May 27

En me is thine help. — HOSEA xiii. 9.

I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed; and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see. — REV. iii. 18.

HERE we have a letter from heaven, the last letter from Jesus addressed to men. Every soul has an interest in it. The Laodiceans still live, though their city and church have perished. Observe: 1. He discovers the sad state of the church, "lukewarm," — the worst of the seven, nothing good is said of it. 2. He reveals its ignorance of its miserable condition, supposing itself rich when it was poor and blind and naked. 3. He announces the ignominious fate of such a church, "spewed out" with disgust, as a nauseating lotion.

Let men take warning. Jesus then mercifully offers them the sovereign remedy for all their ills: 1. He counsels them to buy fire tried gold which will make them "rich toward God." This buying is "without money," for it is the riches of Christ, the gift of God. 2. He counsels them to buy white raiment of him to clothe their nakedness. That is the blood-washed robe of his own righteousness. No other garment will admit us to the marriage-supper. Only such can ever "enter through the gate into the city." 3. Finally, he counsels them to anoint their blind eyes with eye-salve, with the illumination of the Holy Spirit, that they may see God and live.

E. S. O. Guerrant

My heart lies dead; and no increase

Doth my dull husbandry improve.

Oh, let thy graces, without cease,

Drop from above.

GEORGE HERBERT.