"The servant's name was Malchus" are words of holy writ-divinely inspired,-"written for our learning," or "admonition,"-part of the " all Scripture " which " is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." Have we ever so considered it, and consciously profited by its brief though significant message from Him who "though He be high, yet hath He respect unto the lowly; but the proud He knoweth afar off"? Whether we have or not, may we now do so, and to our soul's profit, by His grace.

The part in Scripture where our verse is found is John (18:10)-that gospel of the four which specially unfolds the glory of our Lord as the Eternal Word-" God manifest in the flesh "-the "Creator" and "Upholder of all things"-the " Light and Life of men;" and it surely adds to it something of " this glory that excelleth," to be found in such a place.

First, it was the name of one who, at least to sight, was among those who "hated Him without " cause"-one among others of the band Judas received from the chief priests and Pharisees, who " came with lanterns and torches and weapons to take Jesus" In what associations, under what a leader, and upon what a mission to be found-embracing "the counsel of the ungodly, the way of sinners, and the seat of the scornful"! It is thus God records his name. Were this all that is told us, what reason for fear that it is against him the record stands! and for what an awful reckoning in the day when God " maketh inquisition for blood," and calls men to account for the death of His beloved Son! But there is more. It was a servant's name; and were that too the only fact, how readily, among so many of greater importance, with men, would what befell him be dismissed by, " Only a servant, what need to mention him further, or record his name ? " But not so with god, and here we are before God, and God is before us, albeit He is Jesus, our precious, lowly, gracious Savior Here, where we see our Lord yielding Himself up into the hands of His enemies, laying down His life, being led as a lamb to the slaughter, what grace in Him, while " knowing all things that should come upon Him," to turn from all concerning Himself, and not only exercise His divine power in behalf of such an one, but display His grace and sympathy as well, saying (as we elsewhere find), " Suffer ye thus far" as He touched his ear and healed him. Precious, unselfish, considerate Lord and Master,-able to create worlds, to command legions of angels, to make His enemies fall before His face, to drink the cup of divine judgment against sin,-yes, and as able (blessed be His name!) to soothe the pain of an enemy, to sympathize with and relieve the suffering of such, though but a servant. Surely it was of that grace that John had received, and under the inspiration of the same Spirit he was when he penned those gracious words, "And the servant's name was Malchus." And further, may we not hope from this record of his name that he was afterward known among our Lord's friends and followers, as here among His enemies? Having the assurance that one of such, the dying thief, who by necessity was where he heard His gracious words, and was won to trust Him, and some ground also to believe that another, Simon the Cyrenian, who came, as it were, by chance upon the scene of His sufferings, was also numbered among His own (Comp. Mark 15:21; Acts 13:1:); so may we not also hope that this too was the occasion of blessing to still another, who, it may be, was of choice among those " who took Jesus," and that it is in view of this his name was made part of holy Scripture.

Be this as it may, some lessons are plain and manifest, which may we not miss! Let us, like our gracious, adorable Lord, seek to relieve, rather than inflict, suffering, even though it be as to an enemy; and if even in men's account but a servant, may we show His gracious consideration. As to this latter, how strong this appeal to our hearts, in behalf of those in such relations to us, that there may be a fuller display of the grace of Christ in us; not only "giving unto them that which is just and equal," and suitably taking note of and " rewarding every good thing," as our Lord and Master does, and " forbearing threatening;" but realizing our stewardship of grace toward them, making us debtors to them as to all men.

And here, may we not fittingly find room for "a word of exhortation," which, through grace, may yield its profit? To how many, in this day of the overturning of the relationships which God has established among men, is the question of " the servant" a very serious one, and one fraught with more than a little care, which, alas! they seem unable to " cast upon Him," as believing " He careth for them "! Is there not a cause? and, (thank God!) with this discovered, with Him a remedy? There is assuredly, and may we not ask our hearts, Is it not this?-Do we not too often think of such as those outside of us in whom we have, alas! but scanty interest beyond the amount of labor that they yield us for which we in turn compensate them? Can this, beloved brethren, be our God's thought for His people, when He has called us to be imitators of Him, as dear children ? Were we to look upon ourselves more as " the stewards of His manifold grace," set here in the world to " bless, and curse not," as to all with whom we come into contact, would we not more seriously regard this matter of our servants? and if assured, as we should be, that those given us are from the Lord, and in answer to our heart's supplication to Him, would not then the servant's name with us have a record also? The frequent change of servants, with its attendant care and friction, with which not a few even of God's dear people are familiar, we may rightly own to be as really His discipline as the nations of Canaan left to try the hearts of Israel.

Let us, as to this though commonplace yet important matter, "search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord," believing that He who " numbers the very hairs of our head " cares for all our concerns; and in this matter, as " in every thing," would have us seek His face, first as to who He would have come beneath our roof in that relation, and then also as to the needed grace (sufficient, promised grace,) for each day's trial as it comes, that we may thus, as in all things, " adorn the doctrine of our Savior."

The goodness of Jehovah's heart,-"pitiful, and full of tender mercy," how fully we find displayed in the statutes enjoined upon His people Israel as to those subordinate to them! and how pathetic His appeal as to the stranger,-"for ye know the heart of a stranger."

May we, beloved brethren, in the remembrance of that grace to which we are daily such debtors, walk in its power toward all around us, that in "that day "of our Lord's return our servant's names too may have a record, as those whom we have "shown grace," and been made channels of blessings to. Thus will we be made to share a little of His joy, whose grace said, " Suffer ye thus far," and caused it to be written, "And the servant's name was Malchus." May it be so for His name's sake! B.C.G.