body to see liow liberal and cbaritable we arc, and desired tbe praise of our fellow men. We are to sbun everything like display. We are to give quietly, and make as little noise as jjossible about our charities. We are to aim at the spirit of the proverbial saying, "Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth."
In praying, the 2^'i^'inci2Jal object to he sought, is to he alone ivith God. We should endeavor to find some place where no mortal eye sees u^, and where we can pour out our hearts with the feeling that no one is look- ing at us but Grod. — This is a rule wliich many find it very difficult to follow. The poor man and the servant often find it almost impossible to be really alone. But it is a rule which we must all make great efforts to obey. Necessity, in such cases, is often the mother of inven- tion. When a person has a real will to find some place, where he can be in secret with his God, he will generally find a way.
In all our duties, whether giving, or praying, the great thing to be kept in mind is, that lue have to do with a heart-searching and all-lznowing God. Everything like formality, affectation, or mere bodily service, is abominable and worthless in God's sight. He takes no account of the quantity of money we give, or the quantity of words we use. The one thing at which His all- seeing eye looks is the nature of our motives, and the state of our hearts. " Our Father seeth in secret."
May we all remember these things. Here lies a rock, on which many are continually making spiritual ship- wreck. They flatter themselves that all must be rigl^t with their souls, if they only perform a certain amount
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of "religious duties." They forget that God docs not regard the quantity, but the quality of our service. His favor is not to be bouglit, as many seem to suppose,, by the formal repetition of a number of words, or the self-righteous payment of a sum of money to a charitable institution. Where are our hearts ? Are wo doing all, whether we give or i:)ray, " as to the Lord, and not to men ?" Do we realize the eye of Grod ? Do we simply and solely desire to please Him, who " seeth in secret,'' and by whom " actions are weighed T' (1 Sam. ii. 3.) Are we sincere ? These are the sort of questions, with which we should daily ply our souls.