Institutions and Men.—God wants witnesses who will testify to the world that He is God, the living God. Institutions are good. The ancient tabernacle bore witness for God, as did also the temple built by Solomon. Many church buildings, colleges, hospitals, publishing houses have stood as witnesses for God throughout the centuries. But all these are mockeries unless those who conduct them are themselves living temples of God. The temple at Jerusalem was a great and costly pile, but it was only so much organized brick and stone when possessed by a backslidden and idolatrous people, and it became no longer precious in God's sight when desecrated by human selfishness. When our Lord predicted the destruction of Jerusalem and of the beautiful temple, His heart was not saddened by the destruction of the costly fane, but because His people knew Him not, and by unbelief had shut His presence out of the temple. It is not institutions which God's people so much need as the power of His Spirit. Better for God's cause a thousand times is a John the Baptist crying God's message in the wilderness than a marble temple in Jerusalem, with its thousand robed priests, destitute of the Spirit of God. What God wants as witnesses for Him is consecrated men and women who witness, in word and conduct, to the power of the living God.