the midst of temptation through a variety of reasons. He may fall into it, and so fall that he is entitled to the comforting assurance of the apostle: "Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations." Or he may be allured into it. When that is the case, let him not say that he is tempted of God; for God tempts no man. Let him lay the blame on himself, for "every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed." But of what folly is that man guilty who with open eyes walks into temptation! He joins hands with the great Tempter. The inmost sin may have an outer door through which we pass to it. The battle to be won must be fought at the door. "Watch and pray, in order that ye may not enter into temptation." Say not in your heart, "What harm can there be in doing this or that?" Perhaps none; but look where the thing which you propose to do will likely lead. You say, "Should it lead me near to what is wrong, I can retreat." How do you know? Your power and inclination to retreat shall have become weakened,

You reply, "Even though I should find myself in the heart of temptation, I might watch and pray." Not as Jesus means; for you have already done the thing, to prevent which He gave you these precautions. Expose not your principles, however fixed, to a strain when there is no occasion; they may give way under it. Employ not reason in demonstrating to conscience the fallacy of its sound though silent warnings. Young man, let no friend tamper with your convictions of right and wrong. They are the hedges which your heavenly Father has taken years of training to set around your unsuspecting spirit; ill shall it be with you if you allow sneers or flattery or threats to break them down.

Not to "enter into temptation" is itself success. It is an carnest of final victory over the Tempter; but not till the end can watching and praying at the door of temptation be any day dispensed with. "Every battle of the warrior is with confused noise and garments rolled in blood;" every battle, except this,

the deadliest of all. "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." You have to fight against a foe whom you can neither see, nor hear, nor touch. Often you can know that you have lost ground, only through the consciousness that you have not been watching and praying; and often you can know that ground has been gained, only through the consciousness that watching and praying have not been awanting. But perseverance in these to the end will win the day. It will crown the Captain of salvation with glory, and make you sharers in the spoils of victory: "Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."

X.

UNEQUALLY YOKED.

THE gentle remonstrance of Jesus with His apostles is over. He has given them counsel regarding watching and praying. One other word He speaks ere He leaves them: "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matt. 26: 41). About the meaning of these terms there can be little difficulty. "Spirit" embraces man's higher nature, and "flesh" his lower, whether viewed with respect to body or soul. (1 Thess. 5: 23.)

The statement, as uttered by Him who "was made flesh," might be so far a reflection of His own consciousness. Only a few minutes before, He had given an illustration of its truth when he prayed: "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." The willing

spirit and the weak flesh are compatible with a sinless nature (2 Cor. 13: 4). It is only of such a nature that the words, in their fullest meaning, are true" the spirit indeed is willing;" and it is only to such a nature that the expression, in its purest sense, can be applied" the flesh is weak."

In the case of falien man the sentiment finds fresh and sad illustration. Not till he is renewed by the Holy Spirit is he in possession of "spirit" in the highest sense. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." And then, where the Divine regenerating hand has communicated a spiritual nature, there always remains more than enough of infirmity and sin to make the gap between the willing spirit and the weak flesh broad and deep. What Christian, however lofty the tone of his spirituality may be, does not habitually sympathise with Paul: "To will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not"? In the best of men performance is far behind purpose. If a Christian really did all