(Rev. 2:17.)

First , look at the words separately-"hidden," and "manna." The manna came clown from heaven to earth to meet the need of the hosts of Israel. It was bread from heaven (Exod. 16). Christ Jesus, the Son of God, in love and grace to us came down from heaven to earth to give life to our souls, and, as God manifest in the flesh, to become the food of our souls for ever (John 6). To feed upon Christ now as the manna, is to have fellowship with Him in His path of humiliation, suffering, and rejection down here, as the "man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." Fellowship with Him as the once lowly Jesus, will be to us as our manna from heaven, our living stream from the smitten rock, and our pillar of fire and of cloud during our journey through this wilderness world.

But why is it called "hidden manna?" When it came down from heaven it was spread around the camp, open to all, and the people gathered it early in the morning. But Moses commanded Aaron to "take a pot, and put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up before the Lord, to be kept for your generations." " The golden pot that had manna" was kept in "the Holiest of all," as a memorial for the children, when in the land, of their fathers' wilderness fare. But it had a deeper meaning to the heart of Israel's God. It was the memorial of the lowly Jesus in His life here upon earth ministering to the need of the people, though despised and rejected of men, but owned of God and honored of Him with the highest place in heaven. To eat of the hidden manna is to find our joy and strength in communion with the once lowly, suffering Jesus, now exalted and glorified in heaven. If we walk in faithfulness to Him, in the midst of scenes of unfaithfulness as we pass through them, in these days of worldliness, greed, and unblushing infidelity, we shall need the sustaining power of the hidden manna, the true and living bread. He is the true wilderness fare for God's strangers and pilgrims here. The remembrance of what Jesus was as the holy, obedient, patient, subject Man on earth, is well fitted to nourish our hearts amidst the many trials and difficulties of the way.

"He that saith he abideth in Him, ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked " (i John 2:6). Closely connected with "the hidden manna," we have the "white stone." This is the secret but real expression of the Lord's good pleasure in our path of service for Him amidst general unfaithfulness. He assures the heart of the overcomer now of the divine approval. But oh, what will the " white stone "be in heaven ? To have the intimate, personal, expression of the Master's approbation! To have it now, in the secret of communion, is peace to the conscience, joy to the heart, and strength in service. Communion with Himself must always be the first thing, if we would go on happily and steadily. When you know the Master's mind as to your line of service, you can be calm and unmoved amidst the conflicting opinions of others. A servant out of communion, not knowing the Master's mind, must fall under the power of circumstances, and be unstable in all his ways.

The "white stone," I believe, is the only remedy for such a state of things. It is the secret link of communion between the heart and Christ Himself. In the light of His presence, the path is cleared, and the heart is assured. C. H. M.

"There on the hidden bread
Of Christ-once humbled here-
God's treasured store-forever fed,
His love my soul shall cheer.

Called by that secret name
Of undisclosed delight
(Blest answer to reproach and shame),
Graved on the stone of white."