to to.ke much tronble, to "put ourselves quite out of our way," in order to convey this; it is one of the friendliest of friendly acts. 2. Society in loneliness; the kinclly visit paid to the solitary, a conversation (however brief and simple) with those whose hearth is uncheered by companionship. 3. Encouragement in depression. The l)eart often aches and hungers for a word of cheer, and ono very short sentence may lift it up from depths of disappointment and depression into the bracing air of hopefulness and determination. 4. Sympathy in sorrow. Grief does not crave many or line words; it asks for genuine sympathy-the "feeling with" it; if it has this, it will gratefully accept any simplest utterance in word or deed, and will be comforted and strengthened by it. Real sympathy is always the acceptable thing. 5. Guidance in perplexity. When we do not know which way to turn, then the brief word of direction from one who has "gone that way before us" is valuable indeed. There is no kinder friend than the true and faithful guide. If we would take our part well and be to our brethren all that it is in our power to become, we must study to do the congenial and acceptable thing. The man who has acquired this art is worthy of our admiration and our love ; we arn sure that he will not go without our Master's commendation; for is it not he who is feeding the hungry, and giving the thirsty to drink? is it not he who is clothing the naked and healing the sick? While we do these two things, should we not also- III. BE PREPARED FOR EVERY POSSIBLE CONDITION? We may be sure that uncon- genial and congenial things will be said to us, timely and untimely attitudes will be taken toward us; some men will aggravate and others will heal our spirits. The wise man will see to it that he is (1) rooted in those principles which never change but always sustain; (2) has his strength in the One "with whom is no variableness nor sho.dow of turning."-C. Ver. 21.-The true triumph. (See homily on eh. xxiv.17, 18, 29.) To the truth on this subject there affirmed, may be added the consideration that to return good for evil is the true triumph; for- I. To DE AVENGED IS REALLY UNSATISFACTORY. It is, indeed, to have a momentary gratification. But of what cho.racter is this satisfaction? Is it not one that we share with the wild beast, with the savage, nay, even with the fiend? Is it one that we can approve in our calmer hour, that we can look back npon with any thankfulness or pure delight? In fact, it is to be really and inwardly defeated; for we then give way to a malevolent passion-we are" overcome of evil" instead of overcoming it. We allow thoughts to enter our mind and feelings to ho.rbour in our heart of which, in worthier moments, we are utterly asho.med. II. To ACT MAGNANIMOUSLY IB THE VICTORIOUS THING. 1. It is to gnin a very real victory over our self, over our lower passions. 2. It is to win our enemy. To make him suffer, to wound him, to damage his reputation, to cause him serious loss and injury,-that is a very poor thing indeed to do. Any one is, in a moral sense, equal to that; mere mo.levolence co.n do that and can be at home in the act of doing it. But to win an enemy, to turn his hatred into love, his contempt into esteem, hie cruelty into kindness, his hostility into friendship,-that is to triumph over him indeed, it is to "heap coals of fire upon his head." III. To ACT MAGNANDIIOUSLY IS TO ACT DIVINELY. For it is: 1. 'l.'o carry out II Divine commandment (text; Matt. v. 43-48; Rom. xii. 14, 19, 21). 2. To act as the Divine Fo.ther does, o.nd as Jesus Christ did when he was with us (Matt. v. 45; Luke xxiii. 24). 3. To receive a Divine reward (text). God will bestow a bountiful, spiritual blessing on those who thus resolutely keep bis word, gain dominion over themselves, bless their neighbour, and follow in the foot~teps of their Loru.-C.
Ver. 26.-{See homily on eh. xxvi. 1.)-C.
Ver. 28.-(See homily on eh. xvi. 32.)-C,
1'110VER:t8, 2 1t 499 THE PROVERBS. [cm. xxn. 1-28.