living thing. 'Even Christ pleased not Himself.' Let us in this respect be His
Truth is made light of. The Church's testimony for God and for His truth is denied, and she is regarded as a mere literary institution for fostering speculation and free thought. Such she was not in the Father's purpose. She was to be the witness for God on earth; and if she failed in her testimony she became useless, and was to be branded as a liar,—one of those of whom it written, that 'all liars have their portion in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone.' (7) I know thou hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.—This is, so far, a repetition of the previous commendation. Endurance, patience, unfainting toil for Christ's name,—these are the features of the Ephesian church. She was not what she once was; yet she has still a high place and a noble name for selfdenial and self-sacrifice. She still bears her cross, and follows her crucified Master. She is not slothful, nor easy-minded, nor luxurious, nor selfpleasing; she is still an earnest labourer in the vineyard, bearing the burden and heat of the day. She had, amid much declension, upheld the truth given to her. She had proved herself a faithful witness or testifier. She had not let go the form sound words. For this the Lord still honours and blesses her. He is jealous of His truth; hates all departure from it. For what is truth? It is the embodiment of Himself, whose name is the truth, and who is the witness for the truth sent by the Father. 1. Learn self-denying Christianity.—Not the form or name, but the living thing. 'Even Christ pleased not Himself.' Let us in this respect be His true followers; bearing burdens for Him; doing work for Him; submitting to the sorest toil for Him; not grudging effort, or cost, or sacrifice, or pain; spending and being spent for Him; abjuring the lazy, luxurious, selfpleasing, fashionable religion of the present day. A selfindulgent religion has nothing in common with the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ; or with that cross of ours which He has commanded us to take up and carry after Him, renouncing ease and denying self. Our time, our gifts, our money, our strength, are all to be laid upon the altar. We are to be 'living sacrifices' (Romans 12:1)