fearing the wrath of the king." He esteemed "the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the

reward."

All this recorded testimony to Israel about Egypt gives especial pungency to the denunciation of the prophet;

"Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord! Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words: but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of them that work iniquity. Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the Lord shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down and they all shall fail together" (Isaiah, xxxi. 1—3).

The special and instructive contrasts here, are "Men" and "God;" and "flesh" and "spirit." Man with his horses, and chariots, and horsemen presenting an array of strength, resistless in the estimation of the natural mind; but "when the LORD shall stretch out his hand both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together." How deep is this infatuation of a people whose privilege and strength is thus presented to the eye of faith, that they should look to Egypt or horses and chariots as their strength!

"There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky. The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them. Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew. Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places." (Deuteronomy, xxxiii. 26—29).

This was Israel's folly, to turn from God and his Spirit to trust in Egypt and in an arm of flesh, because they walked as men. But what is this to the church's folly that is associated with her head in heaven, and is blessed with the ever-abiding presence of the Holy Ghost on

1

earth; and has God for her, and the infinite treasures of his grace as her resource; and Eternal glory before her; when she is found turning to seek the world's friendship, and practically trusts in the flesh and in carnal wisdom for her guidance and help! The Lord teach our hearts more the force of that word, "If ye then be risen with Christ!" And lead us to beware of following the course of "Demas," of whom the apostle says, "Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world." "If GOD be for us who can be against us.' There is nothing more certain than this, that every degree of confidence that is reposed in man by a saint or in himself, is so much of his trust withdrawn from "the living God." "The

weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God." But faith alone can use those weapons; and when faith fails, there is always the practical turning to the world and its strength and wisdom for help. This only is the right position of our souls, "to have the sentence of death in ourselves; that we should not trust in ourselves; but in God that raiseth the dead." And again let it be said; "if GOD be for us who can be against us!" "There is no king saved by the multitude of a host; a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. A horse is a vain thing for safety; neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.... our soul waiteth for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.”

D.

A FRAGMENT.

"ONE thing is evident: God is now working in the last days. Dissolution is, on all sides, not only going on, but felt to be going on. If we are faithful, and have sufficient power to blend largeheartedness with faithfulness, we shall be the first of blessings in this state of things. Otherwise, except for a certain individual blessing and faithfulness (which is always something), we shall be nought. But we ought to love the church (the beloved Bride of Christ), and seek its good; surely, more than a David, or godly Israelite, or Jew, could, or did, that of Jerusalem; and seek its good for Christ's sake."

No. XXVII.

ELIJAH, "A MAN SUBJECT TO LIKE PASSIONS AS WE ARE."

1 Kings xix.

THE testimony to the goodness of God in "not sparing His only Son, but freely giving Him up for us all"—even Jesus our Lord, was that which attracted believers together. They were added to the church; God was in all their thoughts; their hearts overflowed with the sense of His love; and their union was sustained in their sympathy of soul about Him. They had before their eyes Jesus, evidently set forth "crucified among them" (Gal. iii. 1); the love of God was shed abroad in their hearts. Beholding, as in a glass, the glory of the Lord, they were changed into the same image. The multitude of them that believed were of one heart, and of one soul. Selfishness was obliterated. Beholding the love of God - their hearts were inflamed with love one towards another, and towards all men. Their light shone; and a testimony for God existed upon earth, created by the contemplation of Himself, "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

:

"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved" (Acts ii. 41-47).

The Church was called into existence on earth, by a testimony to Jesus, risen at the right hand of God. The gospel preached with the Holy Ghost sent down from

heaven, accomplished such effects on a multitude of persons, as we read of in Scripture.

How is the fine gold become dim! How sad the change! Where is the Church answering to the description recorded in the Acts? Surely the salt has lost its savour! Yet the very circumstances in which we are found, are being overruled for palpable blessing. We cannot take comfort in any witness for God. We cannot rejoice in any results. There is no ox in the stall, no fruit in the vine; therefore we are brought back to elementary principles, the only true principles recovered of our very necessity, even we must rejoice in God.

Strange and wonderful, indeed, is the wisdom of God in the control of circumstances. Opposites in His hands contribute to the same results. In this His very being as God is demonstrated. When Moses put his hand into his bosom at the command of God, behold, his hand was leprous as snow. Ordered to put his hand into his bosom again; it was turned again as his other flesh (Exod. iv. 6, 7). The very place where it became leprous is the very place where it is healed. The failure of the church. shall contribute, in His hands, to direct believers to Himself, just as being at first occupied about Himself, formed the church. "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God" (Rom. xi. 33).

Paul, in the twentieth chapter of the Acts, taking leave of the elders at Ephesus (after saying that he knew that "after his departure grievous wolves should enter in"), commends them to God, and the word of His grace. Peter, writing in his second Epistle, chap. i., says, "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you, through the knowledge of God." The revelation of God is the object of scripture. "The world by wisdom knew not God;" hence the necessity of revelation. "Thou hast magnified Thy word above all Thy name." Our blessed Lord himself says, speaking to the Jews, "Had ye believed Moses, you would have believed me; but if you believe not his writings, how shall you believe my words," thus placing the written word as equal in authority with Himself, as indeed it is, being from Himself.

How comforting this, in the general confusion around!

The recognition of the ruined condition of the Church in its earthly manifestation, should lead to dependance upon God. The circumstances connected with our failure imperatively call for this. "He only is our rock and our salvation" (Ps. lxii. 2). "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble" (Ps. xlvi). And when our souls are at peace with Him, through the blood of Jesus, realising by faith our portion, having and enjoying the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, "Father," how sweet to wander in the green pastures of His word, tracing His gracious ways with the children of men, using their very failures to bring before our eyes His love and faithfulness, His overflowing grace. Now, the portion of the Word before us is an illustration of this: "Elijah, Elijah, a man of like passions as we are," is put before us in circumstances of weakness and failure. It is the grace of God to him in them that we desire to dwell upon. The 17th chapter of 1st Kings introduces Elijah, full of the energy and power of the Spirit of God. This sustains him through a season of unwonted trial. A witness of the righteous judgment of God on an apostate nation; supported, through the deep sufferings of which he was a spectator, by a deeper sympathy with the injured majesty of God: the rights of God vindicating His righteous judgment, and the servant fully entering into this. The 18th chapter is the triumph of his testimony over the prophets of Baal, or rather of God's faithfulness to Himself, and His own glory. In answer to the prayer of Elijah, for three years and six months the fountains of heaven were closed up; and, in answer to his prayer, there was the sound of abundance of rain. "And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel." This closes the 18th chapter, and unfolds the secret of Elijah's power: "The hand of the Lord was on Elijah." And just so long And just so long as He keeps us, we are kept. "Hold Thou me up, and I shall be safe." We forget this. After service for God, we are apt to take importance to ourselves, apart from our testimony, and then we must needs learn our weakness. The standard we bear ought to command respect; but the