Strangers and pilgrims." (Heb. 11:13.)

This wonderful chapter brings before us the long line of God's hosts who, one and all, have illustrated what faith is, and have thus delighted the heart of God in that they have trusted Him when they had nothing but His word to rest on:" These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." It was what they saw afar off which captivated them, made them let go "the things which are seen," made them now strangers among those things which absorb others, and pilgrims through a world in which the rest of men labor to establish themselves.

Though put last, as climax and perfect example (chap. 12:2), our Lord Jesus Christ heads that great line. He is the Beginner, or Head, of the whole line, and He has finished the course of faith, and reached its end. He was therefore, par excellence, the "Stranger and Pilgrim" here. He saw vividly those glorious things "afar off," for He lived in them. He never doubted their being made good in the due time of God's wisdom; He embraced them; "for the joy that was set before Him, He endured the cross, despising the shame." Oh, how unspeakably blessed to be in the ranks of that vast procession, headed by the Lord Jesus, wending its way through an unbelieving, mocking, sometimes angry world.

"A fugitive and a vagabond in the earth." (Gen. 4:14.) In contrast with what we have just been viewing stands that earth." disturbed world. Is it a wonder that such a procession passing through it should disturb it? It declares by its trend that indeed the world is " a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth."A fugitive, running away from God, and therefore in the opposite direction from us who are going on to meet God with holy joy :a vagabond, living in unrestrained self-will, all accountability to God thrown off, while we insist that God is absolute sovereign; that every man owes Him absolute obedience; that we condemn in our own selves every disobedience to Him.

O brethren, should we not shun with jealous care everything which would lessen the contrast between the two ? They cling to this scene of death:do we ? They seek pleasure in it :do we ? They lay up treasure in it:do we ? They make themselves a name in it:do we ?

May the Lord Jesus so satisfy our hearts that the great burden of our lives may be to be found in the footsteps His feet have made for us here as the great leader and finisher of faith.

Is it so ?

One of our correspondents writes, "The Lord was never called merely 'Jesus' by any but His enemies. His own called Him 'Master, and Lord'; and 'Ye say well; for so I am.' When He gives His own name (blessed Lord), it is,

" ' I am Jesus, whom thou persecutes!.'

" ' I, Jesus, have sent Mine angel."

' As for us:

" 'Who art Thou, Lord?

" 'Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel ?'

" 'John said, It is the Lord:

"'Lord, is it I?' etc., etc."

We give this to the circle of our readers for their examination and search. Our space, month by month, seems to grow more limited; so we beg that if replies are sent for publication, they be as concise as possible. As the Darby translation is generally conceded to be of closest adherence to the text, it may be used in citing passages for proof or disproof of the brother's statement. Technical terms are not our object, but what is suitable in our hearts and on our lips toward our adorable Lord-so great, yet so lowly; so lowly, yet so great.