"Preach the Word" (2 Tim. 4:2).

The second epistle to Timothy brings us in fun view of the dosing days of Christendom. It is of special importance to all such as the Lord has called into His service in such days, for it tells them how to conduct themselves, and how to carry on their ministry, in days of peculiar difficulties.

The antediluvian days closed with an apostasy such as left only Noah's house following in God's ways. The Jewish days closed with their crucifixion of the Messiah promised them in all their Scriptures. Millennial days will close with a frightful rebellion against the King of kings; and Christian days are closing with a rising apostasy, which will culminate in the open worship of the Beast.

Who, then, could expect a smooth path in the faithful service of the Lord Jesus at such times ? The greater the need therefore of guidance from on high in all our pathway. When men "will not endure sound doctrine," what great temptation it is to hold them by something which still appeals to them! Therefore all the innovations of human devices on every hand, which but serve, however, to discredit Christianity, and make it despicable to them who know it only by its fruits.

Shall we, fellow-Christians, resort to such things? Nay! our guide-book says,"Preach the Word." Only the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, of His deity, of His atoning blood shed upon the cross, avails to deliver men from the wrath to come and from the present power of sin in all its forms. Let there be no compromise therefore if we sincerely love men. Let there be no mixture, no fellowship with the false, no dulling of the keen edge of truth by human devices. Let us "preach the Word"

Some, falling under despondency and the difficulties of the times, would discourage the faithful and energetic continuance of this labor. The day of gospel testimony is over, and men will hear no more, they cry; and so would fold their arms and enshrine themselves in supposed faithfulness as more advanced in Christian intelligence.

Let none be carried away with such sophistry, but devotedly and perseveringly "preach the Word," and they will still find blessing attending. It may not be large, but it will be no less a sweet savor to God. Only let there be no resort to human expediencies-turning evangelistic work into musical entertainments, sensational announcements to attract the crowd, revivalistic excitement and frothy speeches, for they only harden men's consciences in the end. Let them pay no attention to the multitude of sects and parties; seek no honor or recognition from men; make no attack on any; bring no innovations or anything to attract attention to themselves; but only "preach the Word "-faithfully, lovingly, wherever the door is open, and God will bless that Word and such work. In the midst of the multitudes of the unconcerned and apostates there are still needy souls who respond to the voice of God when it is heard. What is needed is devotedness and self-denial sufficient to reach such where they are; perseverance to toil on and on without depending on results; faith in the almighty power of the word of God and the Spirit of God. If any desire a divine treatise on the training of servants for such work let them prayerfully study the Acts of the Apostles. The more they meditate upon it, and follow it, the more at the end will they find the fruit of their service true and abiding. We believe that not one faithful preaching of the word of God will, at the judgment-seat of Christ, be found to have been fruitless.

Let them not fear as to their necessities, nor, in passing through them, turn their faces to man, rich or poor. The man who is sent by the Lord Jesus will be cared for by the Lord Jesus, even if He has to use ravens in doing it, and He is as near to His servant in one place as in another, amid saints or sinners, among heathen or Christians. Every true servant who will tread the true path of faith must needs learn to suffer need as well as to abound. It is the school which fits him for his work. Suffering need makes him dependent-a most necessary mind -and abounding makes him rejoice in the loving care of his Master. And, indeed, such was the Master's own path of service here, and we know the servant is not above his Master. Shame be upon us if we seek to be above Him in our circumstances. Until He return let there be no seeking rest, no love of ease, no yielding up the solemn responsibilities of this wonderful, wonderful day of grace. Rest and riches unspeakable, glory and honor are in sight, but not here.

''Whatsoever things" (Philip. 4:8).

Traveling through muddy roads is liable to make us muddy; so we need to keep high up from the mud. So for the Christian. He travels through an evil world. Not only so, but as the waters of the sea are ever pressing to enter the ship and sink her, so the evil that abounds in the world is ever seeking to make inroads among the people of God and level them down with the world.

Every man who loves Christ and the sheep of Christ feels this; he is therefore wide awake as to evil in every form-doctrinal and practical. It makes him a soldier-ready for conflict at every attempt of the enemy to enter where he does not belong. The Lord loves this, and every "good soldier of Jesus Christ" will therefore receive "a crown of righteousness " when the Lord appears.

But the "soldier" side of the Christian has its dangers as well as every other side, and if not guarded it is liable to develop into a sour, critical, fault-finding, evil-surmising spirit which dwells in evil, is incessantly occupied with evil, preaches most against evil, and ends in gloomy solitude. What a remedy, what a protection against all this we have in the passage referred to here:'' Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." What a refuge this is for us! We may have to deal with evil, but as the workman returns to his home as soon as his labor is over, so our minds and hearts need to return to the scene of light and love, of holiness and of good where God dwells. We labor in the evil, but dwell in the good.

Dynamiters.

What an exposure of crimes, of, the foulest and most appalling kind has been made of late among the federations of labor! And in the banded efforts which follow to thwart justice, what an exposure of the true character of those federations. It is the mind that is in them which will animate "the Beast" of Rev. 13, "and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the Beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the Beast, or the number of his name."
The next chapter shows the results on them who yield to the Beast as also on them who resist. Such a revelation is not merely to give us prophetic intelligence but also to guide our own feet. God's hatred of the diabolical system is expressed. Suffering there may be even now, under its yet restricted power, in refusing any connection with it or subjection to its demands, but if the saints of the coming dispensation, in view of the end, are willing to suffer martyrdom from it, should the saints of this dispensation, who are yet protected by the powers that be, be a whit behind them ? May patience and faith be given to all who suffer from this terrible scourge.

The fabulous fortunes rising on every hand tell too plainly that oppression is also working from another direction. What then? "Be patient therefore, brethren . . . for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh."