would have us watch and pray. They are soul-ruining sins. ^'Howcan ye believcwhich receive honor one of another." (John V. 44.) Happy would it have been for the Church of Christ, if this passage had been more deeply pon- dered, and the spirit of it more implicitly obeyed. The Pharisees are not the only people who have imposed austerities on others, and affected a sanctity of apparel, and loved the praise of man. The annals of Church history show that only too many Christians have walked closely in their steps. May we remember this and be wise ! It is perfectly possible for a baptised Englishman to be in spirit a thorough Pharisee.
We see in the third place, from these verses, that Christians must never give to any man the titles and honors which are due to God alone and to His Christ. We are to ^^ call no man Father on earth.''
The rule here laid down must be interpreted with proper Scriptural qualification. We are not forbidden to esteem ministers very highly in love for their work's sake. (1 Thess. V. 13.) Even St. Paul, one of the humblest saints, called Titus '^his own son in the faith," and says to the Corinthians, " I have begotten you through the gos- pel." (1 Cor. iv. 15.) But still we must be very careful that we do not insensibly give to ministers a place and an honor which do not belong to them. We must never allow them to come between ourselves and Christ. The very best are not infallible. They are not priests who can atone for us. They are not mediators who can undertake to manage our soul's affairs with God. They are men of like passions with ourselves, needing the same cleansing blood, and the same renewing Spirit,