thus she renders unconscious service, which obtains from Him its meet reward. Misunderstood even by the disciples, she waits till the Lord's word clears her, rebuking their coldness, and contrasting her devotion. to His person as above even doing good to the poor. This, Mary's story, gives us the clue to the service that women should be occupied with-i.e., learners, in order to be doers, helpers, co-labourers, not teachers or preachers.

For woman, essentially, is ministry of deeds and not ministry in doctrine appointed. We have before shown her unfitness for teaching and her meetness for service naturally. And the purpose for which she was created naturally, is illustrative of the purpose for which she is meet, as newly created in Christ Jesus, and a member of the One Body, a fellow-helper in good works.

Into work, where the man cannot come, she goes, and goes meetly. Man's hand would spoil where her's fosters.

We gather now, from the following Scriptures, the specific work of both young and old; and what is true and appointed for the wife, is true in principle for the

woman.

Let us again remember, the woman is the learner from the man, to be the doer. He, from his Head, receiveth to impart to her. And she, in silence learneth, in order to carry out the Lord's will and do works meet for His approval. The Lord of the Church nourishes and cherishes the Church, that it may be healthy and comely in good works. So doth the husband, the wife, or the man, (the new begotten) the woman. Now elderly women are exhorted to be "teachers of good things"; that they may teach the young women to be sober (serious), to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, &c. (Titus ii. 3, (Titus ii. 3, &c.). Thus the sphere of elderly women is defined to be that of teachers of the younger women, and the consistency of the elder will calm and sway the more wayward hearts of the younger.

They are also exhorted (1 Tim. v. 9, &c.) unto varied good works, such as caring for children, lodging strangers, washing the saints' feet, relieving the afflicted. These comprise a very large and blessed (though lowly) sphere of service. Moreover she is exhorted (1 Tim. iv. 5, &c.) to set her hope on God, not on man, for support, and to continue in prayers and supplications night and day. And all these injunctions to, and de

man.

scriptions of, godly women, are given through the Spirit, to guard against the wiles of Satan, who would ever seek, by the weaker woman, to delude and seduce the Hence the exceeding care taken to enjoin on women their special retired mode of service. How blessed then are the elder women who thus act! How satisfied in the work! How helpful in the Gospel.

And if such care be needful on the part of the elder women lést Satan gains an advantage, how much greater the caution needed by younger women.

The godly heart groans at the way in which the tempter succeeds, by the lust of the flesh, in seducing the hearts of the younger women from Christ. They are brought forward, mingled with young men, made to lead the singing, encouraged to dress fashionably, and thus, under guise of not appearing peculiar, become snares for the too easily seduced heart of man. Much false incense is thus burnt where pure incense only should ascend. Much apparent fervour, where none really exists. Much pleasing to the ear is heard where the two-edged sword of the Spirit should be cutting. Let us be sober therefore and vigilant, for our adversary, the devil, seeketh greatly through them to gain the advantage.

Now to younger women are given counsels meet for good. (1 Pet. iii. 1-9.) Attention to home and home duties, glorifying God by the tenor of life (conversation) there, being strongly dwelt on. Neglect of husband and children, under guise of service to God. forbidden. The husband treated as the lord, even as Sarah did to Abraham-the meek and quiet spirit winning glory for God. The co-working with the husband implied both in prayer and service. (6, 7.)

Then again, the training of the children is her special business, and entails special blessing. (2 Tim. i. 5.) (And this is true for the unmarried, in their care for orphans and neglected ones and children of unbelievers.) To them also, good works, faith, love, holiness, solemn bearing, are enjoined. (1 Tim. ii. 10-15.)

Read 2 Epistle John, as to the course enjoined for an elderly lady (a widow evidently) and her children.

Thus we find the sphere of the younger women is the nurture of the young, and the co-working, if married, with their husbands as "heirs together of the grace of life". And as they advance in age they become teachers of the younger women (not men). Always, however, meekly representing the Lord in lowliness of spirit,

In Exodus xxxv. 25, 26, we read: "And all the women that were wise-hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen. And all the women whose hearts stirred them up in wisdom spun goats' hair."

Wise-hearted women, and women stirred up in wisdom, wrought, and wrought long and patiently, to produce work meet for the Tabernacle of the Lord. They wrought in blue, in purple, in scarlet, in fine linen, and some in goats' hair. Each thread, each piece, each hanging, each curtain, telling out the wondrous tale of redemption through the Son of God-the man Christ Jesus. Enough for them that the Lord had commanded Moses concerning it and given him the pattern. They carried it out; the arrangement of the colours was not left to their fancy or taste-the size of the curtains not according to their thoughts, but all was according to the pattern given on the Mount.

And so now will the wise-hearted women fulfil the counsels given by the Lord, and carry out His designs -each one working her part of the web, which, when finished, shall show forth, in wondrous, beauty His perfections; and, though unconscious of observation themselves, they shall by their very occupation for the Lord, become a praise to His name, as wholly obedient to His commands, faithful amidst the faithless, seeking not this world's smile, but their Lord's-" She hath done what she could ". A. O. M.

DAVID.

THE flesh never appears so unlovely, as when manifested in connection with the things of God; its deformity and enormity are shown out in contrast with. the divine association, whether person, place or things.

It was so on the occasion of this visit of David's to Abimelech. Deliberate deceit and lying utterances in the presence of the priest of Jehovah, standing before the twelve cakes of memorial, (in one of which he, David, of the tribe of Judah, was represented), and fragrant incense. The leaven of deceit in contrast with the fine unleavened flour, and with the sweet incense, the stench of the flesh.

Yet all this set off the patient grace of God. Haunted by the persecutor Saul, pinched with hunger, and off the high ground of faith, the anointed

of Jehovah acted out of character with himself, yet obtained the bread.

This, his want of simple faith, was manifested in another connection.

Driven out of Saul's presence as his minstrel, he was without a sword, yet standing on the defensive; he enquired of Abimelech "Is there not here under thy hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor any weapon with me because the king's business requireth haste".

To this the priest replied, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine is here, if thou wilt take that, take it."

This called back past scenes, aroused feelings in David's soul, and Satan who was behind the scene for mischief, seems to have given music to the name Goliath, and to the massive weapon charms, for David exclaimed, "There is none like that give it me".

Thus the man of God, who in the day of simple confidence in Jehovah, had refused Saul's armour, turns, in the days of weakness, to the giant's sword.

It is a great thing to hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm to the end, to acquire the habit of trusting in God, rather than the occasional frame in our every day circumstances and service, with all its difficulties and trials.

This done, David fled. The scene had closed for the time, but the results of his visit were yet to come. A snare was laid for David's feet; Satan, the watchful enemy, was bent on mischief, and succeeded.

Doeg, the Edomite, Saul's chief herdsman, was then detained before the Lord; he heard and observed, and, when he returned to his master, reported all.

David fled to Achish, King of Gath, and when the words of his servants respecting him aroused David's fears, he by an artifice escaped, and fied to the cave of Adullam.

There he gathered a band, a troop, and strange indeed were the constituents of his army-persons in distress, in debt, and discontented; a true description of the spiritual condition of those who gather to Christ now by faith; about four hundred such gathered around the anointed of Jehovah who became their captain. Among them were his father and his mother.

They all moved on to Mizpeh of Moab, to the king of which, he committed his father and his mother, to care for them till he should see "what God would do for him ".

This is a fine touch in the picture. David hunted

by Saul as a partridge on the mountains, had heart and time to care for his parents.

concerned. Saul was guilty, nor was David free from blame, yet Jehovah's word was fulfilled and his purpose

Oh to be uniform and universal in the manifestation

of the mind of Christ!

In this he was surely a shadow of Him who in the garden said, "If ye seek me let these go their way," and on the cross committed his mother to the care of John; who also had an ear, a heart, and an answer of peace for the thief. Beloved fellow believer, let us seek grace so to dispose of our own cares and griefs by faith and prayer, as to have heart and leisure for those of others, who are every day appealing to us for sympathy and help.

Communion with God will fit us for sympathy with the sorrowing, and fellowship with the joyful, and that in quick succession

"A heart at leisure from itself

To sooth and sympathise,

To meet the glad with cheerful smile,
And wipe the weeping eyes."

David next moved, at the bidding of Gad the seer, to the forest of Hareth.

In Hareth sorrow overtook him, fresh as to facts, although not, as to his fears. Abimelech's son Abiathar joined him, having escaped the sword of Saul, when he slew all the family of Abimelech. He told the sad tale of blood and sorrow resulting from David's visit to his father. David was moved, saying, "I knew it that day when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would tell Saul. I have occasioned the death of all the persons in thy father's house". He commiserated with him, and took him under his care, saying, "Abide with me, fear not, with me shalt thou be in safe guard".

This man Abiathar, became David's companion in all his troubles, and was eventually made priest by him. When David was old and Adonijah sought the throne, Abiathar sided with him, and on that account, was deprived of the priesthood by Solomon, when executing his father's decrees of judgment.

All this was the fulfilment of Jehovah's word against Eli, and the execution of the judicial sentence against his house, because he restrained not his sons from their evil conduct as priests. (1 Sam. ii. 31, and 1 Kings ii. 17.)

Thus we trace events accomplishing the purpose of God, although not so intended by those immediately

his evil passion, merely to gratify his nature, and do his own will, yet unwittingly and unwillingly doing the will of God.

Thus Joseph's brethren, moved with envy on account of his dreams interpreted by themselves, and in order to test their truth, or promising to render them false, sold him; yet, in fact, took steps to their fulfilment, for by this means Joseph reached Egypt, the scene of their accomplishment.

Subsequently they acknowledged their guilt in this, saying, "We are verily guilty concerning our brother," but Joseph, taking Jehovah's purpose as his standpoint, said, "God sent me before your face to preserve life by a great deliverance". "Be not angry with yourselves."

In this same light did the Apostles view the crucifixion of their Lord, when they said to the Jews, "Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken and by the hands of wicked men, or wicked hands, have crucified"; and again when they said to God, "of a truth against Thy holy child Jesus whom thou has anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together for to do whatsoever thy hand and counsel determined before to be done".

This is still true, there is one only source of power, one purpose and one absolute will. This will, all creatures must do, cheerfully or against their will, and all events are made to fulfil this one divine purpose. In the church or in the world, in heaven, on earth, or in hell; in the wise and the brutish in knowledge, the philosopher and the politician, all men, even those who are blind and brazen enough to say, "There is no God," are nevertheless made to do His will, and yet are amenable to Him for their pride and infidelity, and, except found in Christ eventually, by simply believing the gospel now, will be judged by the man Christ Jesus, the Lord of glory.

Yes, God still puts his book in the nose of His enemies, and His bridle in their jaws, and while they boast, as if the saw should shake him that handles it, God overrules their conduct to fulfil His will.

To return, David is now found in another position, and on other ground, offensive ground against the Philistines, and befriending Judah.

The Philistines had beseiged Keilah, a town belonging to Judah, and robbed the threshing floor.

David heard the report and betook himself to Jehovah to enquire if he should go against them; Jehovah answered in the affirmative "Go and smite the Philistines".

His men were fearful, and hesitated. David enquired of Jehovah again, who answered as before, adding the promise of victory.

On this they acted, fought, conquered, and brought away the spoil. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah, his brethren, acting in his true character as Jehovah's man against his enemies.

In verse 6 of this chapter, 1 Sam. xxii., an interesting circumstance is noticed, one of these beautiful touches by the Holy Ghost in history.

Abiathar, the son of Abimelech, a refugee from Saul to David's succour, when he fled to David to Keilah, brought down an ephod, part of the priestly garb in his hand; perhaps the very ephod worn by his deceased father. Whether or not, it was at hand for use in the moment of need.

Saul again appears as the unaltered enemy of David. He had heard that David had come to Keilah, and now made sure of taking him, even connecting God's name with his thought, his murderous thought, against Jehovah's anointed.

66 "God," said he "hath delivered him into mine hand, for he is shut up by entering into a town that hath gates and bars"; with this hope he gathered all the people together to go down to Keilah.

David knew too much of Saul's character to have confidence in him, had experienced enough of his enmity and treachery to make him wary. "David. knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him, and betook himself again to God." He said to Abiathar the priest "Bring hither the ephod".

No thanks to Saul that such words could be used, that Abiathar lived, or the ephod existed. Jehovah who established priesthood (though abused), preserved it, and He who commanded the ephod to be made, kept this also. If man fails, Jehovah does not, and if man exposes holy things to danger, He will watch over and preserve His own.

The outward and manifest unity of the body of Christ, Satan and men have marred and broken, but the essential unity God preserves intact, it will outlive the folly and sin of the members themselves, and,

that which our present divisions rob Him of, He will recover, by our humiliations and confessions.

I believe in a God whose purposes hinge not on man's faithfulness, although man's happiness does, and who will do all that his soul desireth. (Job xxiii. 13.)

With the priest and ephod David sought Jehovah, and said, "O Jehovah, God of Israel, Thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah to destroy the city for my sake, will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hands? Will Saul come down as thy servant hath heard? O Jehovah, God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell Thy servant." And Jehovah, said "He will come down." Then David said "Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hands of Saul?" and Jehovah said "they will deliver thee up".

Beloved reader, pause here and mark this beautiful example of simple, confiding, open-hearted dealing with God. It is worthy of our imitation even in these days of increased light, and the full revelation of God as a Father. I am afraid that many Christians lack it.

His reverence, "O Jehovah, God of Israel," his freedom, "Thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul will come down," his simplicity, "Will he come down? and will the men of Keilah deliever me and my men into their hands? How like his own words in the psalm "Ye people pour out your heart before Him," turn the vessel upside down, keep nothing back from God, carry about nothing unrevealed to Christ.

I

"THE 'LAMB' OF GOD."

H. H.

DESIGN now to look at the Book of Revelation only in one of its characters, viz., as setting forth the "Lamb," and in doing so, I do not mean to follow the order of the chapters, because the Lamb is mentioned in various circumstances, all through the book; but I wish to look at the ways in which the Lamb is spoken of, as respects the sinner. And first, we get Him as 'the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world". It is in this character the poor sinner has to do with Him. We must begin our journey with the "Lamb slain". It is an individual thing, it is not a thing that we can put upon one another, nor upon the church; for although we have to account collectively for the way in which we have discharged ourselves as a body, yet, as poor sinners, we have individually

to do with "the Lamb slain". And oh beloved, let us ask one another, have you and I begun our journey and been in company with "the Lamb" all the way? It is a most important question, and one which we cannot too often ask our souls.

Well, then, the next character in which we get Him is as the keeper of the Book of Life. The moment we have had to do with Him as "the Lamb slain we at once get Him as the keeper of the Book of Life. Again we have Him as the Lamb whose light is to surpass the light of the sun and moon, for we read "and the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God did lighten it, and "the Lamb" is the light thereof. (Rev. xxi. 23.) But now we meet Him in a most wondrous character, as "the Lamb" having wrath, "the chief captains and all the mighty men, and every bond man and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the LAMB".

Beloved, this is a most perilous word to find in connection with "the Lamb". WRATH! but what is this wrath? It is jealousy on account of despised love, of rejected grace.

"Let us

Again we get Him as the married Lamb. be glad and give honour to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready." (Rev. xix. 7.)

Again we get Him as the enthroned Lamb; and again as the praised Lamb. You see, beloved, that as we have begun with "the Lamb," so we have not only to journey through the wilderness with Him, but also to spend our blessed eternity with the Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world. He has consented to be the slain Lamb throughout all generations of the world, as we know, as in the cases of Adam, Abel, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, &c. The Paschal Lamb, the morning and evening sacrifice in the temple. pointed to Him as thus slain; and lastly, when He Himself hung on the accursed tree.

So the very

moment we cross the threshold of time and enter the golden gates of eternity, we have Him as the married Lamb, the enthroned Lamb, the praised Lamb. Well then, might He stand forth and tell us, "I am Alpha and Omega, the first and last, the beginning and the ending," for we begin with the Lamb, and we are to be with the Lamb throughout the countless ages of eternity. J. G. B.

"THE LORD'S COMING."

T is His special promise to His church. It was left disciples. They had obeyed His call. As Abraham had left his country, kindred, and his father's house to obey the call of God (Gen. xii. 1-4; and Heb. xi. 8), so had these also left all to follow One "fairer than the children of men". (Matt. iv. 20-22; Mark. x. 28.) They were the Lord's "out-call" from the "evil generation "-gathered around Him as their centre of attraction-owning Him Lord, in His rejection by the

world.

He was about to leave them now, His "little little flock" (lit.), defenceless, alone, exposed to the scorn and hatred of the world "lying in the wicked One" (lit.). "Because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." (John xvi. 19.)

What was to be their anchor amid the storm?

"I will not leave you comfortless (marg., orphans') I will come to you." (John xiv. 18.) "I am going "but it is "to prepare a place for you I will come again, and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there ye may be also ". (John xiv. 1-2.)

"I will come again." What a hope to keep in view above the waves! What a peace-speaking word in the stormiest hour!

Abraham, resting on God's word, "patiently endured" and "obtained the promise" (made to him). (Heb. vi. 15-20.)

"It is impossible for God to lie." In our Isaac, the Lord Jesus Christ, "the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen” (2 Cor. i. 20) to us; a strong consolation" to us "who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us; which hope we have, as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil, whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus