" Love not the world." -I Jno. 2:15

Not a few think that "the world" means only that which is grossly sinful-that the people who attend theaters, balls, the card-table, gambling, and the gaieties of society, are the ones who make up "the world." Surely such leave none in doubt as to their being of "the world." They bear the marks of it in no uncertain way. But they are by no means the end of it.

Sin has produced in man a mind opposed to God's -a mind which remains in opposition until reconciliation with God has been effected. Until then it seeks out a path of its own, a religion of its own, and even a god of its own, who will bend to its ideas and desires.

This builds up a condition and system of things wholly different from that which suits God. This is "the world;" and nothing but a heart reconciled with God in Christ Jesus, and the revelation that He has given us of Himself and His mind in His Word, can deliver us from the thraldom and darkness of "the world."

Even true Christians continue to be "conformed to this world " in the measure in which they fail to "be transformed by the renewing of their mind." The renewing of the mind is only by drinking in, and being obedient to, the revelation of the mind of God in His Word.

Oh what loss, what unspeakable loss, to a child of God to love the world in any measure! It is so insidious. It plumes itself with such plausible reasons. It says to the young and inexperienced, "Come among us, and do us good;" but it only corrupts them. It says to the saint of riper years, "Come and sit in the gate, for we need good men to govern us;" but, alas, it does not hinder the judgment of Sodom; it only involves the saint in its loss and ruin and moral degradation. It even addresses itself to the servant of Christ. It says to him, "You are not at all, sir, appreciated according to your talents ; we will build a little shrine for you, and make a great one of you, and will greatly enlarge your sphere, and then what great things you will do!" Thus is his pride flattered; and if then and there " the world " is not judged in his heart, his steps slip downward even while conscience protests.

How needful, then, to hear the solemn warning, '' Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof; but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever."

"And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father's house." -Judg. 14:19.

There is, perhaps, no character in the Scriptures which reveals more fully the ways and dangers of the world with the people of God than Samson's. A true "Nazarite,"-as every child of God is, 1:e., one separated to God by redemption,-he degrades his calling, and the place which he occupies before God, again and again. His heart finds attractive objects among God's enemies. Painful thought! Yet, on the other hand, he has the boldness and strength which make him a victor over Philistine, lion, gates, bars, and mighty pillars. What greater victories and deliverances for the people of God might he not have won had he in character and ways borne up his calling !

Our verse shows him just out of one of the many troubles and difficulties which his failures in this respect brought him into. In anger at the deceit which he meets among God's enemies, he gains a victory over them, and then "he went up to his father's house." Blessed place to return to when we have drifted from it! and-thank God for His grace -a place where, if we return with honest hearts, we are more than welcome.

FRAGMENT