(concluded from p.51.)

Then the believer who is on the foundation of the Person and work of Christ by faith learns that he is not only forgiven and that God is his Father, but that there are others who enjoy the blessings he enjoys, in like manner. He is one, only, in the great

FAMILY

of God our Father. He is not left to tread an isolated pathway. He is privileged to have others to walk with whose love and joy and peace are like his own. With these he can commune and find encouragement by their mutual faith and hope.

In a time of darkening apostasy such as this, and as "we see the day approaching," we do well to give full heed to the word of exhortation:"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting (encouraging) one another" (Heb. 10:25). We rob others if we withhold our presence from the gatherings together of Christians. They need us as we need them. And unless compelled to do so by circumstances over which we have no control, we should find out and company with our fellow-believers.

It is written that, in a period of increasing difficulty, "They that feared the Lord spake often one to another:and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name" (Mal.3:16).

In the family of God, composed, as we have seen, of the three classes-fathers, young men, and babes- we should seek the most spiritual companionship we can find. "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise," it has been said. Our company will form us. Unconsciously we shall be molded after the fashion of those with whom we walk. And in our turn we affect others, casting a shadow of good or bad upon all around us. Our influence, our unconscious influence, is always telling on the lives of all about us in the family of God. Let us watch our spirits, our words, our goings, and see to it that ours is an example which can be followed in safety by others. So shall we be of profit to our fellow-Christians. God has set us in His family for mutual support, and in the power of the Holy Spirit given to us we may be for the good of our brethren in Christ all around us.

Our highest Christian privilege is that of which the apostle writes in the first chapter of this epistle:"That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us:and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ" (ver. 3).

FELLOWSHIP

one with another is our family privilege. But the highest form of fellowship is fellowship with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. Fellowship is common thought, desire, delight. Wonderful it is, indeed, that we should be called to have common delight with the Father in the Son. He calls us to share with Him in His joy. We hear Him say:"This is My beloved Son in whom is all my good pleasure." He tells us of His joy in Him. We, responsive, may say, "He is our beloved Saviour, and in Him is all our delight." The Father has made known in the Scriptures, by the Holy Spirit, His thoughts of our Lord Jesus, His beloved One. And we are called to think His thoughts after Him as we read the Word of our God.

And the Son of God delights in the Father and unfolds to us all that is in His heart concerning Him. In the Gospel of John the Son is found speaking of and to the Father. He accustomed the disciples to that precious title. He told them of the Father. He prayed in their presence, saying, "Father," "Holy Father," "Righteous Father." Then in resurrection, when His work of redemption was finished, He sent to them the message of victory and of the spoils He had won for them, saying to Mary Magdalene:"Go to My brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God and your God" (John 20:17). He would have them enjoy His place before His Father and His God. And this fellowship will be our highest joy in the Father's house eternally.

In the power of an ungrieved Holy Spirit we shall have unbroken, unbreakable communion one with another in fellowship with the Father and the Son. And heaven begins below as we "walk in the Spirit" and are led by Him into an ever-deepening knowledge of that which is ours by the grace of our God.

May we go on to fuller, richer delight until the glorious consummation is reached, and our bodies are changed, and we are able unhinderedly to rejoice in the fulness of blessing eternally. Inglis Fleming