brethren, and to whom we must give account of our use of what he has entruste<l to ue, As our Father, who desires that we should resemble him, and thus at 0nce prov? our sonship and do honour to hie Name (E,eh. v. 1, 2), 2. The lo11e rf Jmis Ohrisl to us, and the example he has _qiven us, (2 Cor. v. 14, 15; viii. 9.) 3. Our professions of seif-devotement. 4. The good of others. 5. Our own goo,[. A life of eelf-dedicatio_n is the true, tbo n?ble~t, th? happiest life.. We ~row in all that is good by the practice of good. Our be10g 1s enriched, our happiness increased. "It is nwre blessed to give than to receive" (Acts xx. 35). We have now the testimony of a croocl conscience, which is the witness of God's approval. We shall hereafter be ack;ow- ledged and rewarded by him. In devoting ourselves and our substance to him, we are laying up treasures in heaven (Matt. vi. 20), which will reappear transfh;ured, for our everlasting enrichment. Good done to otherd as unto the Lord will be reckoned and r~warded as done to himself; good withheld from them, as withheld from him (Matt. xx·v. 34-45). Faithful service now will issue in larger and higher service hereafter (Luke xix.17, 19). 'fhose to whom we have ministered on earth will welcome us into heaven (Luke xvi. 9), and our eternal glory and joy will be increased by knowing how much we have contributed to theirs (1 Thess. ii. l\J),-G. W. Ver: 13.-Getting a name. "David gat him a name." There appears to have been something special in the campaign against the Syrians (or rather Edomites, 1 Chron. xviii. 12), and in David's part therein, which rendered his victory peculiarly signal and memorable. Hence he obtained an honourable "name;" his reputation and lame were greatly increased. A large proportion of the names that men have won have been gained in war. But others more honourable have been obtained by the arts and victories of peace. Most to be valued are those acquired by eminence in goodness and usefulness. I. N,1.MEB WORTH GETTING. 1. A good name-a reputation/or what is good. Better than a merely great name. Some names, widely known and for centuries, are so much infamy. Better be totally unknown than have a name for ill-doing. All may have some reputation, though in a small circle and for a brief period, for sincere piety and Christian excellence; for unselfishness, benevolence, activity in doing good, liberality, self-denial in helping others, meekness, humility, Jong-suffering, patience, and the like. And such e. name is more to be desired than riches (Prov. xxii. 1), infinitely more than a great name which has been obtained by unscrupulous ambition. 2. A good name which arises from and represents reality. A mere name conferred through ignorance or flattery, or assumed and pushed into notice to gratify vanity or secure gain, is utterly worthless, and worse than worthless. So it is with a mere name for wisdom, or learning, or liberality (IBB. xxxii. 6), or public spirit, or philanthropy; worst of all the name which a hypocrite sometimes gets for sanctity. How withering the reproach addressed to the Church at Bardis, "Thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead" (Rev. iii. 1) I II. THE VALUE OF A GOOD NAME. 1. It is a jwt source of satiifaction to ourselves, when our own consciousness testifies to its substantial truth. The good opinion of others, especially of the good and discerning, is part of the reward of goodness. It is one of the ways by which God expresses his favourable judgment of us. 2. It sustains and stimulates in the course of conduct from which it has arisen. We are influenced by it to strive more and more to be worthy of it. 3. lt is adapted to do good, to others. It attracts attention to the excellence it designates, and may lead to imitation. It awnkens confidence in those who have won it, which gives force to their instructions or admonitions, and it gives them in other ways greater influence for good. On all these accounts it is a heinous sin to injure or destroy another's deserved good name by slander. III. How IT SHOULD BE SOUGHT. It should scarcely be sought at all. The way to obtain it is, not to seek it, but to practise the virtues from which it arises. 'l'o seek it is to set our hearts on the approval of men, which is perilous. Let us labour to be accepted of God, and he will take care of our reputation among men, so far as it is good for us and adapted to honour him and benefit our fellow-men. "It is a very small thing to be judged of man's jnilgment. . . . He that judg;ctc. us is the Lord" (1 Cor. iv. 3, 4). A.t the rnmo tillle, for the rel\Sons given under division II., we should not needlessly defy 240 THE SECOND. BOOK OF SAMUEL. [olI. IX. 1-13,
or sacrifice the good opinion of others, though we ehould willingly do 10 when fidelity to truth and God requires the saorifice. In conclusion. The grandest instance of getting a name is that of our Lord and Saviour. By his aelf-bumiliation and self-sacrifice, in love to us and obedience "unto death, even the death of the cross," be obtained "a Name which is above every name," u well in its significanoe as in itll power with God and men (Phil iL G-11).-G. W.