for conversation or argument on religious questions, but give him no power to "deny ungodliness and worldly lust;" but let "the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ," be seen; let "God manifest in the flesh" be believingly looked unto; let the slain Lamb of God be beheld by a convicted sinner, and then, what a mighty soul-constraining power is put into exercise! What truth and love become manifested!

It was only when the woman of Samaria beheld the Messiah in the person of Him who had told her all things that ever she did, that she "left her waterpot," and went into the city to bear testimony to the exceeding riches of His grace. And with what ease, and, if I may so speak, how naturally she walked according to the new and heavenly principles implanted in her soul! Her personal acquaintance with the Messiah had translated her thoughts and heart from earth to heaven. Her conversation was no longer about "our father Jacob, who gave us the well," nor the fathers' worship in the mountain, but it was concerning "THE CHRIST:" -the grace of Christ, "He told me," a sinful woman -the power and wisdom of Christ, "He told me all that ever I did;" so that having been alone in His presence, she could speak what she knew, and testify what she had seen-" Is not this the Christ?" And this is not all, she desires that others should participate in the joy and peace which she had, she therefore entreats them to "come" and "see" the Christ. The rest and peace of her soul was CHRIST, and Christ only; the tradition of the fathers, which had so beclouded her mind, vanished when she saw the Christ; her testimony, therefore, was to "Christ the power of

She had been with Who now so lovely,

God, and the wisdom of God." Jesus, and had learned of Him. so attractive, so worthy, so all-sufficient, so soul-satisfying to her as Jesus! Had she not heard His word, and in the secret of the Divine presence become experimentally acquainted with the "Gift of God," and who He was that said unto her, "Give Me to drink?" Was not the water that He gave her a well springing up in her into everlasting life? Had He not unfolded to her the very secrets of her heart? Had she not tasted that the Lord was gracious? Then, could she be indifferent to His honour? Could she look on Christless, perishing souls, and be silent? Could she delay openly to extol and magnify Him who had so condescendingly commended His love toward her? Are not her neighbours going downward to destruction, because they know not "the Gift of God?" What claim then can the "waterpot" have, however necessary in its place, comparable to the love of Jesus and the needy condition of immortal souls? "The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a Man which told me all things that ever I did: Is not this the Christ?"

And surely, beloved, our danger in the present day is not so much in the neglect of attention to things necessary for the present life, as in allowing needful occupations and lawful employments to have the priority in our minds and ways. The Spirit of God teaches us not to be indifferent to, or negligent of, these things -He commands us to "maintain good works for necessary uses;" but the Lord Himself, and all that

in which His glory is involved, must be the first consideration with us. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." The Lord is stronger than we, let us not provoke Him to jealousy. He is "the Father of spirits," the Searcher of hearts, and judgeth without respect of persons. God is not mocked. "My people would not hearken to My voice; and Israel would none of Me," was His affecting complaint (Ps. lxxxi. 11); but let not those expect to realize the light of His countenance who make the honour of Christ, the welfare of His Church, and the testimony of His gospel, matters of secondary importance. Brethren, let us deal solemnly with ourselves on these points. Is "Christ" or the "Waterpot" the "first" object of our search? Paul wept over many in his day, because they were minding earthly things; he called them "enemies of the cross of Christ" (Phil. iii. 18, 19); although, on another occasion, he had to reprove some for idleness, and lack of those industrious habits, which become the gospel of Christ (2 Thess. iii. 10-12). It is happy so to walk in the fear of the Lord, that in the needful details of life we may "adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour," and that our habit of mind may be to "do all for the glory of God." It is only in this way we can 66 use this world as not abusing it;" and we can only do this when the heart is filled with the constraining love of Christ, from personal communion with Him. When He is truly felt to be our treasure, our heart cannot but be most deeply interested in all that which concerns Him. It was so with the Samaritan woman, as

we have seen; and we may add, how reproving, as well as instructive, this narrative is! How wonderful the wisdom of our God in prescribing for us, in this history, a remedy so effectual for soul-sickness and lukewarmness! Is it not because we have so little personal acquaintance with Christ Himself, that earthly things have such power over us, and that we so fail in testimony to the grace of God? The unconverted have no power to forsake perishing things, they are not acquainted with any higher claim on their affections than that of "earthly things;" they know nothing about "a better and an enduring substance;" their motto is, "Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die;" but those who have known "the Gift of God," and learnt with joy to "draw water out of the wells of salvation," can well afford to leave the "waterpot," and commit their earthly care to Him who is their new-found source of refreshment and strength. We find that when Andrew had beheld the Lamb of God, and abode with Him, he was anxious for the souls of others, and so powerfully testified of the Christ whom he himself had become personally acquainted with, that he brought his own brother Simon to Jesus (John i. 35, 42). Nor was the simple, earnest testimony of the woman of Samaria less successful, for we are told that many believed on Jesus because of her saying which she testified, "He told me all things that ever I did."

Do not such Scriptures as these, dear brethren, blessedly illustrate to our souls that precious truth, "We love Him because He first loved us?" May we be afresh stirred up to cleave unto the Lord with full purpose of heart!

MYSTERY AND MYSTICISM.

WHEREVER there is mysticism there must also be mystery; yet mystery must not be confounded with mysticism. "Great is the mystery of godliness;" it confounds reason, yet is reasonable. Hearing, we believe-God speaks-faith bows to the authority of His word, but she cannot, dare not even, attempt to explain much that she believes: it is enough for her that "it is written." Mysticism, on the other hand, believes, because it feels: it does not disown the written Word, but it acts as though the Spirit inspired and guided the affections and instincts of the new nature over and above the Word. Along this "onward path," socalled, the faith of God's elect, which knows no other lamp for its feet than the written Word, cannot go. The love of God, the cross of Christ, the power of the Holy Ghost, the authority of the written Word, these are inseparable-they hang together; they cannot be understood apart one from the other. To take heed to this will be our safeguard from mysticism with its elevations and aspirations, so captivating to spiritual and meditative minds.

"THY COMMANDMENT IS EXCEEDING BROAD."-No. 2.

PSALM CXIX. 96.

THE thought that there is to be a time of disclosure of that which is now either obscured or secret is a very solemn thought. The revelation of the Lord Jesus in glory will make good every word which God has spoken, however that word may now be contra

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