CALENDAR :July 16th to Aug. 15th.

DAILY BIBLE READING :……. .July 16th, Prov. 25; July 31st, Eccl. 9; Aug. 15th, Isa. 4. MEMORY WORK:……………….. 1 Thess. 2:1-16
GOOD READING:C. H. M.'s Miscellaneous Writ's., Vol. 5, pp. 1-110.
MONTHLY QUESTION:-What is the characteristic difference between Ecclesiastes and other books of Scripture ?

Our Daily Bible Reading

Completing Proverbs, of which book we briefly spoke last time, our reading this month is mainly in two books -Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon-which are very different from Proverbs, in character and subject, and are a contrast to each other.

In Ecclesiastes we have the experiences of a man, possessed of every possible advantage, who set himself to search out all that is " done under the sun." His quest and experiences only result in what he calls " vanity and vexation of spirit; " which permeate all of man's multiform activities. Though having exceptional wisdom, power and resources, and thus able to test all much more fully than the average man, Solomon writes " Vanity of vanities " upon all of that in which men most loudly boast. What else could be expected when man has built up his world-system in alienation from God ? He who is above all is designedly and wilfully forgotten. But He will bring every work into judgment.

Along with this book, read Rom., chaps. 1-3 and 1 Cor. 1, which give us a very complete picture of man's way on the earth. Little wonder that as the prophet looks on to the day of the Lord and its judgments, he exclaims, Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils:for wherein is he to be accounted of? (Isa. 2). What a blessed contrast to know God and the things unseen, which are eternal! This book shows that man cannot possibly find a true center and satisfaction for his heart in the best and the greatest that the creature can do. God alone can be this, giving fullest joy and satisfaction.

In the Song it is entirely different. There we have one object which engages the heart's desire and satisfies it to the full ; while in the former book it is a heart unable to find a single object in the whole range of creature-activity which affords rest and satisfaction. In every chapter of the Song, the Beloved and His love engage our attention. Doubtless the primary application is to Christ and Israel, for there are experiences here which are antecedent to the establishment of Israel's full relationship with Christ their King and deliverer ; it will find accomplishment first in the Jewish remnant of the last days, and then with the restored nation.

Still, this does not prevent an application of much in this Song to the individual believer now, and also to the Church, with this great difference, that the New Testament presents the Christian and the Church in the enjoyment of abiding relationship with the Lord our Redeemer. This may account for the fact that the New Testament has nothing similar to this book.

Our Memory Work
In these verses we have the characteristics of true servants of God, as exemplified in Paul and his co-laborers. Their conduct was in purity of life (ver. 3):they did not seek to please men (ver. 4); they used not fleshly wisdom, nor gratified any fleshly ambition (vers. 5, 6); on the contrary, they showed tenderness (ver. 7). truest devotion, self-sacrifice and holy conduct (vers. 8-10). The apostle thus recounts what their life had been among these Thessalonians as patterns of conduct to these young believers. Notice the number of times God is spoken of in these verses-14 in all.

Some Outlines of Truth

Last month we pointed out some aspects of the Church's relation to God; now let us look at those which connect with Christ.

First, He speaks of it as " My assembly " (Matt. 16:18), intimating a special relationship into which He would bring all His own, from the time of the Spirit's coming until the building by Christ is complete. This would be at His coming again.

The foundation-rock of the Church is the truth as to the Person confessed by Peter, revealed to him by the Father. From this we learn not only that Christ is the builder, but that the gates of hades (the fallen spiritual powers) shall not prevail against the assembly, because " the rock " upon which it is founded is the Son of God.

The fuller revelation as to the assembly's connection with Christ, the Son of God, is given through the apostle Paul, the chosen minister for the revelation of the mystery (Col. 1:25). Notice that he begins his ministry with this truth, that Christ is the Son of God (Acts 9:20), linked with His resurrection (Rom. 1:3, 4), which is the demonstration of His triumph over Satan and all his associated powers. If He is the builder, well may we be sure that none shall prevail against His assembly.

Plainly, therefore, the rock cannot be Peter, as some would have us believe; for how could Christ's assembly, on such a foundation, be secure from the powers which the gates of hades represent ? This Rock must be essentially divine to secure His assembly from such adversaries. Founded on a mere man it could not be. But it is on Christ, the Son of God, and this is triumphantly declared in His resurrection. The fact that these powers may use all their resources unavailingly, clearly shows who the Rock must be. Chaps. 1-3 of Ephesians unfold the marvels of this grace toward the assembly.

The Church is linked with Christ, not only as its foundation and builder, but also in life and union, as intimated by the Lord's words to Paul at the time of his conversion (Acts 9:1-5). The Church, therefore, is not as a building extraneous to its builder, but those composing this spiritual building are in vital union with Himself. This forms the basis of the " one body," of which He is the Head. Therefore we are " one body in Christ, and everyone members one of another" (Rom. 12:5), and our very bodies are spoken of as " the members of Christ " (1 Cor. 6:15). This body of many members is called by His name (1 Cor. 12:12); and, as we have previously noted, this unity is formed by the Holy Spirit. We are members of Christ, and members one of another (Eph. 5:30; 4:25). Of this the human organism, in its many parts and functions, is made the scriptural figure. Thus Christ is spoken of as the Head of the body-the Church (Eph. 4:15; 5:23; Col. 1:18; 2:19); and He is in the glory of God. His place as Head is taken when seated at God's right hand in heaven(Eph. 1:19-23). The assembly is associated with Him there. As being His body, it must participate in all that belongs to the Head. This is not, therefore, a revelation of Christ simply during time, but for eternity, when full growth shall have been reached, even the measure of the stature of the fulness of the Christ. Until then there is the constant ministry of the Head to the body for the meeting of present needs (Eph. 4:11-16; Col. 2:19).

From this truth of the one body united to Christ spring many practical injunctions. Consider for example Rom. 12:3-16; 1 Cor. 6:15-20; 10:14-17; 12; Eph., chs. 4, 5). It is a relation implying not only life, but identification with Christ in glory, in community of interests with Him and with one another. This truth should govern our present Christian fellowship.

Another relation of the assembly to Christ is as His Bride. This we have in Eph. 5:22-32. It looks forward to future glory. The marriage relation, applied to Christ and the Church, symbolizes the indissoluble bond and affections which are to characterize our eternal relationship to Christ.

Another relation of our Lord toward us is that of Shepherd. We are of the " one flock " of which He speaks in John 10 (New Tram.). He accounts us His peculiar people by right of redemption (Titus 2:14).

Finally, the local assemblies are spoken of as " the assemblies of Christ "-each as the local representative of the body of Christ. This implies that in each such company the character of the body at large, the one body. is represented, to practically govern their fellowship.

Correspondence for the Y. B. Dept., please address to Mr. John Bloore, care of Loizeaux Brothers.