ment they might correspondingly depreciate Christ. The nation of Israel was as the house where Moses dwelt as appointed responsible director and custodian, A servant certainly, but a servant of a peculiar kind. He is called 9,p&-,,,,,,,, Nowhern else in the New Testament is a servant called by this name ; it is as if there must be a unique description for a unique relation. If simple servitude had been all needing to be signified, 5oii.\os would have done; if simple ministry, 011i1<ovos would have done. But. Moses has a servant-name to himself; as much as to say," Among all the servants of God there has been none greater than Moses." The word indicates at one and the same time service and the greatest responsibility that could rest on mere man. Moses was the great steward of God in God's house for the time being, even the people of Israel. Compare him with the man spoken of as Joseph's steward (Gen. xliii. 19; xliv. 4). Consider also the question of Jesus in Luke xii. 42: "Who then is that faithful and wise steward (ol1<011&µos ), whom his lord shall make ruler over his householc1 ( Bepa1r,!a)? " "It is required in a steward that he shall be foundfaithfu.l." Thus the nation of Israel was a great deal to Moses, but not so much as we are to Christ. We are for the use of Christ, at his disposal, under his control, in a way far transcending the control which Moses had over Israel. Moses died and Joshua succeeded. Joshua died and othns succeeded. But a.a a Son over his house, over the successive generations of Christians, Jesus is, emphatically," the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever," II. THE CONDITIONS wmcH MAKE us ABIDINGLY THE HOUSE OF CHRIST, We are the house of Christ who is the Son of God. It is a great destiny to feel that we a.re of use ancl service to him. But the use and service depend on our perseverance. Christ asks great, arduous, necessarily painful things from his household. Not that he rejoices in pain-everything but that; but to bold a place under him requires faithfulness in extremities. His household may have to resist unto blood, striving against sin. As to the members of Christ's household, Christ has infused into their hearts an expectation of serving him a.mid surroundings and conditions far different to those of the present service. And this expectation is one which at times makes them confident and ilio free of speech in their approaches to their Master. It is an expectation in which they can glory as the world looks curiously on them, because of present things they give up for the sake of the expectation. But here is the peril lest the confidence and the expectation sink so low in the heart as to lose power over the life. Moses was faithful in his house, but the house was not faithful. The privations o.nd delays of the wil<lcr- ness well-nigh killed the joy of liberty from Egyptian bondage, and the noble aspira- tions towards the land promised by Jehovah. Jesus will be faithful in the household of God; and some in that household will always be faithful to Jesus, through what- ever dubious and protracted experiences. The point is one for the individual. Will he, through imp!lticnce and want of the single eye, the straightforward gaze, lose his place and promotion in the household of God ?-Y.
Ver. 12.-The evil heart of unbelief. I. 'l'IIE NEED OF WARNING. The state of things indicated is repudiated by mimy in whom it obtains. Those in whom unbelief is most ileeply seated think themselves real believers in whatever is reasonable 11ml true. Therefore warning is needed-affectionate warning, it will be observed. Tho readers are again addressed as "brethren." Also individual examination is suggested. Men have fallen from what seemed the strongest faith into the most shameful aposto.sics. A brother, sent of God, warns us to be on our guard. II. 'l'BE DEEP-SEATED MISCllIEF. 'fhere may be outward discipleship and service, but a heart not trusting in the living God. There may be abundant manifestations of the Divine love and power, but the heart may be so subdued to worldly considerations that nothing shown by God can produce its proper impression. We believe too much in living men, in their power to help or to hinder; we trim everything to catch their favour or keep in their good graces. And meantime the living God is ns if he wcro not. If at any moment we have been in real connection with his infinite grace and power, there is something in our hearts which tends to draw us gradually away. Nothing is more absurd than unbelief in God, and yet nothing is harder than practical faith. And to get rid of unbelief we need to have the heart renewed a.nd inspired, We readily see the need of heart-renewal if it be some othor sin that is in question-if it be malicious, or selfish, or sensual feeling that we want to get rid of. And so our 106 THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. (oH. rv. 1-16.
prayer should be, "Make us feel that unbelief is sin, moral malady, e. something that needs to ~ cured by the turning of the heart to God." There is manifestation of trutb enough, evidence enough; the lack lies in our disposition.-Y.