As the end draws near the darkness grows more dense. Satan plies his wiles with an adroitness and a dexterity that is truly alarming. As an angel of light he passes on,-soiling, beguiling, bewildering, and deadening the consciences and hearts of the Lord's sheep. He especially presses "grace" and "love" (?), in the way of toleration; and amazingly he succeeds, and where we would least expect it. Those who yesterday were confirmed are to-day questioning; those who pressed on then with steady tread are now reeling; those who seemed to be pillars are but broken reeds.

The present vortex has whirled nearly all into a realm of vagaries, and all is uncertainty. To these no longer is church position clearly defined; and the place of separation is surrendered for a field that offers more room for the energy of nature. The man down here is taken up, and supersedes the Man in the glory . . But, if His love is grieved and disappointed in them He knows that His sheep hear His voice:hence the appeal, "Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." How solemn the thought-we are associating His name with all we are going on with. Is it a wicked world, the corrupt systems, or even a professed assembly of God:from the place in which evil and iniquity is openly allowed and tolerated we arc to "depart." "Truth faileth ; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey." (Isa. 59:15.) But what does it matter if we go up or clown in the views or opinions of men ? It is before Him we walk. And that service which is rendered purely with reference to Him will be least understood and least appreciated. (John 12:) Do not succumb to the devilish delusion that a narrow path is incompatible with a large heart. In 2 Cor. 6:no sooner does he say "Be ye also enlarged" than he adds "Be ye not unequally yoked together," and "Come out from among them, and be ye separate." Let us keep in mind God's order-"The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable."

Separation should be intense, and perpetual. "Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp." (Ex. 33:7.) When the thought of returning to that from which
God had separated him entered Jeremiah's heart, he would say "Let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them." And yet he was enjoined to "take forth the precious from the vile."

Some claim the liberty of crossing the lines of separation, for the accomplishment of good. Any such might learn a lesson of poor Balaam:"I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord to do either good or bad of mine own mind." Saul tried this. God had said "utterly destroy all." But he consulted his own mind as to doing good, and "spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the Lord." But even though it was "the best," and "unto the Lord," it involved disobedience to His word, and was utterly rejected. "To obey is better than sacrifice." (i Sam. 15:) If this principle of unlimited obedience were acted upon we would not be ranging at will, nor glorying in a liberty that is license, nor seeking a large place to display what we know. We would find ourselves really "without," but with Him. (Heb. 13:13.)

Ours is the place of "His reproach," but the place of communion, sweet and hallowed; and the place where we may prevail with God, and thus accomplish results which shall be left for display at the Judgment-seat. (Gen. 18:and 19:21; Isa. 49:4.)

I know this is down, but it is the way to "the brook," where we "lift up the head."(Ps. 110:7.)
Until He comes may we walk in the power of an ungrieved Spirit,- threading our way through this labyrinth to the praise of Him "who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." F. C. B.