(Prov. 22:2; Luke 2:4-24; Matt. 27:57-60.)

The disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ is sorrowfully conscious of the strife arising through class hatred of the rich and the poor. How sad to behold anything of this spirit among those redeemed with the precious blood of Christ! We can not take up the various questions that could be raised as to this, but would endeavor to show how each class is useful to the Lord, and how they meet together.

When our blessed Lord came into this world of such confusion and misery, He laid aside His riches and entered as One who was poor. He not only chose to be found in connection with Joseph and Mary because they were of the house and lineage of David, but also because they were poor. This is another instance of how the Scriptures must be fulfilled.

The offering brought by the parents after His birth was that of the poor (Lev. 12:8). And the prophet Isaiah had declared that He should grow up with "no form nor lordliness" (Isa. 53:2, New Trans.). How very . necessary are the poor to Him! Henceforth He is to be known as "the carpenter's son," and "the carpenter" (Matt. 13:55; Mark 6:3).

Beloved reader, think of this! Jesus Christ, the once constant participator in all the wealth of heaven, now sharing the living of the poor! Here is another Lamb which grew up together with the poor, and with .their children; who did eat of their own meat,'and drank of their own cup, and lay in their bosom (2 Sam. 12:1-3). Why did He take such a path? It was that He might be near to us-the poor-to tell us amid our poverty and in our homely speech, of the "riches of His grace" who had sent Him to save. Wondrous grace to us poor sinners! "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich" (2 Cor. 8:9).

"Grace is a mine of wealth
Laid open to the poor."

In our second passage of Scripture we have another Joseph. "He was of Arimathea, a city of the Jews." Moreover, we are told, "he was rich," and he was a "good man, and a just." He also was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews.

This rich man was necessary to the Lord, for the same prophet had said concerning Christ, "And (men) appointed His grave with the wicked, but He was with the rich in His death" (Isa. 53:9, New Trans.). Hence we read of Joseph as a rich beggar, "he went to Pilate and begged the body of Jesus." For the Poor One there was no room in the inn! For the Holy One there could be no place with the common lot of men!

Jesus had lived with the poor in His life-how near and dear to them!-now He is with the rich in His death. Linen is bought, and, anointed with ointment, His precious body is placed in the new tomb hewn out of the rock. He who did not despise the poor man's hospitality in the manger, will now lay for a season in the rich man's new tomb. The hewer of that rock would never have thought that the "Firstborn of many brethren" would be the first to use it.

How edifying to behold these men of opportunity- available for the Lord! Joseph the carpenter for the living. Joseph the counselor for the dead. In our thought the counselor would have suited the living and the carpenter the dead. But our thoughts must follow and not lead when the Son of God is the subject. "His name is called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace" (Isa. 9:6, N. Trans.).

It is wonderful to see that Holy One nailed to the cross between two thieves to fulfil the Scriptures, "reckoned with the transgressors" (Isa. 53:12), but it is no less so to see Him between these two Josephs, thus bringing together the rich and the poor.

Joseph, "He will add," suggests the immutability of His counsel for "the heirs of promise," who in His grace are added to the Church from the ranks of the rich and the poor. How this should engender peace between the poor and rich brethren! It is all grace, for God "accepteth not the person of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of His hands" (Job 34:19).

In the way of salvation "the rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less" (Exod. 30:15). Both classes may have access to that one offering, and can meet together in loving service to their precious Lord. Then let us not despise the poor nor have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ with respect of persons (James 2:1-9). On the other hand, do not despise the rich brother. He is a special vessel, for "not many rich" have been chosen. How many of the Lord's servants-who have made themselves poor for the sake of the Kingdom-could testify to the usefulness of the rich brother; while not forgetting, to mention a host of the poor. The writer has cause to bless the memory of that noble English lady who thanked God for the letter "M" in the scripture, '"Not many noble" (1 Cor. 1:26). Had this said, "Not any noble," she would not have been saved, for she was of high degree. Truly, "the rich and the poor meet together" in more than one way, "and the Lord is the Maker of them all." Beloved reader, let us seek to live this short life for Him, living to shed a ray of light in this dark scene "as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things" (2 Cor. 6:10).

"E'en now we praise the grace divine,
The love that shines in Thee;
The rich one Thou-for us made poor,
By death to set us free." E. Ohas Taylor.