vine; and so far from desecrating the choice vine by using it for ordinary purposes, even the ass's colt was to be bound to it.

Does not this foreshadow the daily, hourly responsibility of the believer, to do all things in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks? A great temptation of the adversary is, to try and divide the life of a child of God into two distinct portions, one a kind of secular, and the other a religious life. So that on appointed days, seasons, or hours, Christ is sought, and confessed, and worshipped and the Bible becomes the book perused, and the subject of meditation. But except at these times, Christ is neglected; His name is studiously concealed; and the ordinary business of life is conducted, it may be with strict, propriety and integrity, but not with reference to the precepts of the word of God, or to His glory. Not so however, when praise and worship are the great pursuits of the believer; when he realizes his princely calling and standing, as one of that royal line, of whom the Lord Jesus is the Head; and one of that priestly house, over which He is the High Priest.

Judah also washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes. The vine was used and referred to in all his ordinary pursuits in the field. The blood of the grape was employed for cleansing his clothes and garments. The every-day clothes were thus purged, as well as the robes of state and glory. So again the believer finds the daily need of that precious blood, which cleanseth us from all sin: which removes the defilements arising from contact with an evil world without, and from an evil heart within; and which preserves unspotted our priestly robes of purity, so that we have access at all times into the presence of God.

But more than this :-"His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk." He drank so deep of this joyous cup, that his very countenance betokened the effects of it. Alas, how little do men say

of believers now, "These men are full of new wine!" How little do our countenances display the fact that we have been taking large draughts of the cup of salvation! How seldom is the Christian found so exhilarated by the joy of Christ as to be deemed by the world an enthusiast, a madman, unfit for the ambitions and pursuits so eagerly followed all around! "The children of this world are, in their generation, wiser than the children of light." They set before themselves wealth, fame, or pleasure, as the steady object of their pursuit. They toil unceasingly after these vanities. They drink intoxicating draughts incessantly, and determine that to-morrow shall be as this day, and much more

abundant.

These drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, are numerous. But we rarely greet the servant of the Lord, with his mouth full of praise, and his heart full of joy; captivated by that one blessed object, Jesus Christ, and Him crucified; determining to know nothing else; and able to say in truth— "To me, to live is Christ." Where the eyes are red with this heavenly wine, the teeth are sure to be white with the milk of the Word. Instead of the adder's poison being under the lips, these rejoicing saints of God, will like new-born babes, drink that unmixed nourishment so largely, that it flows out at the mouth; and the testimony will go forth for Jesus, which may indeed be despised by the wise and prudent amongst men, but will be mighty, through the power of God, for blessing and salvation to the needy and thirsty around.

The red glorious colour of the Sardius seems to be well connected with the name of Judah. The Lord Jesus Himself is the first to utter praise to God as the result of His baptism of blood. "In the midst of the church will I praise thee." And as we contemplate Him, and taste of His joy, so do we yield to God thanksgiving, and shine forth with something of the beauty of this first stone of the breastplate.

THE TOPAZ. (Heb. PITDAH.)

Abram

MOST writers agree, that this is the gem known in modern days as the topaz, a precious stone of a rich yellow lustre. The derivation of the Hebrew word seems doubtful. On this stone was engraven the name Issachar; the meaning of which is learned from Gen. xxx. 18, "hath given hire, or recompense." This word carries us back to Gen. xv. I. had fought a great battle against the four confederate kings, had rescued Lot, and had retaken all the spoil. That wonderful personage Melchizedek, had met and blessed him; and Abram had lifted up his hand to Jehovah, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, that he would not take from a thread even to a shoe-latchet of the captured booty, lest the king of Sodom should be able to say, he had made Abram rich. It was after these things, that the word of the Lord came to him in a vision, saying, "Fear not Abram : I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward." The word reward is the same as is found in the name Issachar. God is Himself the reward and the rewarder, of faith. His glory is the defence and portion of those who obey with the obedience of faith. The father of the faithful would not touch even the spoils he himself had taken from the enemy; lest in the slightest degree, he should seem to be indebted to the King of Sodom. It had been in the strength of God, trusting in Him, that he had gained the victory: and he would receive his recompense only from God. And large indeed was the recompense, "I am thine exceeding great reward."

The Lord Jesus Himself is the true Issachar, as He is the true Judah. He trusted in God, and has been delivered; having finished the work which God gave Him to do, and glorified His name on the earth. He has received His reward, for which He prayed, John xvii. 5. "And now, O Father, glorify Thou me, with

thine own self, with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.' Having been obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, God has highly exalted Him, and given Him the name which is above every name.

Twice it is recorded by the prophet Isaiah, "Behold, his reward is with him." Isa. xl. 10, and lxii. 11. And in this reward, the Church of God partakes. "The glory which Thou gavest me, I have given them."

To this the Apostle presses forward, as he says, "that I may win Christ, and be found in him." Like Abram of old, the apostle despises wealth, honours, fame, and (what is far more ensnaring) his own self-righteousness; counts all things but loss, suffers the loss of all things, and counts them but dung compared with the glory and beauty of Christ, his prize; his crown of righteousness; his crown of life; his crown of glory; his aim; his goal; his exceeding great reward.

It is said of Issachar: "Issachar is a strong ass, couching down between two burdens. And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute." (Gen. xlix. 14, 15.)

Instead of "between two burdens," this is translated by Mr. H. Craik, "between the cattle-pens." Robertson translates it, "between two hearth-stones." In either case, the idea sought to be conveyed seems to be this : that Issachar, anticipating the goodness of the rest, and pleasantness of the land, (the rest, like that which the beast of burden experiences after the day's toil, when he stretches himself at ease in the home of his master,) resolved, for the sake of this reward, to bow his shoulder to bear, and become subject to servitude. Something in accordance with this is the exhortation (in Heb. iii and iv.) Israel despised the pleasant land, and also questioned their ability to enter and possess it,

because they disbelieved God's promise, and God's help. "Their carcases therefore fell in the wilderness."

God has set before us His own rest. Let us therefore labour to enter into His rest; let us view the pleasant land, the inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away. Let us contemplate the rest, and see how good it is; and let us labour on in faith, assured that God, by the mighty hand of our great Captain of Salvation, Jesus, will bring us safely in and give us that fulness of joy, and those pleasures for evermore which are at His right hand.

THE CARBUNCLE. (HEB. BAREKETH.)

THIS word is evidently derived from a Hebrew root, often used for lightning; and also translated glittering; and designates a stone of a flashing redness. Upon it, Zebulun was engraved. If we turn to Gen. xxx. 20, Leah says, on the birth of this child, "God hath endued me with a good dowry: now will my husband dwell with me, because I have borne him six sons :" and she called his name Zebulun (dwelling.)

Jacob thus prophesies respecting Zebulun:-"Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon." Gen. xlix. 13. And Moses blesses the tribe as follows, coupling them with Issachar :-" Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out; and Issachar, in thy tents. They shall call the people unto the mountain; there, they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness: for they shall suck of the abundance of the seas, and of treasures hid in the sand." Deut. xxxiii. 18, 19. Thus Zebulun, whilst possessing a permanent habitation, was to afford a place of safety for ships, was to go out in order to call peoples to the mount Zion, where sacrifices of righteousness were to be offered. Probably their sucking of the abundance of the seas, and treasures hid in the sand, is an allusion