"Let your gentleness be known of all men" (Phil. 4:5, N. Trans.)

In his early history Isaac affords a lovely type of our Lord Jesus Christ in His death, resurrection and glory. In his later days too his life speaks of Him who alone was perfectly unselfish, who really loved His neighbor as Himself, and who looked not on His own things but also on the things of others. But Isaac did not reach that stage of moral progress in a day. In Genesis 26 we see a little of how he manifested the true spirit of Christ and also some of his previous training in God's school.

There was another famine in the land beside the first, during which Abraham had sinned against God by leaving the place where God had put him. Isaac however did not fail where his father had:he remained in the land. This success in temptation was followed by further trial, for such are the ways of God, and this time Isaac fell into the same sin as his father. Abraham in Egypt, arid in Philistia, had resorted to deception in respect to his wife, letting it be known that she was his sister. Now Isaac, doubting God's ability to protect his own, does likewise, giving it out that Rebekah was his sister, and he had not even the partial truth which Abraham might claim, whose wife was at least his half-sister. "The fear of man bringeth a snare:but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe" (Prov. 29:25).

The sin was followed by confession, however, and God richly blessed Isaac in the things of this world. This led to the jealousy of the Philistines, and King Abime-lech suggested that Isaac should travel on before trouble ensued. The envious Philistines had filled in the wells which had been dug by Abraham, but Isaac, instead of protesting, quietly set out to dig them again. The Philistines, however, are not content, and when Isaac's servants, after no small labor, discover water, the rival herdsmen claim it as their own. Surely Isaac will now stand up like a man and defend his property. He will protest to Abimelech and demand his rights, or even take matters into his own hands and secure satisfaction. But on the contrary he sets his servants to work again, and yet again, until finally they are left unmolested in possession of the well. "A bondman of the Lord ought not to contend, but be gentle toward all" (2 Tim. 2:24, New Trans.).

From earliest schooldays we are constantly 'being bombarded with the doctrines of human philosophy. This principle of sacrificing one's own rights is utterly foreign to the worldling. Yet the Word of God is full of it, and the only antidote to counteract what we learn contrary to that Word, at school, from the newspaper, or in conversation with others, is a systematic, prayerful, obedient study of what is there written (2 Tim. 3:16,17).

Those who rightly appraise the infinite grace of God which has been bestowed upon them, feel that they can afford to give up what is legitimately theirs when occasion demands. And the world does not fail to observe what is so alien to itself. Abimelech realizes that this self-sacrificing spirit must be superhuman, and he comes to Isaac seeking a covenant, with these words, "We saw certainly that the Lord was with thee." Long before Abimelech had acknowledged "the God of Abraham," but this seems to be saving faith, for "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Thus the reward in heaven for leading a precious soul to the Lord is Isaac's recompense for whatever he lost in this world's goods. May we follow his example, and Christ's! "In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths"(Prov. 3:6).-Edward Harlow.

EDITORS’ NOTE :Our young brother has been happily commended to the Lord's work by the Westmoreland Avenue Assembly, Toronto, Canada, having especially in view the Mission Field in Africa. It is his desire, along with Miss Burritt (our brother and sister expect to be married shortly), who is also commended by the above-mentioned assembly, to join our brethren at Nyangkundi and Lolwa as soon as the way is open. To this end the prayers and fellowship of the Lord's people are earnestly desired. There is real need for additional workers in that part of the harvest-field.