Ycrs. I-4.-Brothcrly service in daily life. In a healthy state, our souls should so overflow with love, that every neighbour should be regarded as a brother. If the esteem should not at first be reciprocated, our kindness would soften his asperity and make him a better man. lu the long run, kindness will produce kindness. I. PnoPERTY HAS ITS CARES AS WELL AS ITS ADVANTAGES. Our earthly possessions have many drawbacks, and are always subject to injury and loss. Hence it is wisdom to hold them lightly, and to grieve little over their diminution. This insecurity is an indication of their inferiority. But the possessions of the soul, viz. wisdom, righteous- ness, faith, love, patience, are inalienable. The "things unseen are eternal." II. EARTHLY LIFE IS A FINE FIELD FOR KINDLY SERVICE. The ills and trials which are incident to the present life provide full scope for acth·e sympathy and help. We can scarcely imagine a condition of life in which could be afforded such room for the culture and discipline of the best affections. Every station in life gives opportunity for doing service to others. Every day we hear some new call to duty. We thus train ourselves for higher service. We become more qualified to do good on a large scale, are qualified to rule. IIL :K EGLECT TO SHOW KINDJ\"ESS IS A BIN. 1. It is sin, inasmuch as it is a plain violation of God's command. .As Creator and King, he has a right to make law and to enforce it. 2. It is sin, inasmuch as it is disloyalty to our best feelings. The instinct to show kindness is a 1iart of our constitutional nature. 3. It is sin, inasmuch as it consciously allows injury to be done. The ox or ass that J:iis wandered to-day, will have wandered further (if not recovered) to-morrow; may be irrecoverable then. The gold that is not occupied rusts. To hide our light,. under a bushel is sin. IV. GENEROUS KINDKESS IS HORE REMUNERATIVE 'l'HAN SELFISHNESS. Generous and self-forgetful kindness brings returns of blessing to the soul. The treasury of the heart is enriched. We gain W(•alth that is imperishable. We obtain a good name among men, and live in their affectionate memory. We secure, in ·some measure, the favour of our God. We are in truth, by kindly service, laying up large store of good for coming days. " Blessed is he that considereth the poor; the Lord will deliver him in the time of trouble. The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive."-D.
Ver. 5.-.&gainst deceptiona in dreu. TrutLfulness in act is as needful as truthful- ness in spetch. OL1r very dress is a manifesto of truth or of falsehood. God hau err. XXII. 1-30.J THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY.
stamped a visible distinction in the appearance of the human sexes, and it is fraudulent to obli tcrate them. I. SIN OFTEN IlODEB ITSELF IN A FOREIGN GARB. If sin always appeared in her true lmbits, but few would court her society. It is her plan to put on a false appearance. Vice usnnlly succeeds because she wears the semblance of virtue. It is the policy of the devil to hide the real nature of sin. Her native blackness would alarm many, if it were seen. 'I'he felon flatters himself that it is all fair game. Murder is palliated as just revenge, Profligacy is defended as the impulse of nature. U nchastity paints her face, and robes in others' dress. II. 'l'HE SLIGHTEST APPROACH TO BIN BIIOULD BE SHUNNED. The Bible nowhere frowns on innocent merriment. But frolics, that lead to sin, are to be branded as detestable. A wise captain will give a wide berth to perilous quicksands. We cannot keep the sparks too far away from a cask of gunpowder. It is wise to close both ears to the bland voice of tho guilty enchantress. Avoid the first step of temptation. III. DECEIT IN ANY FORM IS DETESTABLE DEFORE GoD. We cannot too highly value a true standard in moral conduct. 'Tis more precious far than a standard for purity of gold or for correctness in speech. Such a standard God has furnished us in his own feelings and judgments. Pretence of any kind is as smoke in his eyes. He is light, faithfulness, and truth. To be tr~nsparent, candid, straightforward, is to be Godlike.-D.
Vers. 6, 7.-God's care/or birds. God's tender care extends to microscopical insects. Nothing is too minute to escape the notice of his eye. "Not a sparrow falls to the ground" without attracting his regard. In proportion as we become conformed to God's image, we shall cherish tender feeling for every living thing. I. FoR MAN'S GOOD BIDDS LIVE AND BREED. They please the eye with their gay plumage. They regale our ears with pleasant song. They furnish our tables with food. '!'hey teach us lessons of cheerful trust. Devoid of anxious care, they daily feast upon tho Divine bounty; and a ray of sunshine is repaid with melodious song. They fulfil a mission as the teachers of mankind. To birds we are indebted for considerable pleasure. For us they live : be ours no wanton cruelty. II. IN THEIR MATERNAL CARES THEY APPEAL FOR GENTLE CONSIDERATION. We may wisely learn a lesson from their maternal affection, from the exposure of their own lives to defend their young. It will foster tender feeling in us to observe this self-forgetful- ness in mother birds. But to take advantage of this self-exposure-this noble defence of their offspring-for the purpose of capturing the parent, will deaden and demoralize our own sensibilities. We may furnish a meal for our bodily appetite; but we shall at the same time injure our nobler parts, strangle our nobler feelings. III. FUTURE PROSPECTS ARE TO BI!: PREFERRED TO PRESENT PLEASU1!E. It is a short- sighted policy to ·use for present need everything within our reach. It is wholesome discipline to deny one's self now, in the hope of greater future goo~. The farmer fore:;oes the sale or the use of his grain, that be may have wherewith to sow his fields in the coming season. So to spare the life of the parent bird is to secure in return many other lives A source of future profit should not thoughtlessly be destroyed. Self- restraint is an exemplary virtue.-D.