I do not pretend to say that every Christian is practically in the state in which Paul was when he could say, "Death worketh in us, but life in you " (chap. 4). Paul held himself as dead-dead as regards the world, and all that is in it; therefore Christ only was working in him. The life of Christ was unhindered in him. As the Christian holds himself dead, so the life of Christ is displayed in him. It is important our hearts should understand what practical Christianity is. It is not merely gracious effects produced in man passing through the world as not belonging to it. The Christian does not belong to it at all, no more than Jesus did. Jesus was not of the world (John 17).

All that is of the world is not of the Father. Was there ever the smallest link between the heart of Christ and the world ? We are brought into the same place of separation. Our wills must be broken lusts judged; and then fulness of divine consolation is poured into the soul. Paul was a vessel into which the direct flow of comfort could be poured. He knew what relationship with the soul and God is :tribulations were only the occasion of bringing it out. He could thus "glory in tribulations"; he could "glory in infirmities," etc. They only brought him into more direct communion with the blessed source of strength. Then we prove the blessedness of what God is, and it can flow out to others. In verse 8 we read, "For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life." The occasion brings before him the distinct consciousness of what life and death is. There was no hope as to natural life. How does it find him ?

With the sentence of death in himself, Paul takes Christ's cross into his heart; he reckons himself dead; he holds himself as living in Christ who had already died, he therefore trusts in Him who raiseth the dead. Here we get the expression of Christ in his soul. It isn't merely one passing through the world with the wheels a little better oiled, but every link with the world broken. The sinner has to do with God as a Judge.

The sprinkled blood in Egypt saved the Israelites from God, who was executing judgment; but when they had passed the Red Sea (type of death and resurrection), they get a place with God-the full salvation of God-Egypt done with. When the world put Christ to death, the sentence of death was put upon all that is in it. God raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His own right hand, giving us a new place where Christ is. We are accepted in the Beloved. The children of Israel were brought out TO GOD; so are we. If a Christian, I am dead to the world. I am alive in Christ, and Christ only. It severs me from the world. It links me with Christ in heaven. God did not create the world as it is. He created paradise, but sin came in, Adam was turned out, and this world has grown up to what it is. God has opened heaven to us in virtue of the work done for us. Christ is there, and it is there we belong. As sinners, our place is in the world; as accepted ones, our place is in heaven. We are not of the world; we are in Christ. If I speak to a sinner, I can say there is salvation for the vilest. To the believer I can say, '' You are in Christ before God." To realize this practically, we must reckon ourselves dead. All links with the world are broken. But we have the consolations of Christ abounding, the blessed inflowing of divine favor.

"We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not. in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed " (4:8, 9). The poor vessel maybe troubled, but not in despair, for God is for him. It may be persecuted, but not forsaken, for God is with him! " Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus." In the death of Christ was there one link with the world left? Not one. "He looked for pity, but there was none"! He might have looked for justice; but the judge washes his hands and gives Him up! The priests cry, "Away with 'him"! His very garments were taken from Him! There was not one ingredient wanting in the death, of Christ to make His cup bitter! Paul could say, "Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus," etc. There was no more link between him and the world than there was in the cross of Christ.

There are things, and circumstances, which God uses to write the cross upon our wills and nature.

How wonderful to be permitted to walk through the world and be the epistle of Christ! We are called to manifest the character, ways, spirit and temper of the Blessed One who is perfect. If self is not crucified, that cannot be. I am put before God in all the perfectness of Christ Himself, and Christ in all His perfectness is put before me. Do we shrink from this ? I do not ask, Do we realize it ? Paul could say, "Not as though I had already attained," etc. But how often is the language of the heart, "Spare a little nature;" as much as though it were said, " Do not let me have all Christ." How then can we know the power of joy, if we are thus making terms with God ? (I do not say we would own to this, but do not our ways speak thus ?) Paul could say, " This one thing I do." He had no other object. It did not cost him much to give up " dung and dross"! God disciplines us that we may be emptied of self and find everything in Christ, and Christ everything to us, but He begins the lesson with the assurance, '' I love you perfectly! I bring you into the desert to learn what I am, and what you are, but it is as those I have brought to Myself."

The discipline of the way teaches us what Christ is, and what we are; but if He, in His love, strikes the furrows in the heart, it is that He may sow the seed which shall ripen in glory. Are you content to be in the wilderness with nothing but the manna ? Or, are you saying, "We see nothing but this light food " ? If we want it for our journey, we shall find it every morning, and find it enough; but if we want to settle down, it will never satisfy us! Have we so tasted the love of a dying Jesus, and the glory of a risen Jesus, as to wish for nothing else ? He creates a void in order to fill it. May the Lord give the distinct consciousness that we are redeemed out of the place of sin and condemnation, and that we have a place with God! That is peace. Then we shall have the joy of communion. We are as " white as snow." "Accepted in the Beloved." "We shall be like Him " ! It is perfect love ! I know that love, though I cannot measure it. I cannot measure eternity, but I know I shall never come to the end of it. So with God's perfect love. We learn, and prove, this love in the wilderness, in a way we never can in heaven. Our very need brings it out to us.

This world is a terrible house to live in, but an excellent school to learn in. W. K.