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active in these days. Indeed, as we take part in the Lord’s

supper in the morning He would bring that to bear upon us

distinctly, arousing something within us which may not have

been there before by the way of simple, devoted, affection for

Him—a simple point which the youngest here can understand,

that the Lord Jesus has given so much for us, and He is

asking for something in response from that heart of yours.

How worthy He is of it! You will not be deceived as to the

momentous character of what is presented to us in the Pauline

discourse; the great point of the moment among the people of

God is Christ and the assembly. You may say, ‘I do not

understand it’. The Lord will help you to understand it, and to

see that here is a clear issue as to what enters into Christianity

at the present time, so near the return of the Lord.

So Paul enfolds him in his arms. Oh, for arms

like Paul’s, dear brethren, among us in our several localities!—

someone with an embrace like the embrace of Paul which

became so effective in this case, and will yet be effective in

many a case. Then he said, “Be not troubled, for his life is in

him”. I think that is the point—“his life is in him”. It is the life

that is the point. Where is the life of this young person? I

speak sensitively for I know something about it. Where is the

life of this young person? Dear young brother or sister, there is

a great realm of life in holy activity among the people of God,

the fellowship of God’s Son, and your life is to have the

character of the life that prevails there.

The Lord would have it so; those who love Christ would have it

so, and would seek to give you something of the Pauline

embrace which can become so effective in a case like this.

The matter is concluded; the breaking of bread is completed.

Paul goes away, and they brought away the boy alive—such a

positive outcome from a matter which might have seemed at

first to have been of an irretrievably damaging character. I am

sure this is recorded for us to encourage us in these closing

moments to stand by the mystery of God “in which are hid all