How often among the children of God some principle or line of conduct is brought in, that is inferior in nature to the excellence of that work which is going on in the purpose of God; but which, as long as the power of God is working according to this purpose, does not disengage itself, so to speak, from the work, so as to assume any prominence and produce uneasiness and sorrow. But when this divine stream becomes shallow, in consequence of man’s unfaithfulness, then bitter fruits appear; spiritual declensions, weakness, heart-burnings, divisions, which flow from the impossibility of reconciling that which is spiritual with that which is carnal, and of maintaining a spiritual testimony while conforming to the ways. of the world. But this testimony belongs to the other side of Jordan. The two tribes and a half may follow this course if they will, but we cannot come out of Canaan to join them―alas these beautiful meadows, well suited to feed their flocks, have joined but too many Lots and tribes of Israel to settle in them, to their loss. The shoals that are met with in our Christian voyage may perhaps be safely crossed at high tide; but at low tide, skillful pilotage is needed to avoid them and to float always in the full current of the grace of God in the channel it has made for itself. There is a sure and steadfast pilot, and we are safe if we are content to follow Him. God has given us what we need for this. Perhaps we must be satisfied with a very little boat; but the unerring pilot will be in it.