(Phil. 1:10.)

Occasionally the full force and beauty of a passage is lost in transference from the inspired original into a foreign language, although it should not be surmised that the whole truth is obscured. The substance of a passage is in no case disturbed in translation, but a fuller sense and richer thought is what is often obtained by referring to the original of any writing, and especially the Holy Scriptures. And we are loth to miss anything that the word of God contains; for we know it is ours, and that the Holy Spirit will encourage and reward every effort to better understand His Word. Especially if our hearts are hungry for Christ, and we are seeking grace for a life of holiness, will He make God's word precious to our hearts.

The word in the tenth verse of the first chapter of Philippians that we have in mind is "sincere." This is a compound word in the original, composed of "sunlight" and "judge," and means that a thing has been examined in the sunlight and found pure. Judged in the sunlight ! How suggestive! The force of the idea rests on the fact that for an object to be seen in its true color and correctly discerned, it is necessary to make the examination in the direct sunlight, the only pure, white light of nature. Thus also, spiritually, the word of God is the only true light morally, and the examination of our hearts and lives must be in its direct rays.

It is, first, the Christian's privilege to know that as far as his standing in the presence of God is concerned nothing can be discovered against him, though examined by the searching eye of God in the light of His holiness. This is so because the blood of Christ cleanses perfectly from all sin. Christ's death on ;he cross so perfectly glorified God about sin, and answered every demand of His nature against sin, that He can not only clear the guilty, but He can also make the sinner fit for His very presence. In Christ, therefore, a child of God is found by God to be perfectly pure when judged in the sunlight of divine truth.

This being so, we are encouraged to seek to have our ways pure and holy also, as far as possible. And indeed the verse before us is for the practical life. We are encouraged to seek grace that our lives may be such, that, when viewed in God's "sunlight," they may be found pure, to the glory and praise of Christ. This is the desire of God for us, though we may fall short of it. Judged in the sunlight and found pure in our ways! What child of God is there that does not find this to be his heart's prayer ? May we all realize more deeply the importance of this little com-pound word! Judged in the sunlight, and found pure! F. H. J.
'THE WAY OF CAIN."