We were living in ignorance-"According to the former lusts in your ignorance;" but how in that state of ignorance we were nevertheless responsible and guilty, we learn from Eph. 4:18-."Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; " or, as in the R. V., "because of the hardening of their heart." Just as in Jno. 12:, "they could not believe,", because God had hardened them ; and then again the same passage is quoted (from Isa. 6:) in the last chapter of the Acts, to show that they had hardened themselves. " For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed."

But now it is no longer blindness and ignorance, but holiness-a holy walk before God, who is light, in all manner of living.

Three considerations are mentioned to produce in the Christian a right state-of holiness and fear. We are to be holy because God is holy to whom we now belong. And since God as our Father judges-that is, governs and chastens us without respect of persons, we are to pass the time of our sojourn in fear. And thirdly, we are to consider the cost of our redemption-"the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."

The blood of Christ has redeemed me. The Father chastens me according to my ways; and God is holy.

The fear is not fear of being lost, nor does " the Father judging according to every man's work" imply that. Jno. 5:27-29 and 2 Tim. 4:i show that the execution of judgment upon sinners is committed to the Son ; but the Father's judgment is, dealing with His own in chastening and discipline in the sojourn here.

But this is a solemn reality, and is too little considered. It is "without respect of persons"-a warning, to disturb our pride and hardness of heart, and to keep alive within me the fact that I have to do each moment with One who hates sin and loves me as His child. The Corinthians had become so dull as to need to be reminded that some of them were weak and sickly, and some had died (i Cor. 11:30), " that they might not be condemned with the world." This holy fear was lacking, so that, though having many gifts, they had exposed themselves to Satan. In Ps. 107:, this government of God over His people, and over all men, is unfolded, and is called " mercy and loving-kind-ness," however great the distress it may bring us into at times, to bring us to repentance, or to give a deeper tone to our character. The refrain of this psalm, four times repeated, should be a song in the heart of every one, however sharp the chastening.-" Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness and for His wonderful works to the children of men !"-even though they may go down to the depths, and their soul be melted because of trouble. "Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the loving-kindness of the Lord." (Ps. 107:43.)

When redemption is known, then the heart can be governed by the fear of God. Ps. 111:is full of this spirit of worship and holy fear. " He sent redemption unto His people:He hath commanded His covenant forever:holy and reverend is His name. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom:a good understanding have all they that do His commandments :His praise endureth forever."
We need to cultivate this spirit of fear, that we may not be rash, heedless, trifling, and self-confident.

And " it is written, ' Be ye holy, for I am holy.' " This is an exhortation which is deep and heart-searching beyond expression, and demands diligent attention lest we should trespass against God. The sixth chapter of Isaiah will illustrate this subject. The seraphim vail their faces before Him who sits upon the throne, high and lifted up, and cry, " Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Hosts :the whole earth is full of His glory! " and Isaiah cries, "Woe is me ! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips:for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts."

The holiness of God is the opposite of that which so easily invades the heart, and unfits us for the presence and service of God.

By unholiness, priestly discernment is destroyed, and we have no clear judgment between good and evil, and become like the horse and the mule, to be held in by bit and bridle. It is not until after the eighth chapter of Leviticus, where Aaron and his sons are consecrated to the priesthood, that things clean and unclean are mentioned, and their obligation to discern between them; and it is in this epistle of Peter where holiness is so enjoined that Christians are called "a holy priesthood,"-as also in the epistle to the Hebrews, where our priesthood is implied, the obligation of holiness is declared with solemn emphasis.

In John's epistles holiness is not mentioned. There, the new life, as born of God, goes out in fellowship with God and love to the brethren, and overcomes the world; but here we are exhorted as having been redeemed- redeemed from a wicked world and from a life of vanity, as in Titus-"He gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."

"Holy and reverend is His name." May we rejoice in Him, as He has made Himself known to us; and beware of walking heedlessly in such a presence, while resting fully in that love that first sought us and took hold of us, and that upholds us, and that is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit that is given to us. (Rom. 5:5.) E.S.L.