Whose fan is in His hand." His judgment, though sure, and deserved by all, is met for those who have owned their place as being justly under it. "And He will throughly purge His floor " -no evil can escape Him. " Gather His wheat into the garner"-not only take His own out of all that calls for His judgment, but gather them into the place He has fitted for them."Burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire "-the wicked also "go unto their own place,"in what they have fitted themselves for-"eternal judgment," whether executed in time or in eternity. It is well to remember that in all this it is primarily the clearance of the earth for the throne of the Messiah, both here and in the Prophets, as see Ps. 21:9, 10, " The fire shall devour them, and their fruit shalt Thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men." Unless this be carefully noted, there will be confusion as to the government of God on earth and His final judgment of the wicked in eternity. While as to the former, there is complete riddance of the wicked when He "purges out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them that do iniquity," because the "Lord reigneth," and "justice and judgment are the habitation of His throne;" yet is it true also that "after He hath killed, He hath power to cast into hell" However, "unquenchable fire " tells solemnly that it is not annihilation for in it we read, " Their worm dieth not," as well as that "the fire is not quenched." (Mark 9:44-48.)

The holy character of God being eternal, and sin being sternal also, and not only man's destruction but the violation of that character, of necessity there can be no remedy, as God " cannot give His glory to another and man in time will not, and in eternity cannot, " repent to give Him glory." Well may our hearts, in view of so solemn a subject, rise up in adoring thankfulness, to say, O God, how rich "Thy grace to bring us beforehand into judgment the cross of Christ, and of ourselves in repentance, ere the day of Thy judgment, that Thou mightest thus bless us with Thyself eternally! Marvel of divine mercy!-wondrous cross of Christ!

"Then cometh Jesus from Galilee." There found because of His people's rejection; now He comes to put Himself alongside them in their " low estate."

" Unto John, to be baptized of him"-to the preacher of repentance-taking His place, in infinite grace with those who confessed their sins, and the righteous judgment of God under which they lay. If they "justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John," then He says, "I will be with them in it." " But John forbad Him." Could truth be silent now ? No; he who was the witness of Israel's sin must also be of the excellency of Christ, and know Him as God's burnt-offering of " sweet-smelling savor," as well as the sin-offering, to be burned " outside of camp," by reason of man's guilt. John needed the grace found in Him, and Israel needed the truth of which John was the steward, and Jesus enters into all that need–owns their sins to be "as scarlet and crimson," and that the " judgment of God is according to truth," and yet comes to take His place among them, as though a sinner with them.

"Comest thou to me?" John asks; and well he might, for his was the sinners' baptism-of repentance, and unto the remission of sins; and what relations could the Holy One have to these? But one-to take their place, in bearing the judgment they deserved, and by thus identifying Himself with all who confessed its justice and their need as being under it. " The law (the measure of man's responsibility) and the prophets (the testimony of God as to his failure in answering to it) were until John;" and now, this "grace and truth " which " came by Jesus Christ," " the Sun of Righteousness, arising with healing in His wings,"-the dawning of a new day, that had not been hitherto,-" the day-spring from on high."

"Suffer it to be so now." Christ must needs suffer to enter into His glory, take the cross ere He does the crown, and this is the anticipation of it. Israel were under God's curse-the curse of a broken law and stoned prophets; and " He was made a curse, to redeem them that were under it."

"Thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness " -not in life, save as presenting to God the sweet savor of the true meat-offering in obedience- "good pleasure in men;" but in death, confessing sinners' sins, and attesting the righteousness of God, that could not pass over sin, but, dealing with it in His judgment, can now consistently shelter all who put their trust in Him who has met both, putting away the first, and establishing the second. "And Jesus . . . went up straightway out of the water; and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him," etc. God could not silently let it be judged that this was Christ's place, except in grace. B.C.G.