severity and goodness-are given to us in the Scriptures of truth, where He is revealed resisting the proud wills of His people for the destruction of their flesh, that their spirits might be saved in the day of Jesus Christ. But time forbids an attempt to enumerate them. God's regard for the humble is beautifully set forth in Isa. lvii. 15, "For thus saith the High and Lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, Whose Name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with Him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." Now I wish you to notice the transition from the singular to the plural in this verse. Who is the person described as of a humble and contrite spirit? It is Jesus, Who for us became "a Man of sorrows, acquainted with grief." He is that Blessed One of Whom we sing

"A Pilgrim through this lonely world
The Blessed Jesus pass'd;

A Mourner all His life was He-
A Dying Lamb at last."

For us He had not where to lay His head, and found no rest for His troubled soul. Though now exalted to the highest glories of heaven, He feels all the aches and pains, temptations and trials, sufferings and sorrows, of His members in the wilderness. "I dwell with Him," says the Father. To what purpose? "To revive the spirit of the

humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." It is only through Jesus, Who sorrowed, groaned, and wept in the days of His flesh, that any reviving is experienced by His tempted members on their way through the enemy's country to their home of rest above. "He giveth grace to the humble." From these scriptures we see the spirit in which this covenant command is given-" Humble yourselves."

We will now look at these words in the light of the metaphor associated with them-" the mighty hand of God." All the preachers in Christendom may preach humility-demand obedience to this command-wear themselves out with their exhortations; but obedience to the command they cannot secure. To preach humility and to expect it from proud and imperious human nature is folly as flagrant as to seek for holiness in hell-purity in putridityor to anticipate seeing envious devils bowing willingly to the sovereignty of Jesus Christ, "because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be (Rom. viii. 7). The question may be asked, Why should they demand a seeming impossibility? To this I answer, We must look at the command in the light of its metaphor. As we thus see it, all fleshly free-will opposition to God's sovereign truth will immediately cease. Look at it-mark it well—and may the Holy Ghost seal home instruction to your hearts: "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God."

Mark well the place where this humbling process is carried on. The saints of God are spiritually enabled, graciously privileged and sweetly compelled to humble themselves in the presence of Him Whose eyes are upon the haughty to bring them down, and Who will save His afflicted people (2 Sam. xxii. 28). I have been told that man has naturally both will and ability to obey all the commands given in God's blessed Book. But the very circumstances of the case prove the very opposite. Natural means can never produce spiritual effects. All that springs from the flesh is flesh. All the productions of the Spirit are spirit (John iii. 6). Whatever we can see of spiritual life in redeemed sinners, is theirs in virtue of their spiritual oneness with their Living Head, Who has

said for our instruction in righteousness, "Without Me ye can do nothing" (John xv. 5). Impotency is not only the state of the members of Christ apart from vital oneness with Him; but the very reprobates. themselves prove themselves not so clever as they fain would have us believe. That free-willer, Pilate, thought he could do what he pleased with our Lord Jesus Christ; but Jesus justly rebuked his fleshly presumption, saying, "Thou couldest have no power at all against Me, except it were given thee from above" (John xix. 10, 11). Then notice the sweeping testimony of John the Baptist-" A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven" (John iii. 27). So, if I humble myself, it is no more I that do it, but the Spirit of Christ Who dwelleth in me, according to God's eternal purpose of grace.

If a man tells me that he can humble himself, I ask, Where are you ? Are you under the mighty hand of God spiritually, experimentally, scripturally? Has it been heavy upon you (Ps. xxxii. 4)? Has. it pressed you sore (Ps. xxxviii. 2) ? Have you been

The

consumed, worn out, exhausted by the conflict of it (Ps. xxxix. 10)? When questions like these are put to those who profess their ability to work at will, they stare--they gape-they wonder what is meant. "THE HAND OF GOD!" What means it? Bible is a spiritual book. The truths therein are couched in spiritual language, frequently given under earthly figures and metaphors. So when we see God's hand mentioned, it either means something or nothing. But it means something very significant. When its meaning is explained to the clever freewiller and free worker, he is mortified; and the discovery of his ignorance in the matter does not improve his temper. See Acts iv. 28," For to do whatsoever THY HAND and Thy counsel determined before to be done." In God's hand we see His purpose. The

free-willer will not have it. His imaginary deity works without a purpose-builds without designfights without a plan. Paul was brought in the humility of Christ to bow before the will of a purposing God-to acquiesce in His all-wise counsel-to declare it faithfully according to the revelation of it to his spiritual understanding by the Holy Ghost.

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See!"Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, ACCORDING TO THE GOOD PLEASURE OF HIS WILL (Eph. i. 5). Our God keeps not His secrets to Himself. 'Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, ACCORDING TO HIS GOOD PLEASURE which He hath purposed in Himself" (Eph. i. 9). To the spiritual possession of all that He has purposed God will bring His children. "In Whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him Who worketh all things AFTER THE COUNSEL OF HIS OWN WILL" (Eph. i. 11). His elect and redeemed people are taught and graciously wrought upon, "According to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Eph. iii. 11). Ask the free-willer, Have you obtained an inheritance to which you were eternally predestinated? Do you fall willingly before the declaration of God's truth concerning His salvation by purpose, purchase and power? He will be fit to kick you. He would if the law allowed him. He hates the God of Eph. Ist, and, with all his profession of loving everybody, he would hate you, He could not help it. So thank God for better teaching. David knew that all God's doings are according to His purpose, when He sang, "But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased" (Psa. cxv. 3). Again, "For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did He in heaven, and in earth, in the

seas, and all deep places" (Psa. cxxxv. 5, 6). There God is set forth in His sovereign purpose and works. We may ask, Are we spiritually, scripturally, and willingly, under the hand or gracious purpose of God? If so, we shall acknowledge His sovereign right to do with us as He wills, though our poor nature may murmur and rebel, and according to our carnal judgment we would have the accomplishment of the purpose altogether different. I love that sweet expression of the secret will of JEHOVAH, by Joseph Swain

"When frowns appear to veil His face,
And clouds surround His throne,
He hides the purpose of His grace,

To make it better known."

"THE HAND OF GOD" also means His power. "And His brightness was as the light; He had horns coming out of HIS HAND: and there was the hiding of His power" (Hab. iii. 4). We find it also in David's acknowledgment of God's sovereignty in 1 Chron. xxix. 12, "Both riches and honour come of Thee, and Thou reignest over all; and in THINE HAND is power and might; and in THINE HAND it is to make great, and to give strength unto all." His HAND provides (Ps. cxlv. 16). HIS HAND preserves (Exod. xxxiii. 22). HIS HAND protects (John x. 28, 29). Has the resurrection power of Christ been communicated to us? Then we are willing to submit to the gracious, yet perplexing dealings of our Covenant God in Him. We shall know something of the meaning of the words of the text-" Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God."

II. The command enforced. Peter speaks not simply of the hand of God, but of His mighty hand. The Scriptures abound with this expresssion—“ My power." It frequently occurs in the record of God's judgments in Egypt, and His redemption of Israel