When Dathan and Abiram (Num. 16:) were acting out their rebellion against Moses as leader (type of Christ in His kingly authority), they let slip the secret of their thought both about the land of Egypt they had left, and the wilderness they were in. "Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of the land 'that floweth with milk and honey?" What a description to give of that land of brick-kiln bondage and divine judgments! How rebellion blinds the eyes! Whenever self-will is at work, the world, in some form or other, becomes the attraction, rather than Canaan:so that in the case before us, the very attractions of that land of promise are given to Egypt-Heaven's blessings ascribed to earth, not so uncommon in these days. As to the wilderness, Moses was going to kill them. It was not the place through which they were hurrying on to a rest sure and prepared; rather it was a place to die in-its dreary wastes marked their horizon, and there was no faith to see beyond. How different the view of faith! However trying and terrible the wilderness might be, springs are found in it, the valley of Baca becomes a well, and water ever flows from that Rock which follows them, "and that Rock was Christ;" while beyond it lies that land-not very far distant to its vision-which is " the glory of all lands." This is the normal attitude of the child of God; but let self-will get to work, and how soon all comforts flee, and we find out how true that word is, " The rebellious dwell in a dry land." Rebellion is against God's authority. It may be direct, as in Jonah's case, but far oftener it is concealed beneath the resistance, apparently, of the human instrument who makes known God's will. But God marks it, and when His Word is refused, no matter by whom presented, that marks rebellion in its essence. Blinded by prejudice, the person resists, he says, the man who bears the message, but he is really despising not man but God, who will most surely deal with him.

But perhaps the subtlest form of rebellion is that of resisting self-will by self-will. Here is Diotrephes acting with a high hand, and we resist him with a high hand,- we fight him with his own weapons. Now will in action is rebellion; for submission to God is ever our part, no matter how great the provocation may be. Need we be surprised, then, that the result of strife is dryness? If we were more honest with ourselves, doubtless much that passes for righteous zeal and care for the Lord's honor, is only self-will, and in the things of God what can be worse? But call it by what name we please, the tell-tale barrenness shows what is the matter. I have been unjustly dealt with by a brother, and I am applying Matt, 18:to him, but I lose in my own soul the sense of God's presence, because I am not seeking His will, but self-vindication. Or the person toward whom I may be thus acting resents my treatment, and he too, instead of learning God's mind in allowing this trial (even if wrongly dealt with) to come on him, lets self assert itself and we are both rebellious and of course in a dry land. Nothing but subjection to God will do, under all circumstances of trial, whether sickness, disappointment, misrepresentation or whatever may make life bitter and hard. How our
blessed Lord ever bowed to His Father, taking even the cup of death not from the hands of His enemies, but from the One whom it was His meat and drink to serve. No trial but would yield the " peaceable fruits of righteousness," if we received it from a Father's hand of love, in true submission to Him. Ah! if we saw God in it all.

Is there not in this a call to many individuals, to many assemblies of God's people as well ? Who will heed it, and look away from all second causes to God, in imitation of Him who could say, " The Lord God hath opened Mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away My back. I gave My back to the smiters, and My cheek to them that plucked off the hair:I hid not My face from shame and spitting" ?