"(Col. 3:11 and Phil. 4:8.)

Christ is the One in whom God finds all His delight. He is the center of His counsels, the One in whom all things meet and are blended together in a harmonious display of God's glory. It is for us, then, if we would be of one mind with God, to find all things in Him also, for He is the only One who can truly satisfy the needs of the human heart. The passage in Colossians declares that for the new man Christ is all. The lesson conveyed by new creation is that all centers in Christ, the glorious Head of it. Therefore all that is of new creation will be found in relation to Him. We who believe are of the new creation, and all growth therein depends on making Christ our all. This preeminence of Christ is the great foundation-thought in Colossians. Philippians develops our life and practice in relation to this:'' For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain," says the devoted man to whom " Christ is all." And why ? Because, absent from the body, he would be present with the Lord; and to be with Christ, for him, was "far better." If he speaks of our manner of life, it is that it may "become the gospel of Christ;" that we may be ready "to suffer for His sake;" that the same lowly mind of love "which was also in Christ Jesus" may dwell in us; that while all around us seek their own things, we should seek '' the things of others." A blessed expression of this he gives us in the second chapter. In the third, he tells out the whole-heartedness and the finding of all things in Christ, which is the secret of power. Well might he, then, say, " Brethren, be followers together of me." Nor does he leave it in a lump, but proceeds, in the fourth chapter, to give us that course in detail. Since all is so fully centered in Christ, we are to "stand fast in the Lord"-to find our all in Him. From this alone flows one-mindedness among God's people, and also the tender care, one for the other, that is so needful (vers. 2, 3). We are to " rejoice in the Lord alway;" and this will we do if, first of all, we stand fast in Him. Then joy in the Lord will make us moderate-in all things. There will be no following of extremes, in one direction or another. All men will see that we possess what satisfies the heart. There follows, therefore, the lovely admonition, " Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God." Disregarding this, how much in our lives is broken by useless, may I not say, sinful, anxiety!- sinful, because it springs from unbelief. On the other hand, how blessed to be able to take everything to God in prayer, and that with thanksgiving! for have we not daily cause to thank Him? If we do this, what peace fills us !-''the peace of God" which garrisons both mind and heart. Every
anxious care with which the enemy would pierce our souls is turned aside, and unruffled calm is ours.

Finally, in the passage specially before us, the apostle characterizes the things we are to think about. It is the sanctuary. They are the things which become that Presence in which we stand, and into which we come when making known our requests. Within that sanctuary, of old, were seen the ark and the mercy seat-Christ, and God's throne resting upon Him. From where else could we expect these to proceed of which we speak ? Let us consider them. They are eight-the new creation number-the things which belong to the new man, to whom "Christ is all."

1. "Whatsoever things are true." Truth is the reality of things. Where shall we find this ? '' Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." In Him alone can we find the true interpretation of all things. Every mystery of the counsels of God is solved by bringing Him in. All centers in Him. He said, "I am the truth." We may find detached truths around us, a candle burning here and there; but as the sun is the light of the world, so is Christ the truth.

2. "Whatsoever things are honest"-or, better rendered, perhaps, "venerable," as being worthy of reverence, or worship. He of whom we speak, His goings forth, have been of old, even of eternity (Micah 5:2). " In the beginning was the Word." "All things were made by Him." In those coming ages of glory shall He not, therefore, be hailed as "the Father of Eternity?" (Isa. 9:6.) All creation shall at last fall at His feet and worship Him. Hence, shall we not hold in reverence all things that are linked with Him ?

3. "Whatsoever things are just." Here we necessarily think of what is free from all charge of injustice or taint of evil. How could "a just God," who, to be "a Saviour," required the cross of Calvary, be ever linked with anything unjust ? Impossible! All things linked with our Lord must, first of all, be just. The balances of His sanctuary are just. The perfection of justice in thought and act is with Him. To trace the actions of His life is to trace a path in which everything was just. All suffering here, therefore, for the sake of justice finds sympathy in His heart now, and will find a reward in the coming day when He shall rule in equity throughout the whole creation.

4. "Whatsoever things are pure." Purity is closely associated with justice. True justice and purity go together. Christ, in the language of the type, is the Lamb without spot or blemish-absolutely pure. Thus only could He be the fit One for that mighty sacrifice which Justice demanded for the accomplishment of God's purposes of grace and glory.

5. "Whatsoever things are lovely." Creation is full of lovely things. Why ? Are they not the reflections of the loveliness which is in Him who made them, the "altogether lovely" One ? Every department of nature, grand and beautiful as it may be in itself, can only yield its full and precious lesson in proportion as it is made to show forth His supreme beauty. Thus it receives its true interpretation as being linked with Christ, its Author. It is this bringing together of the creature and the Creator that imparts true loveliness to us also. But its full expression is through redemption only, so that the things lovely in creation will be freed from idolatry only as we realize all things to center in Christ Jesus.

6. "Whatsoever things are of good report." What an endless list of evil report issues from all the ends of the earth! How defiling to all whose minds are engaged with it! How different the report we have from our Lord Jesus Christ, concerning the country whence He came, to which He has returned, and of which He is the Door! What a report is that of His life among men, and of the issues flowing out of what He has passed through! How peace-giving and sanctifying is that report!

Was it not a good report that made us find out our need on the one hand, and the perfect answer to it on the other ? Then contemplate our place in Christ, and all its attendant blessings; and, oh, what a report! To think of these things gives us triumph over evil. They are linked with another sphere than this; they are heavenly; they center where Christ is at the Father's right hand.

7. " If there be any virtue." Here the thought is, as in Peter, of that soldier courage which presses on steadfastly to the end, triumphing over every obstacle. Our thoughts should cherish everything that leads to this, for it is an important element in our character.

8. "If there be any praise." That is the grand, final object. See the end of the Church's path in Rev. 4:and 5:; the end of Israel's patience under discipline in the five last psalms. In such a mind is all power for testimony and service. Dwelling on the glories and virtues of Christ can alone produce it. How important, then, that our thoughts should dwell on suitable things! May our souls follow hard after them. J. B., Jr.