"Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition." (Mark 7:9.) "He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much ; and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much." (Luke 16:10.)

In this day of formal and professed godliness, a painfully common example of making void the Word of God by our own arguments and traditions is the frequently heard distinction between"essentials and non-essentials."

"We differ only in non-essentials" seems usually a disturbed slumberer's way of saying, "Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep !" Thus, I think, has our poverty of soul "come upon us as one that traveleth," and our spiritual "want as an armed man"! (Prov. 24:33, 34.)

To the question, What are "the essentials"? there is but one response."Essential to our salvation,"-that which ministers to our security.

What supreme selfishness-to deem nothing essential that does not endanger our safety ! What insult to Him, to whom alone we are indebted for safety, to make such a classification of His holy things ! How it proves that self has not yet been dethroned that Christ might be enthroned in the heart! Should not gratitude and love make most sacred whatever pertains to the glory of God ?

Even our salvation is for His glory:"He saved them for His name's sake, that He might make His mighty power to be known." (Ps. 106:8.) "I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins." (Isa. 43:25.) "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children through Jesus Christ to Himself, …. to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved." (Eph. 1:5, 6.)

Who, then, are we, that we should sit in judgment of His affairs, and, out of a number of matters that pertain to His glory, call this one essential and that one non-essential? Were it not better that we should pray,^'Keep back Thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me ; then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from great transgression." (Ps. 19:13,)

But are not these distinctions set up to excuse ourselves from the responsibility of our many differences ? Self-willed and stubborn, we will have our own way if possible in every thing which does not affect our salvation; and so it comes to pass that, instead of humbling ourselves for our sins, and preserving in our souls the sense of the glory of God and the solemnity of His Word, we betake ourselves to this unholy principle for comfort and guidance. Our dear Lord has bidden us not to differ. Should not the slightest wish of One who has so loved us and redeemed us be to us very essential ?

Take, for instance, i Cor. 1:10 :He not only bids us be united, but lays sevenfold emphasis upon the injunction.

1. " I beseech you, brethren." We are besought, and that by one who carried in his bosom the heart of Christ toward His people, and who was suffering all things for the elect's sake. A fit instrument indeed for the Holy Spirit to use in thus beseeching us.

2. "By the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." What a name to beseech by ! What recollections of love, patience, gentleness, agonizing sufferings it summons-and all for us ! The name of our Lord Jesus Christ! If that does not make us heed what the voice has to say, what will ? In Heaven's judgment, He alone is worthy, and that alone worthy which has Him for its object, and burns with the frankincense of His dear name.

3. "That ye all speak the same thing." Words are the expression of what is in our hearts. If Christ "dwells in our hearts by faith," it is Christ that we will speak, however great or small may be our knowledge of Him. The babe prattles in his weak-way, and the strong youth speaks with clearness and vigor, but they speak the same language, and they understand each other well.

4. "And that there be no divisions among you" (1:e,, among "all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord; " for such are the persons addressed in this epistle, as may be seen in ver. 2). Brother, whatever name you may as a Christian be under, this request appeals to you as also, to me. It pleads for "no divisions," and that, mark, not in the ecclesiastical body in which you may be, but in relation to "all who in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord." We may find extreme difficulties in the actual state of things, to carry this out, but we are no less responsible to do it.

5. "But that ye be perfectly joined together." Not merely agreed, notice, but "perfectly joined together." What can perfectly join a family together but absolute subjection to the one who at the head of it seeks only its good ? So here:nothing can produce such a state among us but absolute subjection to the Lord, and this is expressed in our subjection to His Word.

6. "In the same mind." Such subjection will form all our minds in one mold, so that, whatever be the diversity of tempers, of " constitution," or of gifts, they will be under "the same mind," and this will produce-

7. " The same judgment." In all things pertaining to God, and the family of God, it will find us united. Now I submit that for this blessed order of things, or for its opposite, we are, each and all, solemnly responsible; and that the idea of essentials and non-essentials is a mischievous excuse from that responsibility, making little or nothing of what disgraces our Lord, and thus hindering honest souls from seeking the way to cease from displeasing Him. O brethren, it is time to awake out of sleep, that we " may with one mind and with one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Rom. 15:6.) Thus the Lord prayed aloud for us, that we might hear what was in His heart:" Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also who shall believe on Me through their word, that they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us:that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. And the glory which Thou gavest Me, I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are One:I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, even as Thou hast loved Me." (Jno. 17:20-23.)

Brethren, let us carry this prayer, this desire of our Lord, in our hearts. E.C.W.