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HIS LOVE IN DISCIPLINE.

Christ Jesus He must give death-wounds to the love of sin and to the pride of the heart and to the power of self-righteousness. It is not the begun work of the Holy Spirit on the heart; but the finished work of Christ on the cross that

gives real comfort." Again he says: "The Holy Spirit will not wink at sin, nor connive at sloth, nor overlook worldly-mindedness. It is His great object to cure these faults and therefore He must convict us for them instead of consoling us under them. And this is true kindness as well as real prudence."

A faith in Jesus Christ for salvation will stand any test which can be brought upon it through the world or the flesh; and the Spirit would not have us deceived, nor will He allow us to be tried beyond our ability. St. Paul writes: "We glory in tribulation, knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, proof or a test; and proof, hope; and hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God hath been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which hath been given to us." The object of this tribulation is our sanctification, and is wisely as well as lovingly permitted.

And Peter writes of "the elect through sanctification of the Spirit," that they are "kept through the power of God," and if in "heaviness through * Chap. xiii.

manifold temptations"; yet it is that the "test of their faith, more precious than gold, may be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Christ Jesus." The help as the joy of those in heaviness is in the Holy Spirit. He searches our hearts and reveals the hidden evil, not that He may discourage us, but that He may lead us to forsake the sin and look away to Christ for forgiveness and peace. Our doubts and fears arise from ourselves, and not from looking up to Christ.

Cheer up, then, ye fainting and fearful ones. Your very faintness and fears are evidences of the Spirit's loving patience, and show that He stands ready to help; and you may rest in the assurance that He who has begun a good work in you will continue it until the day of Jesus Christ.

"The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man"-the natural man-"the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them to us by His Spirit."

By such spiritual illumination and revelation of the things of God, blessed and glorious, the Spirit would also lead us from the world and sin to Christ and to the glory of the saints.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE SPIRIT A COMFORTER.

ON His way to Gethsemane and Calvary our Lord forgot Himself in seeking to comfort His disciples; and even in the garden, while Himself drinking the bitter cup, He excused the weakness of their flesh.

Their hearts were sore troubled because He was going away, and He assures them with the promise: "I will not leave you comfortless. I will come unto you"; and "I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter that He may abide with you forever." The word "Comforter" is marginally rendered Helper or Standby, indicating present help and strength and comfort.

"It is expedient for you," says Christ, “that I should go away, for if I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I go I will send Him unto you."

By the Spirit He comes and abides with us. And for the glory of Christ and for the great love He Himself has for us, the Spirit comes to

be our Comforter. There was none other, in heaven or in earth, who could take the place of Jesus.

He alone had the knowledge and strength and love and patience necessary for our weakness and waywardness and need. He knew our hearts and what we lacked and needed as well as Jesus did. Jesus kept His disciples in the Father's name; now we are to be "kept for Jesus Christ” by the Spirit. And we may be persuaded that He is able to keep that which we have committed to Him, when our Saviour has also and first committed our keeping to Him. A keep is a stronghold, high and secure, and the Spirit is now our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

The last prayer of our Lord for His disciples would ask for them what was important for their good, and this was: "I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil one." In the simple prayer, which He taught them for daily use, they are to pray: "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."

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Spare us from unnecessary trial, and guard from the power of Satan." What we call mysterious providences might be very plain if we knew the deceitfulness of sin or saw through the wiles of the devil. He who tried to seduce Christ

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THE SPIRIT A DELIVERER.

Himself when He was an hungered in the wilderness, will also take us at every disadvantage and attack us in our weakest spot; will tempt our appetite, flatter our pride, and provoke our ambition; and even try to lead us to presume upon our faith, or to give it up; will do anything to seduce us from Christ and steal from Him our souls.

If he can keep the sinner from thinking about religion he is sure of his destruction; but if he will think, Satan will try to make him believe a lie; and if almost persuaded to be a Christian, he will plead for procrastination; and even after one believes in Christ, the evil one will try in every way to lead him astray; and when he has brought him into backsliding, he will try to make him believe that he never was a Christian, or that he has utterly fallen from grace, or that he has committed the unpardonable sin, and that there is no hope for him.

But the Holy Spirit, who knows the end from the beginning, would keep us from the very beginnings of evil, and would deliver us from all the wiles of the devil.

He knows, too, what is necessary to this end, and the means He uses are never more severe than are required for our deliverance. If His providence seems severe it is because severe measures alone will cure and save us. It may be necessary