Matt. 3:16, 17; John 8:28, 29; Matt. 11:28-30.

The root of sin in us is self-will, independence. But in Jesus my heart has rest. A dependent Man in the midst of sorrow, but perfectly with God in all; in humiliation, or in glory, it makes no difference as to this:the perfect One is ever the dependent One. And when that blessed heart thus expressed its dependence, did He get no answer? "The heaven was opened." Does heaven open thus on me? It is open to me indeed, no doubt, but I pray because it is open; it opened because He prayed. I come and look up because the heavens were opened on Him.

It is indeed a lovely picture of grace, and we may be bold to say that the Father loved to look down, in the midst of all sin, on His beloved Son (John 8:29). Nothing but what was divine could thus awaken God's heart; and yet it was the lowly, perfect Man. He takes not the place of His. eternal Glory as the Creator, the Son of God-He stoops and is baptized. He says, " In Thee do I put My trust, Thou art My Lord" (Psa. 16:), . . . and the Holy Ghost descends like a dove on Him-fit emblem of that spotless Man!-fit resting-place for the Spirit in the deluge of this world. And how sweet, too, that Jesus is pointed out to us as God's object.

I know the way the Father feels about Him. I am made His intimate, and admitted to hear Him expressing His affection for His Son, to see the links reformed between God and man.

Thus I get rest, and my heart finds communion with God in His beloved Son. It is only the believer who enjoys it, but the link is there. And if I find that which, in and about me, distresses the soul, I have that in Him which is unfailing joy and comfort . . . With Him let heaven and earth be turned upside down, and still I have a rest. What blessedness for the heart to have the Object God Himself is occupied with!

"Thou art My beloved Son, in Thee I am well pleased " (Luke 3:22). J. N. D.