What weapons may not men use to spoil the children of God! Surely the strongest in the faith needs constant anointing with spiritual eye-salve, in order to perceive these refined snares of the fowler. That true believers have everlasting life, everlasting righteousness, and everlasting glory, for ever secured to them in Christ risen, beyond the power of the grasp of any adversary, is certain; yet Satan seeks to rob them of the everlasting consolation and good hope, which the apprehension of this grace is calculated to produce. In no other path can true happiness be experienced, but by walking in Christ Jesus the Lord; practically owning Him as our Master, and seeking only to do His will, as having life in Christ, righteousness in Christ, strength in Christ, a friend at all times in Christ, victory over sin, death, the grave, Satan and the world, in Christ; in short, as having all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.

O may we ever walk in Him,

And nothing know beside;
Nothing desire, nothing esteem,
But Jesus crucified.

THE FLESH IN DAVID.-In the history of David, we see the flesh manifesting itself in weakness, 1 Sam. xxvii. 1; in lust, 2 Sam. xi. 1-4; and in pride, 2 Sam. xxiv. 1. Lord keep us!

THE FATHER.

"For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." Gal. iii. 26.

"I write unto you little children because ye have known the Father." 1 John ii. 13.

"God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law **** that we might receive the adoption of sons." Gal. iv. 4, 5.

Ir is comforting and strengthening to the believer in Christ, to perceive by the teaching of the Holy Ghost, in the written word, that he is not only a pardoned sinner, and justified from all things, Acts x. 43, xiii. 39; but also, (through the riches of sovereign grace) that he is brought into a position of nearness, and of actual relationship to God; that he is even now a child of God by faith in Christ Jesus. "Behold, what manner of love the FATHER hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God. Beloved, now are we the

sons of God." 1 John iii. 1, 2. Sons by regeneration, John 1. 12, as well as sons by adoption, Romans viii. 15; and because sons God had sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying ABBA FATHER. Thus God has not only brought the believing sinner into the nearest relationship to Himself, by virtue of the everlasting efficacy of the blood of Jesus; but moreover, is exercising towards such, the parental care, love, and solicitude of an Almighty FATHER. How touching the Lord's declaration, "Thou hast loved them, as thou hast loved Me!" John xvii. 23; and again, "The FATHER HIMSELF loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God." John xvi. 27. Blessed it is indeed, to live in the enjoyment of the FATHER'S love, so as to calculate on the reality of His paternal pity, tenderness, and affection under all cir

cumstances.

To know the FATHER is the privilege of little children in the faith, 1 John ii. 13, and one of the special characteristics of true christians; for our Lord speaking of persecutors says, "these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the FATHER, nor me.” John xvi. 3. It is the FATHER that the true worshippers worship in spirit and in truth. John iv. 23. The Spirit of God gives access unto the FATHER, through Christ. Eph. ii. 18. It is the FATHER who administers the rod of chastisement. Hebrews xii. 9. True christian "fellowship is with the FATHER, and with His

Son Jesus Christ," 1 John i. 3; and it is from the FATHER that we are to expect every blessing; for "if ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your FATHER which is in heaven, give good things to them that ask Him?" Mat. vii. 11.

Believers in Jesus! such "manner of love" demands that we should behave ourselves "as obedient children," be "holy in all manner of conversation," and walk in "love to all saints," in all the affection of a heavenly brotherhood, as having one FATHER, and being fellow-heirs of the glory that is to be revealed at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

Surely, filial awe, confidence, peace, brotherly love, and separation from evil, will characterize those who experimentally know the FATHER. If any man love the world, the love of the FATHER is not in him. 1 John ii. 15. Lord increase our faith!

CHASTISEMENT.

WHEN Job was suddenly stripped of all that he had, reason concluded that he had very grievously sinned; and that God was exercising judgment upon him in

consequence. The Divine testimony, however, was, "there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God and escheweth evil." We know the end was, that this man of God was abundantly edified; also, "the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before." Our Father chastens "for our profit," that we may be partakers of His holiness. "The Lord is good," although "His ways are past finding out."

THE HEART.

OUGHT we not often to meditate on such Scriptures as the following, and seek to make them of personal application? My son, give me thine heart. I the Lord search the heart. Learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart. The Lord pondereth the heart. The Lord looketh not at the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh at the heart. Every one proud in heart, is an abomination to the Lord. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart. Keep thy heart with all diligence. God left him (Hezekiah) to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.