IV.

Before going on to the fifth covenant, a brief further consideration of the fourth may be called for, to bring the more clearly before the mind the real correspondence between the subject of this covenant and its numerical position. Let us look at the predictions as to Abram's descendants. "And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, a horror of great darkness fell upon him. And He said unto Abram, 4 Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years. . . . And in the fourth generation they shall come hither again; for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.' And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces." (Gen. 15:12.)

In this, we have a wilderness testing and experience, corresponding to what is recorded in Numbers, the fourth book of Moses, which records the wilderness-journey of Israel; the " great and terrible wilderness " corresponding also to the captivity in Babylon, as recorded in Daniel, which, as shown in recent teaching, is a fourth book in the prophetical Pentateuch. As a type, this terrible experience of four hundred years and four generations tells us of the present time of Israel's exile and dispersion, which will end with their final everlasting regathering to their land at the Lord's appearing. This vision is seen when the sun had gone down and it was dark-the condition of Israel and of the world while the Lord delays His return. In the meanwhile, there is the furnace, and the lamp passing between the pieces of the sacrifice. All is secured to God's people, above all their failure, by the cross ; and yet God must deal with them in all the trials of the wilderness-journey and experience, that they may know Him in His holy character, and that His word alone can guide them. " Let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear; for our God is a consuming fire." (Heb. 12:28, 29.) So in Daniel we have the furnace, and in i Peter, the fourth part of the New-Testament Pentateuch, we have the "furnace" and the "fiery trial."

All is in beautiful harmony, and deeply impressive.

The world-number 4 ("the four quarters of the earth," Rev. 20:8) is stamped upon this lesson. Whether Israel in Egypt, or in the wilderness, or in Babylon, or now in their long exile, or the Church of God now, His people must ever learn their own hearts, and God's power and holiness and love as they pass through the world to the promised inheritance. The sun has gone down. It is dark indeed. But we have the lamp-the "burning lamp,"-"a cloud and darkness " to the world, but " light by night" to us. (Ex. 14:20.)

Let us remember the words of the wilderness-apostle of the New Testament:"Though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations; that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ " (i Pet. 1:6.)

The world is an awful scene, and it intervenes between God's chosen ones and their rest and glory at last. We can understand Abram's "horror of great darkness," and compare it with Daniel's night-visions," and his "cogitations " that " much troubled " him, and his " fainting," and "being sick." (Dan. 7:13, 28 and 8:27.) "The whole creation groaneth," and " we ourselves groan within ourselves," awaiting the realization of our hope. "But we reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed to us." The sorrow and distress is no secret; but the end is sure and near, and the Lord Himself has gone before. This cheers us-draws out our hearts-gives courage. The ark was in advance as they entered the Jordan that they might see it; and so we must see Jesus as having gone on before, and through all, into God's presence for us, that we may have a strength and courage to follow that is not our own. " It is God that worketh in us." Notice the exhortation that introduces this fourth covenant (Gen. 15:i)-"Fear not, Abram :I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward." Let us face what remains for us of the wilderness way in the power and joy of this word, " Fear not." Just because God is for us.

V. The fifth covenant brings before us (Gen. 17:), consistently with the meaning of this number, responsibility. "Thou shall keep My covenant." (5:9.) "Walk before Me, and be thou perfect." (5:1:) "Every man-child among you shall be circumcised." (5:10.) How prominently man figures here! and it is here that Abram gets his new name, by the addition (as noticed by another,) of a fifth letter, and that the fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet. He is now Abraham, a father of many nations :fruitfulness in responsibility. And if the five fingers of the hand speak of this responsibility, and the four fingers, helped by the firmness of the thumb, tell of man in weakness dependent on the One who has power, how clearly is this before us in this fifth covenant!-Abraham ninety years old and nine, "as good as dead" (Heb. 11:12), and He who speaks to him is "the almighty God." How could the meaning of the number be more strikingly illustrated, both as to responsibility and the way in which alone man can fulfill it-weakness leaning upon Him who has promised, judging Him faithful. "Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable." (Heb. 11:12.) And so we are exhorted (Heb. 10:23), "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He is faithful that promised."

May this secret of victory and peace and joy be ever with us. It is the Lord Almighty who has called us into the path of lowly but fearless obedience. He has promised to be a Father to us, and we His sons and daughters. (2 Cor. 6:) If we are to realize this precious relationship, we must pay diligent heed to His call. May it be ours to do so each day, and in all things. Infinite will be our gain and great the reward. (Heb. 10:35.) He is faithful that promised, and He is the Lord Almighty. It is before Him we are to walk.

It is important to note that just where responsibility is the theme, circumcision is enjoined as an absolute necessity. Let us carefully ponder this. When we are awakened to a sense of obligation to serve God, our impulse is to trust in ourselves. Hence we must learn that to trust in ourselves is to trust in the flesh; so, on the other hand, to deny the flesh is to not trust in ourselves, and that in everything, at every step, in things great and small. Dependence-looking up-the sense of weakness-cleaving to the Lord constantly and continuously,-that is, faith ever in exercise–walking by faith and not by sight.

It is not a task to perform-a legal effort, but a principle according to which we are to live-to endure as seeing Him who is invisible. It is the power of the Spirit, leading us in truth and righteousness. "Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh." Never can we take a step by faith without finding that God is most surely with us in power and blessing. He is "the almighty God ;" we are to walk before Him, and to be perfect.

"In whom ye are circumcised, . . . in the putting off the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ." " Seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God." " Mortify, therefore, your members which are upon the earth-fornication, unclean-ness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness(or unbridled desire), which is idolatry; for which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience."

We are the "elect of God, holy, and beloved." E.S.L.

(To be continued.)