We readily see how this expression can be spiritually applied. The thought conveyed by it is that of earnest purpose, diligence, and prompt performance. Leaving for the individual conscience the question of literal early rising, we will take up the subject in its spiritual meaning.

God has ever manifested Himself as rising early. The great matter of our salvation was not left till the fall had brought in sin and death-or to human will. "He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world." Nothing that afterward might take place could set aside that "eternal purpose which He purposed." As the objects of His grace were thus chosen, so the means were provided_"Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world." Christ, the object of the Father's counsels, and His Church, were thus provided in the "early morning" of that bright eternity past, before sin had entered. Our blessed God has not been surprised by what took place in Eden. All had been foreseen and provided for. Not that this in the least interferes with or hinders human responsibility; that is something entirely separate from the subject of which we are speaking.

As to His ways with man ever since, the same diligence and earnest purpose is seen-no matter what patience was manifested,-for there is nothing like precipitancy in Him-there is no delay. In the call of Abraham, the deliverance of His people out of Egypt, and in each step of the onward way, prompt action at the proper time is ever characteristic. Specially is this seen in the sending of the prophets, "rising up early and sending them." No delay-no indifference, but early sending His messengers to rescue His people who had wandered from Him. How this increases their responsibility! They meeting His early rising to recall them, by "rising early and corrupting their doings." (Zeph. 3:7.) Coming to the New Testament, we find this same diligence in sending His Son ; and after He had ascended, having accomplished all God's purposes here, there was no delay in sending forth the Holy Ghost.

Passing now to that perfect life on earth of Him whose meat and drink it was to do His Father's will, we find the same spirit of holy promptness and zeal,-from the time when He said, " Lo, I come to do Thy will, O God," to that "early morning" of the resurrection when all that will had been perfectly accomplished. In the gospel (of Mark) which presents Him as the Perfect Servant, one of the characteristic words is "straightway." There is no lingering-no holding back, but a diligent passing from one sphere of service to another. Nor is there any shrinking from work which is not pleasant. He turns from the man out of whom He had cast the legion-parting from one who could in measure appreciate Him-to go back to those who had nothing but suspicion and unbelief. He leaves the bright glory of the " holy mount" of transfiguration to meet the demoniac child at the foot, and to steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, to meet worse than Capernaum indifference, demoniac power, or Samaritan unbelief. But, blessed be His precious name ! in all, He is ever the perfect, prompt, obedient One who could say, " He wakeneth morning by morning, He wakeneth Mine ear to hear as the learner." Having passed through the heavens, He is now seated on the Father's throne; but He still keeps His character as an early riser, and presents Himself to our longing hope as "the Bright and Morning Star,"-that star which rises early, before day. He will come for us at the earliest possible moment,-no delay when the last elect one is saved,-no delay but the fulfillment of that word which speaks to affection's heart, "Surely, I come quickly."

And if this is the character of the Father, of the Son, and the Spirit, we may well ask, Does it not become us also to be early risers? Turning to Scripture, we find it full of examples which if typical are none the less practical.

The manna-bread from heaven-had to be gathered early in the morning, for the heat of the sun melted it Christ is the bread of life for His people-not merely imparting and sustaining it, but giving us communion. We are to feed on Him if we are to have fellowship with Him and the Father. But this can only be done by early rising by a prompt diligence and determination to enjoy Him at all hazards. This applies equally to prayer ; just as the Lord Jesus rose a great while before day literally, we too must have the same purpose if we are to know what true prayer is. We ask amiss if we ask indolently. It is :not of set purpose, we may be very sure, that God's people lose communion with Him ; but it is by indifference and neglect-other things hindering us; "As thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone," is also the reason why we lose that Manna which flees from the sun of this world's absorbing affairs. He who knocked at the door of His beloved, and who met with but a sluggish response, quickly withdrew from the door, and she found Him not (Song 5:2-7). Communion does not come unsought, does not stay with those who do not prize it sufficiently to hold it fast at all cost of ease or comfort. "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart." To be found, they have to be sought for, which means the diligence of early rising. The sluggard is the opposite of this. He loves his bed; self-pleasing is the rule of his life, and his garden shows it. The wall is broken down (separation from the world lost), and the nettles and briars show the fruits of the old creation under the curse, not the "peaceable fruits of righteousness." (Prov. 24:30-34.) The sluggard too has motion, but he moves in his bed ; it is like a door on its hinges-ever swinging backward and forward, but there is no progress. How different the example of that early riser, the apostle Paul -"Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark"! Much of what passes for diligence among Christians is the half-awake turning in bed of the sluggard. Truth presented in an arousing way attracts their attention, wins their assent, makes them resolve to obey it; and thinking thus, they fall asleep until again awakened. Good for them is it if some pungent truth pierces the thick armor of indolence, and causes them, not to turn over to some fresh form of self-indulgence, but to leap from their bed of sloth, and do rather than talk. To obey is better than sacrifice." Good is it even if the chastening rod of a Father's love cause a smart which prevents further sleep. Do we not hear Him who says, not to the sinner, but to His own people, " Awake, thou that sleepest! and arise from among the dead, and Christ shall give thee light" ?

We have been speaking of communion, and the necessity for all diligence if we are to maintain or enjoy it. This lies at the foundation ; for if there is no communion, there is no strength to do or obey. Coming on now to the fruits of communion-an obedient life-we find the same need emphasized. Never did father receive a harder command than did Abraham when God said, "Take now thy son-thine only son, Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah, and offer him there for a burnt-offering." How does Abraham respond to this? He rose up early in the morning. "I made haste and delayed not to keep Thy words." He allows no time for nature to interpose between him and God's will. How often our slowness to obey has opened the way for dis-obedience! A lingering in the way, like the slothful man again who says, "There is a lion in the way:I shall be slain in the streets." No matter how heavy his heart, Abraham rises, and does what God had commanded, only to find, as we shall ever find, that obedience brings blessing out of the very thing we feared. He receives Isaac back as from the dead, with renewed covenant and promise on God's part, and learns more deeply than ever before the meaning of that word, " The Lord will provide." Is the reader of these lines delaying to obey God's will in some known matter? Go promptly, and obey ; rise early, deny self, and act in dependence on God ;. and, oh, what relief will come to you! and above all, what honor to God ! Do not stand shivering in uncertainty, but with promptness (not heedless haste-a very different thing,) act, and act now.

But this leads us to look at another fruit of early rising. It is only thus that great victories are won. When Joshua assaulted the impregnable walls of Jericho, he rose early, and they compassed the city. On the seventh day, they rose early-about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city seven times. Here they did very little, but they showed they were in earnest in that, by their early rising. The result is, the walls of Jericho fell flat, and victory is assured. So in our life, we have to cast down the strongholds of Satan which stand in the way of our enjoyment of our inheritance. We have little we can do to overcome the opposition, save a steadfast walk and a clear testimony ; but if there is this in true diligence, victory is assured,-the walls, whatever they may be-difficulty at home, or wherever else,-will fall. The Lord teach us this lesson also. We might refer to many such instances, where due and earnest diligence accompanied victory. David in meeting Goliath (i Sam. 17:20), Gideon attacking Midian (Judges 7:i), Jehoshaphat in meeting his foes (2 Chron. 20:20),-all rose early, and they were victorious.

See too in the exercise of discipline (as in Josh. 7:16), no delay is permitted, and the result is, the offender is discovered and dealt with, and blessing results. How often evil is winked at, or the matter neglected until it becomes a festering sore, defiling a whole assembly, or a large portion of it, and only gotten rid of with the loss of many who might otherwise have been spared !

So also, in the restoration of God's order, Hezekiah, when the temple was cleansed, made haste and offered the appointed sacrifices,-he rose early. The Lord Jesus has in these last days shown where His meeting-place is- "Where two or three are gathered together to My name, there am I in the midst." He has provided the sacrifices (forever efficacious), but where are the early risers-the devoted ones who will avail themselves aright of these privileges ? Does the reader say, " Here am I" ?