Here we have, in very deed, “the seven lamps giving their light over against the candlestick;” or, in other words, the sevenfold or perfect display of the Spirit’s light in distinct testimony to the name of Jesus. “Why,” said these faithful vessels of the Spirit’s light, “look ye so earnestly on _us_?” No need of the snuffers here!—the light was undimmed. It was, no doubt, an occasion which the apostles might have turned to their own account had they been so disposed. It was a moment in the which they might have surrounded their own names with a halo of glory. They might have raised themselves to a pinnacle of fame, and drawn around them the respect and veneration of wondering, if not worshiping, thousands; but had they done so, they would have robbed their Master, falsified the testimony, grieved the Holy Ghost, and brought down upon themselves the just judgment of Him who will not give His glory to another. But no; the seven lamps were shining brightly in Jerusalem at this interesting moment. The true candlestick was in Solomon’s porch just then, and not in the temple; at least, the seven lamps were there, and doing their appointed work most blessedly. Those honored servants sought no glory for themselves; yea, they instantly put forth all their energies in order to avert the wondering gaze of the multitude from themselves, and fix it upon the only worthy One, who, though He had passed into the heavens, was still working by His Spirit on earth. Many other illustrations might be drawn from the pages of the Acts of the Apostles, but the above will suffice to impress upon our hearts the great practical lesson taught in the golden candlestick, with its seven lamps. We are deeply sensible of our need of the lesson at this very moment. There is always a danger of the work and the workman being more the object than the Master. Let us be on our guard against this. It is a sad evil. It grieves the blessed Spirit, who ever labors to exalt the name of Jesus. It is offensive to the Father, who would ever be sounding in our ears and deep down in our hearts those words heard from an open heaven, on the mount of transfiguration, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, hear ye Him.” It is in the most direct and positive hostility to the mind of heaven, where every eye is fixed on Jesus, every heart occupied with Jesus, and where the one eternal, universal, unanimous cry shall be, “_Thou art worthy_.”