The character which sin has stamped upon the man race is apparent in the scenes and acts centering in the Cross, where the Holy One of God is acclamation substituted for a robber and murdered It is no mere coincidence, but a revelation of ma as God views him. For when He presents His Son in infinite goodness, man declares himself by bringing fo ward his choice. It shows what sort of people Christ is dying for, and what sort of person they choose instead of the Holy One, the Saviour of sinners. The human family is thus justly represented by thieves and robber for, in his relations to God, man is dishonest. He is this as a sinner, for a prominent trait of sin is dishonest) as we shall see.

Speaking of the devil Scripture say she "sinneth from the beginning;" he began it. And it is clear it began in dishonesty, for while in a position of trust he endeavor to steal divine honors, and entangled others in his conspiracy. He introduced lying into existence; he is "the father" of lies; they spring from him as their source.

But let us see how this diabolical thing, grafted upon| man, evidences itself.

ADAM AND HIS RACE

The first man knowingly partakes of stolen fruit and when questioned, attempts to place the blame upon Go He has the temerity to argue that the divine arrangement of things has led to this. This course of dishonesty as a "fallen nature" is imparted to his children, for who the question is asked, "Will a man rob God?" Malachi on behalf of God, affirms it, saying, "Ye have robbed Mcf even this whole nation." The nation of Israel being pta in a position of trust, proved to be but robbers in its
transactions with God. They were in honor committed to bring "tithes into the storehouse" of God's dwelling place, but while pretending to do so, they donated merely the "torn, and the lame, and the sick." When indicted with this crookedness they insolently answer, "Wherein have we robbed Thee?" They blandly say to God:What have we done now?

When, in the fulness of time, the Lord Jesus Christ comes to this nation, he finds it not better, but worse. So much so that He charges its leaders with having turned His Father's house into a "den of thieves." And when they ask by what authority He drove the traders out from the temple, He tests them by the counter-question, "The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven or of men?" and they merely lie, saying, "We cannot tell!"

We hear Judas making a philanthropic speech about giving "to the poor," but he is only a thief who carries the bag; his fair words are but a thin cover to his purpose. Occupying a place of trust to the very last, he betrays his Master by embracing Him! And when the Lord arises from among the dead, the chief priests and elders instruct the guard to say, "His disciples stole him away." Instinctively they suggest the idea of stealing, and the guards circulate their lie.

And what is the first glaring sin that invades the infant Church? Ananias and Sapphira seek a reputation for devotedness which does not belong to them; and lie about it to an apostle-really to God. Dark indeed is the record of Adam and his race, but, thanks be to God, there is another page, even the record of

THE LAST ADAM, AND HIS RACE

He could say:"I restored that which I took not away." More than that, He came that we might have life, and have it very abundantly. Moreover He brings glory to God that could not have been gained had sin not entered the world; He brings blessing to man which transcends the blessing of Eden.

The Holy Ghost speaks of Him as, "He that is true;" and He can say, "I am… the truth"-for nothing is really right apart from Him. If any ask, Why was He not believed? He gives the answer Himself:"Because I tell you the truth, ye believe not"-that is to say, truth was so foreign to man that He was rejected. And to the question, Why do you seek to kill "a man that hath told you the truth?" the answer is:Because ye have learned of your father in whom is "no truth." Being like their father who trained them, they must get rid of the One who is true.

Now, will this holy and true One, who is obedient to His Father, who is faithful to His trust-will He die "in the midst" of thieves? Yes! for in the depths of Divine love and grace He would put Himself between the sinner and his doom; He will even place Himself as near to the impenitent thief as to the one who confesses His glory. Will He die as a substitute in the place of a "robber?" Yes! for that robber is an exponent of man's disposition and conduct toward God. All this Jesus will do, for He was manifested to "destroy the works of the devil;" and He is going to change thieves and liars who turn to Him, and make them like Himself. Thus a thief is heard condemning his own "deeds"-he tells the truth about himself, his neighbor, and about Christ. For not only is he sheltered from divine wrath by the precious blood of the Lamb of God, but he is born again and begins to exhibit the character of Christ. Paradise is now his proper place, where the Saviour is beforehand to receive him.

Now He who wrought amidst Calvary's throes in the heart of a thief, has also wrought in the hearts of people whom He leaves for a short time in this world that they may be like Him where He was rejected. This we can see if we note what is said to and about the various assemblies of believers after Christ's ascension to the right hand of God.

The saints at Rome are exhorted to owe no man anything, but to love one another. All evil, including stealing and false witness, is to be disallowed in the power of that love which acted as a motive power in their souls. They are to walk honestly, as in the day. For they are in this world as Christ's representatives, and are therefore to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof" (Rom. 13:8-14). They are to be found

"Showing to all where once He trod,
Nothing but Christ, the Christ of God."

To the Corinthians the same apostle says, "Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men." Could any have read the apostle's heart he would have seen Corinth written there in unquenchable love to them. And why were they so dear to him? It was because they were "manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ;" so to speak, they were a letter of commendation of Christ; and he, Christ's servant, could say, "We have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God"-he is a standard of conduct for the Corinthians-and for us.

The Galatians are taught to "walk in the Spirit," and to turn away from "the works of the flesh. They are exhorted to walk according to the new creation in which by new birth they had been introduced.

The saints which are at Ephesus were not to be like babes easily shifted or toppled over with every wind of doctrine. They had been rescued by infinite grace from a system of Satanic darkness, and should know how to reject its every attempt to entangle them in any degree. Let them keep to the good exercise of "speaking the truth in love" so that they may apprehend what is revealed in Christ and grow up to Him. Let them "put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" (holiness of truth). Thus will they certainly put "away lying" and speak "every man truth with his neighbor." As God's dear children they were to "walk in love, as Christ loved us," and was a sweet-smelling savor to God in the offering up of Himself (Eph. 5:1,2).

To the Philippians the summing up of the apostolic counsel is:"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, 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" (4:8). These traits they would see in perfection in Christ, and in measure in their brethren, if they looked for them. By this wholesome exercise they would be strengthened and enabled to be good representatives of Christ.

The Colossians are reminded of the testimony they were committed to, seeing they had "put off the old man with his deeds;" and had "put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him."

The Thessalonians had received a gospel that was "not of deceit," but which had turned them to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven. They were to follow the apostle as their example, and to turn away from deceivers, for there was even then an iniquitous but mysterious system of error at work which only the Holy Ghost could retard, which would culminate in "the lie" that would insure the damnation of its recipients (2 Thess. 2:1-12). But the Thessalonians had been chosen to salvation through "sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth." Let them therefore stand fast and not be "weary in well doing."

Finally, the apostle John tells the family of God that a lie about Christ is part of a system of error already at work in Christianity. But the anointing in them "is truth, and is no lie," and frustrates all that is false. As Christ is the truth objectively, so is the Spirit the truth subjectively, for He works in our souls by directing our attention to Christ as a pattern.

"And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true; and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life." R. J. Reid