March 7

Thep shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts. — MAL. iii. 17.

Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. — REV. 3, 4.

THE Sardian Church, nominally alive, was dead. But a few lived righteously, as a few bowed not the knee to Baal in the days of Elijah; as in all times and in all churches, doubtless, a remnant is, in which truth survives to become the seed of future generations of faith. God never leaves himself without a witness.

2. The few, in contact with a body of nominal Christians "who have the name, but deny the power," have been kept by God's grace in their faith. They have been alive to God and his works, — have been letting their light shine so that men seeing their good works have glorified their Father in heaven. Though hindered and stumbling, they have been faithful; though imperfect, they are taught to look toward perfection.

3. Shall followers of Christ stop following him because the church to which they belong dies to spiritual life? The pressure of a tendency will be present to push them down into spiritual sleep. But the grace of Christ is sufficient for them. There is no environment of evil so bad as the environment of God's grace is good. He who is faithful in the midst of unfaithfulness is walking worthily and advancing toward that purity which is moral whiteness and light.

Myron Adams.

Courage, faithful souls and tried, Ye who in his truth abide, Keeping near the Saviour's side!

Ye shall walk with him in white; Ye shall reign with him in light; Ye shall share his glory bright.

R. M. OFFORD.