in Dan. He had also ordained a feast "in the month which he had devised of his own heart," "like unto the feast that is in Judah." These imitations of, and substitutes for, the worship of God he sought to impose upon his people. But God sent a servant of His from Judah to Bethel to protest against these innovations and impudent variations of the divine order. He gave him implicit instructions not even to eat bread or drink water with those who had thus forsaken God's appointed center of worship in Jerusalem. To avoid temptation he was not even to pass over the same ground twice, but to return home by a different path.

His testimony, as such, was apparently an entire success, and when the king pressed him to come home with him for refreshment and a reward, he steadfastly refused and started off towards Judah by another route. All might have gone well, but unfortunately there was an old prophet, a backslider, living at Bethel, the very stronghold of Jeroboam's new-fangled religion. His testimony was powerless, and the Lord could apparently make no use of him, seeing that He brought another prophet all the way from Judah to deliver a message. Probably he held the ridiculous and illogical idea, the counterpart of which is so popular nowadays, that, by continuing hand-in-glove, with those who had forsaken the Word of the Lord, he might "have a good influence" on them. No one living in known disobedience to God ever did have an ultimately blessed influence on anyone. The Lord's attitude towards such conduct is made sufficiently clear by His instructions to His messenger from Judah, just as His mind for us nowadays is made sufficiently clear in such passages as 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 (which we trust the honest reader will take the trouble to look up, if not already familiar with it).

This old backsliding prophet heard of the mission of the man of God from Judah, and, like Balaam, saddled his ass and started off on an errand of self-will. Overtaking the visitor, he pressed him to come home with him for a meal. The man of God repeated his instructions, that he was to eat no bread and drink no water there, nor even return by the same road as he came.

"Oh, but I'm a prophet as well as you!" was the reply. "An angel spoke to me by the Word of the Lord, saying:Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water."

"He lied unto him," is the brief but sufficient comment of the Holy Spirit.

Consider what is involved. If the old prophet's statement was true, then the man of God had entirely misunderstood what he had hitherto looked upon as the Word of the Lord, and which had only recently been confirmed by a striking sign. Nevertheless he went back with him, ate bread in his house and drank water As they sat at table, their meal was disturbed by a sudden prophetic impulse possessing the old backsliding prophet. The power that had apparently forsaken him returned, and he cried:"Thus saith the Lord:Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the Lord, and hast not kept the commandment which the Lord thy God commanded thee.. .thy carcase shall not come into the sepulcher of thy fathers." The consternation that ensued and the unhappy ending of this ill-fated visit may well be imagined. "And when he had gone, a lion met him by the way and slew him."

This striking incident is recorded in Scripture (1 Kings 13) to warn us of our sure fate if we leave the plain teaching of the Word of God and have fellowship with religious substitutes that men have "devised of their own hearts." There are many "old prophets," inextricably tied up to modern variations from the simplicity of the Word of God, who are willing and anxious to press their spiritual hospitality on those who desire to stand by the Word of God alone. If we pay heed to them, we shall inevitably find ourselves side-tracked as far as real usefulness in God's sight is concerned.

Disobedience to the plain commands of Scripture is tantamount to putting one's head into the lion's mouth, instead of "resisting him steadfast in the faith." We must resist him; we must fight with this beast. If not, we shall deeply rue it in the resurrection life that is coming.

David began his career by meeting and overcoming the lion (1 Sam. 17:34-36). Then when Samson went down to the Philistines "a young lion roared against him." He slew it, but returned later on to its carcase and ate the honey that he found there. This strikes the keynote of Samson's life. He was a Nazarite who continually went back on his vows of separation.

How many-like a sow returning to her wallowing in the mire, like a dog to its vomit, like Samson to the lion's carcase-go back on their separation to God, and forget that they were cleansed from their old sins and inconsistencies.

Christ has overcome for us our adversary the devil, and we may overcome him through the blood of the Lamb (Rev. 12:11). Let us never go back to the lion's carcase, however much the honey may tempt us.

"Overcoming the Devil" is dealt with more exhaustively in Can a Young Man Overcome? by the same author. Arthur Gook

(Concluded in next number, D.V.)

In his Epistle to the Romans the Apostle declared that the faith of the Roman believers, like the imperial city itself, was spoken of throughout the world. He spoke of Aquila and Priscilla. In chapter 16, he gave them a testimonial of undying fame as the helpers of one of the greatest of God's servants. Indeed for his life they laid down their own necks (lit., submitted their throats to the knife). He had a word of comment or commendation for each of the thirty or so names he put on record. They are like David's thirty mighty men and it is of great encouragement to notice that about one-third part of Paul's "mighties" were women. Many of them when they heard that Paul was coming to Rome went forty miles on the way to meet him, and by their fellowship and sympathy gave him great encouragement. It was a beautiful testimony to the unity of the faith. The Apostle had said he longed to see them that he might impart some spiritual gifts to them and establish them and that he might be comforted by means of their mutual faith. When he realized the motives which led them to come so far at a measure of personal risk to salute him, he was filled with thanksgiving to God. It is striking how often Paul was comforted by Christian fellowship and the coming of friends. As Christians we are to be full of thanksgiving.

Paul had longed to go to Rome. He had made request that his journey might be a prosperous one (Rom. 1:10). He got there by way of a riot, a castle imprisonment, a flight to Caesarea, a trial before Felix, two years in prison, a trial before Festus, and another before Agrippa, a voyage on three different ships, shipwrecks, storms, all sorts of vicissitudes and perils, and now bound with a chain to a soldier he was to be tried for his life. A prosperous journey indeed, but our soul prosperity is promoted more by adverse than prosperous circumstances, and he could stand out on that night of the storm with the words of an unconquerable faith, "Sirs, be of good cheer, for I believe God." In many a moral storm, and darkness, in drifting circumstances, Christians have heard the call of that inner voice to renewed hope and courage.

For two years Paul dwelt in his own hired house. He had not entire freedom, but he was permitted to receive his friends and his house became the focus of pilgrimage. When his visitors came he did not take up time speaking of the vexatious delays of his trial and the burden of his chain. He preached the Kingdom of God, not that side which is administrative but the moral and spiritual aspect. As in his Epistle, he said that the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. He preached with all confidence, literally, with "freedom of speech," unhinderedly. His arm was chained, but not so his spirit or his tongue. What renders the testimony so feeble today is the lack of assurance. The fruit of Paul's assurance was soon made manifest, and this is in evidence by his letter to the Philippian believers. "All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household." Each day a different soldier of the guards was detailed to take charge of him, thus one by one these soldiers heard him preach and teach and had the opportunity of personal conversation with their prisoner. So some of these became the saints of Caesar's household. T. Oliver (Galashiels)
O Speak to Me of JESUS

The word "research" is much in use today. There are committees and societies for research into all sorts of subjects. The results of some of these are of benefit in matters of health, industry, government, science, education, etc.; though where there is the erroneous modernistic basis, or other false premise, the results tend to further fallen man's unbelief of, and rebellion against God.

Very many persons are engaged in, and a great deal of time, labor and money is expended upon these various researches; in contrast with which, research on the part of Christians, into truth having reference to God, His Word and His Work, is comparatively scant. Praise God, indeed, for knowledge of truth already attained, but there "remains yet very much land to be possessed," and there are many problems inviting solution in connection with the Christian faith. A group of Christian students of one of the universities come together for Bible study, and have as their purpose, the scientific study of the Bible. That is the right attitude. Bible interpretation suffers from the methods of pseudo-science, but not from true scientific investigation.

The Lord Jesus Christ has set before His people "an opened door." This blessing is before us now, we may believe; more so than at any previous period in the history of the Church of Christ. And as each generation is heir to the knowledge and experience of preceding generations, how great is the privilege and responsibility of the present generation. The door which the Lord sets before us opens two ways, we may say-inward, for access into the treasury of truth; outward, for the proclamation of the "unsearchable riches." Are we sufficiently awake to our responsibility in these two directions? And while the side of the door opened for evangelization is not by any means being used as much as it might; yet perhaps it is more in use than the other side which opens into the inviting pastures of the truth. The consequence of such one-sidedness is that not only is there lack of fuller and clearer knowledge, but even our presentation of the gospel tends to suffer from lack of convincing power. There is universal harmony in the truth of God, and neglect of one side is bound to affect the other side. Notice how that, with the godly Man of Psalm One, fruitfulness is closely connected with the constant meditation in the law of the Lord-the Word of God.

Now serious research is no small task. We have need of one another in this good work. "Two are better than one, for they have a good reward of their labor." We must not allow the enemy to discourage, but be glad and eager at this happy occupation, for it will make God and Christ and the things that abide very real to us. Let us not hold back from doing our little bit. Even two or three working together will find great blessing. In fact, it will be found that small classes are better than large ones for such work. It will consist of purposive study, depending on the Holy Spirit, and using Concordances, Bible Dictionaries, Commentaries, and all available helps, while doing each our own thinking.

"Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given you," said Jehovah to Joshua. Let us put in our claim, each of us. See how many Scriptures exhort to search after wisdom, understanding, knowledge, truth! Read Proverbs 3:13-18. E. B. Craig

HAVE WE ANY RESPONSIBILITY?

"In the watchman see the sword come and blow not the trumpet and the people are not warned; if the sword come and take any person from among them he is taken away in his iniquity but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand" (Ezek. 33:6).

In view of the many evident signs of the approaching day of judgment and tribulation have we not a very serious responsibility to do all in our power to warn the unconverted of the coming storm and point them to that shelter which our God has so graciously provided? (See Isaiah 32:2). Whether it be to be absolved from responsibility as the watchman of the Old Testament or to be acting in the constraining love of Christ, beseeching men in Christ's stead to be reconciled to God we should be endeavoring by all means, either to proclaim the Gospel or to uphold by prayer and fellowship those who are more actively engaged in this work.

The following are a few brief extracts from recent letters of brethren on the foreign field.

CHINA

Brother Kautto writes:

Taitowying, June 22, 1933.

Glad to hear that brother Searle is on the way again and trust he will have a safe and happy trip. It does indeed seem that the shorter the time grows for work, the greater the hindrances, whether directly or indirectly, from the enemy of souls. We noticed the account in Help and Food of the new opposition facing our brethren in Africa, and our sympathies go out to them for it is not easy to see, like Elisha, the armies of the Lord filling the mountains around us. It would appear, from the letters of missionaries on every continent, that Rome is making a special effort the world around. It might be added that this corner is no exception. Before we opened work at Mutouteng there was no Romish place nearer than IS miles, but with the awakening of heathen minds to the truth, there came adversaries to draw as many unanchored souls as might be attracted by the offer of protection from bandits (not that they could always fulfil the promises) or from legal conflicts, there being no question as to spiritual things. This vicinity has seen the same changes, so that with the war troubles, bandits and soldiers, the people have more and more flocked to the Roman profession until almost all of those who had taken the name of any denomination have joined the Roman membership.

This has surely been an unusual season in that it has collected all the characteristics of the past and put them into a few months. We had hoped to be out with the tent long ere this. That has been true of every summer -a late start. Other years it was bandits and soldiers or repair building, but this spring it was Chinese soldiers, then Japanese invasion and the insecurity with it, and now it is bandits again.

A couple of days ago bandits came and surrounded Taitowying, some 2,000 of them. It so happened that the small force of Japanese soldiers stationed here had a replacement coming that very day and when the company arrived from Chienanhsien (to the west) th«" Chamber of Commerce notified the bandits that soldiers had arrived and it would be better for them to depart (instead of waiting the three days of grace for the $60,000, they had demanded of the Chamber), and the bandits accordingly withdrew. But the incoming soldiers simply replaced those here who went on to Shanhaikuan. The bandits learned of it and renewed their demands. Next morning there was some machine-gun firing and since then we have not heard of any more threatening.

A condition peculiar to China, perhaps, now obtains in this region. A bandit leader, who styles himself the Tiger, went to the newly installed district magistrate, at the town of Shuangshantze and "joined" his protective forces with his band of followers. Shortly afterwards a stronger party of bandits from the north came down too close for the safety of the Tiger band who then came inside the Great Wall. After the bandit visit here the chief of police sought out the Tiger and discussed the situation with him. Now the Tiger has frequented this region for a number of years and his "face" is desirable with those who might profit him, and the result is that the Tiger has promised not only that he will not molest the city but that he will not permit other bandits to do so. But the surrounding villages are not escaping the ravages of "alien" outlaws. One town of a "hundred homes," which means more than that many families however, which lies less than eight miles northwest of here was burned by bandits because the people who had guns would not give them to the bandits. No lives were lost by fire but two men were shot. Another village about three miles east of here was burned also. The men of the place had fled and the bandits incensed at this forced some women and children into the fire, where they soon perished. Now we hear that from the first of these two villages the bandits have taken seventeen women to hold for ransom. So from a human standpoint it is impossible to say what authority holds sway over this part of the country, but, as always, we know that the Lord is over-ruling.

The mission compound is filled with refugees again and many have had to turn elsewhere for shelter, so we have an audience every night, made up of those who have been "compelled" by circumstances to come in. Through your prayers and the prayers of the saints, with the "inviting" influence of the Holy Spirit, we pray they may hear and understand and accept the call to the prepared feast before the doors are shut. So no matter what the conditions the Lord is able to furnish a company to hear the Gospel, and it does seem most surely that the time for them to hear is fast drawing to a close.

May His grace, mercy and peace sustain all His own the little while till He come, enabling them to still seek and sound the rescue call.

With our united Christian love and greetings to all in the Lord, Affectionately yours in Christ.

Charles and Esther Kautto.

Our last news of Brother Foggin informed us that he was about to leave Kansu for Peking hoping if possible to proceed to Taitowying to labor for a little time with our brother and sister Kautto.

SOUTH AMERICA

A Missionary in Paraguay writes as follows:
The Lord is sustaining us here in the midst of all the political trouble and our meetings are well attended by civilians as well as by soldiers and much interest is manifested especially now when so many are suffering the consequences of this awful war. There are so many young men passing into eternity, so many wounded and sick, and a scarcity of the most necessary things. All these things make the people think of something beyond this life; and the message of the Gospel is the only message which brings joy and peace to the sin-sick soul. May we be faithful in the proclamation of this glorious Gospel. Continue praying for us that we may be kept from danger and sustained in the midst of all the difficulties.

INDIAN WORK

Miss Rose Olsen at Kingman, Arizona writes:

Dear brother:-I want to thank the saints for their ministry and token of fellowship just received. I praise the Lord for his constant care and the help and encouragement He gives along the way. What a blessed privilege in these last dark days to sow the precious seed. May He richly bless it wherever it goes forth.

Mr. and Mrs. Anderson of Valentine, Arizona and Miss Clara Holcomb of Shiprock New Mexico tell of being much refreshed in body and spirit through attending the conference at Flagstaff, Arizona. Mrs. Anderson says:

It is such a treat to come up here where it is cool and where they get some rain once in a while. The ministry is so good and it means much to us to meet with other missionaries and talk with Christians from all the Indian tribes.

HARBOR WORK

MONTREAL

Brother Holwill has been able to devote considerable time to the ship work during the summer months and has been much encouraged . He has been able to show helpful fellowship to many isolated Christians found on board ships visiting that port.

NEW YORK

We are glad to have the following report from our brother West:

The Lord has answered prayer as to the opening up of a new part of the great port of New York for work among seamen. This is the Bayonne waterfront where most of the large oil companies are located. It is estimated that 20% of the shipping of New York touches at this point and while for several years we have wanted to visit the many steamers going there, the distance to be covered, the time and expense involved together with the demands our own work made upon us led to the foregoing of this privilege. The Lord however was not unmindful of our exercises in this direction and now, in answer to prayer, there is a young brother from Hoboken, living not far from these oil piers who regularly visits the ships there and he reports access to four of the largest companies, including the Standard Oil Co., and a substantial number of ships reached every week for the past two months.

Through the kindness of our brother S. Holmgren, superintendent of the James Slip Gospel Mission, located on the East River waterfront, we have been able to use this place as a storehouse for literature and a working center at the same time. Last Spring the base of operations the Lord opened for us five years ago in South Brooklyn was lost, through no fault of our own, and within a week we were located at our new quarters. Since then a new line of work, visiting the vessels along the East River, a privilege long denied us, due to stringent regulations on the part of the shipping concerns, has been opened up and we thank God for the many openings gained in preaching the Word to men hitherto unknown to us. One company particularly, a Spanish American concern, owned and operated by Jesuits, is no longer in their hands, having become the property of the Spanish Republic since the Revolution in that country. Thus, what was once a closed door is now wide open and it has been very gratifying to observe the reception the personnel of these steamers give the worker and his message. We ask the prayers of our brethren that these new fields may be kept open for the Gospel.

"The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved" (Jer. 8:20).

What a pathetic cry for Israel in the days of Jeremiah but how much more pathetic for those who have heard the Gospel during the summer months now ending, if they have not believed. Surely we should pray earnestly that God's blessing may rest upon the word preached and the tracts distributed during the season now drawing to a close.

(John 3:1-21; 7:50-53; 19:28-42; 1 John 5:4,5.)

There is divine fitness in the fact that while nothing is said of Nicodemus in the other Gospels, John speaks of him three times. On each occasion he is referred to as he that "came to Jesus by night" The Spirit of God fastens upon the ruler's approach to Jesus under cover of darkness, to depict the darkness which lies upon man's heart in his relations with God.

As one of the greatest men of his day in Israel, Nicodemus stood for all that was highest and most valued in that nation. Of the foremost authorities on Judaism and the Law, he is addressed by the Lord Himself as "the Teacher of Israel" (see R.V.). In answering him therefore, while first of all having in view the ruler's own personal need, the Lord also spoke to him as the representative of his people. All that was said to him had its voice for the nation as well as for himself; and indeed, it was the revelation of the very heart of God toward all men.

Nicodemus was entirely Jewish by birth, training and tradition. But he had one thing which linked him with the Gentile world, and that was his name. Whatever the reason for this strange fact, the meaning of his name was only a taunt to him. For under the "iron heel" of Rome, as he and his people were at the time, the suggestion of being a "Conqueror of the Populace" carried with it a sting to the pride of those who knew that they might have been the "head" and not the "tail" among the nations of the earth. But it was not fate which had placed Israel under the Gentile "heel," and no one knew it better than Nicodemus. Nothing but Israel's sin and unbelief brought them into the humiliation they were experiencing; but GOD, even the God of their fathers, had pointed out to them the way back into the place of rule and authority over the nations. Nicodemus knew too that neither he nor his people were taking that way to attain their desired end. Yet God had decreed that Nicodemus should "conquer the world" in a way which, as yet, he knew not.

The searching ministry of John the Baptist, calling upon the nation to repent, and to bring forth the fruits of that repentance, had also "voiced" its testimony concerning Him who "came after" him, but who was "preferred before him." John the Baptist preached Jesus, not alone as the King of Israel with the instrument of judgment in His hand about to purge His own "threshing-floor"; but what is even more important, he set Jesus forth as the "Son of God," and as the "Lamb of God." His ministry, had it been received by the nation, would have "prepared the way" for the Lord to be received by His people. How sad then to behold from the very leaders themselves nothing but this timid acknowledgment, which had to find its way through Nicodemus under cover of night. "Rabbi, we know that Thou art a teacher come from God. For no one is able to do these signs which Thou doest unless God be with him." But no one dared openly to confess Him, "for fear of the Jews." And if some think that Nicodemus was a "coward," what must be said of his fellow-rulers who joined hatred to bigotry, and derided what they could not deny. And here, had they but known it, was one of themselves who claimed to "point the way" (the Torah-instructors) coming to Jesus for the light which neither he nor they possessed.

There is but one explanation for this, and though unknown as yet to Nicodemus himself, he was beginning to have wrought in him that which was as much the work of God, as when, at the first, "God said, Let there be light-and there was light." And since this greater light is found only in the Son, how fitting that the ruler should seek its Source in Him. For there can be no doubt that Nicodemus sought in Jesus that which he knew Judaism did not possess. No one knew better than he its limitations, and he now looked outside of it to find what his soul craved.

The manner of the Evangelist's narrative, in bringing before us the interview the ruler sought with the Lord, is itself a witness that God was working. And when He works, man must "stand still, and see the salvation of God." It was thus that the Lord testified later, when opposed by the leaders of the Jews in His labor of love:"My Father worketh until now:and I work" (5:17). It was not that His Father had ceased to work, giving place to the Son; but rather the Son had come forth from the presence of His Father to work along with Him, even as at first They wrought together in Creation. The revelation of this from Jesus' lips brought forth from the blind leaders the charge of "blasphemy" against Him whom they knew not. But here was one of their number who was being led out of "darkness into His marvelous light."

How unprepared was the heart of the ruler to hear the words of divine truth which leveled to the dust all that he and his people had hoped for! For what the Lord told him so emphatically placed himself and his proud people as much outside the kingdom as the uttermost Gentile. "Except anyone be born again (anew), he cannot see the kingdom of God." What a blow in the face of Jewish and Pharisaic pride! No wonder that the ruler sought to offset these words with mingled denial and ridicule. "How can a man be born when he is old?" That is to say, the thing is impossible. It is a common thing for men of intellect and of standing with men, if faced with what they inwardly feel to be the "sword of the Spirit," to deny what they cannot answer, and then to pour contempt on what they do not understand. Nicodemus' second question was intended, it would seem, to make the Lord's declaration appear ridiculous.

The fact that the ruler employed such weapons in meeting the truth he had heard was all the stronger witness how deeply he was wounded. In fact it was a "death-blow" he had received; but he did not give in without a struggle. When the Lord replied to him reiterating what He had already said, and with the same divine emphasis, Nicodemus could but answer:"How can these things be?"

In the first part of His discourse, the Lord made no new revelation to his unwilling hearer, but opened out in fuller display that which His Father had already made known in the Old Testament Scriptures.. Israel's condition, stricken with death, and needing divine life, was surely no new discovery. God had uncovered their woeful state, and along with this, His promise of cleansing and renewal. All that which answered to being "born again" should have been understood by the ruler. But he and his fellows were "blinded" by their own hands. Their own prophet Isaiah had testified to them:"Be astounded and astonished; blind yourselves, and be blind. They are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink. For Jehovah hath poured out upon you a deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes, the prophets and your chiefs, the seers hath He covered. And the whole vision is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed…. therefore, behold, I will proceed to do marvelously with this people… and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their intelligent ones shall be hid" (Isa. 29:9-14, J. N. D. TV.).

The same prophet had foretold "how" these things can be, and this by the same means which the Lord later brought before the ruler. Ere anyone could be "born anew," the One whom the Father had sent must suffer and die! But how strange that He who alone could bring life to man, should be rejected by him when coming into the world! Stranger still; it was to be in and through that very rejection and death that life was to come for man! The "new" birth could come in no other way. So it had been foretold:"When Thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed,… He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied." Thus, and only thus, can Israel be re-born. But if He suffer thus, who shall limit His "seed" to that nation? If the Son of Man be lifted up, accursed of God for man's sake, it is that "whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life."

And now the Lord in opening to the ruler's wondering view the real meaning of the "serpent of brass" lifted up in the sight of the smitten ones, goes on to tell something which till then had never been known. As yet the Son of Man was a mysterious figure set forth by the prophets. The Jews too had asked:"Who is this Son of Man?" Now, Jesus is about to bring out of His treasures things "new" as well as "old.""For God so loved the world (here Jew and Gentile are seen as one in their ruin and need, but also as alike loved by God, and "so loved"), that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." The Man who travailed that He might "see His seed" born anew unto Him; who was "lifted up," even as the serpent in the wilderness, that those smitten through their sin might have eternal life, who is He? The Lord takes His hearer beyond the prophet, and beyond Moses in the wilderness, back, back to the very days of Abraham and Isaac. There before the nation had been born at all, Nicodemus sees once more a "father" giving up "his only-begotten son."But how could he have been able to guess at the truth underlying that strange sight? Here then, the Son Himself tells it out. It was GOD, not as the Jew had conceived Him, but a Father giving His own Son, the "Only-begotten" out of the fulness of infinite love! But why give Him? And to whom? We can only answer in the words of the Son Himself."For God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

That "strange work" of judgment which Jehovah will "rise up to do"-even as of old, He smote all His enemies backward, and delivered His oppressed people-will then fill the world with astonishment, so that even the "kings shall shut their mouths at Him." But that was not the purpose of God in sending His Son into the world at that time. Rather, as Jesus goes on to tell Israel's chief, "For God sent not His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth in Him is not judged, but he that believeth not is judged already; because he hath not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God." The purpose of God is the manifestation of the love of His heart, bringing it close to each and every man, so that none who receive that love can ever know judgment by experience. On the other hand, theirs is that "eternal life" in the power of which the Father and the Son have lived and rejoiced in unclouded communion, save in that dread and awful darkness and wrath, when the billows and waves of divine judgment passed over the Son. Who can measure then the guilt lying upon the rejecter of such love? As words must fail to tell the immensity of the love here revealed, so words cannot express the extent of the sin which closes the door against such love as that which the Only-begotten Son has revealed. Nicodemus, divinely led, had come to the Light, that his works might be manifested that they were being wrought, not in his own power, but "in the power of God." Wm. Huss

(Concluded in next number, D.V.)

In Genesis 15:13 we read, "And God said to Abraham, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them, and they shall afflict them 400 years. Also that nation whom they shall serve I will judge; and afterwards shall they (the Jews) come out with great substance." These words were spoken to Abraham fully 300 years before Joseph was born, and the Israelites were not made slaves in Egypt until long after Joseph's death. Then, marvelous to narrate, they were enslaved for 400 years, and when they were loosed from bondage, they went out with great substance just as predicted to Abraham. Read Exodus 12 to confirm these statements. Now how could Abraham have known these future events unless God informed him?

-From "The Bible:Its Christ and Modernism," by T. J. McCrossan, 213 pp. $1.00.

(Continued from p. 106)

8.-MOSES' DEATH AND BURIAL

Considerably over a year has elapsed since the disrobing and death of Aaron on Mount Hor(Num. 20:27, 28). Nearing the land once more after wandering in the wilderness for nearly forty years, Israel again speaks "against God, and against Moses"(Num. 21:4-9). Among other complaints they say, "Our soul loatheth this light bread"-the manna. For this the Lord sends"fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died." After they acknowledge their sin, by direction of the Lord Moses erects a serpent of brass upon a pole, and as many as look to it "live."

Seeing that our Lord refers to this in His conversation with Nicodemus, our allusion to it will be a departure from the historical treatment and be confined to that view of it which He presents, namely that of a type of His own death upon the cross. The serpent's bite represents the injection of the poison of sin, through accepting the advice of"the serpent." The erection upon the pole of a serpent (not a lamb) presents the Holy One made sin, identified not merely with our guilt but with our sinful nature. And, as the brazen altar shows, the brass speaks of the judgment of sin. Thus in the death of Christ, what we are as sinners by nature is ended in judgment, where we "died with Him." Moreover, He becomes the source of life to us, even "eternal life." All who believe on the Son have this life, but not independently, for, "This life is in His Son" (1 John 5:11). And it is he who "hath the Son" who "hath life" (ver. 12). But although the believer does not have the life in himself as a source, he does have it "in him" in a dependent way, for it is written:"No murderer hath eternal life abiding in him" (1 John 3:IS), a statement without meaning if no one has it in him. As to its character, our Lord teaches that by it we know divine Persons, even as it is said:"This is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent" (John 17:3).

Resuming the historical narrative, it is not long after the uplifting of the brazen serpent that Israel enters the land. But we anticipate. Moses is now an hundred and twenty years old. His work is done. With the new generation he has been reviewing the path already trodden, pointing out its lessons, and warning against disobedience. He has broken out into a "song," and has pronounced a blessing on those he is leaving behind (Deut, chaps. 32,33), those pronouncements upon Israel from Reuben to Asher furnishing matter for prolonged meditation. He glorifies the God of Jeshurun (His beloved people), saying there is "none like unto" Him. And in conclusion he says:"Happy art thou, O Israel:who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee, and thou shalt tread upon their high places."

Thus is ending the life and labors of this divinely chosen and spiritually furnished servant of God. With undimmed eyes and with firm tread he takes his last journey as he ascends to the top of mount Pisgah, where Jehovah points out to him the goodly land he cannot enter. With appreciative vision he surveys the landscape, exhibiting therein minutest interest. From his Counselor and Guide he hears the words:"This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed:I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shall not go over thither.'" Whereupon the venerable servant of God dies and is buried of Him "in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor:but no man knoweth of his sepulcher unto this day."

It is probable that the allusion in Jude 9 to conflict between Michael the archangel and Satan over the body of Moses implies an attempt by the evil one to frustrate God's wisdom in concealing the body from those who might decide at some time to use it for superstitious purposes. Knowing man's tendency to enlist the service of tombs, bones, and various relics, He reveals it as a thing of satanic suggestion and opposed to His wishes.

The five books of Moses, called "The Pentateuch,'" conclude with the account of his death and burial, this conclusion being an appendix by an unknown writer who properly inserts it at the close of the fifth book. Each one of these books is recognized by the Lord as the writings of Moses, there being citations from them all as from his pen. Best of all, to him who understands them, they tell in varying form the story of Him who was to come, for, says our Lord, "HE WROTE OF ME."
–E. J. REID.

"Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." These precious words of Christ, standing near the close of a short discourse recorded in Matthew 11, express, as no other words could, the attitude of Christ towards mankind. As you read the Gospels, where do you most often find Christ? Was He with the great in the eyes of the world? Was He not with this very class or kind of people He here addresses? "The common people heard Him gladly" is a statement
which shows where Christ loved to go, and to whom He loved to speak. He went to those who needed Him. Not that He neglected any, for His great discourses in John 7, 8, 10 were delivered in Jerusalem to crowds which contained the great among the Jews; but the most of His words were spoken to and His works of healing and saving done for the great masses of the "common people" of the land.

He had that to give which the laboring and the heavy laden needed, those laden with care and burdened with anxiety. All over the world the great mass of mankind are now burdened as never before. In the most civilized lands the question of work and where to get it, and of where to obtain food is occupying the minds of even millions who have never had to meet such burdens before. He does not say, I will give you food, or I will give you money, for REST is what every one needs, while many have portions of all else. Christ's words COME AND REST cover every human need. For every person high and low, rich and poor, great and small needs rest from self and sin. And there is not another in the universe who can do what Christ here promises to do for those who come to Him. Rest from the clamors of self; rest from the guilt of sin.

The saddest part of all this is that people do not know their greatest need, are seeking to meet the cravings of their hearts with things of this world which can never satisfy, never give rest. Excitement is not rest; sensations do not give rest or satisfaction. Only Jesus Christ the Son of the living God can give that which all need. He alone can save from sin and self. They are what every one needs to be saved from. People imagine that if they only had plenty of money they would be happy. They cannot so long as self and sin dominate the heart. Money cannot give rest; wealth, power, influence cannot satisfy the heart that is ruled by sin and self.

The most precious truth that God has given to man is that Jesus Christ has power to save from self and sin. And the next most precious truth is that He saves freely all who come to Him. Hence the importance of that word COME. It stands out in the Gospel of Matthew, differing from any other part of his Gospel. Note four of Christ's words here, Come, Me, Give, Rest. Christ gives rest freely. Every slave to self and sin can find rest and freedom from sin and self in Christ-can find it freely and fully, find it all the time, find it for ever, "unto the ages."

Coming to Christ means believing in Him, in His power to do what He has promised. So long as any one doubts Christ's word, he will not come. Here is the evil power of unbelief. It keeps people from coming to Christ and being saved for ever. Unbelief blinded the Jews to whom Christ talked, kept them from being saved; it brought them into the most awful suffering that has ever been on the earth. The Jews who rejected Christ, who hated Him, who saw His mighty miracles, beheld His power over nature and over disease, and yet refused to believe in Him and to come to Him, were in Jerusalem when it was destroyed by the Roman legions. Perhaps a few escaped, but the great mass of those very ones to whom Christ talked while he was in Jerusalem were there when the city was besieged and destroyed a few years later.

Christ proved His loved to that rebellious people in a multitude of ways. He healed their sick, He fed their hungry, He even raised the dead, and yet the very people for whom all this was done rejected Him. No wonder He cried on the cross, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). He knew and foretold what was coming on that city and people. He has also foretold what is coming to every one who rejects His love in this present Gospel age. Christ has gone back to heaven to be the Saviour of all that come to Him.

He is calling the heavy laden with sin and care to come to Him and find eternal rest. Come from your lost state to Christ and trust in Him to save you eternally. He says, "I will give you rest." That means joy, it means peace that passeth all understanding. To be saved by believing on Christ means eternal rest, rest from guilt, from darkness, from anxiety, from coming judgment. Being a Saviour for sinners means the being just such a Saviour as God saw man needed. We can do only one thing to be saved and that is to come to Christ. Coming to Him is believing in Him, believing in His power to save. It means turning to Him from all else, from the world, from sin, from self-seeking, putting ourselves into His hands to be forgiven, cleansed, brought to God to be His children for ever. Come from darkness, guilt, pride, love of the things God hates; come from judgment, wrath, ruin to light, life, love, joy, peace, eternal rest. All the blessings needed for time and eternity are given freely by Christ to those-to all-who come to Him. Coming is resting in a Person, the Son of God. Why stay away from Him? why stay where judgment overhangs you, where darkness encompasses you. Why not come to Christ now, and be saved for ever? J. W. Newton

"With Christ which is far better" (Phil. 1:23).

"Today shalt thou be with Me, in paradise" (Lk 23:43). "Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am" (John 17:24).

Nothing short of our being with Christ will satisfy His heart of love. We may have been saved from hell's dark doom, and yet be left at a distance from such bliss. But love delights in the presence of its object. And such is the love of our Lord Jesus that nothing less than our presence with Him in Glory will meet His desire.

This is answered on our part, as believers, by the heart's longing to be with our Saviour, to see His face, to hear His voice, to be for ever with Him.

He is coming for His own. His words are definite:

"The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (1 Thess. 4:16,17).

"So.. .ever.. .with." These words were emphasized by a preacher recently. With great sweetness he pressed them upon our notice.

"SO." The blessed way in which it will come to pass.

"Caught up together." For those alive, without suffering or death, changed in a moment into the likeness of His glorious body. For those raised, raised in glory and incorruptibility and honor.

"EVER." The blessed eternity before His own. to go no more out. In the Father's house of joy and praise eternally, always to delight before Him. Unbroken peace in the enjoyment of our "inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away."

"WITH." The blessed company. Our Lord's presence our chief joy, with unbreakable communion with Him by the power of the Holy Spirit. To talk with Him, to walk with Him, to serve Him, to be like Him and fit for His company. Wonderful prospect this!

A tombstone in Bournemouth (Eng.) Cemetery bears the following inscription:

John 17:24. "With Me." No more is told.
What more, Lord, couldst Thou tell?
Thou knewest that would satisfy
The heart that knows Thee well.

With Christ THEN. May we seek to be for Him Now. Inglis Fleming

By far the most influential book in the world is the Bible. Do you know of, can you think of, any other book which has the honor of having an incorporated society wholly devoted to fighting it, like the Anti-Bible Society? No other book has such acknowledged power. None other is so feared, none so hated. Do you know of any other book that is gathered up and publicly burned? Why? Because those who thus do so fear and hate it. Why? Because of its power. It has a strange power to change people. When any come under its peculiar influence they are changed, and always for the better.
Thieves influenced by it become honest; drunkards become sober; those who yield their lives to its guidance and power become moral, patient, humble, kind. Men and women devote their lives to taking it into the dark places of the earth, among savage peoples, and it changes individuals, families, tribes and nations.

Because of this, thousands of people devote their lives to the making and distributing Bibles and portions of the Book to every part of the earth. It is translated into hundreds of languages and dialects, a number of which were first reduced from spoken to written and printed forms that Bibles and parts of the Bible might be put into a form that could be read. To finance this great work collections of money are taken up, placed in charge of organized societies, and millions of copies are printed and distributed annually. Then other millions of Bibles and portions are made by houses devoted to publishing Bibles and Testaments to sell. Search the world over and there cannot be found another instance of this kind. Millions of books printed and both given and sold by societies in every part of the world; the same books issued by private publishers, and sold at a profit which sustains the business.

But there is some power back of all this. No such mighty work could be carried on in the face of the opposition which it has, were there not some mighty power back of and within it. There is a strange and mysterious force animating the Bible which makes it a LIVING BOOK. The Bible treats mainly of one Person, Jesus Christ. The four Gospels standing at the beginning of the New Testament are taken up with four views of the life of this Person here on earth. Only about three years of His life are presented, and they very briefly, but nothing ever took place here on the earth which more profoundly affected all its inhabitants than the life and death of Christ. His life was the most momentous life ever lived; His death had vastly more effect upon mankind than any other that ever occurred, and He has more authority over man today than any other being. Men do not acknowledge this authority, do not know it, but the only explanation of the position and influence of the Bible is that it is the written Word of the living Christ. They who know most of the Bible know the most of Christ, and they who reject the Bible reject its Christ.

It is the authority of Christ which men reject and resist, yet by their acts they are constantly proclaiming their need of just such authority. What subject is occupying the minds and thoughts of the greatest number of people at present? Government. And because government must be exercised by men, the subject of Rulers comes next. The government and those who shall govern have a very large place in the minds and thoughts of people, for the happiness and well-being of the people depend largely upon the course of the governing power. Ever since the beginning of history men have been trying to devise a really good government, and judging by the conditions which generally prevail, they are no nearer their goal, or are further from it than ever. The experience of mankind through the ages proclaims that no man has been or can be found fit and capable of governing perfectly any nation, much less the whole earth.

No man ever spoke with such authority as Christ. He never in any way intimated that any created being was greater than Himself. He claimed all authority both in heaven and in earth, and He never said or did anything whatever to lessen the greatness of that claim. The Bible contains the best rules for the administration of government ever propounded. Christ's own statements as to the best path for a ruler to tread are clear, simple and comprehensive. They are summed up in the words, Rule is service (Matt. 20:25-28). The knowledge that Christ has such power, and that He may use it at any time, with man's natural enmity to God, combine to cause men to fear and hate Christ. He has asserted again and again that He is not only the rightful Ruler but also the Judge of all mankind; that He has authority to punish the guilty and to forgive and fully clear those repenting and believing His Word.

People know they must die, and in spite of doubt and unbelief, there is an instinctive fear of judgment after. They know in their hearts that One who was so far above all other men in every good quality, who proved His power and goodness in so many ways, has power to judge and punish, and will use that power. They see the most terrible crimes going unpunished in this world, and they are made to realize that there must be in the world to come a Power to punish. Punishments administered by men are inadequate and unsatisfactory. To punish properly, the motives and purposes of the criminal must be known, that inner life which no man can know, but the perfect knowledge of which Scripture claims for Christ:see Psalm 139, John 2:25; 6:61, 64. All through the Gospels it is made plain that Christ knew the thoughts and hearts of men. So in the Old Testament the same power is ascribed to Him as JEHOVAH.

Both reason and the sense of the fitness of things call for judgment and retribution in the future world. Men have invented every kind of doctrine to escape or minimize this. But neither Christ nor Scripture do so, and here is where men have their greatest quarrel with the Bible and Christ. There is no teaching more generally hated in civilized lands than that of future punishment. This hatred is steadily growing, because the people are lapsing into pagan darkness. This is the darkness of man "without God in the world" (Eph. 2:12). Its teachings suit the times, and prove the prophetic statements of Scripture. Men will be atheists as long as they can, but when God makes Himself known in His judgments, then they will fight against Him.

But take away from people all that they leave behind when they die, and that would be hell for them. They have no treasure laid up in heaven; all that gives them any enjoyment is left for ever. To escape from this men have invented the doctrine of annihilation. They quiet conscience by trying to believe that death is extinction, that after death there is nothing left of man to punish, or to suffer. Yet we go into museums and see the embalmed bodies of persons who lived centuries ago, who may have looked upon Moses and seen the Exodus of Israel. If the body can last thus by human means, can not the spirit be made to last for ages by the Power which created it? It is far greater to create than to preserve; the One who created can certainly preserve. He has made man, body, soul, and spirit. He is able to destroy both body and soul, but there it is never said that He destroys the spirit; there is no intimation or hint of such a thing.

If man can preserve a body which he cannot make, surely God can preserve the spirit which He did make. Unbelief has tried in every way to get rid of anything but what is material, but by no stretch of materialistic thought can the vast gulf between life and death be removed. A living being has something which the dead have not. And life is vastly more than the interplay of mechanical atoms. In an embryo it works so as to make all the wonderful parts of a living creature. The greatest unbeliever has to admit that life calls for a Creator, for no man ever yet has produced life from lifeless matter. All created life had a beginning. Paul's address to the pagans of Athens puts the truth in the best form for the pagans of today:

"God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is served by men's hands, as though He needed anything, seeing He giveth to all life and breath and all things; and hath made of one blood all nations of men to dwell on the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek God, if haply they might feel after Him and find Him, though He be not far from every one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.' Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Being is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. The times of this ignorance God overlooked; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent:because He hath appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men in that He hath raised Him from the dead" (Acts 17:24-31).

Those Athenians had no New Testament to testify against them, as the modern pagans have, but they rejected Paul because he taught the resurrection of the dead, and modern pagans reject whatever teaches it. Men hate what interferes with their pleasure, the indulgence of their passions and appetites. They are in the power of these evil forces. Many a man and woman knows they are going "straight to hell," yet find in themselves no power to make a change. What they can do is to repent; be sorry for their sin, turn from it to One who does have power to save them from sin, self and all the forces of evil.

Millions of sinners, as great as any that can be found on earth today, have been saved by the salvation of God wrought by Christ. He has power to save, to forgive, to blot out the past, to give a new nature, to deliver from hell. Christ is the Saviour and He is the Judge. If any go to hell it is because they either have rejected the salvation of God, or because they would have rejected it had it been offered to them. Their great objection to judgment is the heathen. They never heard the Gospel; why punish them? Romans 1:18-32 answers. It shows the heathen as "without excuse." God has shown every human being all that he needs to know for salvation. No one will be able to rise up in the judgment and say he did not have a fair chance, "because that which is known of God is manifest among them; for God hath showed it to them. For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and divinity; so that they are without excuse." Read Rom. 1:19-21, and you will find the reason why.

But if those who have lived in heathen lands are without excuse, what of those who have lived where the Bible and the Gospel are in reach of every person? What excuse will the millions have who deliberately reject all the light and knowledge of God which is offered them? What excuse will those other millions have who have Bibles in their homes, and imagine that they can escape hell by joining a church, or worshiping God with their hands on Sunday, and then living as of the world the rest of the time?

"God is no respecter of persons; but in every nation he that feareth Him and WORKETH righteousness is accepted with Him" (Acts 10:34). And, of course, those who do not fear Him and do not work righteousness are not accepted with him. God speaks to every person, offering them His salvation, and those who are judged after death are rejected because they rejected the salvation of God. People are lost "because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved" (2 Thess. 2:10). "This is the judgment, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be manifest that they are wrought in God" (John 3:19-21).

To the Philippian jailer's agonized enquiry, "What must I do to be saved?" there was one brief answer which meets the need of every one who asks that question, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved and thy house" (Acts 16:30, 31). "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn [judge] the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned [judged]; but he that believeth not is condemned [judged] already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God" (John 3:16-18).

These Scriptures place before us God's truth concerning sin, salvation, and how to be saved. They show that, while all are lost, all may be saved; that Christ, God's Son, is the only Saviour; and that the one way sinners are linked up with Him for salvation is by simply believing in Him as an all-sufficient Saviour. God offers salvation from sin, from hell, to every one born of woman; no matter how great a sinner; no matter whether old or young, high or low, rich or poor. The only need is to know we are sinners, that we desire to be saved. The only thing to do is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. This is God's way, the only way to be saved from judgment and after. J. W. Newton

DAILY BIBLE READING ………. Oct. 16th, Gen. 10; Oct. 31st, Gen. 25; Nov. 15th, Gen. 40.

(Continued from p. 323 of Vol. 50)

3.-KEEPING THE PASSOVER

Passing over the narrative of the plagues in Egypt, we now arrive at "one plague more," the tenth and last, in connection with which we shall consider the passover.

In Hebrews 11, where certain acts of Moses are selected for special approval, the keeping of the passover is put to his credit. This is emphasized when, speaking of all Israel, it says "they" crossed the Red Sea. It does not say "they" kept the passover, but that Moses kept the passover (ver. 28). This suggests that in this divine summary the Spirit calls attention to the fact that Moses understands the situation confronting Israel because of the holiness of God. He perceives the possibility of their destruction. Consequently he brings his influence to bear upon them and succeeds in guiding them on to the ground of safety. Thus we may not only envision him causing the elders to convey to the people the instructions of God, but watching to see that every family in Israel obeys those instructions and takes the way that insures escape from the doom that threatens them:"He kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them." He has travail of soul for others. Hence on the night when the strength of Egypt is laid low, Moses not only avails himself of the wisdom that devises a plan to "put a difference" between the Egyptians and Israel, but watches that all Israel does likewise. Therefore God lays at his door the praise for the security of the people. What an honor! And how it brings to light the painstaking thoroughness of the man, the faithfulness in which God delights, and which He knew from the outset would characterize His servant. Israel is now a people redeemed by the blood of the paschal lamb, in the month Abib,"the beginning of months." They make a good start. They are now on a redemption footing that is the basis of all God's after-dealings with them. And as such they are committed to obedience. And it is as thus redeemed, as nourished by the lamb roast with fire, and equipped as travelers, they depart from the land of bondage for the land of Canaan.

We now ask the reader to consult "Lectures on the Tabernacle," by S. Ridout; or "Typical Teachings of Exodus," by E. Dennett, for an exposition of that part of the story beginning with the passage of the Red Sea in chapter 14, and concluding with the giving of the manna in chapter 16, while we pass on to that occasion in the life of Moses when he furnishes water to a parched and complaining people.

4.-THE SMITTEN ROCK

It is a time of severe trial for Moses. He is being blamed by Israel for its lack of water. Since their emancipation he is their burden-bearer. With meekness he suffers their reproaches, while again and again he brings relief to them in their trials. But in the day of adversity all this is not only forgotten, but the responsibility for that adversity laid at his door. They have the temerity to accuse him of having ensnared them by holding out false hopes to them. How quickly they have forgotten the rigor of the bondage that made them groan, and the sting of the lash without appeal! So menacing has become their attitude, a smouldering resentment that threatens to burst into the flame of mob violence, that he tells God, "They be almost ready to stone me!" What ingratitude and cowardice!
Under such circumstances as these, we can see how helpless would have been the polished graduate of Egypt, and how necessary had been the protracted, day-in-and-day-out training of forty years in the desert. What would Moses have done now had he not learned to know God intimately and to wait upon Him continually? To whom could he have turned? Well for him and well for Israel was it that he cried to God, for only He could have told him what to do-as He did.

Moses is instructed not to argue with nor upbraid the people. Much less is he to justify himself. What is he to do? He is to do them good, he is to minister refreshment to them. Not always does God give this counsel. When Israel acclaims the golden calf, when they affront God in their midst, and cast off His authority, refusing to heed His commands, an attempt to refresh them would have been irreverent. But in the present case the course to be taken is that of a gracious ministry. Consequently, accompanied by the elders, he smites the rock, and it gives water to the thirsty,

We recollect an instance of this way of working many years ago. A faithful brother, discriminated against by a clique, was permitted, through the firmness of a few gracious and wise men, to minister the Word where a goodly number of believers were assembled. But a measure of constraint prevailed. Yet it was a wonderful lesson in the school of God to observe how suspicion began to give place to interest, and how faces began to light up with understanding and glow with gratitude as the brother poured into their spirits the good Word of God. In this way was the working of the flesh stopped, and the name of the Lord glorified.

In concluding this paper, let us note that it is said this ROCK "which followed" Israel (it was always available) was Christ. It represented His gracious readiness to minister among His people. Thus are we at liberty and instructed how to interpret it in the light of the gospel. Once was He smitten for us, not merely co put away our sins, but by the gift of the Spirit to refresh us in communion with Himself, and even make us vessels of blessing to others. Thus, in the days of His flesh, our Lord tells a desolate woman He could put in her a fountain of living water, springing up into eternal life – rising to its source. Thus would the affection be conducted to God the Father and to His Son Jesus Christ.

We know from the lips of our Lord how this living water may flow from our "inward parts" to the thirsty all around us (John 7:37-39). – R. J. Reid.

(To be continued in next number, D.V.)

-A BIBLE MEDITATION-

God's blessed Word-"Meditate thereto..make thy way prosperous…have good success-John. 1:8.

Desires that characterize the Unsaved

Acts 13 :28 …. carnal mind, enmity.
Matt. 15 :19 …. in natural heart no godly desires.
Isa. 53:2. . . .no desire for Him.
Eph. 2:3, desires natural to children of wrath.
1 Pet. 2 :11, fleshly desire, warring against the soul.
Eccles. 2:10, 11. . . .Selfish earthly desire, vanity, profitless.

Yet notwithstanding such repulsion, marvelous, divine desires are revealed, which, if fulfilled in us gratify His heart whose love is set on us.

Luke 19:10. .. to seek and save.
Job 33:32.. to justify
John 4:23.. to bring worshipers to the Father –
Psalm 51:6. . . to find truth inwardly cherished
Luke 22:15 . . . to be lovingly remembered.
John 17 :11…that we be kept in a hostile world
John 17:13 . "" joyful in communion
John 17:15… . " " protected from the Evil one.
John 17:17….""separated(verse 19) by the power of His resurrection, who is set apart on high
John 17:20. . . .that we should be a blessing to others.
John 17:26. . . .that we should possess the enjoyment of the Father's love.
John 17:24. .. .be with Him in His Glory.
Ps. 45 :11 :The beauty of those detached from dearest objects here and attracted to Him.

The Renewed Soul's Desires

Song 7 :10 …. assurance.
Isa. 26:8, 9. . . .response.
Ps. 73 :25 …. satisfaction.
Ps. 27 :4 …. devotion.
Ps. 38:9… .prayer.
Ps. 145:19. . . .prayer fulfilled.
Ps. 37:4. . . .prayer fulfilled.
Phil. 1 :23 …. anticipation.
2 Cor. 5 :2 …. anticipation.
1 Pet. 2:2…. Growth.
Ps. 19:10. …Choice.
Result. . . .Joy to His heart and ours. "Desire accomplished is sweet to the soul" (Prov. 13:19).

The heart in communion joys to minister to the desires, yearnings, longings and affection of that heart that spent itself for us.

Our Lord is grieved and our souls robbed by abortive desires.

Prov. 13:4. . . .sloth. Repeated to impress seriousness.
Prov. 21:25…. " " "" "
Psalm 112 :10 …. wicked ways.

E. J. Checkley

Calendar:May 16th to June 15th

DAILY BIBLE READING ……… May 16th, Acts 28; May 31st, Rom. 15; June 15th, 1 Cor. 14.

Trenton, N. J., May 7th, 1933.

Dear brother:-In answer to your request a few weeks ago I am writing the following regarding our Young Peoples' Meeting.

We have had a Young Peoples' Meeting for just over seven years coming together usually every other week on Friday evening or Sunday afternoon.

The Friday evening meetings have been held in different homes up till last Friday when we started having them at our own new hall with a social time after and light refreshments served.

The Sunday afternoon meetings have usually been held in the hall and most took their supper with them and stayed for the Gospel Meeting. During the summer we have had Sunday afternoon meetings on the lawns of two or three homes, had our supper there in the open and from there proceeded to the Gospel Meeting. We believe it is a good thing to vary the character of the meeting as much as possible always considering the time and place which is most suitable and attractive to all at the various seasons of ths year. We prepare ten mimeographed questions- a copy of which is given to all who are interested about two weeks before the meeting. These often lead to other very interesting questions and answers so that an hour passes before we are aware of it.

Our "young" means more in character than in years with no limit to the latter so that we have some up to the three-score-and-ten at least. At present we are trying two groups-one for the young in years and the other for the more adult sections. Many especially among the older ones have testified to the knowledge gained and spiritual help received at these meetings.

Let us not grow discouraged because of lack of numbers, if one is helped it is worth while and some day God may be pleased to add to them. In the meantime let us do what we can in dependence on the One who is able to do all things.

Will be glad to hear of suggestions from others. Yours in our Lord Jesus Christ, L. E. Ansell.

The function of public prayer is to a great extent misunderstood by the vast majority of Christians. We come together primarily to wait upon the Lord, and should it please Him to touch our lips with the live coal from the altar, then well and good, otherwise we should keep silence.

He who prays aloud in a public prayer-meeting professes to express the thoughts impressed by the Spirit of God on the hearts of the company; consequently, there are at least two valid reasons for a man keeping silence in a prayer-meeting. We are speaking of course of one endowed with natural or acquired capacity to give intelligible public utterance.

(1) From one cause or another a man may have incurred the distrust of one or more persons in the company. If he takes part in the meeting it will be an act of self-will. The expression of the unity of the Spirit has been infringed, and he cannot possibly express the thoughts of the company. There is no longer the "one-mindedness in the Lord," apart from which collective prayer has no meaning.

The apostle exhorts us not to let the sun go down upon our wrath, for otherwise we shall be giving place to the devil (Eph. 4:26,27). That, however, does not relieve the man who has failed to maintain or express the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace from the responsibility of keeping silence in the prayer-meeting, until God in His goodness causes the distrust to disappear.

(2) The other reason for enforced silence is defective instruction in the Word. For example, a man prays very fluently that the Lord may be one of the company. If one has not a distinct impression that the Lord is not merely one of the company but is in the very midst, then he is not aware that there is authority for coming together to pray, and without that knowledge distinctly in the soul the time is wasted. The trouble is that such brethren do not usually know that they are ill-instructed in the Scripture of Truth, and they are liable to become thorns in the sides of their brethren.

A man who prays for things which are obviously wrong cannot carry with him the approval of the "scripturally instructed in the company, and therefore cannot secure united assent to his petition. Of course, it may be said that allowance must be made for those who are young and only able to give utterance to "five words" with their understanding (1 Cor. 14:19). The answer to this is that such a man is never wrong if he keeps to the "five words." He goes wrong when he ventures beyond his depth of spiritual apprehension.

Fluency of speech may become a very great snare and a barrier to spiritual progress. The gift of tongues was said to be one of the most wonderful, but the gift of appropriate silence is no less golden. Hence the Apostle says that the spirits of the prophets should be "subject to the prophets, 1:e., to their understanding, or common-sense (1 Cor. 14:32). The apostle averred that he prayed and sang not only with the spirit but with his understanding also (1 Cor. 14:15). The exercise of common-sense would obviate much of the unprofitable expression which too often mars prayer-meetings. T. Oliver (Galashiels)

"The Saturday Evening Post" of August 26th, ult., contains an article, by Edgar Snow, on "The Decline of Western Prestige;" which is a striking confirmation of Bible prophecy regarding the "kings of the east" in chaps. 9 and 16 of the Revelation. I will quote a few extracts:

"A fundamental shift in racial fronts is taking place, an alteration in the status of the earth's families of men. The rise of an Eastern power great and strong and determined enough to challenge the European powers and America marks the end of an era of Western mastery. That is the great, historic significance of the Far Eastern conflict."

"No tears are shed for the white man's lost prestige. And nations in the East struggling toward freedom can readily accept Japan's doctrine of 'Asia for the Asiatic.'"

"Intelligent Englishmen already admit that India is a lost empire; at most, a decade separates it from independence."

"With the fall of these colonial empires, finis may be written to Western imperialism. Perhaps-and this is what secretly troubles the sleep of Europe-the fall may come rapidly now, if Japan gives help to the 'oppressed races.' "

"Even a year ago such an organization as the Asiatic Anti-British League could not have existed in Japan. Today it is encouraged by the military… Big cities in Japan are now plastered with signs, stickers and placards denouncing British 'enslavement of the East!' They call upon the 'four hundred million Chinese and three hundred million Indians to unite with Japan in driving British influence west of the Suez.' "

"As I write this in Peiping, Japanese airplanes are flying over this region, dropping thousands of leaflets in Chinese, with texts developing such titles as these :'Asiatics, awake! Japan's army is the strongest in the world! Japan does not fight China, but Western domination of China and her present rulers! Asiatic comrades, unite! Overthrow white domination!'"

"To one who has in recent weeks seen thousands of Chinese troops, led by Japanese officers, invading North China, it is entirely credible that the Japanese imperialism could be made acceptable over more of China, and from China spread over Asia."

Could one ask for clearer proof that we are living at the end of the present age? Surely Scripture vindicates itself against rampant unbelief! R. B. Eames

(Ps. 56:10)

I praise God for His living Word,
By it my soul is fed,
By it I know His blessed will,
And where my feet should tread.

It brought me from the dungeon depths
Of withering, black despair,
And gave to me the wine of joy,
With which naught can compare.

It shows the way from depth to height,
From distance, home to God;
It maps the way that saints of old
From earth to glory trod.

It gives a portrait large and true
Of him who spoiled our race,
And coaxed an infant world away
To ruin and disgrace.

By it I trace the grace-marked path
(From heaven's throne above)
Of Him who in great mercy came,
And died, in matchless love.

By it I read my title clear
To God's blest home of light,
Where saints in glad immortal hosts
Enjoy untold delight.

The future is unveiled to me
As I its pages scan,
I know that all must come to pass
According to His plan.

It opens vistas bright and clear,
Where faith's keen eye may run;
How precious are His bold designs,
Displayed in what He's done!

It shows that rolling years shall end
In yonder shoreless sea,
And pictures His bright mansion-home,
Where I shall ever be.

It tells me I shall chant His praise
In tireless strains above,
And there with all the ransomed throng,
Sing His redeeming love.

C. C. Crowston

"LABORERS TOGETHER WITH GOD" (1 Cor. 3:9).

What a wondrous privilege for those who have gone forth for His Name's sake, and who were themselves once "sinners of the Gentiles," to be now linked with God in the work of the Gospel! One plants, another waters, and God gives the increase.

They are "ambassadors for Christ" and "workers together with Him," making known to fallen man the love of God and the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. A missionary who has spent many years in a heathen country says:"How wonderful the privilege and how deep the responsibility of abiding in the Lord Jesus and of serving Him in the extension of His kingdom!" Another says, "How our hearts rejoice when we see evidences of the work of grace in the hearts of the people!"

AFRICA

The following items of interest are from our brother William Deans:

Our houses here in Congo are made of molded brick, sun-dried, with grass roofs. Over the bricks a plaster of ashes, manure and sand is used. For a finish, a native whitewash completes the picture, and we are at home. We have been busy whitewashing the Searles' house, preparatory to their arrival. New grass was put on the roof, the ground cleared of weeds, the cook-house repaired, etc. We finished on Friday, and on Saturday our beloved brother and sister Searle and family arrived unannounced. Needless to say, we are very glad to have them back, and unite with them in praise to God for His faithfulness in making their return to this needy field possible.

United prayer during the days succeeding their arrival led us to a rough division of the much work to do. We all felt the need for more village work, and will all endeavor to reach as many personally as possible. The Lord has led us to leave the station work, the station school, the medical dispensary and the many routine duties there to Mr. and Mrs. Searle. They are happy in leaving the work of the many village schools and contacts to my wife and myself. In this way we trust the Lord will make us more efficient in His service.

The native saints in and around Nyangkundi graciously gave a week's work for the Lord without any thought of material reward and helped to recondition the several buildings. One small new building was erected, and all the others are repaired. The spirit shown was excellent, and showed that they are not here merely for the loaves and fishes, but for the Gospel, and the honor of our Lord and theirs.

A number of Christians have approached us during the last few weeks asking for baptism. It is over a year since there have been any baptized here at Nyangkundi, and there will be doubtless very many who will shortly be buried with the Lord in baptism. Roman Catholic teaching, so prevalent here, teaches that baptism is salvation. Even baptism of the dead is practiced. In one village recently old Babira fathers said, "Why should we give up our ways and live righteously? We may drink our beer and sin our sins, and after we die the Catechist will come and baptize us. Thus we will get to heaven after all.'' Hence we feel the need of careful teaching before baptizing.
Witch-doctor paraphernalia, including charms, divining-horns, mysterious vials of strange powders, and a bottle of a queer oil, all went up in smoke as the Christians of Nyangkundi stood by and sang a hymn of praise to the power of God. It seems that one of the residents on the station was an unsuccessful witch-doctor who, although having professed conversion several months ago. clung to these relics of his former art. After a domestic row his wife confessed their presence to several of the native Christians, who brought the man and his "dawa." He voluntarily kindled a blaze underneath the collection after we had made examination of the contents. We had an opportunity to deal with the man, but he stands in the need of prayer. His name is Shakpa.

Seekers for Portions of the Scriptures have become so many that we have been forced to set Saturday afternoon as the time for sale of books. We felt physically unable to sell at all hours, hence made the ruling. A new supply of Scriptures in Lunyere arrived, and many are anxious to receive copies.

Ezekele Ngwera, who preaches the Word among the Bagaya people, sent in to tell us of nine who have accepted Christ in the last week. Praise God! Sometimes we whites cannot get out into the villages because of physical weakness, or for some other reason, but God uses His instruments, and these are often black Christians.

While waiting for the drum to call us to prayer-meeting the other afternoon, two men appeared and saluted. One was a headman, the other his escort. "We want a teacher to come and live in our village and teach us the words of God. We are all interested. We will listen to his words-all of us, old, young, and the women." Questioning revealed that these were sincere Babira villagers. We explained that we do not send, God sends by His Spirit, but promised to pray about the matter and present it to the Assembly. So far no one has volunteered. This is another open door

Members of each of the six village divisions at Nyangkundi meet one night in the week to pray. Thus, on each week night somewhere nearby, Christians are gathered together in one hut for an hour's meditation, prayer and praise. May this prove to be a source of power to our native brethren, meeting together in God's presence. "They cried, The sword of the Lord and of Gideon. And they stood every man in his place round about the camp, and all the host ran, and cried, and fled" (Judges 7:21).

Speaking of taking over the village and school work from brother Searle, as already mentioned, William Deans further says, "We are led by no misconceived notions that the hope of this people is civilization or education, for we know there is no hope for them except in our Lord Jesus Christ."

There are now thirteen schools in the Nyangkundi area.

The following is an encouraging report concerning the work:

"We have been greatly encouraged by the response from the villages in the past five months. During that time one weak school rose in daily attendance from 22 to 98, including girls. Four other villages requested schools. Christians offered themselves for the work, and chapels have been built in each of the four. The attendance in each exceeds forty-five daily; attendance of one is over one hundred. The Christian boys have reported many professions of faith in the Lord at various schools. As I itinerate there is always opportunity to interrogate. In addition to these four new Gospel centers, among Balendu (3) and Bahema (1) tribes, there have come two requests for schools from Babira villages. This is real answer to prayer. One of these villages has sent men to gather materials for a chapel; the other is more recent, but entirely unsolicited and whole-heartedly earnest. The first call of these two came as a result of Sunday afternoon Gospel work by Nyangkundi Christians."

"A couple of weeks ago the weather being inclement we called all the evangelists in and they came 100% strong. We had a delightful time with them in Bible Reading (Acts 2:37-43; 4:8-13).Then they all told about the work they were doing. After that, we all kneeled down together, and such prayers! Not long-winded affairs, but short, heart-sprung utterances oi prayer and praise. They certainly reached the throne. One after another, no hesitation, just one glorious symphony for the Father's ear. We all feel the need of much prayer. My wife and I have spending much time together besides our personal time, and feel strengthened. On the station there is a prayer-meeting in some home every night in the week. There are six groups of houses, and in one house in each group each night a time of praise and prayer is set. We are seeing more love in our midst than I have ever seen before, and one cannot but feel that the secret is this meeting with neighbors to pray."

Lolua is situated in the depths of the great Ituri forest. From there our brother Robert Deans sends cheering accounts of the work.

"It is two years this month since we came to Lolua. Dr. Woodhams and party having returned from the States, we came and took up the work here. Bill had to give up because of his illness. We have every reason to thank the Lord for the encouragement He has, and does, show us from time to time There is an enrollment of 1922 in the day-school just now, nine of whom are Pygmies. It is a real pleasure to see those little folks coming to learn about God. Poor things! They have been kept in ignorance of Him who came to save. Pray, dear brethren, that they may come daily and hear the words of life, that they may be able, if they give their hearts to the Lord, "to teach others also."

The ones and twos are coming forward and confessing Christ as Lord. Last week two came after the service and said they believed that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and they also believed He died on the Cross to save them from sin. How our hearts rejoice when we see evidences of the work of grace in the hearts of these people! Two Sundays ago we baptized nine converts in the river Lolua near here. Many stood listening to the singing and the preaching of the Word before the baptism took place, which in itself is a testimony to the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and also of the believer in Him.

Our brethren at Mombassa have also encouraging reports; although overladen with work (they are doing four operations a day, and there are about sixty cases waiting) they rejoice they have so many to preach the gospel to. May the Lord richly bless them and give them souls for His glory.

"WITH THANKSGIVING"

Brother Searle's safe arrival at Nyangkundi is surely a token of answered prayer, and gives cause for thanksgiving. Writing on his arrival at that place he says:"By the Lord's mercy we arrived here at sundown, August 5th. We had pleasant ocean voyages, calm, most of the way," etc.
"Oh, give thanks unto the Lord, for His mercy en-dureth forever."

CHINA

Mr. Kautto sends us the following account of a visit to the out-station, accompanied by brother Foggin:

Taitowying, China, Aug. 14,1933.

Brother Foggin and myself have made a trip to Shuangshantze, returning August 10th. We are glad to say that the road between here and Shuangshantze is clear of bandits, and as they are leaving this district gradually, we are hoping for days of wider opportunities. When we went to Shuangshantze we found a town presenting the appearance of having been left by an earthquake, or tornado, or some such overturning visitor; buildings burned down by bandits, others with doors and windows torn away by soldiers and bandits, and what might have remained, is missing through the cleaning up process of those who locally have that capacity. Even bricks are taken out from the combined brick and stone walls, where they were rendered handy by the violence of the removal of doors and windows. Out of more than fifty merchants who used to do business there, the only representatives now are three grocery stores, three medicine shops and two barber shops. Except on market-days the place seems desolate, with only now and then a comer or goer. However, on market-days there are a considerable number, and it was at these times we tried to preach; but there was little attention, for the people seemed to be extremely busy. We visited a place that used to be a great mercantile shop, where the doors and windows are now torn out, and the place was packed full of gamblers from early in the morning until late in the evening on market-days. Even on the morning we came away, at three a.m. we could hear gambling in an inn near the road.

Brother Foggin was much impressed by the little work that the natives had started in a small place about two miles from Shuangshantze. It began during the war, when the people living there had no opportunity to come to Shuangshantze because of soldiers and bandits. Other Christians around the town, also having no chance for meetings, went to this place, a tiny village of some half-a-dozen homes, where a Christian, who used to live in our compound while he worked for us, now has his family. From other such little villages along that river there come listeners too, sometimes to the number of twenty. They have used as a meeting-place an empty house in a group of homes where the men have all been killed as bandits, or in the war, or have died, and have erected a tiny mud platform, and placed on it a little table as a speaker's stand, and a blackboard on the wall; song sheets also sharing the wall space.

As soon as we arrived our old workman asked if we wanted to have a meeting, and when he had sent the word around there came half-a-dozen women and as many men. So I spoke to them on Acts 16:14, 15, and then brother Foggin also spoke. Let us pray that the Lord will start more of those little meetings among the natives on their own initiative. In another village, when they saw that we were pleased (rather than otherwise) in the natives having started their own meeting, they also said that they were going to start a similar work.

We were intending to make a trip to Mutouteng, and see how things were going there, but while at Shuangshantze a band of bandits raided a village about half-a-mile from Mutouteng, robbed the place, and took a hundred people for ransom. We also heard that many had been robbed on the way, bands of three or four hiding by the road in the tall kaffir-corn, to waylay any travelers and take what they may have. So we decided not to go during this trip.

Conditions are improving the country through, that is, in our section, and when the rainy season is over we may be able to go out with the tent.

We hope brother Foggin can be persuaded to stay with us this winter, after which he expects to take up work again in Kansu. He is quite energetic about preaching trips. Charles and Esther Kautto.

Brother Foggin writes:The Lord has supplied all my needs, and I have much to be thankful for. There is much to make one's heart glad in the way in which God's people have taken hold of the missionary work. I am at Taitowying with brother Kautto and wife, and we have been having a real time of fellowship together. We went up to Shuangshantze, and were rejoiced to see a little meeting going on in a country district without a foreign missionary.

We have been having meetings on the street these last few days, and are expecting to put up the tent in a nearby village soon, perhaps next Monday. We did not get up to Mutouteng owing to bandits. However, they seem to have cleared away from here now. It is a marvel to me that the bandits have not raided the mission station here before now, as it is situated outside the wall of the city with no visible protection. Mr. Kautto says he is on good terms with the bandits. The bombs certainly landed near enough, the shrapnel riddling the big gate of the compound. I am expecting to work with brother Kautto, for the winter, and then return back to Kansu next spring, D.V., hoping to settle in Kanchow for a while.

MANCHURIA

Our brother E. J. Tharp and his family expect, God willing, to return to Manchuria in the near future. Since being in this country the Japanese have taken control of their territory, and he writes us as follows:

"New problems have arisen all through our territory; and with the presence of Japanese troops and an increasing influx of Japanese and Korean immigrants, a challenge is thrown out to us to acquire a Japanese language in order to give the Gospel to them as well as to the Manchurians and Mongolians. You will realize we are not sufficient in ourselves for these things, but God is able, and He is our sufficiency:however, we crave a part of your prayer-time and ask you to lay hold on God for us, not only that He will undertake for our return, but that we may all be greatly used in the future. Our new State has a population of about forty million souls, but not more than one-tenth of that number has heard the gospel intelligently."The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are very few," "Therefore, pray ye!"

"Ye also helping together by prayer for us" (2 Cor. 1:11).

JAPAN

From our brother E. B. Craig of Oakland, Calif., we receive the following:
Brother Fujimoto writes of the work of the gospel going on constantly, with one more open confession in baptism. A happy event lately was a meeting at the home of young brother Hosaka and his wife, celebrating the completion of ten years together in the path of faith, in which too they have been faithful in testimony. But sad news also comes concerning the sorrow of a brother and his wife not long converted, who had gotten worldly, and who have lately had their three little boys taken away by infantile cholera in one month. This epidemic has been raging there recently. Prayer is asked for the parents. Brother Hay and wife and brother Wright, from Kobe, made a visit to the brethren at Tokyo. Brother Fujimoto asks prayer for a gospel journey which he expects to take into the northern parts by bicycle, Lord willing.

BAHAMAS:

From letters received from our brother R. A. C. Jewers (who desires attention called to the change in his address), we extract the following:

Box 601, Nassau, Aug. 28, 1933.

Have just returned from a five weeks' visit to Andros Island, one of the Bahamian group where great need and poverty abound. There was excellent interest in the gospel, and two souls confessed the Lord when preaching in the open air. Owing to high winds, I was not able to go further than Fresh Creek, but perhaps can reach the southern parts next visit. This island is over ninety miles long, and one finds many openings for the good seed. I desire the prayers of the saints for these neglected parts.

On Sept. 4 he writes of another severe visitation by hurricane to the Islands as follows:

On Sept. 3 an awful hurricane swept over Eleuthera, Bahamas, and has destroyed much property and farm produce. I believe this is the worst I have ever seen, the wind force worse than the awful storm of 1926 at Marsh Harbour. The barometer fell very low. Spanish Wells must have been in the center of the storm. We expected any minute might be our last, but are thankful to our God for preserving our lives. A place eight miles away, I hear, reports lives lost and some injured. The Governor of the Colony visited the place today by sea-plane, and says they will do their best to help the sufferers, but the Government is almost crippled financially.

The Gospel Hall where we meet was damaged, and the living-rooms above were destroyed. My wife and I were compelled to leave, and after the storm found so much water had poured in that beds and all things were wet.

In our distress we can count on our God to help us, and we know '"He can do more abundantly above all that we ask or think." So we leave all to His unfailing care. We desire the prayers and interest of our brethren in the North."

From our brother E. A. Elden we get tidings of the same severe storm, as follows:

Current, Eleuthera, Sept. 4, 1933. I write to let you know of another terrible storm that has swept over us, carrying with it everything except our homes. It was easily as severe as the storm of 1929 The barometer dropped 191/2 tenths, and it seemed as if we were in the center of the storm. After blowing for eight hours the wind dropped for about fifteen minutes, and then shifted to the opposite quarter, causing the water to rush in on us. This always does the most damage. The brethren here have not been able to earn any money because of the great depression, and were living on just what they got from their farms. Now all these are destroyed, leaving them in great need. We know the Lord is still the same and will open up ways to meet the need. We are thankful no homes were destroyed and no lives lost.

The expression "to make perfect" (telioo) occurs very frequently in the New Testament, but more so in the Epistle to the Hebrews than in any other book of the Bible. "To make perfect" in its scriptural meaning has not the modern meaning of endowing with all excellent qualities, but simply to bring to the end, 1:e., the appropriate, or appointed end corresponding to the idea. In any case, what this end is will be suggested by the context as to what is made perfect. In John's Gospel the verb is translated "finish," and the corresponding noun occurs at the beginning of Hebrews 12, "Jesus the Author and Finisher of faith."

"For it became Him for whom are all things and by whom are all things in bringing many sons unto glory to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings" (Heb. 2:10). The previous verse speaks of Him being crowned with glory and honor. Hence the perfection describes the Son's supreme place in the economy of salvation.

"To perfect," then, is a relative term, and may be used in the sense of bringing to completion in a variety of connections. There is no variation in the mere meaning of the word, the variety of meaning arises from the fact that it will vary according to the relation in which it is used. The expression is used relative both to the Son and to men. In regard to the Son it is said in the above passage that, "It was fitting to make perfect, or to install, the Captain of salvation through sufferings." Again, in the fifth chapter, the Son learned obedience by the things which He suffered and when He was made perfect He became the Author of eternal salvation. He went through sufferings to reach the purpose of God.

Then Hebrews 7 shows the law appointed high priests having infirmity, but the word of the oath which was after the law appointeth the Son who is "consecrated," or "made perfect," for evermore. The contrast is between a Son completed and the human high priest who had shortcomings or infirmity. The Son being made perfect excluded the idea of infirmity and the necessity of offering for Himself, but the words do not suggest any contrast between the Son's present state and His condition previous to the cross.

Perfection is the end of a process. "He was crowned with glory because of suffering death." The various steps, however, reflected themselves in a process in Himself. He was made perfect through sufferings. He became a merciful High Priest. He learned obedience. The point, therefore, is not that this perfecting process went on in the Son as if it were an advance in virtue or even a confirmation of sinlessness. It was a process that went on in Him in relation to those whom He was saving.

It is erroneous to bring the process of making perfect into relation to His sufferings viewed as temptations, and overcoming them, and in His exaltation to a condition of confirmed blessedness. His life under sufferings was not a personal probation. His sufferings were those incident to His Authorship of salvation, and as He met them in the preparation for it, they were the means of giving Him that experience of human conditions which furnished Him to engage in the work of becoming the Author of salvation on the cross.

His learning obedience does not mean that He advanced in disposition but that He entered more fully into the experience of that obedience, till it was crowned in the suffering of death.
In the beginning of Hebrew 12, the expression "Finisher," or Perfecter, of faith, does not imply that He advanced in strength of faith, but simply that He completed a path of faith. It had in Him its completed work.

When the word is used relative to men, it is said that perfection was not by the Levitical priesthood (Heb. 7:11); that the law made nothing perfect (Heb. 7:18); that the Old Testament offerings were unable to "make perfect" the servants as to the conscience (Heb. 9:9); that the Old Testament sacrifices offered year by year could not make the worshipers perfect (Heb, 10:2); and that the Son, by His one offering, had for ever perfected the sanctified (Heb. 10:14).

From these passages the perfecting of men would seem to bear the meaning of bringing them into true covenant relationship with God. This condition was not realized in the life of the Old Testament saints. They could not be made perfect, or complete, apart from us (Heb. 11:40). Reference is made to the spirits of just men made perfect (Heb. 12:23), yet their perfection is not the completed salvation which they will receive when the Lord comes again.

The corresponding adjective is translated "of full age" (Heb. 5:14), simply meaning "maturity" in contrast to the state under the Jewish system which was occupied with "the first principles," or "rudiments," of the "oracles of God," or of the "doctrine of Christ." The Hebrews were encouraged to go on unto perfection, 1:e., to the apprehension of Christ in glory. Judaism, 1:e., ritualism, never could effect that end. They had not even got the question of righteousness settled in their souls, and were necessarily inexperienced in the word of righteousness. The further matter of discernment was quite beyond them. The Holy Spirit's presence consequent on Christ's exaltation and glory is the factor which sharpens our senses or spiritual faculties to discriminate between subtle distinctions of good and evil. This is much more comprehensive than what man describes as morality or conduct.

There is another word (katartizo) which is sometimes translated "to make perfect," or "perfection." In other places it does service in expressing the thoughts of "mending" nets (Matt. 4:21); the Christians were to be "perfectly joined together" (1 Cor. 1:10); one overtaken in a fault was to be "restored" in the spirit of meekness (Gal. 6:1); a body was "prepared" for the Son (Heb. 10:5); the worlds were "framed" by the Word of God (Heb. 11:3).

Hence the second word introduces another idea, that of fitting into a position, probably best illustrated by the articulation of a joint in the human body. When by accident or disease a joint gets stiff the limb fails to obey the will, and so when anything occurs which renders a joint inoperative in a spiritual sense, it fails to supply the nourishment which Christ our Head in heaven alone can communicate. Hence spiritual growth is hindered, and all are losers through the in articulation of one joint. T. Oliver (Galashiels)

In essence there seems to be a striking parallelism between the present phase of Evangelicalism and that obtaining a century ago. A writer in the early 18th century said:

"In the comfortable atmosphere of Evangelicalism, many virtues throve. It represented the best type of middle-class society, possessed of considerable wealth. The Evangelicals were pure, wise, benevolent and their households were well-trained. But the sacred fire burned low. Although they repudiated gross worldly amusements, on account of their easy circumstances, they incurred the charge of worldly holiness. The early 18th century Evangelists (Wesley, Whitefield, etc.) had rescued England from the peril of Rationalism, but an inevitable reaction had followed."

It was a dark obscure place such as above described into which the lamp of prophecy in J. N. Darby and his associates shone forth. But now, after a century has elapsed, the representatives of the former Philadelphian movement in general may be not inaptly described in the foregoing words of the early 19th century writer.

The early brethren were high-born, but the "calling on high of God in Christ Jesus" led them to go along with the lowly. Their lives were marked by almost monastic simplicity. The vivid expectation of the Lord's return led to singular devotedness of life, as it has also characterized evangelical teaching ever since.

Forty years later, the movement extended to the working classes in the wonderful revival of the early 70's of the last century. Two generations of moral rectitude have immensely improved the secular circumstances of the descendants of those men, so that although the Lord could say to certain of his contemporaries, "The poor have ye always with you", He will soon be unable to say so to us!

Ecclesiastical rectitude is only one manifestation of the work of grace in the soul. It would seem that the affluence of many Christians is showing itself in many ways calculated to set false ideals before the minds of the young people.

Solomon took thirteen years for the building of his own house, while seven years sufficed for his attention to the Lord's house, and his subsequent career was witness to the folly of putting the Lord's interests in the second place. In his halcyon days the climax which overcame the Queen of Sheba was not the excellent appointments of his house, but the ascent by which he went up to the house of the Lord. So nowadays what will affect people in a spiritual sense will not be the size and furnishings of our motor cars and houses, but the manner of our approach to the throne of grace as being components of the house of God.

We know that we are saved. We are saved from the world in all its phases as from the power of Satan, but we are saved to behold the glory of the Lord, which is the only cure for the exercise of self-will, be it in the ecclesiastical or any other phase of presentation of this world's activities. T. Oliver (Galashiels)

ARGENTINE REPUBLIC-SOUTH AMERICA

We are glad to have the following encouraging news from our brother Montllau, and would commend our brother and his work to the prayers of the saints:

April 4, 1933.

We have been cheered during the last month by the well-attended united prayer-meetings in different localities. We held one in Banfield for the first time, and although the hall is quite large they had to put extra seats to accommodate the people, and some remained standing during the two-hour meetings. We expect to hold another in Remedies de Escalada, also for the first time, during this month in a large hall. Last Saturday night, from eight to ten, we enjoyed a fine open-air conference in a central plaza of Avellaneda. There was a good crowd and interest while three brethren proclaimed the gospel. We were grateful to the authorities for allowing us to hold that conference, as no open air meetings are allowed now on account of martial law, applied by the Government some time ago when a nation-wide plot was discovered. We expect (D.V.) to hold special meetings on the 12th, 13th and 14th inst. in our hall, and for the last named day, Holy Friday(so-called), we are invited for a special meeting at the Islands of El Tigre, about five hours' journey from here, partly by bus and partly by motor boat.

Our brother Dr. Woodhams writes as follows:

AFRICA

IRUMU, Mar. 3, 1933.

We appreciate your fellowship with us in our feeble effort here to make Christ known among these people who had not heard that gospel which has been common knowledge to us all our lives. We are here as "those who trouble Mohammedanism" in this place! The old chief who died a few months ago was the real leader among his people, and held them together as Mohammedans, but his son and successor has not nearly the power over them, consequently we get a much better hearing than formerly. I have spoken in their villages when there were not more than six or eight people in sight, though I knew that many more were hearing whilst out of sight in their huts. Now when we park our organ and start a meeting in a village the people seem to spring up from all sides until we wonder where so many have come from They have listened very quietly and attentively, and some intelligent questions have been asked. We are still as it were marching around Jericho daily; the walls have not fallen as yet, but we have confidence that they will fall at the Lord's moment for it. We need grace from the Lord to understand the people and their darkness. The longer we stay among them the more we realize how far we have been from understanding them. The deception of Mohammedanism is a much stronger force to keep souls from repenting and believing the gospel than original forms of unbelief found among the Africans. This makes its boast to have come from God, and thus God is introduced as authorizing the sin which the natural man loves. So it seems like a long step for such an one to beat his breast and exclaim, "God be merciful to me a sinner." I am glad to say that the doors are still open to announce Christ among them.
A good interest continues too at Lolwa, and brother Deans continues happily with the work the Lord has committed to him there. They have considerable more R. C. opposition lately. This doubtless is bound to increase. This may be explained by the fact that we are in a Catholic country with a strong Catholic Government, but the true explanation lies deeper than this in that we are in a world which is against God. We are very thankful just now to have a Christian man as the chief official over the district. He was converted under the ministry of one of the A. I. M. missionaries, and now lets it be known that he is a Christian.

Our brother William Deans writes:

March 1, 1933.

By the grace of God I have been exceptionally well the last five months. Back at Nyangkundi, I am taking every care physically, and trying not to overdo. My brother Bob is here with me now and is proving to be quite a help. We are trying to spend alternate weeks in the bush. The condition of the work is most gratifying. God has been working. Out in the bush two new schools have been opened up at important strategic points in the Walendu tribe. These are manned by two pairs of believers who went by the Spirit's call, and the schools are standing. Better, people are coming. One school has an enrollment of 153, rather encouraging. They do attend, too.

We took a safari in that district, spending the best part of a week around the villages. It is a beautiful country. The population is dense, and there is a willingness for the gospel, like that which we found at Lolwa two years ago. One old chief was so afraid that the R. C.'s would manage to have our men removed that he had all his people and the teachers appear before the Government official to get a letter authorizing their residence and working in the village. This has appeared to be such a good plan that we are securing similar letters for all the evangelists.

Six have trusted the Lord in one of the bush schools. Of these, four came in to Nyangkundi to enjoy the fellowship of other Christians. They have since returned to their villages. May they testify for Him there.

At another place we had trouble with the chief. Christian men and schoolboys desiring instruction in the Word had banded together around our little meeting-hall on a hill outside of the village. There they made their homes, planning a straight street with their homes lining it on either side. At the head of this street they built a new building, large and commodious, in which to meet to worship and learn of the Lord. A Government man passing through slept in our chapel, and commended the boys and men on the neat appearance of the "mission village," as he called it.

Then the kind official made the mistake of chiding the chief, and ridiculing the chief's village, comparing it unfavorably with the mission village. The upshot of it all was that the chief ordered all the men to leave their homes and come to live in his village. At first he was very unfavorable to the work and wanted none of it. He was even desirous of sending away the faithful teacher. The people prevailed, however, so the chief agreed, when we went out and had prayer with the Christians, to have the chapel rebuilt in his village. This is indeed a concession and we thank God for it. Since then the chief has been in to the station for injections several times himself. He is very friendly, and the new house is being built. In the meantime the Christian teacher continues in an itinerant way with the gospel. He has seen fruit in the years. It is wonderful how God melts strong hearts. May He cause this idol-worshiping chief to seek salvation!

"God is faithful who has called us to the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord." We would not imitate Peter, but, instead of looking about at the boisterous waves, would look unto Him the Author and Finisher of faith. He designed the way; He made the way; He is the Author and Finisher. Isn't it wonderful! I have been much blessed by Jeremiah 17:7,8, fitting verses for these times. For times of persecution, times of trial by sword, times of adversity, economically or otherwise, we know that we, the branches, derive our strength from the Vine, and the more we abide in Him the more fruitful we are.

Please thank the dear saints for the way they have unfailingly sought God's help for us here. It is wonderful to know of you praying saints in the homeland. You know we have a Christian administration here now. That is direct answer to prayer as others have been so unfavorable. We look forward to times of fellowship over the Word.

"Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is:for he shall be as a tree planted by the waters and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit" (Jeremiah 17:7,8).

In a more recent letter, our brother William Deans reports his approaching marriage to Miss Dora Winsor of Wheaton, Ill., who has served the Lord in Africa for a number of years. He says,

"God who called us separately to this sphere of service has now put in our hearts the desire to serve Him together. Miss Winsor has been working at Aba and her going to join us here at Nyangkundi will be keenly felt. She has been engaged primarily in seeking to reach women with the Gospel, and God has blessed her ministry. We are expecting to be married in early May."

CHINA

As mentioned in our last issue, Taitowying, the station of our brother Kautto, was bombed by Japanese airplanes on March 24th. Our brother, writing of his experiences during the bombardment and of the turmoil caused by the movement of soldiers, concludes by saying, "We do not know how to express our gratitude to the saints for their prayers on our behalf, for we know we have been sustained by the prayers of the saints in more ways than one."

In another place he says, "So we can thank our gracious God. He is not only able but willing to keep and protect, and the prayers of the saints have been a great cause for it." We are thankful for this testimony to answered prayer.

Brother Foggin tells of an interesting visit paid to Kanchow, between 250 and 300 miles west from his present location at Pingfan. He preached the gospel, distributed tracts, and put up posters in many small towns and villages, some of the more important being Kulan, Liangchow, and Itaoshan.

The following are extracts taken from an account of his journey:
A VISIT TO KANCHOW

Kanchow is between two hundred and fifty and three hundred miles west of Pingfan, about ten days' ordinary traveling by mule cart. Packing mule with Gospels, tracts, etc., I left Pingfan January 2nd. Though it was the coldest season of the year, after prayer I decided to make the trip. With the aid of my cornet I found it very easy to get a crowd. This is not a thickly populated section, Liangchow and Kanchow, the two largest cities west of here, have a population of about 30,000 each, and three other small cities on the main road between here and Kanchow do not average more than 5,000 each. The villages are very small indeed, and a great many are in ruins.

The first night I arrived at a small village. The manager of the inn where I put up was an opium smoker, as are the vast majority of all non-Moslems. There are two classes of people here, "Han Ren," all who are not Moslems, and "Hui Hui," the Moslems. The manager was anxious that I play the cornet, so I promised that after I had my supper I would come into the big room and play. A large crowd gathered, and I seized the opportunity to preach. Some listened right through, and some left. The manager retired to his opium den. I thought he did not want to hear the gospel as I had reproved him for smoking opium, but when I called for my bill he wanted much less than the nominal rate. This is very unusual in China; they usually want more. At Liangchow I was told that this road is dangerous and people did not usually travel single-handed. However, I was living in blissful ignorance and nothing harmed me, though I got a scare at one place.

The sun was setting, and I had about seven more miles to go. The road left the telegraph line and thinking I had taken the wrong road I turned back to a village to enquire. I ran into three or four men on horseback, so asked my way of them. They did not answer, but simply pointed to the road. I knew they were going to the same place to which I was going, and tried to get behind them, but they insisted that I go in front. I became suspicious and nervous, knowing that it would soon be dark. I prayed the Lord to speed on my animal, and he ran fast all the way. After a little while I looked behind, and saw one man in front, and the others lagging a good way behind, and soon they were out of sight altogether, for which I was thankful. The next morning whilst buying bread at an inn before leaving I saw one of these men sitting on the kang, and he said, "Your mule is a good one!"

At Tumentze we held a meeting on the street before dark and again the next morning. We then separated, Elder Wei to Liangchow, and I going on to Taching, over thirty miles of barren land and not a village on the road. I got lost, and found myself on a pathless snowy mountain. I knew the main road was towards the north, so taking bearings from the sun I struck northward, along the tops of the mountains, until I saw a cave in the valley. Descending, I found two men living there. Being somewhat exhausted I got them to boil me some water, and preached the gospel to them which they evidently had never heard. I had a double purpose in mind, to bring them to Christ, and to allay them from doing me any harm. They directed me to a main road which led to Taching. Crossing two mountains I came to this road, arriving at Taching at 8 p.m. The following morning I had two meetings on the street and then left for Itaoshan. I was disappointed here as there were hardly any people. There were more soldiers than residents. Three days after I arrived back in Pingfan to find mail awaiting me. I must confess it felt good to be home.

Owing to the absence of railways and good roads in large portions of China, making travel both dangerous and difficult, missionaries frequently travel by boat. The following experience of two lady missionaries on a journey inland gives a good idea 01 such a mode of travel:

We left the river steamer at Wuhu, and found we must continue our journey by native boat, as recent rains had made overland travel out of the question. We left Wuhu early in the morning with four Chinese schoolgirls in our charge. An agreement had been written up with the boatmen, so that there would be no trouble over prices, etc. The weather was beautiful and a good stiff wind was in our favor. Not far from our port of embarking we discovered that one of the boatmen had disappeared leaving only one man to manage the boat with the help of a woman who had bound feet. This was against the agreement, but there was nothing for us to do but go on. The man towed us from the bank and the little woman worked at the tiller or scrambled over the matting of our cabin to pole the prow in the right direction. Towards evening another boat cut in between us and the bank, severing the two topes near the mast. That took considerable cursing and time to mend. We went along in the dark for a while, and finally moored about three miles from Si Whei. The interior allotted to us was about 13 ft. long, 6 ft. wide, and 5 l/2 ft. high, divided in half by a board about 2 ft. high, so the girls had one section, and my sister, the baggage and I, the other. The floor was undependable, to say the least-just loose boards which had a habit of flying up unexpectedly if not treated exactly in the proper manner.

The boat walls came up half-way, and arched matting covered the irregular poles which made the roof. The openings at the two ends were made light-proof, but not wind-proof, by loosely fitted boards.

We had been warned not to show ourselves or let it be known who was traveling, because of river-thieves, so spread out our bedding and prepared to stay quiet for two days. Next morning we awoke to the sound of wind and rain. The boatman refused to budge. We had enough clothes to make a bale of hay feel thin, but our food-supply was not so abundant. After talking the matter over with the four girls we had prayer together and waited. Finally at 3:30 the boatman decided to make an attempt, and found it hard work to get started. We arrived at a small place at dusk, and were informed that we would have to change to the night-boat, as they had the monopoly of trade from there to our station. Also, the price was announced to be double that of the agreement. Talking price is the very breath of most of the Chinese, and they certainly can stage a scene for a few cents which they know is not their due. The schoolgirls with us were very loyal, especially Wen Yin, who could meet the boatman on his own ground. After an hour-and-a-half we had subdued the one boatman to nearly the original price agreed upon, and in another hour had procured a night-boat and had the baggage transferred. We were glad of the dark because, if the people had seen foreigners, the crowd would have gathered, prices would have soared, and it would have been twice as difficult to make the change. The night-boat was longer, much narrower, and very low. We sat on the bottom on some straw, with a blanket each. Our ears came about to the water line, and if sleep had come, the snores, lapping of the waves and the boatman's rhythmic song could have been our lullaby. But there was not much sleep for anyone but the guards who were accompanying us over the worst part of the district.

HARBOR WORK-Port of New York

Preaching the Gospel has two sides, "bringing men to Christ'" and "bringing Christ to men." In Mark 7:32-37 a man is brought to Christ, whereas in Mark 8:1-9 we have the other side, Christ brought to men. Our work among the seamen sees much of the latter, but very little of the former. Here we find it hard to observe present results because of the nature of our service, but we can rest assured that He who has sent us, and is with us, will in that day show how much the faithful sowing of the seed was blessed of Himself.

The early months of the year are always good for distribution of calendars. A goodly quantity has been provided, in English, French, Dutch and Spanish, and we have given out nearly all of them.

So few men on the ships belong to the Lord that it seems like a field hitherto untouched, so great is the ignorance of seafaring men of the way of salvation. Yet many have had some kind of a Christian up-bringing. The greatest difficulty here, as well as in all other such work, is to get men to see that they are lost. The blinding power of the adversary keeps this from them. Unbelief is truly the child of the human heart, and while so many admit their moral laxity, their awful condition as being lost never dawns on them until God's Spirit begins to work.

Will the Lord's people pray that we may so walk and witness that our words will have power with these men, and that they may be brought into the light to see their own condition and, better than that, into the light of His love and grace which alone can meet their case?

– R. A. WEST.

Lord, hedge about this HEART of mine,
That it may not in love decline,
And chafe against Thy will-
Sit Thou supreme upon its throne,
Let every idol down be thrown,
That would communion chill.

Lord, close mine EYES to every sight,
That is not for Thine own delight,
And for Thine honor's sake-
Bid every charm and feature flee,
That tend to turn my soul from Thee,
And make me less awake.

Lord, bar mine EARS to every note,
That does not love for Thee promote,
Or, please Thy Holy heart-
Let every sound be hushed away,
Let nothing for a moment stay
In which Thou hast no part.

Lord, urge and fit this tardy TONGUE,
That it may be more deftly strung
To sound Thy love and grace–
O harness it, and hold it fast
Lest it break forth and on Thee cast
Some strain of dark disgrace.

Lord, spur these HANDS to faithful toil,
That they may help to reap the spoil
Of this glad day of grace-
For soon the night is coming on
When toiling hours shall all be gone,
And love to wrath gives place.

Lord, guide my FEET for they would stray
Into some dark and devious way,
And lose their pilgrim trend,
Direct Thou them o'er mount and plain,
That they may in the way remain
Till pathway days shall end.

Thus, take O Lord, THIS RANSOMED SOUL,
And bring him under Thy control–

In THOUGHT, and WORD, and DEED-
Work out in him what Thou hast planned,
And school him by Thy skillful hand
Till from all trammels freed.

There can be no real spiritual progress where prayer-attitude is lacking..

Every believer must do what the Apostle did- "keep his body under" if he is to advance in the things of God, and be what he should be for Him in this world, and this cannot be done apart from His enabling power, and our submission to Him.

In consideration of what is DUE Him in service and worship from us who have been purchased at such tremendous cost, I urge you with all the zeal that I can muster to be faithful to Him whose love has been proven to us by the depths of Calvary.

Make His glory your highest aim, His service your chief delight, His coming your brightest prospect, and covet supremely His glad "Well Done" at the close of life's day.

Keep the "Judgment Seat of Christ before your soul as a flaming beacon-remembering you shall there "Suffer Loss" or "Receive a Reward," Live here so as to avoid regrets there. Thus only shall you "finish your course with joy," and for His praise.

My final appeal to YOU is to live for HIM.

C. C. Crowston

Dainty little buttercup,
Golden yellow bloom,
With thy beauty I would sup,
In the evening gloom.

Modest little violet,
Hiding in the grass;
Raise thy head above the wet,
To a looking-glass.

Pretty little mountain pink,
Springtime knows thy blush;
Viewing thee I pause to think:
Whence came that sweet flush?

Solemn little soft-eyed sprite,
Tell me, pansy dear,
Who made thee so small and bright?
Is He somewhere near?

Lags my memory behind,
Sweet forget-me-not,
If I do not call to mind
Him who made thy frock?

Peaceful waters are thy bed,
Lily of the pond;
Restest thou thy gentle head
Pillowed in love's bond?

He who clothed the mountain,
With its lovely pink,
Must have trimmed the fountain,
'Neath the hilltop's brink.

There reposes purity,
White as wind-blown sail,
In thy life dwells chastity,
Lily of the vale.

Ah, frail flowers, with sunlight blest,
Bathed with cooling rain,
Answer now at my behest,
Sing thy sweet refrain.
Who made pink to fill thy life?
Who that golden glow?
Whence came purple growing rife?
Who has made thee so?

Dull inquisitor, we bring
One response to thee;
That the anthem we would sing,
Tells of Calvary.

'Twas the Hand pierced by a nail,
Wounded sinfully,
That created us, so frail.
Kiss it thankfully!

C. L. Tichenor

DAILY BIBLE READING …….. Jan. 16th, Malachi 1-Jan. 31st, Matt. 12; Feb. 14th, Matt. 26.

DAILY BIBLE READING ……. Dec. 16th, Exodus 21; Dec. 31, Exodus 36; Jan. 15th, Lev. 11.