Worldly and worldly-minded men are fond of the above-written phrase, and frequently quote and use it as an axiomatic truth, when, except in a very broad and general sense, it is not truth at all. In the sense of Creator and creatures, it may be admitted; but even then it must be remembered that man, by sin, ruined the first creation, and alienated himself from God, and took sides with Satan against God his Creator. In this he separated himself from his Creator, and broke off relationship with Him ; so that God gave him up to his own will, and permitted him to go his own way for a long time, that thus he might satisfy himself that he could not get on without God. All this time, however, the Creator offered reconciliation to man if he would do righteousness. On this ground also man totally failed, and the just judgment of his Creator upon him was, "None righteous, -no, not one:" "there is none that seeketh after God."

But " God so loved the world, that He gave His, only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Here God comes in mercy and offers reconciliation to man ; and it is upon this ground, and upon this alone, that the relationship im-plied in the phrase written at the head of this article can be restored. "Come out from among them, and be ye separate," says God, "and I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters." Here is the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man, and no where else does it exist but in the Lord Jesus Christ. Out of Christ, man is not and never can be in relationship with God. He is of his father the devil, and he will do the works of his father, as the Lord said to the Pharisees. "Ye mast be born again."-"They that are in the flesh cannot please God."-"The end of all flesh is come before" God. In Christ Jesus alone is life-the new life that you must be born into to come again into the relationship of children with God. The Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man is now restored in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is formed in the assembly, or Church of God, which is composed of all that are born of God, and united to Christ, the Head in heaven, by the Holy Spirit of God. "Call no man your father upon the earth ; for One is your Father, which is in heaven," "and all ye are brethren." (Matt, 23:8, 9.) J.S.P.