every m11n that which makes for himself seems stronger, and that which makes for his opponeat seems weaker, than it appears to a disiaterested observer. (3) Whether a case will prosper or not at law depeads on several uacertaiaties; aad eve□ if we have a ri<:1;hteous cause we may be entirely defeated-a brilliant advocate agaiast us will easily" make the worse appear the better cause." (4) 'fhe issue may be such that we shall be impoverished ~ad ashamed. And that which will aggravate our misery will be that we have so foolishly neglected- III. THE WAY OF THE WISE. To go at once to the offender and to state onr com- plaint to him. This is in every way right and wise. 1. It is the way of maaliaess and ·honour. To talk to a third persoa about it is more easy and pleasant "to the flesh," but it is not the straightforward and manly course. 2. It is the way that is becoming. It is not the fitting thiag to disclose our secrets to another; personal aad domestic and ecclesiastical coatentions are hidden by the wise and the worthy rather than made kaown to the world. 3. It is the way of peace; for, in the majority of cases, a very little explanation or a very simple apology at the beginning will set everythiag right. 4. It is the distinctly Christian way (Matt. v. 25, 26; xviii. 15).-C. Ver. 11.- Welcome words. But what are- I. THE WORDS THAT ARE WELCOME. They are : 1. Words that tra.vel ; "worda upon wheels" (literally). They are words that do not "fall to the ground like watei. which caanot be gathGred up again;" but words which are not allowed " to fall to th" ground," which pass from lip to lip, from soul to soul, from land to laad, from age to age. 2. Words that are level with our human understanding; which do not require special learniag, or profundity, or experieace to be appreciated, but which make their appeal to the common iatelligence of mankind. 3. Words that meet our spiritual necessit-ies; that direct us in doubt, that comfort us in sorrow, that streagthen us in weakness, that nerve us in duty, that calm us in excitement, that sustain us in disap- pointment, that give us hope in death. II. THEm COMMENDATION. They are like golden apples in silver cnskets; i.e. the) are things that excite our admiration a.nd bring us refreshment. We do well to admir• the true and wise word; the sayiag or the proverb, the terse, sagacious ntteraace which holds a little world of wisdom in its sentences, is a thing to be admired by us all. Th& man who first launches it is a benefactor of his people. And we do still better to appropriate and employ it; to find refreshment and even nourishment in it. Many i. wise word has given needed strength to a human soul ia the very crisis of its destiny. III. THEIR CULTIVATION. How shall we learn to speak these" words upon wheels" -these fitting, wholesome, strengthening words? They come: 1. From a true heart; a heart that is true and loyal to its God aad Saviour. First of all we must be right with him; only from a puro fountain will come the healing stream. 2. From a kind heart. It is love, pity, sympathy, that will prompt the right utteraace. Where the learned deliverance or the brilliaat bon-mot would eatirely fail, the simple ntteranco of affection will do the truest work, will hit the mark in the very centre. Love is the best inter- preter and tlrn ablest spokesman as we make the pilgrimage and bear the burdens of our life. 3. From a thoughtful spirit. It is not the superficial talker, that discourses upon every possible topic, but rather the mac who thiaks, who poaders n.nd weighs what he knows and sees, who tries to look into thiags, and who takes the trouble to look back and to look onward,-it is he who has something to sny which it will be worth our while to listen to. 4. From practised Zips. We do not acquire this sacred art of wise and helpful speech ia a day or in a year; it is the happy and exquisite product of patient effort, it is a growth, it is a holy and benoficoat habit, it is a thing to be cultivated; we may begia poorly enough, but by eamtst eadeavour we shall succeed if we will only "continue in well-doing."-C.
Vers. 16, 27.-The wisdom of moderation. We can oaly eat a small quantity of honey; if we go beyoad the limit we find out our mistake. Of this, as of nil very sweet things, the words of the grent dramatist are true, that "a little moro than enough is by much too much." '!'his is particularly applicable to that to which it is here referred. J. SELF•PnAIBE. We may go a little way in that direction, but not rar. If we i.96 THE PROVERBS. [err. XXV, 1-28.