Deeply affecting is the scripture from which the above words are taken :"Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich " (2 Cor. 8:9). It is something the Christian knows, though the depths are beyond all human fathoming, and with spiritual delight he loves to trace this "grace of our Lord Jesus Christ," as it is seen displayed in His wondrous pathway from the glory of God down to "Calvary's depth of woe." And with a heart filled with the sense of this blessed grace, he goes on his way, ever delighting in Him who was the rich and full display of it; for "the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ" (John i:17).

This grace of our Lord Jesus Christ did not come to make demands on the sinner, but to fully meet
his need and bring him into the place of everlasting nearness to God. "Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ":grace to meet man's need, and the truth about God and all else; for His coming into the world, being what He was, "God manifest in the flesh," revealed everything; as "the light of the world," there was, on the one hand, the exposure of what man was; and, on the other, the revelation of God:God in grace come down to espouse man's cause, and to deliver him from sin's thraldom and Satan's power. In coming He reveals God, accomplishes atonement, and becomes man's Deliverer.

But let us see how that grace was manifested.

" Though He was rich." How rich ? Rich as one with God, coequal and coeternal with God, and one with the Father in the unity of the Godhead. Godhead glory was His, not as acquired by acts after He became man, but what belonged to Him by right, and which He had with the Father before the world was (John 17:5). Nor was He a created spirit-being, as some* blasphemously teach, but "in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. *The " Millennial Dawn " people.- [Ed.]* The same was in the beginning with God " (John i :i, 2). Nor was it grasping something that was not His, which it would have been had He been only a created spirit-being, but "who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God " (Phil. 2 :6).

In the foregoing scriptures we have the eternity of His being :"In the beginning was the Word"- His distinct personality:"and the Word was with God"-His absolute deity:"and the Word was God"-His equality with God:"thought it not robbery to be equal with God "-sharing Godhead glory with the Father from all eternity :"'the glory which I had with Thee before the world was."

He was rich, then, in Godhead glory as one with the Father; as He Himself said, "I and My Father are one."

Again:How rich was He ?

He was rich as God's eternal Son, the only-begotten of the Father, the object of His supreme delight. Prov. 8 :22-31 gives us a view of Him as such. Also:"who is in the bosom of the Father" (John i:18). As another has said, " He is πρωτoκoς, or first-begotten, in several senses-and we have companionship with Him:πρωτoτoκoς or first-born among many brethren. But He is also the μovoγεvης, or only begotten; and there He is alone."
Rich indeed was He:rich in the enjoyment of divine affections, as the object of the Father's delight.

Again:How rich ?

He was the creator of the universe:'' All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made " (John i:3). This universe owes its existence and sustainment to the word of His power. '' By Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers:all things were created by Him, and for Him:and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist" (Col. i:16, 17).

Can we wonder at the seraphim covering their faces with their wings-holy beings as they were- in the presence of His creatorial glory ? But be it remembered that this glorious Being, whose holiness the seraphim proclaimed, was none other than the Jesus of John 12:35-41. In the one scripture we witness the homage and obedience of seraphic beings ; in the other, the blind unbelief of poor fallen man, who, while seeking his own glory and the praise of men, could not discern the moral glory of the person of Him who had come from Godhead's fullest glory to reveal God to man, and deliver him from Satan's power.

Thus we see how rich He was of whom our scripture speaks.

But mark:" Yet for your sakes He became poor."

" For your sakes." That was grace indeed! His glory was laid aside, or veiled behind the lowly form of the manhood He took, in order that the love of God might be manifested and expressed in and to a world that had lost the truth that "God is love."

Ah, but how poor did He become ?

So poor as to be born in a manger.

The Being upon whom we have just been gazing as God, as Son of God, and as Creator, now become man, commenced His career in a stable. From the eternal throne to the manger is a long distance-a great leap toward poverty. The virgin mother, a poor woman of Galilee who, when they "brought Him to Jerusalem, to present Him to the Lord" (Luke 2 :22-24), could only bring the offering that was prescribed for the poorest offerer (Lev. 12; 8)- His supposed father a poor carpenter.

Surely He made Himself of no reputation. Mark, He made Himself that. "Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, yet made Himself of no reputation, and took upon
Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men." Such was His self-abnegation, and such was His marvelous grace! From infinite riches to deepest poverty; from the position of upholding all things by the word of His power, to that of a lowly, dependent babe; from One who commanded the worship of heaven, to that of a servant of all; and all this without ceasing to be what He had been from all eternity. Such is the mystery of the incarnation! Hallowed ground indeed for us to tread; and with unshod feet should we tread it, with a becoming worshipful spirit.
Again:During the days of His ministry, how poor He was! No house or home did He possess. And when tribute was demanded of Him, He had naught to meet it with; but, as creation's Lord, He could command the fish of the deep to produce the needed money. "Give it to them for Me and for thee." Thus His poverty was the means of the outshining of His divine glory from behind the veil of His humanity. The creatures of His hand had resting-places:He, none. "And it came to pass, that as they went in the way, a certain man said unto Him, Lord, I will follow Thee whithersoever Thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head " (Luke 9:57, 58).

Such was His grace, and it was for our sakes. May we never forget it; and may the constant remembrance of it endear Him to our hearts, and make us cleave to Him in devoted affection!

Would He ride into Jerusalem, in fulfilment of Zech. 9:9? He had no ass on which to ride; but as Lord of all He could, and did, send two of His disciples to fetch one from the appointed place; and if the owners objected, they were to say, "The Lord hath need of him " (Luke 19:31). He was Creator and Possessor of all, but for the present He must tread the path of deepest poverty, for He had been sent to fulfil a marvelous purpose of divine grace toward us, and no other path could lead to it.

And now the final scene closes in upon Him, telling of a poverty which has, and can have, no equal:Gethsemane, Gabbatha, Golgotha-scenes sacred to the memory of every Christian's heart. Gethsemane witnessed the conflict of the Saviour's soul as the hour had come to yield Himself to the dreadful work for our redemption. Gabbatha tells of the crushing unrighteousness of the rulers of this world in their judgment of this poor but righteous Man. What use is there in His answering more ? They will not do justice. At Calvary His life itself is given up. He is "obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."

On the cross He was not only the object of man's hatred, but also of God's wrath, as taking our place and bearing our sins ; and from His soul, now " made an offering for sin," came forth that awful cry, " My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me ?" And yet, be it said, never was the Son more precious to the heart of God, or pleasing to the Father, than when He gave Himself up to the drinking of that bitter cup. By it all the holy attributes of God were preserved, and the blessing of His people secured.

The manger, the pathway, the cross, the tomb, tell forth alike the deep poverty of Him who became poor, though possessor of all, that He might make good His grace and enrich His people forever.

God has raised up and glorified His Son, who so fully glorified Him (John 13 :31, 32). Now, how blessedly true it is "that we through His poverty might be rich " ! How deep the poverty, and how unspeakable the riches !

We are made rich in divine forgiveness; rich, as being justified and having peace with God; rich, as having in Him redemption through His precious blood; rich, as being taken into favor in the Beloved; rich, as having life and righteousness in Him; rich, as being the objects of God's love; rich, as being His dear children; rich, as being the members of His body; rich, as having the " gift of grace," the "gift of righteousness," and "justification of life "; rich, as being made one with Christ in glory; rich, as having '' obtained the salvation which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory "; rich, as having received a kingdom which cannot be moved; rich, as heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ; rich, as being among the many sons God is bringing to glory, as being "all of one" with the Sanctifier and those He is not ashamed to call His brethren; rich, as having died with Him, and now a new creation in Him; rich, as blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies in Him; rich, in the privilege of serving Him here, and in the prospect of being like Him at His coming; rich, too, in the prospect of reigning with Him as His companions in His kingdom and glory.

We are, praise His blessed name, enriched with His riches, and as the fruit of His unspeakable poverty.

With what moral beauty does this portion of God's word shine out! '' For ye know the grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich" (2 Cor. 8:9). And, as enriched through His becoming poor, what more proper than that we should abound in praise and thanksgiving to Him who loved us so well, and stooped so low, that we might be raised up from our degradation to a place so high, even to be associated with Him in His glory and glorious kingdom !

Then, how great the honor and privilege of serving Him here! It surely should not be thought a duty, but a privilege, to serve and represent Him in and to a world that would not have Him. Oh for greater zeal in His blessed service! E. A.