shadow of death? Where is the way where light dwelleth? knowest thou it because thou wast then born?" &c. (see Job xxxviii.) Men seem at this the end of the world to speak as if they had been present when all was created, and had been God's counsellors, so that they can correct the mistakes which they suppose the Almighty to have made in His records of His own works. Professing themselves to be wise, they have indeed become fools.

But "the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple." Let us only be simple, let us become as little children, and the testimony of the Lord will make us wise. He who had His ear wakened morning by morning to the voice of God, had the "tongue of the learned," and "understood more than the ancients." The listening ear will fashion the instructed heart. To the lowly and meek the way of the Lord will be revealed. "There are four things that are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise." "Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God; for it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, the Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain." 1 Cor. iii. 18-20. Yes, "the testimony of the Lord is sure.” "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass away." "The word of the Lord abideth for

ever." And when the counsels of God are fulfilled, and His will shall be fully accomplished, then it will be seen that there were no mistakes in His word; no errata will be needed at the close of His testimonies.

"The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart." Brethren, is it so with us? Do our hearts rejoice in the precepts of God? Do we find His yoke easy, and His burden light? Do we love that which is upright, and therefore glory in the statutes of the Lord? The Lord Jesus loved righteousness, and hated iniquity, and the oil of joy has, in consequence, been plentifully poured upon His head-so will it be with us, if we follow His steps; we shall have the joyful heart, and the cheerful countenance, in proportion as we delight ourselves in the precepts of the Lord, and are able to say, "Oh! how I love thy law, it is my meditation all the day."

"The commandment of Jehovah is pure, enlightening the eyes." The church of the Laodiceans must have greatly neglected the pure commandments of the Lord, for they had become "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." He that walked in the midst of the golden candlesticks, the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, counselled them to buy of Him gold tried in the fire, that they might be rich, and white raiment that they might be clothed, that the shame of their nakedness might not appear, and to anoint their eyes with eye-salve that they might see. Surely, the gold, the raiment, and the eye-salve would be found in one only

treasury, in one only mine-the Word of God. And the Holy Ghost is the key to that treasury, unlocking and opening it to exhibit to needy souls, Him "in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." It is very blessed in the midst of this unclean world, and ourselves also filled with defilement, to have one pure thing with us, which we need not fear to touch, which will in no wise mislead or corrupt us; on the contrary, will guide us more and more into paths of holiness and peace! The commandment of God is this pure thing, it sanctifies and gives light. "The entrance of Thy word giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple." Psalm cxix. 130. "Sanctify them through Thy truth, Thy word is truth." John xvii. 17. Light and purity go together.

"The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever." This verse comes remarkably in the midst of others, which make especial mention of the word of God; and there is a beautiful fitness in thus introducing "the fear of the Lord," in connexion with His testimonies. For the word of God is powerless upon the soul, unless accompanied with the fear of the Lord. To "fear" Him, necessarily implies to have faith in Him; since no one can reverence the Lord, if he does not trust in Him. But if God is really honoured, every word of His has weight with the soul: the believer gives credit to, and bows before every precept of his God and Father; and this reverence for Him and for His word will lead to purity

and holiness. If the eye of God is by faith recognized as being upon us, we are kept from sin, as Joseph, when sorely tempted, replied in the word of true and living faith, “How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" If we have reverence for God we cannot question His testimonies, or doubt His word, or trifle with His sayings. The only wise God can alone be the author of perfect wisdom.

Let us remember that there is a "filthiness of the spirit," as well as of the flesh. The merely moral unconverted man can abominate many of the unclean ways of the flesh, but how few, even of the Lord's own people, regard with loathing the filthiness of the spirit; that uncleanness of soul which tampers with God's word; that filthiness of the understanding which is so often exhibited in the perverse reasonings of the mind respecting the truths of God. The great power of the adversary as the unclean spirit, is manifested in the way in which he deludes the soul, and perverts the Scriptures; and in the day of the Lord, much of what men now boast of as the refinement of human learning, and the advance of human light and understanding, will assuredly be utterly condemned, as only resulting from the filthiness of the spirit, and the power of the devil. "Having, therefore, these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." 2 Cor. vii. 1. The blessed Lord was the perfect example

of one that feared God: He was "of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord." His trust was in God, and "He was heard in that He feared." This fear, this wisdom endures for ever. Whether here or in the glory, the believer will still reverence his God, and will still depend on Him. This is not the fear that hath torment. It is not a fear of God's wrath or displeasure; but it is that holy reverence, that necessarily flows from knowing Him as a holy gracious Father; a respect and honour for Him that is inseparable from loving Him. "Let us have grace whereby we may serve Him acceptably with reverence and godly fear," and may "the fear of the Lord be our treasure."

The judgments of the Lord are true (truth), and righteous altogether. God is righteous and true in all His decrees-He is righteous in mercy-righteous in judgment-righteous when He saves-and righteous when He condemns. And when in the glory, we look back upon all His ways, and are able in the fulness of His light to understand all that now seems intricate, and obscure, how joyfully shall we join in the Alleluiah, and sing "salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God, for true and righteous are His judgments." Rev. xix. Whether we read His decree in the word, or hereafter behold the accomplishment of His counsels at the Lord's return, we can alike say, "the judgments of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether."