QUES. 9.-1 Sam. 16:14-23, speaks to us of an evil spirit from God. 1st. In what way was this evil spirit from God? 2nd. Today, if we disobey Him in our weakness, does His guiding Holy Spirit leave us? 3rd. How are we to know what is His holy will concerning us?

ANS.-An evil spirit from God is a judgment upon a man for a course which dishonors the favors and responsibilities God has put upon him. It is not that an evil spirit has its existence from God, but it is used of God for discipline. In this case it seems to be more a result of Saul's evil and jealous temper which is allowed to torment him, than a separate spirit, or demon,

2nd. All believers in this dispensation are sealed with the Holy Spirit "unto the day of redemption " (Eph. 4:30); that is, unto that day when the Lord shall return to claim them and take them to heaven. The Spirit therefore never leaves them. They are warned in that same scripture, however, not to grieve Him by whom they are thus sealed. If they do, how can they look for His guidance? He is there, dwelling in them, but He is grieved; and until they have repented of what gives Him grief, they cannot look for the comfort and guidance He loves to give.

3rd. There is no way to know that but by acquaintance with God through His Word, and communion with Him. The state of our souls lies at the root of it, and apart from that there is no knowing the will of God.

"How to know the will of the Father" is an excellent little paper on the subject, which may be had of Loizeaux Brothers, (3 cents postpaid).