'Are ye ignorant that all we who were baptised into Jesus Christ were _baptised into His death?_ Reckon yourselves to be _dead unto sin,_ but alive unto God in Christ Jesus. Present yourself unto God, as _alive from the dead.'_ The whole self consciousness of the Christian is to be imbued and characterised by the spirit that animated the death of Christ. He has ever to present himself to God as one who has died in Christ, and in Christ is alive from the dead, bearing about in his body the dying of the Lord Jesus. His life ever bears the two-fold mark: its roots striking in true humility deep into the grave of Jesus, the death to sin and self; its head lifted up in resurrection power to the heaven where Jesus is. Believer, claim in faith the death and the life of Jesus as thine. Enter in His grave into the rest from self and its work--the rest of God. With Christ, who committed His spirit into the Father's hands, humble thyself and descend each day into that perfect, helpless dependence upon God. God will raise thee up and exalt thee. Sink every morning in deep, deep nothingness into the grave of Jesus; every day the life of Jesus will be manifest in thee, Let a willing, loving, restful, happy humility be the mark that thou hast indeed claimed thy birthright--the baptism into the death of Christ. 'By one offering He has perfected for ever them that are sanctified.'The souls that enter into _His_ humiliation will find _in Him_ the power to see and count self dead, and, as those who have learned and received of Him, to walk with all lowliness and meekness, forbearing one another in love. The death-life is seen in a meekness and lowliness like that of Christ. Humility: The Beauty of Holiness XI. Humility and Happiness. _'Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the strength of Christ may rest upon me. Wherefore I take pleasure in weakness: for when I am weak then am I strong.'_--2 COR. xii. 9. 10. LEST Paul should exalt himself, by reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was sent him to keep him humble. Paul's first desire was to have it removed, and he besought the Lord thrice that it might depart. The answer came that the trial was a blessing; that, in the weakness and humiliation it brought, the grace and strength of the Lord could be the better manifested. Paul at once entered upon a new stage in his relation to the trial: instead of simply enduring it, _he most gladly gloried_ in it; instead of asking for deliverance, _he took pleasure_ in it. He had learned that the place of humiliation is the place of blessing, of power, of joy.