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the candlestick. And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps thereof over against the candlestick, as the Lord commanded Moses. . . And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them. And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purifying upon them, and let them shave all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean. Then let them take a young bullock with his meat-offering, even fine flour mingled with oil, and another young bullock shalt thou take for a sin offering. And thou shalt bring the Levites before the tabernacle of the congregation and thou shalt gather the whole assembly of the children of Israel together: and thou shalt bring the Levites before the Lord and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites: and Aaron shall offer the Levites before the Lord for an offering of the children of Israel, that they may execute the service of the Lord." (Num. vii. 89; viii. 1–3, 5-11.) The importance of the subject we have to-night is evident from the place it occupies in God's Word. We believe that it is not only important to us, but that it is also a subject very near to the heart of God. No sooner was everything set in order in the tabernacle, and the altar dedicated, than Moses went into the holy of holies (anticipating the work of the high priest) to speak with God. Then God spake with him immediately from off the blood-sprinkled mercy-seat, and He spake about two things, and they were these "the shining of the lamps," and "the service of the Levites." Does it not teach us that the shining forth of the light of the Church in this world— the seven lamps of the seven churches—and the service of His people in holy things, are very near to the heart of our God and Father? He thinks and speaks about these a great deal.

The latter of these two subjects is the one which is to occupy our thoughts to-night and on the following days of Conference, and without anticipating that which will be said to us later, I thought it might be helpful to some just to point out two or three features in the setting apart of the Levites for service, as indicating the character of our service as servants of the Lord; and one thing, the service they were to execute was the service of a saved people; the Levites were to represent all the redeemed of the Lord. All Israel were to lay their hands upon the heads of the Levites, thus identifying themselves with them, and, as you know, the Levites took the place of the first

born, who were set apart to God on the ground of redemption. They were servants because they were saved for His service. When you are saved the immediate consequence is that you are saved to service unto God. Another thing is, that they were separated, set apart as a peculiar people, to be "zealous in good works," and to be continually occupied in the service of the Lord. We see then that we are not to take up this service fitfully, spasmodically, or occasionally, but regularly and continually, never going aside from this constant service—set apart for that, and for that alone.

But again they required to be sanctified; not only saved and set apart, but a peculiar formal process had to be undergone in order to fit them for this service. They must be cleansed, the water of purifying must be sprinkled upon them, the outcome of the flesh must be laid aside; they were to wash their clothes, and make themselves clean. Dear friends, ought we not, as we were reminded this morning, to cleanse ourselves in the power of God; and in resting upon His promises, from all filthiness of the flesh to separate ourselves to execute the service of the Lord? Salvation is indeed a necessary prelude, but sanctification by the power of the Holy Ghost is equally necessary if we are to be meet for the Master's use.

Further, the Levites were surrendered; God took them for Himself. If you look at verse 16, "They are wholly given unto Me;" not partly, not half-heartedly, but wholly given instead of the first-born; and again in verse 18, "I have taken the Levites." They were to be entirely surrendered to the Lord; an offering on the part of Israel, and a voluntary offering on their own part. They volunteered loving, whole-hearted service, and such service will be acceptable unto God. For, as in Rom. xii. 1, we are to present our bodies a living sacrifice, which is our reasonable service.

Then in verse 19, "I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron." Oh, how beautiful! they were first given up to God, and then given over to the high priest to execute the service of the Lord in the tabernacle. Seven times in His High Priestly prayer in John xvii. does our Lord Jesus Christ speak of His people as those whom the Father has given unto Him. Oh, how precious must every child of God, every servant of His, be in His sight, when, in making the gift to the Son of His love, He says, "I have given them unto Thee," given them to be Thine to execute Thy service.

Dear friends, may we remember this to-night as we listen to and dwell upon the blessed truths which will be brought before us by our brethren who shall speak to us. There is nothing so precious to the Lord Jesus as the willing service of His redeemed ones. Thus we see, do we not? how near to the heart of our God is this subject which we are to consider to-night. May the Holy Ghost make it indeed precious to us, that we may learn that the service of God is not irksome, burdensome, nor toilsome.

"In the service which Thy will appoints

There are no loads for me;

For my inmost heart is taught the truth
That makes Thy children free.

And a life of self-renouncing love
Is a life of liberty."

Hymn No. 13 was sung

"O Lord, 'with one accord'

We gather round Thy throne."

The following address was then given by the

Rev. CANON WYNNE.

It is recorded of a certain great philosopher, that a friend who went to visit him met the philosopher's little daughter before he met the philosopher himself. Knowing that the father was such a very deeply-learned man, he thought that the little girl must have learned something very deep, something very grave, from such a father, and he said to her, "What is your father teaching you?" The little maid looked at him with her clear blue eyes, and just said "obedience." That was what the

great and wise man taught his little girl, and I believe that is the most important lesson for children to learn-to be obedient. It is a lesson necessary for their happiness, necessary for their safety, and, I think we may say, necessary for their life.

And after all, my dear Christian friends, what are we grown people in this great world, so full of mysteries? What are we but little children-weak, ignorant children? How little we know of what is around us, and of what is before us. How little we know of what may be the consequence even of our own acts. Manifestly therefore the most important lesson for us poor ignorant children to learn is the childlike lesson of

obedience. And it is our Father's wish above all to teach us this lesson-a lesson we are to begin to practise upon earth, and which we are to practise for evermore when we serve Him day and night among the angels; for we are elected and chosen of God "unto obedience," as well as unto "the blood of sprinkling."

So I am glad that it has fallen to my lot this evening to have the great privilege of trying with you to learn a lesson in this principle of Christian service, this great principle of human life. I am glad I can join with you in seeking to learn a lesson in obedience; and nowhere can it be better learned than in the little verse to which our attention has been called, in that very carefully and beautifully drawn-up programme which is to lead our thoughts. The verse suggested there on the subject of obedience is exceedingly helpful as showing us the ground of Christian obedience, and the measure of Christian obedience. "His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it." "Whatsoever He saith." I do believe that in that word "He" we have the foundation of our obedience. “Whatsoever He saith, do it." The mother of our Lord knew who He was. She knew something of the solemn, sacred mystery of His divinity. Through daily intimacy with Him, she knew much of the tenderness and gentleness and sympathy of His human heart; and therefore, knowing who He was, she said, "Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it," sure that whatsoever He said must be the wisest and kindest and best that could be said.

So we see that the great foundation of obedience is to be personal knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Personal knowledge of Him; and this is only another way of describing the various preliminaries that we have heard of before to-day. Conversion of heart, sanctification by the Holy Spirit, love and reverence, are they not all combined in the expression, the personal knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ?

If we do not know the Lord Jesus, if He is a stranger to us, we cannot obey Him. If there are any in this room who are strangers to that Saviour, who have not a personal acquaintance with Him, I cannot say to you, "Go, and obey Him." I am sure you could not do it. You would not have the heart to do it. You would not have the courage and strength to do it. Well, if there should be any here to-night who do not personally know the Lord Jesus, if there should be any to

whom He is still only a name, and not a living Person, a living, beloved Friend, what can we do? Let us for one instant join in prayer for such. O Lord Jesus, reveal Thyself! Make Thyself known by Thy Holy Spirit to each heart. So show Thyself even now, that every one of us here may be able to say, "I know in whom I have believed.".

But when we do know Him, when we know who He is, the great and glorious God, the great Lord of heaven and earth, King of kings, our great Sovereign, to whom our eyes have looked, as the eyes of the servant unto the hand of his master, or as the eyes of the maid unto the hand of her mistress; when we know Him as God and King; when we know Him as our own Saviour, who has loved us, and washed us in His blood; when we know Him as our Friend, our personal and beloved Friend always with us, and more deeply interested in our happiness by far than we are ourselves; when we thus know who He is as God and Redeemer and Friend and Brother -oh, so tender! oh, so near and dear!-when we know Him personally, have we not then the heart, have we not then the desire and longing, to obey? Is there not given to us then the power from on high, that whatsoever He saith unto us, we can go out and do it?

And this suggests to us the measure of our Christian obedience-" Whatsoever." It is a strong word, it is a wide word; but I do think it is a restful word. I think there is great rest in the simple word, "Whatsoever He saith;" that is, what we are to do. Now there is no doubt that it requires often much thought, much prayer, much careful consideration, and shall I say also sometimes common-sense, to be sure what it is that our Lord says. Because you know it is not consistent with our earthly probation that He should in sonie miraculous way tell us in all the details of our life exactly what to do. Sometimes we might wish for this, but it is better for us to exercise thought and judgment and care and reverent study of His Word; and if you do not exercise this care and (again let me say it) common-sense, as well as earnest, loving, prayerful searching of the Word, then let me say, my friend, you will be likely to become that most unreasonable, disagreeable, and unmanageable thing, a fanatical Christian, one who supposes that he is obeying the commands of his God, when he is really obeying, perhaps the morbid scruples, perhaps the superstitious fancies, of his own mind.

C