IX.

Daily Walking.

MOST men have their daily walk. With the merchant or the clerk, it may be to the place of business in the crowded city; with the village pastor, it may be in visiting his flock; with those who have leisure, it may be for their own recreation. The child of God, whatever his position in life, has also his daily walk. It is named in Scripture more than once,-"Enoch walked with God." "Noah was a just man, and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God."

The idea comprehended in these words is a very marvellous one. In the present state of society, it is not common to see a man of rank walking in friendly intercourse with the labourer, as he goes to his daily work in the morning, or returns from it in the evening. Still more surprised should we be, to see a member of the Royal family conversing along the road with some

ragged mendicant. But what is the idea presented to us in the expression "walking with God"? It is the Creator of heaven and earth in company with one of the creatures that His hand hath formed; it is the King of kings and Lord of lords in close intercourse with a fallen child of Adam; it is the thrice Holy Jehovah walking with one "shapen in iniquity," and stained by countless transgressions. "Lord, what is man, that Thou takest knowledge of him, or the son of man that Thou makest account of him?"

Consider more particularly the thought here expressed.

In walking with God there must be CLOSE INTIMATE FRIENDSHIP. Between two persons who would happily walk together, there must exist a thorough oneness. A cold indif

ference on the one side, or the least ill-feeling on the other, would destroy all its enjoyment. Should there be any cause of strife between them it must be removed; there must be a genuine, hearty reconciliation. "Can two walk together except they be agreed?" Learn, then, the first step in the daily walk of the Christian. It has been stated before, in a previous chapter, but it needs constant repetition, you must be

reconciled to God; you must be at peace with your Maker.

Sin hath raised a great barrier between earth and heaven. A just God threatens with judgment the sin that man hath wrought. Man shrinks from the Judge, whose wrath he fears. Jesus, however, stands forth as the Daysman,the great Peacemaker. He receives in His own person the desert of our transgressions, that we may go free. As the lightning conductor receives the current of fire, and thus it passes over the building harmlessly to the ground, so doth Jesus receive in our stead the fiery wrath which would have fallen upon us, and we are saved.

Thus He brings the sinner nigh. In His name may be found immediate reconciliation. Five long years was David before he would again see the face of Absalom, after the offence which he had committed. Far otherwise is it with our Father in heaven. Not a year, not a month, not a day, not a moment would he bid us wait before we again return to Him, and rejoice in His Fatherly love. Though you be far away, separated from Him as the Poles one from the other, yet, renouncing your sins, through Jesus you are welcome this very day to a place in His heart.

Only Remember your Peacemaker. The men of Tyre and Sidon, we are told, having made a friend of Blastus, the King's chamberlain, desired peace of King Herod, because their prosperity wholly depended upon his favour. (Acts xii. 20.) Shall they not teach us a lesson? Having made a friend of Jesus, the well-beloved of the Father, let us, above all things, desire peace with the Great King; knowing that all our comfort in life, and our hope beyond, depends upon our acceptance before Him.

There must be some degree of SIMILARITY IN MIND AND DISPOSITION. In true companionship there must necessarily be this. In the friendship of David and Jonathan, there was doubtless some strong affinity of disposition, which so closely drew them together. What sympathy has the enthusiastic lover of art, with one who can discern no beauty in the choicest sculpture, or the most exquisite painting? What sympathy has the well-read student, with the man who scorns all books except the ledger? What is there in common between the earnest-hearted follower of the Lamb, and the gay trifler who lives but for the pleasures of the day?

As an illustration of this, is it not often found

that there is more true fellow-feeling between friends than relations? What is the cause of this? In many instances, is it not because in the one case there is the binding link of love to the Saviour, which there is not in the other? Or consider what wretched lives are often passed through an uncongenial marriage. For years a Christian woman had no comfort in religion, no peace of mind, no happiness at her own fireside, and she traced it all to her having married, against her conscience, one who walked not in the way of godliness.

To maintain happy fellowship with God there must, in the same way, be likeness to Him; through the indwelling of the Holy Ghost, His image must afresh be stamped upon the soul. Our God is holy, of purer eyes than to behold iniquity; then, if you be His child, you must follow after holiness and abhor the thing which is evil. Our God is a fountain of love; then you also must dwell in love, and put on bowels of mercies, kindness, and tender charity. Our God delighteth in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression; then you likewise must forgive your enemies, and do good to them that hate you. It is written, "Be ye holy, for I am holy." "Be