"Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there" (Gen. 35:1).

It is worthy of note that whenever declension sets in among God's people, He recalls them to first principles, whether it applies to the nation of Israel or to the Church. We find this emphasized in the Lord's charge to the seven churches. To Ephesus He says, "Repent and do the first works." To Pergamos, "Repent." To Thyatira, "I gave her space to repent." To Sardis, "Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast and repent;" and to Laodicea, "Be zealous therefore, and repent." The happy exceptions to this are Smyrna, who is encouraged to be faithful unto death, and Philadelphia, who is commended for devotedness, keeping His word and not denying His name, though having but little strength.

Twenty-eight years prior to the command given to Jacob, as recorded in Gen. 35:, God had appeared to him at this place (he being at that time a fugitive from his father's house), and declared Himself to be the Jehovah, God of Abraham and of his father Isaac, and confirmed to Jacob the covenant He had made with them. Jacob, though but feebly apprehending this, took the stone that had been his pillow, set it up for a pillar, poured oil upon it, and called the name of that place Beth-el (the house of God).

Passing over Jacob's checkered career, ending with the shameful story of Shechem, God now says to him, "Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there, and make there an altar unto God that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother." This command at once awakens Jacob to a consciousness that something about him is not right with God. He says to his household, "Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:and let us arise and go up to Bethel, and I will make there an altar unto God." Is there not in this a lesson for us in these days of spiritual declension? As "all Scripture is.. .profitable for correction, for instruction in righteousness," let us hear the voice of God in this connection.

In every dispensation, even in antediluvian days (Gen. 5), God has had a few separated from the mass, marked by a measure of fidelity, according to the light they had and the times in which they lived; so in these last days when the apostasy is so much in evidence, and Laodicean-ism is leavening the ranks of Christian profession, God calls upon those who, though in feebleness, would hold fast the faithful Word, to stand for His principles with purpose of heart as at the first. We need to remember that the truth has never been popular, and never can be while Satan is "prince of this world;" hence to stand for it will doubtless bring those who are doing so into reproach; but, "If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye" (1 Pet. 4:14); this should be sufficient for the faithful heart.

As the enemy is seeking by every means in his power to neutralize the truth, and in many specious ways seeks to dull the spiritual senses of the people of God, may God's voice to Jacob be heard by us also, "Arise, go up to Bethel"-1:e., get back to first principles and first works. Turning to Christ our Lord with self-judgment will give fresh courage and spiritual light. It will not be the stimulus of mere fleshly energy, but the comfort and joy of the Holy Spirit. Strange gods will be put away; the Word of God will do its purifying work; habits that have hindered will be judged-a change of garments-and the truth will acquire new freshness, nourishing the heart. Love for souls, and for every member of the Body of Christ will be strengthened; every legitimate effort to spread the knowledge of the truth will be made, and the hands of every true servant of God will be held up.

We should remember that since the canon of Scripture has been completed, the Holy Spirit unfolds only what is written-nothing is to be added to it, nor detracted from it. New things and new ways are being foisted upon the people of God, and some are so much attracted by what seems to them great results compared with what they find among those gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus, that they look upon the truth as imposing too much restraint, and join hands with those who, in their estimation, are doing so much more for the Lord. We can assuredly own with sorrow how much we have failed in zeal and devotedness, in being "instant in season and out of season," in "redeeming the time," and perhaps in being rigid as to ecclesiastical matters whilst lacking in practical display of the grace of God; but an unscriptural course is not the remedy for this. Better get down low before God and confess our poverty and short-comings- "go up to Bethel" with chastened spirit, but let us not surrender the truth as revealed to us by the Holy Spirit through the Word-truth which not merely separates from evil, but to the Lord. This will enable us to maintain a happy balance of truth, and to enjoy that liberty of which He speaks, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." "If the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed" (John 8:32,36). This will be more effectual in helping fellow-Christians than any compromise of truth. But God forbid that we should for one moment take the self-righteous stand of "I am holier than thou," for many with less light may put some of us to shame by their consistent and godly conduct in accord with the light they have.

We must remember that it is only in communion with God that the truth becomes effective in our life. We may have much knowledge which remains unfruitful (for "knowledge puffeth up") if love is not ruling the heart. We need wisdom to use knowledge aright, for as another has said, "Knowledge is the material, but wisdom is knowing how to use it."

The Laodicean spirit may boast of being "rich and increased with goods, and having need of nothing," but the Lord's estimate is, "Thou art wretched and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." But the wisdom that is from above is "first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits" (Jas. 3:17).

May we, therefore, both as individuals and as companies, be before God in self-judgment as to the failures that have come in, and in which we all have a part. Let us "go up to Bethel" where God is the ruler of His own house. Let us search our hearts and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord our God, acknowledging that we have declined from what He in His grace has revealed to us by His Word. The end is approaching, and in view of that, and in the light of the judgment-seat of Christ, where all things will be estimated at their true value, may we be stimulated to more devotedness. We are exhorted to "fight the good fight of faith" in laying hold of eternal life (1 Tim. 6:12). Let the apostle Paul be an example for us. At the end of life's journey, when the time of his release had come, he could say, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;" for whilst those of Asia had turned the back to him, Christ had not, but was ready to give him "a crown of righteousness."

Let us not think that the glorious truth again brought to light by holy men of God a century ago is not practical now; that the times in which we live are different, and we must therefore adapt ourselves to present-day conditions. 0 brethren, in whatever measure we may be guilty of this, let us "go up to Bethel" and put away the strange gods-the fear of man, popularity, worldliness, whatever it may be-let us cleanse ourselves and change the garments of unfaithfulness for those of fidelity to our Lord and His truth. Let us remember that "to obey is better than sacrifice," for the Lord will not say when He greets us, "Well done, good and successful servant," but, "good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

These are trying days, especially for young Christians, and they need in a special way the steadying influence and encouragement of their older and more experienced brethren. The ardor of youth may lead them to think that things are going too slow; that there is not enough gospel energy displayed (which may in a measure be true), and adopt easier and more popular methods. They need to be given all due encouragement, while keeping within the bounds of the truth. Talk of narrowness or bigotry in this connection is not in place when we remember the wide range of truth with which God has honored His devoted saints of a previous generation. If we are walking and acting according to the revealed will of God, not merely standing for the fundamentals, but for the "whole counsel of God," the whole Body of Christ and the whole world as the sphere for our activities are before us. Let us recognize every true gift which the Lord has given, "esteeming others as better than ourselves."

Let us not forget that the Church, the Body of Christ, is not legislative but executive, 1:e., we are to carry out only what God has written, avoiding any attempt to introduce man's ways. The truth handed down to us through the apostles was intended by God to be just as effective in the twentieth century as in the first. There is a tendency with some to think that, owing to the sad divisions that exist, it is useless to stand for the principles enunciated in Scripture; that the Church is in such confusion that to "maintain the unity of the Spirit" is impracticable. But why so? Has Christ given it up as impossible or hopeless? Is He not doing patiently what He has been doing from the beginning-"loved the Church and gave Himself for it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word; that He might present it to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish" (Eph. 5:25-27). This should encourage us in the thought that as the result of this, when He presents the Church to Himself it will be far more glorious than at the day of Pentecost. Let it stimulate us to fresh devotedness to stand for all that has been committed to our trust. We cannot get back to Pentecostal or apostolic days, truly, but "let us go up to Bethel," and with fresh purpose of heart contend earnestly for the whole faith; encouraging one another in these times when Satan is, as it were, making his final effort to destroy what God has given us to keep.

In conclusion, let us humbly seek the face of our God, and give earnest heed to His exhortation in the last Epistle:"But ye, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God; awaiting the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." "Now unto Him that is able to keep you without stumbling, and to set you with exultation blameless before His glory, to the only God our Saviour through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, might, and authority from before the whole age, and now, and to all the ages, Amen" (Jude 20, 21, 24, 25; J. N. D ,New Trans.). F. J. Enefer