Prov. 30:

The last two chapters in the Proverbs are an appendix to the book-the words of Agur to his pupils Athl. and Uca, and the words of King Lemuel, taught him by his mother.

Sometimes in the word of God much rich blessing and wholesome food for our souls is couched in but a few verses, yea, in but a few words. Let us see what instruction we can gather from a few words in the beginning of this 30th chap. of Proverbs.

Agur, means, "assembler," i e. a member of the wise men's assembly. All through this book of Proverbs the wise and the foolish are contrasted-in fact all through the word of God. (See Matt. 7:24-27 and 25:1-13.) Thus God's children are the wise, and never more so than in the Christian dispensation when indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and are all "assemblers," being in the true assembly, Christ's body.

Agur was the son of Jake. Jake means "pious," or "obedient"-the suited character of those who are the assemblers to Him who is Head of the assembly. What rich blessing is attached to obedience. "To obey is, better than sacrifice, and to harken than the fat of rams." Is not obedience everywhere, in both Old and New Testaments, enjoined on the people of God? May our God imbue us all with a spirit of piety and reverent obedience, so that we shall never treat with the least indifference the most obscure passage we find in His Word. For as Agur says:" Every word of God is pure."

The man spake unto Athl. Athl. means, "God is existent," or " God is with me." " To this man will
I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at my word" (Isa. 66:2). How fittingly then Athl. follows Jake. Let this have a voice to us to-day, dear brethren. Being in the assembly (of the wise), piety and obedience should go hand in hand with glad heart and willing step wherever that He may lead; and thus God will with us and be a Father unto us.

Agur spake to Athl. and Uca. Uca means, "I am able," hence, prevail, or overcome. Now, it one sense, all the Lord's people will prevail through the Captain of their salvation, for He has overcome death and judgment and their great adversary; but is there not and practical overcoming of evil in the professing Church ? Surely there must be. Who can read carefully the second and third chapters of Revelation and not think so. All Christians are not practically men of God, but a " man of God " practically, is one who stands before God awaiting His commands. Such an one is sure to prevail, for; as Caleb said long ago, "We are well able"-his faith counting upon God who would give them strength May the Lord teach us to meditate on these in His presence, that the fruits thereof may be manifest in our daily lives.

In the few following verses we get vividly ex-pressed the spirit of self-judgment-a very whole-some thing for the people of God at all times. In ver. 4 Agur turns from wretched self and inquires after God. All these questions are now clearly answered in Him who has come from the Father's bosom and made Him known to us.

I trust in these last days the Lord will make His Word inexpressibly precious to His people, so that
as the horizon darkens, the path-the narrow path may become brighter and brighter till grace is crowned with glory. Amen. E. H. Van. L.