Asia given In the Book of Revelation accurately present the conditions into which Churches still fall. Losing their first love. Yielding to the enticements of the world. Weo.kened by false doctrine. Deadened by the evil influence of unworthy members. Proud of outwo.rd prosperities. Lukewarm in Christian service. Surely the hope of the Church lies in this-Christ is willing to be in the midst of her in the power of his cleansing, correcting, and restoring grace, and he is actually dealing with her as a spirit of purifying. He is ever washing away the fast-gathering "filth of the daughters of Jerusalem, and the blood of her sins from the midst thereof." In accomplishing this work of cleansing, it may sometimes be needful that our Lord shonld deal severely. The operations of his grace will sometimes appear as a" spirit of judgment and a spirit of burning." II. Oun LORD ALSO DEALS WITH BIS CHURCH WITH A VIEW TO ITS GUIDANCE AND INSTRUCTION. He would have his people grow in grace and wisdom and knowledge, reaching ever further into the mysteries of revealed truth, and making ever holier and wiser expressions of their renewed spirit in all the spheres of their lifo and activity. Journeying through the wilderness of this world, through the wilderness of truths, and through the wilderness of Christian duties Christ is ever near now, as he was in the olden days to wandering Israel. '!'hen a cloud-pillar, looking dark against the bright sky by day, and flashing out like flame against the dark sky by night, kept Israel in mind of its ever-present Guide. Now, without the help of such outward symbols, in inward manifestations to trustful hearts, Christ reveals his presence as our Shepherd, leading us on, now into scenes of conflict, now up paths that are rough and stony, and some- times into "the green pastures, and beside the still waters." The power of a Church to hold fast the "truth once delivered unto the saints," and yet to receive whatever new forms of truth God may be pleased to unfold from his Word, lies in this presence of Christ with his Church, as a Teacher and Guide, as a "spirit of judgment." Ill. CHRIST DEALS WITH HIS CHURCH WITH A VIEW TO ITS PRESERVATION AND ITS DEFENCE, He not only cleanses and teaches, he also keeps. "Upon all her glory shall be a defence." We may lovingly submit to all his chastenings and corrections, for over all the glory of his cleansing shall be his defence. It shall never be destructive. We shall be kept through it all. We may wait on all Divine teachings, and go forth to all Christian duties; perils may be round about us, but over all the glory of his guiding there shall be a defence. God shall keep 118 safely. His "mountains are round about Jerusalem from henceforth, and even for evermore." He does not mean by his dealings to remove the candlestick out of his place, only to make the flame burn clearer and brighter. He is but keeping it safe until the great time of removals, when it may take its place, and shine for ever among the lamps of the heavenly sanctuary.-R. T,
EXPOSITION. synoptio Gospels (Matt. lli. 33-41 ; Murk CHAPTER V. xii. 1-9; Luke :u. 9-16), has 1-n fre- Vera. 1-7.-lsRAEL REntraED BY TBlll quently notioed. PARABLE OF A VINEYARD. This chapter Ver. 1,-Now will I sing to my Well- stands in a certain sense alone, neither beloved. The prophet sings to Jehovah closely connected with what precedes nor a song concerning his vineyard. The song with what follows, excepting that it breathes consists of eight lines, beginning with "l\Iy throughout a tone of denunciation. 'l'hore Well-beloved," and ending witll "wild is also a want of connection between its grapes." It is in a lively, dancing measure, very unlike the general style of Isaiah's parts, the allegory of the first seotion being poetry. The name "Well-beloved" seems succeeded by a series of rebukes for sine, to be taken by the prophet from the Song expressed in the plainest language, and the of Songs, where it occurs above twenty rebukes being followed by a threat of pun- times. It well expresses the foeling ishment, also expressed with plainneBB. of a loving soul towards its Crentor and Redeemer. A song of my Well-beloved. The resemblance of the parable with whioh Bishop Lowth translates "A song of loves,., the chApter opens to one of those delivered and Mr. Cheyne " A love-song; " but this by our Lord, ant recorded in the three requires an alteration of thP text, and is 78 THE BOOK OF TII:E' PROPHET ISATAI-1. [ctr. v. 1....ao.