charity which rejoiceth not in iniquity. It is the mani. festation of the spirit which in after times we are warned against, namely, "speaking evil of dignities." The patriarch Noah was a Priest and King in his family, and should have been, even in his fall, had in reverence by a son. But how wonderful, rich, and free is the grace of God in restoring. How merciful His dealings with His saints. Noah is raised up and made the mouth of God in judgment; a divine revelation is given to him, and by the spirit of prophecy he declares things to come. How wonderful the way of God in separating the precious from the vile. The whole history is a figure of what is before our eyes. "Every plant, that my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up."

The mystery is, there was a Ham in the ark-an Ishmael under covenant circumcised, and yet put out of the household of faith. An Esau about whom Rebecca inquired of the Lord, and who, for one morsel of meat sold his birthright, and forfeited the blessing. A Judas amongst the twelve. "Have I not chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil." The mystery of iniquity in the Church, and even now, writes John, are there many antichrists. "Little children, keep your→ selves from idols."

PRECEPT. The precepts which God has given us are generally grounded upon some revelation of God's character; thus, "Be ye holy, for I am holy;" "Let us love one another, for love is of God;" "Be ye merciful, as your Father also is merciful;" "Forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you," &c. &c.

JOHN XVI. 1, 2, 3.

IN these words of our Lord the connection is seen between ignorance of the Father and the Son, and the spirit that rejects disciples of Jesus.

In the Epistle of John the contrast to this evil spirit is seen in the connection between the fellowship there is with the Father and His Son, and the love there exists to those who are the Lord's.

In the Lord's teaching when on earth, as generally through the Word, the instruction given by contrast is constantly seen. Thus, in the sermon on the Mount, "It is written in the law, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth; but I say unto you that ye resist not evil.” The difference between the law and the dispensation of grace in which we stand, is set forth in the contrast between Mount Sinai, and the appearing of Jesus Christ when He came the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world." To Mount Sinai none could. approach-there was "lightning and tempest." To Christ Jesus, who came as a babe in Bethlehem, whosoever cometh shall in no wise be cast out.

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It is written concerning the Lord Jesus in the first chapter of John-" The world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not: again, “in Him was Life, the Life was the Light of men:" and again, "the darkness comprehended Him not."

Part of this darkness to which Christ the True Light was opposed is described in Mat. xxiii.-—it was not that which was dark in the eyes of men, it was beautiful outside. Neither was it professed ignorance; but in connection with this which was dark before God, there

was the profession of knowledge-"Now ye say, we see, therefore your sin remaineth."

It is further witnessed of Christ in John i. as in contrast with the law, that "the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is the grand characteristic of this dispensation. "Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, that we through His poverty might be rich."

The constant enmity of Satan, and the expression of darkness around, was in the opposing the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The law had made no provision-it proved, it exposed, it condemned the sinner. Jesus, the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth, He provides, He atones, He pardons.

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When He was accused of eating and drinking with publicans and sinners, His answer was, Wisdom is justified of all her children." The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."

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When in the Pharisee's house, the liberty of the poor woman who washed the Lord's feet with her tears was rebuked, "This man, if He were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth Him, for she is a sinner." In reply, He sets forth the mission of His grace and forgiveness as the ground of His acceptance of this poor woman in all her love," A certain man had two creditors, one owed him five hundred pence and the other fifty, and when they had nothing to pay he frankly forgave them both." This left no room for boasting, but where there was the

deep sense of pardoning love, there was the bright expression of love to Jesus; but the Pharisee found fault.

Thus it was constantly as light from God—a heavenly light shining in a dark place, that Jesus walked in this world—the fulness of grace and truth. There was in those who could not bow to this expression of grace the final casting out of the Son of God. On this ground, (the hatred manifested in the world to Him who came forth from the Father,) the Lord Jesus forewarns His disciples, that as the Father sent Him into the world, even so He also sent them in the world; and that, as they would be His witnesses, they would, as He did, meet rejection from the world in its ignorance of the Father and of Him. "If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you."

Now is the question of offences raised. The word is, "These things have I spoken unto you that ye should not be offended."

When the Lord had forewarned His disciples, as recorded in John xiii. and Mat. xxvi., Peter had said, “Though all men shall be offended because of Thee, yet will I never be offended."

It was for no offence of the poor blind man which was healed, that he was cast out by the Pharisees-he did not offend. Though they had cast out one of the Lord's little ones, the Lord opened His arms to receive. him. Woe unto the world because of offences! Woe unto that man by whom the offence cometh: better for that man that a mill-stone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea, than that he should offend one of the Lord's little ones. But there is danger to the disciples in a day of of

fences, lest they join in that which offends-it is not being cast out that offends as far as the Lord's little ones is concerned, but it is standing with that which rejects the testimony of the grace of Christ.

When Peter warmed himself with those who rejected his gracious Master-when he chose ease there, rather than be rejected with his gracious Lord, then he failed. May the Lord save His people from taking a place which would lead them to reject disciples of Jesus.

May fellowship with the Father, and His Son Jesus Christ, be more and more manifested in the fruits of His Spirit, bringing out love, peace, joy, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, and charity.

HAPPINESS SOUGHT AND FOUND.

HAST thou happiness sought? hast thou happiness found? The pleasures and peace which in Jesus abound.

(This earth can produce its own fleeting joys,

And the children of earth are content with such toys.)

I sought it long, but I sought it in vain,

At home and abroad, but I often found pain;

Like a shadow it fled, when I thought I was blest,
Till pointed I was to God's own loving breast.

He told me I'd sin'd against Him in His laws,
That Satan and sin would ne'er plead my cause--
That Jesus He'd given-the Son of His love-
To purchase my seat in the mansions above.

My heart is made captive-what else can I do,
Than praise Him, and love Him, and set out anew;
To live to this Friend I neglected before,

I'm happy, indeed! I admire! I adore!