a brief space of time and then come to the sad record, Demas forsook me, having loved this present world [or age], and went to Thessalonica." (2 Tim. iv. 10, R.V.) This does not of necessity mean that Demas renounced Christ, or became an apostate, but rather that he ceased to walk with Paul in his course of single-hearted devotedness to the Lord. Through the subtlety of Satan, it may be, the eye of Demas was drawn from heavenly things to earthly; and whereas the heart of Paul glowed with love to the Lord, and he held life itself of no account so that he might finish his course, the heart of Demas became absorbed with present things, and Christ ceased to have the place in his affections which He had once occupied. The pathway of the beloved apostle grew steeper and narrower as he neared the end, and it would seem that at some testing point Demas, who had found such companionship irksome, suddenly broke it, and, leaving Paul, took his own course.

There were many, doubtless, who never attempted to walk with Paul; but how sad is the picture of one so walking for a time, learning something of the blessedness of such a life, and then turning from it to pursue other things! But if his forsaking of Paul was sudden, we may be sure that the love of the world which led to it was a thing of growth. The word for world here signifies age, and refers to the moral state of things in the world. Demas had so learnt the truth that Christ "gave Himself for our sins that He might deliver us from this present evil age," as to become fellow-labourer of him who preached it. The cross was planted, so to speak, between him and the age from which it rescued him, and had that cross been kept before the eye "the present age" could never have charmed him. Thus it was with Paul and with Luke; the consciousness of deliverance from the present world had strengthened them to live for the future and to the Deliverer. But in the case of

Demas the present re-asserted itself, his affections gradually became alienated from Christ, he could no longer “endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ," but turned aside to the ease and comforts of this age, and possibly to the gain to be found in the great mercantile city of Thessalonica.

This brief description of Demas furnishes a solemn warning that is by no means uncalled for now. It is a sad fact that in by far the greater part of the preaching of the day no mention is made of deliverance from " 'the present age," and even among those who look to Christ for salvation few indeed profess to know anything of such deliverance. The hope of heaven in the future, as the fruit of Christ's death in the past, is considered by many to be a very good attainment, while a present salvation from this "evil age" is all but ignored. Sad indeed is this, but it is sadder still to see love of this present world creeping in where once there was the profession of being crucified to it by the cross of the Lord Jesus. It is not now fear of persecution that turns aside, but the attractions of things around engage the heart and lead us to live for the present rather than the future. The secret of any such yieldingness on our part is our feeble apprehension of Christ and His wondrous work. We enter but little into the reality of His cross in the past, His priestly ministry for us now, the glory and joy of His second coming, and the account to be given at His judgment seat. Then Luke and Demas, and such as have followed in the steps of either, though partakers of the same salvation as the fruit of the atoning death of Christ, will wondrously differ as to the reward that each will receive.

Let us not overlook the force of the word 66 present." This age is emphatically a present thing; all connected with it—its joys, its glories, its ease, its luxuries, its gains,

all are present, but not abiding, "for the fashion of this world passeth away.” (1 Cor. vii. 31.) We are sent into the world that we may live in it as those who are not of it, that we may glorify Christ, and lay up that which shall abide and be found to our praise in the day of Christ; and His grace is sufficient to enable us to do this.

We have reached the time of year when it is customary with most to think particularly of both the past and the future; and as we review the past many of us must feel that we have been influenced more by the things of "this present evil age," and less by the things which are unseen and eternal, than we could wish. It is a great consolation that God in His wondrous way of grace makes full provision both for recovery and progress. If we are conscious of having lost ground, let us not be content to go back any longer; and if through God's mighty keeping we have not to make such a confession, we shall certainly feel that we have not done all that we might have done, and we may well stir our souls to press onward in the way of the Lord.

The passing from one year into another is a special opportunity given us from God, and is calculated to stimulate us by reminding us how swiftly our brief day of service below is passing. Let us all then seek to yield ourselves afresh to our God, and brace ourselves for obedience and conflict. Let us beware of the alluring influence of the age, let us be on our guard against conformity to it, let us remember that "the kingdom of God is not in word but in power" (1 Cor iv. 20), and that according to our present sowing will be our eternal harvest. W. H. B.

EXTRACT.-No days are lost days in His sight who measures our life by love and not by "labours oft." Bodily affliction is good manure for the soil of love, causing the beautiful plants of patience and long-suffering to bud and blossom. In Grace's prison, the Beloved is our gaoler; He binds us with His golden fetters, and gives us good food.

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LETTERS OF THE LATE MR. J. L. HARRIS.

XIX.

To a young man desiring to be a missionary.

It is my desire in any way I can to be used of the Lord in helping those who are His; and I now address myself in reply to your note. Are you not impatient of the steady application which is needed for a lawful and honourable business, and therefore think you could find relief by going as a missionary or by travelling? I am aware that there may be a great deal of excitement in the ministry of the Gospel, but I am sure that it does not arise from a healthy state of soul. If an honest secular calling cannot be well fulfilled without a measure of drudgery, the ministry of the Gospel certainly cannot; it is aptly compared to the patient labour of the ox, not to the swift running of the race-horse. 'I therefore endure all things for the elect's sake,' said one who knew the ministry as a solemn trust, and who yet had his heart in it. One sign of an Apostle was all patience,' and the exhortation to all Christians is, Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus. Many a young man leaves a lawful calling, in order, as he believes, to give himself to the ministry of the Word, and afterwards regrets it, and finds it has been to the damage and discomfort of his own soul. Such a one does not count the cost, and when his first energy subsides he becomes dispirited. He finds he is not regarded as he reckoned he should be; he may have to contend with poverty and difficulties; he murmurs against others, and frets in his own spirit. The highest of all ministers of Christ worked with his own hands, and lost instead of gaining exaltation among men.

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"It is one of the most sorrowful features of the ministry in our days that it is regarded as a profession, and a profession which is esteemed incompatible with an honest worldly calling.

The ministry is accredited as an office; but where is the demonstration and power of the Spirit? I am solemnly convinced that the ministry of the Gospel, if it be really of the Spirit, will never lead to exaltation or ease in the world. It will bring a man down; so that for real ministry the most solemn conviction is needed in the soul, that it is of the Lord. So far as I can counsel you, I would say, By all means persevere in your present calling. Even to a slave the apostle could say, 'Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.'

"I believe you are occupied in an honest calling, and can abide in it with God. You are yet very young in years, and need stability, and whilst your present tendency to restlessness may be partly owing to natural constitution, I have no doubt of Satan's using it as a temptation; and the word is, 'Resist the devil and he will flee from you.' He would divert your soul from Christ, by kindling in you a desire for change of scene, but there is no new thing under the sun;' that which is really new is to be found in Christ. 'If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.' This is what you need, looking to Christ, living on Christ; and not occupation with yourself and your own feelings; and I am confident that until you are delivered from self by being occupied with Christ, you will be in a restless state of soul. The Holy Ghost glorifies Christ, so that he that is born of God sees a new object-even Christ as the salvation of God.

"There is one other point of most serious importance, I mean the call to the ministry. I utterly repudiate the validity of human ordination of any kind, neither is it in the will of man.' Christ is the direct source of ministry, and the Holy Ghost the only power for ministry; and the only way in which I can recognize ministry is when it is owned and blessed of God. If one goes forth as a missionary, i.e., as one sent, he ought to go forth with the solemn conviction that he is sent of God, although he may well seek the fellowship and sympathy of other Christians. Have you this conviction?

There is,