The Secret of Unworldliness [pp. 168]

THE LADIES' REPOSITORY.
hour, her own words were sufficiently
forcible to reveal the desolation of her
heart. She survived her husband but a
few months, and I have no doubt she
was well worthy to receive the "silver
slippers" which she had so long and so
earnestly desired.
MERIBA B. KELLY.
THE SECRET OF UNWORLDLINESS.
EPHIBOSHETH, the grandson of
Saul, with whom the king had gra ciously dealt, was at Jerusalem. It was
during the conspiracy of Absalom. Da vid had been driven from the city by his
enemies. Mephiblosheth, though devotedly attached to him, had been obliged
to remain in Jerusalem. The city was
under the sway of a usurper. Most of
the inhabitants had submitted to his rule,
and accepted the new order of things.
Every thing, doubtless, was done to make
men forget David, and to render tlhem
contented utinder Absalom's government,
and the large majority were satisfied.
The condition of Jerusalem, at that
time, reminds us very forcibly of the
present condition of the world,-its rightful Lord and RuLler absent, driven out by
his enemies; a uisturper, the prince of this
world, exercising authority in it: the majority of men submitting to his rule, apparently satisfied, taking very great interest and finding very much pleasure in
things as they are, though they help to
support the reign of evil.
Mephliboshethl, however, at Jerusalem,
held himself aloof from the party of Absalom. He gave no sanction by his conduct to the usurpation. He manifested
no satisfaction with what was then being
done. It wvas no time for him to rejoice,
or to be seeking his pleasure or profit
among those who were doing what they
could to support and prolong the rule of
Absalom. He stood aside and only
looked in sorrow upon what was transpiring there. He could not take part in it
with any zest or joy. He had no heart
for what lie saw around lhim, for his heart
was with the absent David. That was
the real secret of his conduct. He loved
the king, and so long as the king was ab sent he could find no real comnfort and
peace in what was being done at Jerusasalem, for all the chief actors in that
scene were the king's enemies. He could
have no sympathy with them in their efforts. He could not stand by and encourage them. David was absent; that
was the thought uppermost in his mind;
and while the king's exile continued, lihe
could only regard in sorrow what occurred
about him, taking the least possible part
in it, because it was done either without
regard to David, or in opposition to the
interests of his kingdom.
Now Christians in the world are very
much as was Mephibosheth in Jerusalem.
There is much now to awaken worldly
ambition, and to gratify selfish pride and
carnal desire. There are flattering prospects of profit or pleasure or- advancement
in some way, if they will take things as
they are in submission to the God of this
world, and make the most of them.
They can have much of the good that
pertains simply to the world if they are
willing tO act as worldly men act. But
Jesus is absent, banishled fiom the world
as it were, by these same worldly men.
It is only through fellowship with the
risen and ascended Savior that we are
able to overcome the power of this present evil world. We can not find our life
and joy in that inl which he has no part
nor lot. We can not delight ourselves in
the midst of scenes from which Jesus is
absent, and where his presence would
be an unwelcome intrusion. Fellowship
with him will alone enable us to maintain
and exhibit an unworldly character.
i68
[ August.