A Ribband of Blue | Page 2

is hard to say how
far Satan may not be permitted to carry such a backslider in heart and
life. It is awfully possible not merely to "grieve" and to "resist," but
even to "quench" the SPIRIT of GOD.
We have a solemn example of presumptuous sin in the case of the man
found gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. He was not--he could not be
ignorant of GOD'S ordinance concerning the Sabbath. The gathering of
sticks was not to meet a necessity; his case was not parallel with that of

the poor man who perhaps had received his wages late on Saturday
night, and has had no opportunity of purchasing food in time to prepare
it for the day of rest. To the Israelite, the double supply of manna was
given on the morning of the day before the Sabbath; and as the
uncooked manna would not keep, it was necessary that early in that day
it should be prepared for food. He had, therefore, no need of sticks to
cook his Sabbath's dinner. And the country was so hot that no man
would kindle a fire from choice or preference. His object in gathering
sticks was simply to show, openly and publicly, that he despised GOD,
and refused to obey His holy ordinance: rightly, therefore, was that man
put to death.
But occasion was taken in connection with this judgment to introduce
the wearing of the
"RIBBAND OF BLUE."
GOD would have all His people wear a badge. Throughout their
generations they were to make them fringes in the borders of their
garments, and to put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue,
that they might look upon it and remember all the commandments of
the LORD, and do them, and might be a holy people, holy unto their
GOD, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, to be their GOD.
Blue is the colour of heaven. The beautiful waters of the sea reflect it,
and are as blue as the cloudless sky. When the clouds come between,
then, and then only, is the deep blue lost. But it is the will of GOD that
there should never be a cloud between His people and Himself; and that,
as the Israelite of old, wherever he went, carried the ribband of blue, so
His people to-day should manifest a heavenly spirit and temper
wherever they go; and should, like Moses, in their very countenances
bear witness to the glory and beauty of the GOD whom they love and
serve.
How interesting it must have been to see that ribband of blue carried by
the farmer into the field, by the merchant to his place of business, by
the maid-servant into the innermost parts of the dwelling, when
performing her daily duties. Is it less important that the Christian of

today, called to be a witness for CHRIST, should be manifestly
characterised by His spirit? Should we not all be "imitators of GOD, as
dear children," and "walk in love as CHRIST also hath loved us, and
hath given Himself for us"? And should not this Spirit of GOD-likeness
be carried into the smallest details of life, and not be merely reserved
for special occasions? If we understand aright the meaning of our
SAVIOUR'S direction "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your FATHER
which is in heaven is perfect," it teaches this great truth.
We are to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, not to break
one of the least of the commandments, not to give way to anger, not to
tolerate the thought of impurity, to give no rash promises, or in
conversation to say more than yea or nay. The spirit of retaliation is not
to be indulged in; a yieldingness of spirit is to characterise the child of
the kingdom; those who hate and despitefully use us are to be pitied,
and loved, and prayed for. Then comes the direction, "Be ye therefore
perfect, even as your FATHER which is in heaven is perfect." In the
little frictions of daily life, as well as in the more serious trials and
persecutions to which the Christian is exposed, he is to be manifestly
an imitator of his heavenly FATHER.
Now, GOD'S perfection is an absolute perfection; while ours, at best, is
only relative. A needle may be a perfect needle, in every respect
adapted for the work for which it was made. It is not, however, a
microscopic object; under magnifying power it becomes a rough,
honeycombed poker, with a ragged hole in the place of the eye. But it
was not made to be a microscopic object; and, being adapted to the
purpose for which it was made, it may properly be considered a perfect
needle. So we