of the Lord, he sets up the fruit or result of the labours and gifts of the people. He sets in order all which they had been making and fashioning with their tools and their fingers, and out of their linen, and purple, and gold, and precious stones. And as they in their day finished their part in the great process, so does Moses in his. On the 1st day of the 1st month, in the 2nd year of the Exodus, the Tabernacle is reared.

Then the Lord Himself acts. The glory comes and fills the tabernacle, and the cloud covers it. This closed the whole work. In principle, the glorious Rest was then entered. Surveying that moment, we may say, in spirit, "the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God."

That was, in principle, the end of all labour, and entrance into Rest. And now; the congregation learned this, that nothing which they had laid out was lost, nothing which had been spent but was gathered again in the age of glory. He that sowed bountifully was now reaping bountifully. The more of his gold he had. dedicated to the tabernacle, the more of what had once been his did he now see in closest intimacy with the glory. The present moment proved that there was no security for gold, or precious stones, or wealth of any kind, like the cloud which now covered the tabernacle. The present moment proved that he who was "rich

toward God" was rich for eternity.

And this is a point in this lesson that would interest us deeply, if we valued our part in the coming kingdom duly. But how little this is so! And how sad is such a state of soul, when but for a moment we consider and confess it!

We have, however, connected with all this, and to which I feel it very well to take heed, another time, similar to the time of these chapters, in the history of the Church in the New Testament-the time of Acts ii-v.-the days of the infant tabernacle again, I may say, when zeal again was abroad, animating the camp.

But in the midst of all that, there is a voice of warning. It is this-that we take care of doing, because others are doing; of seeking to be in appearance on a level with the influence that may be stirring around us.

This was Ananias and Sapphira in the early days of the New Testament tabernacle. We have no Ananias and Sapphira in the chapters we have been considering. The times, however, as I have said, are kindred; and the warning from this new ingredient is serious, and of general profit and application to us all. The apostle's words, "while it remained was it not thine own, and after it was sold was it not in thine own power?" read our souls a lesson on the temptations which attend a time of spiritual revival or of benevolent activity in the church, when energy of any kind, and the spirit of either toil or benevolence are abroad. The story of Ananias and Sapphira tells us of the temptation we are

then under of appearing to be on a level with the movement that has set in; and warns us that all such fair show in the flesh ends in death. The congregations of God's people in Ex. xxxv. and in Acts iv. may provoke us to zeal and to good works; but Ananias and Sapphira warn us to seek a real, truthful, and personal share in all stirrings of heart which may be abroad, and to catch the energy for ourselves through communion with the fountain, the Divine fountain, of all that is living and genuine.

If done for the sake of credit with the saints, our toil or our benevolence will end in death; if done for Jesus, the cup of cold water will not be spilt on the ground, to be lost there, but be gathered after many days; the use of the talent will introduce to joy in the Lord (Matt. x. 25;) as here, the gold that was dedicated in the age of service during the hidden glory, was found unto praise and in abiding security, in the day of the manifested glory.

What does my soul desire but capacity to enjoy such a prospect! the prize of the high calling of God! the portion of a faithful servant in the kingdom and presence of Jesus! But if it desire it unfeignedly, how deeply is it also lacking in it! How quickly would some fond promise of to-morrow move the heart, and how tardily does it answer to the promise of the kingdom!

And I desire also that abiding habit of soul that refers my ways and doings to the Lord's eye and thoughts, and

not to man's or even to my brother's. For if we are to be encouraged by the example of Israel in these chapters, we are to be warned, as we have said, by that of Ananias and Sapphira. Some of us may know the vanity of their heart so thoroughly, as continually to watch its actings and cry to the Lord for grace to walk more for Him and with Him, and less under the eye of even our companions in the gospel.

MARAH.

WHO would have thought that the joyful song of Israel by the Red Sea would be so soon followed by murmuring? Such, however, was the case. Ex. xv. 23-25. Their circumstances were unexpectedly trying, and their faith failed-they came to bitter water, which they could not drink. But there was help in God; and He delivered them, not by bringing them elsewhere, but by directing Moses to cast a certain tree into the water, which made it both palatable and sweet. May we learn from this to connect the cross of our blessed Lord with ALL our trials; for we shall find, by contemplating His love, sufferings, and triumph, and by associating His almighty power, wisdom, and grace with our sorrows, that we shall not only be sustained and comforted, but realize also that that cross makes every bitter thing sweet.

CHRIST IN THE HOUSE.

"For I know him, that he will command his children and his household," &c.-Gen. xviii. 19.

ONE result of the conscious peace and joy that flow from having Christ in the heart,' will be an earnest desire that the same blessed peace and joy may pervade our house; that the "Son of Peace" may dwell there. Surely we cannot be seeking aright to have fellowship with the Lord in our own hearts, if His presence in the house is neglected; and one very manifest result of Christ's presence within, will be a constant endeavour on our parts so to order our children and households, that He may be honored, and His presence may cheer our dwellings.

The word of God is very specific in the Epistles as to its directions respecting our conduct in what may be called household relationships. Thus we have ample instruction for the husband and wife, the parents and children, the master and servants. See Eph. v. and vi.; Col. iii. and iv.; and 1 Peter iii.

These several earthly ties are but shadows of our heavenly and enduring relationships. If the husband