rn,cns feed his prophet.. Elije.h will not come into the seoret of the wicked. Unflinoh• ing che.mpion, he knows the.t the purae of the ungodly is e. be.g with holes, and their cisterns hold no water, and their hopes are bounded by time, and their joys a.re gilded and unreal; and beyond death all is de.rkness, de.rkneBB-donsest, deepest darkness. True wealt.h, trne joy, true greatness, true glory, are for those who are heirs of God, joint-heirs with Christ. "Woe to them the.t go down to Egypt for help . . . to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt! " There are me.ny who do so; but whe.t is God's message to Edom? "All the rneu of thy confederacy have brought thee even to the border: the mon of thy peace have deceived thee; the men of thy bread he.ve laid a wound under thee." How truly has even a heathen moralist, as well as an inspired apostle, warned us that "evil com- munications corrupt good manners" I In the Book of Kings wo read of Jehoshaphat allying himself to Ahab in battle. It nearly cost Jehoshaphat his life. But afterwards we see that he had profited by the dear-,bought experience. When he built ships to go to Ophir for gold, Ahaziah the son of Ahab said, "Let my servants go with thy serrnnt.s in the ships," and Jehoshaphat would not. If we have been amongst those who have had worldly associates, let us learn wisdom. Let us walk with the wise. Let us choose for companions those who fear the Lord, and speak often one to another, to whom the Lord hearkens, and concerning whom he says, "They Bhall be mine•in' that day when I make up my jewels." In Acts iv. we read that the .apostles, being released from prison, went to their own company. Their absence from the godly WIii by restraint. Prison walls and chains kept them. As soon as ever they were free to choose they went to "their own company." That company was characterized by love to Christ. It was formed of the disciples of the Crucified. Men "took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." That company had common hopes and joys and interests. Their home was heaven. Their heritage was glory. Their Father was God. The company of the Lord's people here on earth e.re destined-to inherit everlasting felicity. The child of God, when he is set free from the last ties that bind him to earth, goes to his "own company;" he goes io heaven, where Christ is. gathering to himself those who have made a covenant with him by sacrifice. Let .us· ask ourselves about the companions of our life's pathway. Let us remember the folly of Edom, and let us remember the inspired COllllBel, "My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not." Let us remember, too, the feast at EnrogeL In 1 Kings i. we read of the splendid entertainment given by Adonijah to his distinguished guests. Amongst those present were some who held the highest positions, military and ecclesiastical. Very merry was the gathering ; very loud were the tlatteries ; very gratifying was everything to the prince. Surely with Joab, Abiathar, and many others on his Bide, he would soon wear the crown. But the banqueting is suddenly stopped. A messenger in breathless haste makes a.n announcement. 'l'hose who had just been shouting, "God save K.irig Adonijah ! " now undergo a change of feeling. They ell rise to their feet and hasten away. The prince is left alone. His so-called friends think not of his safety, but only of iheir own. They all disappear. Adonijah, a short time oefore admired, praised, flattered, crowned, the centre of a thousand hopes, is now alone. His guests had no true affection for him. They had no bond of love to bind them. The confederacy was for their selfish ends. They fawned for place. Now they see the prince cannot help them, and so they pass away. The banquet-hall is deserted; one solitary man is riveted to the spot. The men of his confederacy have deceived him; the men of his bread have laid a wound under him. Adonijah learns too late the folly and disappoint- ment of worldly alliances, May we all profit by the Spirit's warning I Let us resolve to follow Jesus, and unite our interests with those who are his. Once there came one to th1:: Saviour, asking, "Master, where dwellest thou?" Jesus answered, "Come and see." Let UB make for Christ's home in glory. Let UB cast in our lot with his people, who through grace "come up from the wildemeBI!, clear as the sun, fair as the moon, and terrible as an army with banners."
" Come, let us Join our friends above That have obtained the priz.e, And on the eagle-wings of love To joy celeetie.l rise. 1-21.] THE BOOK OF OBADIAH. 19