truth; we "deceive our own selves." 2. There is something of meanness or unman- liness about them; we" let' I dare not' wait upon' I would."' We allow a craven feeling of apprehension to enter in, to take possession, to prevail over our better self. 3. 'l'here is an element of disobedience and unfaithfulness. We shrink from doing the thing which is our duty to do; we relegate to the rear that which we should keep in the front; we prefer that which is agreeable to that which is obligatory; we obey the lower voice; we leave unfulfilled the will of God. III. THE FATE OF' THOSE WHO INDULGE THEM. 1. To have a very pitiable retro- spect; to have to look back, self-condemned, on work left undone, on a life not well lived. 2. 'l'o lose all that might have been gained by energy and decision, and which has been lost by sloth and weakness. And who shall say what this amounts to in the years of a long life? 3. To miss the "Well done" of the Master, if not, indeed, to receive his final and so1Towful condemnation.-C. Ver. 15.-(See homily on eh. xiii. 24.)-C. Vers. 16, 22.-{See homily on ver. 28.)-C. Vers. 24, 25.-(See homily on eh. xvi. 32.)-C. Vere. 26, 27.-(See homily on eh. vi. 1-6.)-C. Vf!I'. 28.-Tlie ancient landmark. The text clearly refers to the ancient division of property by which the land was carefully marked out, and each family had its own proper share. 'l'he man who removed these boundaries iu his own material interest was simply appropriating what did uot beloug to him. Perhaps" the removal of the ancient landmark" became a proverbial phrase to signify any serious departure from rectitude. It will be worth while to consider- !. WHAT IS NOT FORBIDDEN IN THIS PRECEPT, 1. A change in social customs. It is found by experience that we are all the better for leaving certain usages behind us. Vv e outgrow them, and they become hindrances rather than aids to us. 2. The remodelling of old institutions. The time comes when the old order chnnges, giving place to new, by common consent and to the general advantage. With new methods, new organizations, there may come new life nnd renewed power. 3. The change of religious vocabulary. 'l'here is nothing wrong in putting the old doctrine iu new forms; indeed, it becomes more living and more telling when uttered in the lauguage of the time. Ancient phraseology is to be respected, but it is not sacred; it may and must give place to new. 4. '!'be moo.ification of Christian doctrine; not, indeed, 11, change of" the faith once delivered to the saints "-a departure from" the truth as it is iu Jesus," but such a varying account and statiiment of it as comes with increased light from the study of nature or of man, and with further reverent research of the Word of God. But what is- II. THE WRONG WHICH IS HERE FORBIDDEN. It is all criminal selfishness, more especially such as that referred to-the appropriation of land by immoral means, or the securing of any kind of property by tampering with a deed or other document. It may include the act of obtaining any advo.atage in any direction whatever by means that are dishonourable and 11uworthy. In all such cases we neeo. the ear to hear a Divine, "Thou shalt not." To act thuR is a sin and o. mistake. It is: 1. To disobey the voioe of the Lord, who emphatically denounces it. Especially does God rebuke and threaten the wronging of the poor and feeble because they are such; to do this is to add meanness a.nd cowardice to selfishness ond crime (see vers. 16, 22). 2. To injure ourselves far more seriously and irremediably than wo hurt our neighbour. It ia to lose the favour of God, the approval of our own conscience, and the esteem of the juet.-C.
Ver. 29.-(See homily on eh. vi. 6-11; xxvii. 23.)-0. TRE! PROVERBS. [on. nlII.1-35.