sense comes to our aid. We know that the watch before us must have had a maker. There must have been a Maker of the eye, whether we know Him or not. The Bible assumes the fact of God's existence. "In the beginning GOD CREATED," etc.

From this theme we learn how to interpret God's silence. It is God's glory to conceal a matter. Secret things belong to Him; things revealed, to us and our children. We are to walk by faith, and not by sight. We are, indeed, to dig and toil for truth, yet ever remember that there are depths infinitely below our shallow mines. All true science is humble, and the language of faith should ever be, "Even so, Father, for so seemeth it good in Thy sight!"

DAVID MURDOCK, D.D.

Ever With the Lord.

I. THESS. iv. 17. "And so shall we ever be with the Lord."

THE apostle, in a strain of unusual strength and tenderness, has unfolded the transfiguration of death through the life, and resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, and shown how completely changed the Christian feeling is in relation to it when these facts are grasped. In accordance with a new and direct revelation of the Lord, made to Him, He has disclosed to wondering faith the marvels that are to accompany the second advent of the Lord, when the dead shall be joined to the living, who have not tasted death but have been caught up. And now He discloses the seal of perpetuity which is to rest upon that re-union. His interest in that grand consummation seems to be concentrated in the joy of this holy and abiding fellowship with each other and the Lord. The future world of redeemed humanity will be in many

respects a changed world. Here Christ is all in all, but not visibly. He is the Author, the beginner, of the redemption. He will be, in that day of glory, its consummation and end. But He will also be the beginning, the central power, of a new dispensation of life and progress in heaven; which shall be in advance of everything hitherto known; which shall be consequent upon the resurrection of the dead, and the glorification of redeemed humanity. There is even now a being "with Christ which is far better;" for sin, and misery, and death, and change, and parting are left behind. There is a life "far better" than that of the old world saints and patriarchs, who went down into the separate state-the under-world-and waited there until the King of Glory had prepared a new home for them, consequent upon the completion of His sacrificial work for the world. But there is, also, some better life still reserved for the faithful, for which they are now waiting in glad expectancy in the disembodied state. Arrayed in glorious grace, in body as well as spirit, Christ receives them into close and intimate communion and association for ever. Their entire nature is to stand in some purer and higher relationship to the life, and rule, and spirit of the Redeemer than any previously known. There have been successive dispensations of grace in the unfolding of redemptive life, which we call Patriarchy, Mosaism, Prophetic and Kingly inspiration, and the Gospel. There has been for the dead a life disembodied in Hades; and following the Lord's Ascension, a disembodied life-life in the spirit--in the heaven where He now lives and reigns. But there is still in reserve a new stagea new unfolding of the grace which has become glory. A new history of

humanity will date from the day when the earthly mystery of God is finished in a completed redemption, and the Lord Jesus appears from heaven to be glorified in His saints. There will be a new progress, new ministries and growths, new joys—a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. The apostle, with that ardent and devout attachment to the Redeemer which characterized his Christian life-which did not permit Him to entertain the thought of separation from Him-sums it all up in the sentence which is the climax of this glorious unfolding: "So shall we be ever with the Lord."

1. "Ever with the Lord : " The phrase implies, new, living, direct social relationships with the Redeemer.

This being with the Saviour is to be the secret power of a new born happiness and blessedness, the secret power of new born activities. There is more intended by the phrase than the mere being in one place, associated together in one resplendent, glorious scene. It is not only to see Him and live in His house, one of His family, always in His presence, it is the getting rid for ever of what is Un-Christlike in character, the gaining of the real perfect sympathy with the Christ life. We are with our friend, not only when we are in His society, but when we blend our thought with His thought, our love with His love, our life with His life. We are with our friend when we become His other self, when love clasps spirits in adoring union. There is here the intimacy and closeness of spiritual fellowship. There is here spiritual resemblance: "We shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." We shall be like Him in faith, like Him in spiritual emotions, like Him in purpose, like Him in tendency, like Him in character. We Ishall then reach our lost ideals of

manhood. We shall then reach the glorious harvest and ripening of spiritual power. The spotless radiance of the perfect Christ shall then be associated with a perfect Church which He has loved and redeemed; every member of which shall be "without spot, and blameless." They are "without fault before the throne of God." Every man shall be presented perfect in Christ Jesus." We shall be with the Lord in perfect holiness. We shall be in His sight "unblamed and unblameable," and

unreproveable." We shall be with Him in untemptable purity,—in power not to sin. The spirit shall with Him be possessed of indestructible good. The defectiveness and the myriad sorrows of failure, and the furrows and stains of passion shall all be undone and forgotten in the immortal destiny, and man, created in the image of God, shall with Christ fully realize it, and shall be "complete in Him "—" glorified together."

2. We shall be with the Lord, also, in the unfolding light of His New Revelations. We shall see light in His light. Truth shall no longer be seen in broken parts and through media which distort and mislead. Now the glass is flawed, and much we see is out of harmony and proportion. There are faults in ourselves which hinder the perception of Truth's harmony and beauty. There are, also, Divine withholdings of Truth which now we cannot bear or receive. But when we live our life with the Lord, all will be changed. The receptive powers will be perfected in themselves. And there will be in this new time and new intercourse, a comprehension of His mind. a new reception of His spirit. The mighty energy of the Christ exerted upon perception and heart will bring to us new wonders, and will inspire a pure and perfect sympathy with His

grandest thoughts and His sublimest utterances. The Immortal splendour of that Light which is Truth and Wisdom will neither blind nor dazzle the open eye or blast the vision. We shall know Him, who is the Infinite truth; and "that which is in part shall be done away."

3. We shall be with Him in the blessedness of His own perfect life, and reign and joy. The boundlessness and fulness of joy, the pleasures for ever more, are with Him. Holy desires shall only be cherished, to be satisfied out of the Infinite fulness. The longing shall be ever living, but ever appeased. The life will surpass all we have known or can imagine. We call it, therefore, from its plentitude and perfection and blessedness, Eternal. It is the adjective of quality, not of duration. It exceeds exceedingly; is "a joy unspeakable and full of glory;" an eternal weight of glory."

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It is a river of life, but it has no human or created source. "It proceedeth out of the Throne of God and the Lamb." "The Lamb who is in the midst of the Throne shall lead to living fountains of water." The joy is the joy of marriage. It is a marriage feast. We sit down "at the marriage supper of the Lamb." The idea is of a feast of congratulation and pleasure associated with the beginning of a new life, of new associations. of a new home, where mated life and love flow on in indissoluble union. The life is ever new, the joy is ever fresh, the fulness exhaustless. "Thou shalt make them drink of the river of Thy pleasure,"

4. And the crown of all is security, safety, changelessness, endless duration, continuance. "Ever with the Lord." They go no more out for ever. No possibility of loss is here, no possi. bility of fall is here. There is no change here. Change and decay in all around we see." The familiar

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faces are missed. Every Sabbath is an anniversary of our losses. Every act of our life has in it the memory of a past joy which was, and is not. But there, the change is not a power of destruction. It is not a sadness. The just are made perfect, and they abide with Christ. They are made by Him to stand. They cannot die any more. The life has on it the seal of endurance, continuance.

"For ever with the Lord

Amen. So let it be

Life from the dead is in that word-
'Tis Immortality."

When the Redemptive Kingdom in its processes reaches its consummation and completion, and through it "God is all in all," Jesus becomes the Glorious King and Lord of a new unfolding and dispensation of glorious life. On His hand are many crowns. He is Lord of the future as of the past. Forgiveness is by Him. Sanctification is through Him. Faith is in Him, Hope takes it brightness and all its radiant splendour from Him. He is our Peace. He is our glory. He is our Heaven. Christ is the First and Christ the Last. He is the Saviour of Earth and the Sun of Heaven. Men live by Him. Men sleep through Him. Men are glorified by and with Him.

The social life of Heaven will com

plete its blessedness. The thought

throws a halo of tenderness and affection over that world." The relational emotions are not cut off and sundered by death. The new life will be ordered by them. What the most hallowed sacramental experience foreshadows and typifies will be then enjoyed in full sweetness and elevating power. The sacred signs will not be needed, because we shall have the reality in its unspeakable grace. It was on the other side of death, that after their wearying, exhausting, useless toil, the

disciples saw the Lord on the shore, waiting for them, the morning meal, already spread and prepared, of which He invited them to partake with Him. The figure is familiar, but how much of pleasant, joyous, home-life there is in it, and how restful is the sound :"I will sup with him, and he with Me." "So shall we be ever with the Lord."

Complain not that the way is long-what road is weary that leads there;

But let the Angel take thy hand and lead thee up the misty stair;

And then with beating heart await, the opening of the Golden Gate.

EDITOR.

Mary Magdalene & Thomas with the Risen Christ.

JOHN XX. 18-27. "Touch me not. Reach hither thy hand and put it into My side."

1. Was Mary Magdalene denied, and Thomas granted, the same favaur? If it were so, we should see in the case of Thomas a greater condescension to the doubts and fears of the human heart. Mary did not need proof; Thomas did. The clearing away of Thomas' doubts strengthened the evidence of our Lord's resurrection.

2. There was no denial of favour to Mary. She was not denied what Thomas received. In Mary's case the arrested act was devout, one of affection. If we turn to Matthew xxiii. 9, we shall learn that Mary was holding Him by the feet, when our Lord said, "Touch me not." This translation is retained in the Revised New Testament, but it means too much. We may imagine Mary prostrate at the feet of Jesus, and simply checked, while she already held His feet. "Cease clinging to Me" is the idea His words express. Jesus may be understood as reminding Mary that He is not yet entered into His glory; that

the hour for adoration has not yet come : "For I am not yet ascended." Nothing of that enters into the act of Thomas. His is not an act of worship, but one of scrutiny. Mary is checked in worship; Thomas is permitted to touch the body of the Lord, to obtain proof for himself and others that it is indeed the Master.

3. But why is Mary's reverence checked? Because the Master has work for her to do. "Do not tarry for this act of devotion: go," at once, without the least delay, "and tell My brethren." Our Lord really forbids not, but checks Mary's reverential act; and His purpose is to transfer her attention to her mission. Even if Mary's act were merely one of personal affection, there would be only the more reason why the duty of the hour should interrupt her demonstrations of regard.

Mary thought He was come back to stay. Her demonstrations of delight or reverence were a revelation to Jesus of this feeling. He saw into her soul and saw this error; so He virtually says; Not so; I am not here to stay: I ascend." Think of Me no more in the flesh; think of Me on the throne. For, while in one breath the Lord says, "I am not yet ascended," in the next He commands her to tell His brethren, "I ascend unto my Father."

Spiritual Incapacity.

JOHN XVI., 32.

I have yet many things to say unto you; but you cannot bear them now.

THE Saviour instructed His disciples not to cast their pearls before swine, lest disappointed they should turn again and rend them. He never does this Himself. There are laws and principles of His kingdom which are level to the lowest apprehension. There

are other laws and principles which are like the pearls in their rareness and preciousness, to be disclosed only to such as will sell all that they have to possess them. The Gospel is to be preached to every creature. But only as men begin to obey the Gospel can they apprehend it, can they bear it. And the higher things of the Gospel, and spiritual mysteries, just like the higher things, the arcana of human science, can come only as we attain unto them.

I. THERE IS SUCH A THING AS INCAPACITY FOR SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE.

This is recognized in many passages of Scripture. The Great Teacher acts like any judicious teacher. A man never comes to a spiritual apprehension of any new truth until he can bear it. His capacity often prevents him from entering God's kingdom, as well as keeps him back from promotion. It was thus with the rich young man in the Gospels, and with many of Christ's disciples.

This incapacity for spiritual knowledge arises from indifference to it, and from the sense not being exercised to discern it. The man looks at spiritual knowledge in the twilight of disobedience and sin. There is a threefold discernment: that of the outward eye, that of the eye of the mind, and that of the eye of the Spirit. A man may have the former two and lack the latter; but the things of the spiritual world are real though a man lack spiritual discernment.

II. THIS INCAPACITY FOR SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE EVINCES ITSELF IN OUR BEING UNABLE TO BEAR IT. We have not the spiritual state and advancement. The doctrine of self-sacrifice and of the Atonement was not acceptable at first to the disciples. They were not educated up to it. They

had not character enough. There was a great gulf of separation between Peter before and after the day of Pentecost. But there is this region of spiritual knowledge; and there is a series of firm stepping-stones by which it may be gained. Spiritual truth has to be experienced before it is spiritually apprehended. Spiritual truth is intended for the new man in Christ Jesus, as the natural light is intended for the healthy eye, not for a sick one.

III. THERE IS A TWOFOLD PROCESS GOING ON ALL THE TIME IN THE HISTORY OF EVERY TRUE

BELIEVER. It is a progress in character which makes way for a progress in knowledge. Men are fitted in this world for another. We must learn submission to and acquiescence in God's will. We are under treatment. God darkens our cage that we may be taught to sing. Christ learned obedience in the school of suffering. In fresco-painting, the colors are applied while the plaster is fresh, and it is the drying of the plaster that fixes them. They thus enter into the very constituency of the material painted. Thus our Great Master lays on those colors which are to endure through the eternal years, when the spirit is melted and tender through sorrow. Again, in fresco-painting a design cannot be all painted at once. A moist coating is covered with one portion of the design, and so step by step the work goes on. It is just so that imperfect mortals like ourselves, who yield themselves up to the hand of the Master, are fitted to receive the image of the Lord Jesus, little by little, from grace to grace, from glory to glory, until we stand before Him, until we see Him as He is. How wise is our Master's method! how tender, how faithful!

E. J. RANKIN. D.D.