to
appropriate Jesus, it takes a lifetime to be clothed with Jesus. And
the question comes to each of us, have we 'put off the old man with
his deeds'? Are we daily, as sure as we put on our clothes in the
morning, putting on Christ the Lord?

For notice with what solemnity the Apostle gives the master His full,
official, formal title here, 'put ye on the _Lord Jesus Christ_.' Do
we put Him on as _Lord_; bowing our whole wills to Him, and accepting
Him, His commandments, promises, providences, with glad submission?
Do we put on _Jesus_, recognising in His manhood as our Brother not
only the pattern of our lives, but the pledge that the pattern, by
His help and love, is capable of reproduction in ourselves? Do we put
Him on as 'the Lord Jesus _Christ_,' who was anointed with the Divine
Spirit, that from the head it might flow, even to the skirts of the
garments, and every one of us might partake of that unction and be
made pure and clean thereby? 'Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ,' and
do it day by day, and then you have 'put on the whole armour of God.'

And when the day that is dawning has risen to its full, then, not
till then, may we put off the armour and put on the white robe, lay
aside the helmet, and have our brows wreathed with the laurel,
sheathe the sword, and grasp the palm, being 'more than conquerors
through Him who loved us,' and fights in us, as well as for us.

THE LIMITS OF LIBERTY

'So then every one of us shall give account of himself
to God. 13. Let us not therefore judge one another any
more: but judge this rather, that no man put a
stumblingblock, or an occasion to fall, in his brother's
way. 14. I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus,
that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that
esteemeth anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
15. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now
walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy
meat, for whom Christ died. 16. Let not then your good
be evil spoken of: 17. For the kingdom of God is not
meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy
in the Holy Ghost. 18. For he that in these things
serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of
men. 19. Let us therefore follow after the things which
make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify
another. 20. For meat destroy not the work of God. All
things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man
who