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among the assemblies. There is a time to embrace and a time

to refrain from embracing. The Lord give us wisdom to have

our affections divine controlled.

The next feature is that His head and His hair were white like

wool, as white as snow. This suggests maturity, length of

days. There is need of experience, the novice is disqualified

for matters of rule. It is not merely age; a brother of seventy

may have little or no experience while one of thirty may have

much. The Lord was the “Ancient of days” (see Daniel 7: 9).

But the expression also suggests the general idea of

experience. How we may well pray that in the various local

gatherings there may be raised up those prepared to take up

the burden of things and qualify by experience to act for God.

If not habitually exercised as to the discernment of good and

evil we shall not be able to deal with these matters. To do so

requires men of godly experience, men grown up in their

places. The wider the experience the wiser the man. The Lord

was the “Ancient of days”. His knowledge of all was perfect.

But as I have said the figure also suggests experience.

The fourth feature is “His eyes were as a flame of fire”. I would

say even to the young ones.

Do not be afraid of those eyes of fire, do not shrink from that

searching gaze. We shall not if we are established in grace, for

all exposed has been removed at the cross. Psalm 139 begins

with “Thou hast searched me”, but it concludes “Search

me, O God”. He knew all our hearts long ago. Grace gives us

to welcome the fact that He looks and knows perfectly. But

then though grace gives us to welcome that holy gaze. He

cannot tolerate evil—all is exposed and the Lord will not hear

us if we are regarding iniquity.