Brethren, we live in a day of profession; there is much talk about religion and religiousness. The Christianity of our day hath many Forms and Creeds, much profession; it is a Christianity of various shades and colours, God knoweth; but let me tell you that the essence of all vital Christianity consists in one thing-union with Christ. You have received Christ Jesus, or you have not. And all experimental Christianity consists in one thingrealising your union with Christ. And all practical Christianity consists in one thing - manifesting that union; and all Forms, all Services or Ceremonies, however attractive or plausible they may be, and claiming to be fruits of practical Christianity, are in no sense what they seem, but are samples of mere will worship" and voluntary humility. "Walk ye in Him."

Lastly, our text implies that there is a proportion and analogy between the faith that receiveth "Jesus the Lord," and the fruitfulness, joyousness, happiness, as well as the reality of our walk in Him. "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him." Remember what he had said in vers. 9, 10 of chap. i., "Since the day we heard it (ie., your faith), we do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding: that (in order that) ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God." Observe, it is just as we realise that we have received Jesus Christ the Lord, and in proportion as we do so, we will "so walk in Him," as we have received." If then we are believers in Christ Jesus the Lord, it is both our privilege and also our profession to believe that

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we have received, not only His, but Him. We have received "Christ" in all His offices (oh, for an angel's tongue to tell of them!) Christ our Priest before God for ever; His whole person and fulness and interest laid out in transacting our affairs with God, and God's affairs with our souls. Christ the King, our King in heaven and earth, for "all power in heaven and earth belongs to Him." Christ our Teacher, who has sent the Holy Ghost to teach us, and we have received "Jesus"—in all His relationships-our Brother, while He is our God; our Husband, while He is our King; our Saviour, while He is "God over all, blessed for ever." We have received Jesus. ("His Name shall be called Jesus," because "He shall save His people from their sins.") We have received Him; oh, walk in Him! We have received "the Lord!" If we have received Christ for His offices, if we have received Jesus for His relationships, we have also received the Lord for our obedience; and if we do not obey Him as our Lord, we are not walking in Him as we have received Him. If we are not trusting in Him as our Christ, we are not walking in Him-as we have received Him by faith, so let us walk in Him by faith— if we are not living with Him as our Jesus, we are not walking in Him as we have received Him.

Observe the two figures following by which the Apostle illustrates what should be the characteristics of our walk in Him, "Rooted and built up in Him." Rooted in Christ! How can we speak worthily of such a position as this? We read of "a tree planted by the rivers of water which bringeth forth its fruit in its season," but what shall we say of the living branches planted into Christ, and having their roots in

Christ, our risen and ascended and glorified Redeemer at the right hand of the majesty in the heavens? The branches of this tree of life, contrary to nature, strike not their roots beneath into the earth, but above into the heavens, where Jesus is, and where He bears His fruit downwards over the face of all the earth. "Rooted in Him," receiving all our life from Him, drawing forth all our fruitfulness, all our fragrancy, all our strength from Him; this is to walk in Christ Jesus the Lord, and if we are not so rooted in Him, we are not walking in Him as we have received Him.

He adds, "Built up in Him." Where are we to fix the summit of this building? The foundation stone is laid in Zion, and here we begin by faith to build upon the Rock of Ages; but where is the top-stone to be planted, "built up in Him." Brethren, there are heights in God's love we have never dreamt of; there are songs awaiting us whose melody we have never conceived of; there are "thrones and dominions and principalities and powers" above and beyond what faith and hope and love can grasp. "Built up in Him." To be an habitation of God through the Spirit. "Built up in Him." Here Faith and Hope and Love may build high, and if we are not building high in Him we are not walking in Him as we have received Him.

He adds, "Stablished in the faith as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving;" may it be so with us all. If God has given us Christ Jesus the Lord, He has abounded to us in goodness and in mercy and in truth. If, therefore, we have received Christ Jesus the Lord, let us abound in Him. "Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof,

mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following," that this God. is our God for ever and ever, and He will be our Guide even unto death. Amen.

XVII.

A Vital Question.

"Dost thou believe?"-JOHN ix. 35.

HIS question was proposed by the Lord Jesus

THIS
Christ to a blind man whose eyes He had opened:

"Dost thou believe on the Son of God?"

It is a most important question for ourselves also; and it is absolutely necessary, if we are to serve God here, and if we are to be happy with Him hereafter, that we be able to answer it in the affirmative, and as in the presence of the Lord. It is an individual matter. "Dost thou believe on the Son of God?"

Alas, most people seem to take for granted that they believe on the Son of God! One of the greatest practical difficulties of the ministry is that men do not suspect their own unbelief; and not being happy in their conscience and having no power to live above the world, they naturally think something more is necessary than simple faith and trust in the Son of God, in order to have power for His service here, and assured fellowship and communion with Him both here and hereafter.

Perhaps, reader, you may say, "Why propose this question? Of course we believe on the Son of God!"