HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 2.-" Doing right, but--" It is well, indeed, when iniquity is qualified with some redeeming features, as we a.re thankful to think it often is. A man is ungodly, or cruel, or self-indulgent, or mercenary, but he has something in him which makes him much less condemnable than he would otherwise be. Unfortunately, goodness also is often qualified; of the man concerning whom we have much to say in praise there is something serious to say by way of detraction. Of every good man there may be something to record which is not favourable; but the qualification may be so slight that it is the mere "dust in the balance." Too often it hns to be "written in heaven," and perhaps upon earth also, that he "did what was right, but not with a perfect heart." 'l'here are some- I. DISCERNIBLE DEFICIENCIES IN CHRISTIAN CHARACTER. One Christian man is blame- less in behaviour so far as the main features of morality are concerned, but he is so reserved and reticent, so unapproachable, that he exerts but very little influence. Anoth6l' is very ardent and enthusiastic in the cause of Christ, very open-hearted and open-handed, but he is very irritable and ill-tempered, so that he is a.voided or even disliked. A third is very tender and sympathetic in spirit, with a ready ear and an unselfish con- sideration for every tale of difficulty or distress, but he is very weak, pliant, credulous; no one can attach any weight to his judgment. A fourth is possessed of many of the virtues and graces of Christian character, but he is very weak in some one direction, much too open to temptation of one particular kind, and his friends are always appre- hensive lest he should succumb, and fall quite seriously. These are defects (1) to be pointed out by friends, and to be recognized frankly by those who a.re the subjects of them; (2) to be carefully, conscientiously, devoutly corrected and removed, lest the "gospel of Christ be hindered," lest the Master himself be displeased and dishonoured. But there are- II. Mom;: SERIOUS INCONSISTENcms. 1. In Christian life. It may be that one who has considered himself, and who has been considered, a true disciple of Jesus Christ, falls be.ck, falls down (1) into condemnable self-indulgence; or (2) into an arrogance· of spirit and haughtiness of bearing which are as hateful to men as (we know) they aro offensive to God; or (3) into a lightness and irreverence of tone whic~ cannot fail to be as displeasing to Christ as it is painful to the devout and earnest-mrnded among 304 THE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. (cu. xxv. 1-28.
men; or (4) into a serious selfishness of soul which has no eye for anything but its own personal and passing interests. 2. In Christian work. It may be that one who ~as shown m~ch earnestness in the field of sacred usefulness, either (1) loses all interest m that for which he once thought much and laboured hard, or (2) becomes so opinionated and so peremptory that no one can co-operate with him, and he has to be left alone. He is practically disabled by his self-assertiveness. Now, there is too often found to be- III. O:NE SUPREME MISTAKE. It is that which was probably committed by Amaziah, viz. that of never yielding ourselves thoroughly to the service of God. It is likely that the King of Judah only gave ha.If an heart to the worship of J ehova.h; that his piety was superficial, formal, constrained, essentially and radically imperfect; that he we.s like the young man of the Gospel narrative, who had "kept the commandments from his youth up," but who was never so thoroughly in earnest as to be ready to give up everything to attain eternal life (Mark x. 17-22). If we do not yield ourselves wholly 'i:o our Divine Saviour, we shall find, as we pursue our way, the.t at some important crisis our obedience will be at fault; or our devotion yill fail; or our character will be blemished, and our reputation will break down; or~ shall leave the field e.nd lose our reward (2 John 8). Therefore: 1. Let us realize how great, how supreme, how pre- vailing, are the claims of our Divine Redeemer. 2. Let us offer our hearts and lives to him in full and glad self-surrender. Then shall it not be written of us, that "we did right, but not with a perfect heart."-C.