January 8

eternal state—to think of appearing before Purity itself—to be resigned and willing to go—to do well what can never be done again—to glorify God—to edify others—to be an example to the last, and above all at the last—"Lord—Lord! increase our faith." "Count us worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of Thy goodness, and the WORK OF FAITH WITH POWER."

JANUARY 8.—"He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of His eye."—Zechariah 2:8.

How admirably adapted to popular instruction and impression is the imagery of the Scripture! It is not taken from the learned sciences, or even from the mechanical arts—unless from their most simple and common operations with which all mankind are familiar: but from the aspects of nature, the seasons of the year, the occurrences of life, and the parts, attributes, and functions of the human frame so fearfully and wonderfully made. Who does not in a moment understand and feel the allusion before us? "He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of His eye."

It reminds us of union. Sin had separated between God and us, and we were once far off. But we are made nigh by the blood of Christ. In Him we are reconciled to God, re-united to God, and become one with God again. And so entire is the connexion, that every kind of intimate union is employed to express it. We are one, as the father and the child, as the husband and the wife, as the head and the members are one—yea, as the soul and the body are one—"He that is joined to the Lord is one spirit"—no wonder therefore that he that toucheth them toucheth the apple of His eye.

It shows valuation. Even a man's selfishness endears this member. The apple of his eye is a source of too much usefulness and pleasure not to be highly prized by him. He would part with a thousand things rather than lose this, or be injured in any part rather than be hurt in this. How precious to the Lord are his people! He calls them His portion, His jewels, His glory. They who attract and attach Him, are not the great but the gracious—"To that man," says He, "will I look, who is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at my word." He "taketh pleasure in them that fear Him, in them that hope in His mercy." "He will rejoice over them with joy, He will rest in his love, He will joy over them with singing."

It bespeaks attention. As a man values the apple of his eye, so will he assuredly take care of it, and endeavour to defend it. And it is worthy of our notice how the Creator has fenced and guarded this little, but inestimably precious member from evil by the fluids and the coats, the lashes and the lids; and with what involuntary quickness nature teaches us to cover and secure it when exposed. Yet all this falls short of the care which God exercises over His people. The apple of the eye is not half so liable to injury as they are; but how superior is their protection! Lest any hurt them, He will keep them night and day. In two places His vigilance is spoken of under the figure before us. In the one it is implored: "Keep me," says David, "as the apple of the eye, hide me under

the shadow of Thy wings." In the other, it is acknowledged: "He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; He led him about, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye." How well kept are those whom God thus keeps! "Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places."

It expresses sympathy. The pupil of the eye is peculiarly delicate and sensible: and it is not necessary to run the point of a knife into it, in order to make the owner shrink. A mote, or, as it is here expressed, a touch, will offend, and instantly affect all his sensation. And is it not said, "In all their affliction He is afflicted?" A friend sympathizes in a friend's sorrow: a mother feels a more sensible interest in a child's suffering. Yet Job says, "My friends scorn me:" and Isaiah says, the mother "may forget" her sucking child, and "not have compassion on the son of her womb." But a man's feeling with an injured member of his body, especially the eye, and the apple of the eye, is not only exquisite, but absolutely unavoidable. And not less certain, as well as tender, is the Lord's sympathy with his people—"He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of His eye." What a source of consolation is here! Especially when we remember that His sympathy is accompanied with boundless wisdom and almighty power. "He doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number—to set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety." "Nothing is too hard for the Lord."

Let the adversaries of His people learn their danger. They hate the godly, and endeavour to injure them; and though their malice is often restrained, the Lord looketh at the heart, and will deal with them according to their intentions, wishes, and endeavours. And He considers them as opposing Himself. "Why," said He to Saul, "why persecutest thou Me?" He did not persecute Him personally, but he was injuring His followers. The head was above his reach, but it felt the wounds he inflicted upon the foot. They who suffer for His sake, may well leave themselves to Him, whose they are, and whom they serve. He will surely plead their cause—"He that toucheth them toucheth the apple of His eye."

Let this encourage us to do any thing for the people of God—He feels it as done to Himself. He "is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have showed toward His name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister." "He," said the Saviour, "he that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth Him that sent me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man, shall receive a righteous man's reward. And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward."

Let His people also learn their duty. They see how He regards them, and is concerned for their welfare—How should they regard Him, and be concerned for His glory? They should feel His cause to be dear to them. They should be sorrowful for the solemn