Solomon prayed, at the dedication of the temple, concerning plagues which might visit the land because of the sin of Israel. Then he adds, "Thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart" (1 Kings 8:38).

This plague is not limited to "every man" of Israel's nationality in Solomon's day.

It is a well-known "plague" among the children of God everywhere today, and of "every man" among them too.

Deep distress is known by many who truly love the Lord as they discover that this plague affects them. Thoughts of evil which they abhor, spring up undesired in their minds at times. And it may be this occurs at the most sacred moments, as when they bow their knees in prayer, or when they sit to read the word of God. When they would desire most of all to be free from every distraction, unholy wishes or base desires or blasphemous notions make their presence known. Perhaps the result is that the oppressed believer begins to wonder whether he can be a true child of God at all. He says to himself, "If I am a real Christian, how is it that these hateful, and undesired, and unholy ideas fill my mind? What am I to do? I would not tell my dearest friend that I have such notions."

Is such an one reading these pages?

Then let me comfort you by saying, first of all, that what you find is found at times by the most faithful and devoted saints of God.

An old Christian woman said to an earnest preacher, "Oh, Mr. Hill, I wish I had your heart!"

"Do you?" he answered, "If you had, you would soon want your own back again."

"The plague of his own heart" is the disease of all alike.

Is there no balm of Gilead for such. Is there no relief obtainable?

Thank God, there is. His truth can relieve your distressed mind.

First .of all, then, let me remind you that you are part of a fallen race. You have inherited from your first father, Adam, a nature in which there is an evil bias against God. You have within you an evil principle which is called "the flesh." And "the carnal mind, the mind of the flesh) is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh (that is, in their natural unconverted condition) cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you" (Rom. 8:7-9).

Here is relief indeed for the believer-"Ye are not in the flesh." What has come to pass? This:Our sinful state in nature has been judged when Christ was "made sin" for us at the cross. There God "condemned sin in the flesh." He is not trying to improve it, and He would not have you try to improve it. He has set it aside as incorrigibly bad, an unmendable evil. He would have you think His thoughts after Him in this matter, and reckon as He reckons.

So it is written, "Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 7:11).

In the death of Christ you are seen by God to have died. In His risen life you are seen to be alive "in Him." And the Holy Spirit is given to you as the new power in which you can walk in newness of life, and have your life filled with spiritual peace and joy.

But though you are not in the flesh, the flesh is in you. A vessel at sea may spring a leak and become waterlogged by sea-water. Suppose it is brought up the mouth of a great river. It is now in the fresh water, but has salt water in it. It is in a different position, but still has within it that which came to it when it was in the old position.

"The flesh" is in us still. It came into our nature when Adam fell. It will be in us until we leave this body or until this body is changed at the coming of our Lord Jesus. Why has it been left in us? One answer may be that if it had not been we should never have learned its true character, and never valued the Lord Jesus so much. Its hatefulness to God is seen in its utter condemnation at Calvary, and we learn to say "Amen!" to what God did in the judgment of it there.

The cross of Christ sets aside the flesh judicially.

The Holy Spirit given to us sets aside the flesh practically.

"Walk in the Spirit (answer to His leadings in every way), and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh" (Gal. 5:16). As we "walk in Him," the Holy Spirit will always engage us with what is good. Things true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy, are His delight, and He will fill your thoughts with these. Therefore occupy yourself at all times with what is like Christ, and according to His mind. Fill your life with these things, and other things will be displaced in ever-increasing measure.

But if the evil desires and imaginations intrude themselves against your will, do not stop to occupy yourself with them. "You cannot prevent evil wild birds flying over your head, but you need not let them make a nest in your hair," it has been said.

When worried by the presence of these wandering or wicked suggestions from the evil nature, begin to sing a hymn, send up a word of prayer, repeat a scripture, or read some helpful ministry.

The enemy may come and knock at your door, but you need not let him in and give him the best chair at your fireside. Let him knock until he is tired. Meanwhile go about your business of doing good. Engaging in some form of -Christian service will help you. When a garden is full of flowers ^covering its beds the weeds are kept down in great measure.

"The way of the Christian's power for practical holiness of life is to be always and only occupied with good," it has been said.

If however you have given way to these thoughts of evil, and your will has been at work in that which is opposed to God and holiness, then at once judge yourself unsparingly, and confessing your sin to your God and Father seek His recovering grace and go on.

He understands you fully, has provided for your salvation and blessing, and gives "power to the faint, and to them that have no might He increaseth strength."

Keep yourself then in the love of God and engage your life with His things, and your mind will become increasingly free from what has distressed you. Inglis Fleming