"And the same day, Pilate and Herod were made friends together ; for before, they were at enmity between themselves." (Luke 23:12.)

One of the characteristics of men in their natural state is, "living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another." What can be expected from the carnal mind which is " enmity against God " but enmity against its fellow also? The violence and the hatred and strife we see in the world are but fruits of that departure from Him who alone is Love. And so after conversion-after we have " received the reconciliation," the sweet and precious fruits of the Spirit are seen ; and among the first is love, and all its accompanying manifestations of forgiveness of and reconciliation with our fellows. How can the one who has been forgiven much fail to forgive the little offenses against himself? It would argue that one did not realize it for himself if he failed in its exercise toward others.

Here, however, as in many other ways, Satan has a counterfeit of the real, in which while a good deal of the outward appearance is preserved, all that gives character and value is wanting. This is so in a marked degree with the case before us. Pilate and Herod had been at enmity; they become reconciled. What led to this reconciliation?-what motives actuated them? Sad is the answer-their rejection of Christ. It may be said that Pilate was not so violently opposed to Him,-that He was willing to let Him go, and that Herod would have been glad to see some miracle performed by Him. Still this in no wise affects the fact that Christ was set at naught by Herod, and delivered up to be crucified by Pilate. "He that is not with Me is against Me;" and these two, having been specially called upon to decide for or against Him, take their place with His enemies. This brings them together, gives the occasion for their reconciliation. What a spectacle! The Son of God mocked, scourged, and delivered up for crucifixion; and the men who were responsible for it as it were shaking hands over it! After all, is not this what we see in the world at the present day? Are not the very things which link men with one another the ones which separate them from Christ? Not necessarily immoral things, but those which have usurped the place which He would claim, show the enmity which is just as real, though less apparent, as if more flagrant acts had indicated it.

But it is not for the world that we are writing. Is there not a lesson for us. as Christians to learn ? First, what is that which links us with the world ? Is it a common interest in business, or the daily affairs of life, which so absorb as to become our object, instead of that love and pity which spring from communion with the Lord? While in the world, we must be engaged in the daily duties of life,-the common affairs that all men must attend to; but to be so absorbed in these as to leave the Lord out is to act as though we were of the world as well as in it. This is the friendship of the world, and it is enmity with God, practically. A friendship of this kind is, in measure, of the character of that between Pilate and Herod. Much of the sociability with the unsaved is dangerously near this. Would those who are now so pleased to have our company like it if we avowed loyalty to Him who is their enemy? Farthest removed from a moroseness and gloom that repel is this frank, happy, confession of Christ which comes from a heart filled with His love. Surely we cannot make rules for ourselves or for one another, but do we not need some exercise of conscience as to this very thing?

But as between saints, is there not need to beware of links of the character of that between Pilate and Herod ? That prejudice which separates from some of our brethren and attracts to others is like it. Differences and coolness toward some drawing us closer to those of like mind with us is like it. It is thus that parties spring up amongst God's people, and under the guise of congeniality, etc., confederacies are formed. Further, though not exactly of like character, there is the being held together by rejection of error merely. The Lord never intended us to. be occupied with evil,-never would have us drawn together by what we refuse and deny merely. Positive truth is what attracts and holds together-truth which sets the Lord Himself before us. Love to Him, worship of Him, this is the constraining bond which the Spirit uses to unite and hold us together. The more we know of Christ (in the heart)-the more His truth fills us, so much the closer will we be together. This is a friendship which has neither honey nor leaven to corrupt it, and so abides.