July 30

1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee; behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:

4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses.

5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

6 By pareness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned.

7 By the woe of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;

9 As unknown, and yet well known, as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;

10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich, as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

11 O'er Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.

12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own cowels.

13 Now for a recompense in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.

14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers, for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

15 And what concord hath Christ with Behal? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God, as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

A Christian must be separated. In him should be verified the prophecy of Balaam: "Israel shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations."

There can be no consecration without separation from. "A garden enclosed (Hebrew word 'barred') is my sister, my spouse," saith the Heavenly Bridegroom.

"Be not glued to the world. Let not the world be like the skin on the hand, that will not easily come off; but like the glove on your hand, or the hat on your head, that you can easily part with."—Ralph Erskin.

"A Christian is like Jacob's ladder; while his body, that lower part, stands on the ground, the top, his higher and better part, is in heaven. He that hath the living waters of Jesus flowing in his heart, is mad if he stoop to the puddles of vanity, or seek content in the world. Yea, such a one will scarce descend to lawful pleasures, but for God's allowance and nature's necessity; and then but as the eagle, who lives aloft, and stoops not but for her prey."—Adams.

Closet Promise.—I am my Beloved's, and His desire is toward me.— Sol. Song vii. 10.

"Blessed is he that understandeth what it is to love Jesus, and to despise himself for Jesus' sake.

"Thou oughtest to leave thy beloved for the Beloved; for Jesus will be loved alone above all things.

"Thy Beloved is of such a nature that He will admit of no rival, but will have thy heart alone, and sit on His own Throne as King."—Thomas A Kempis.