greet difference, e. very large distance. We stimd somewhere along this line. But where? Near the starting-point or near the goal? It is a question of grave conse- quence. Not only because it is most desirable for our own sake that we should reach the highest attaine.ble point of heavenly wisdom; but also, and principally, because the extent of our knowledge of God and of his truth is the measure of our power to influence and bless our fellow-men. A man who is learning daily of God is a man who is daily gaining power to teach and help his brethren. Therefore have the ear to hear, the mind to understand, the spirit of reverent, earnest docility. Learn of the written Word, of the human ministry, of Divine providence, of the discipline of life. Morning by morning be receptive of the truth which the Father is desirous of teaching; let no day pass on which something more of holy wisdom is not treasured in the mind, is not hidden in the heart. II. THAT WE SHOULD STUDY TO BE HELPFUL IN OUR SPEECH. Some men speak as often to wound as they do to heal, to disturb and distress as to comfort and to cheer. Immeasurable is the opportunity we possess in the way of rendering help by simple but kindly speech. Not by e. few elaborate endeavours, but by a multitude of friendly utterances, unchronicled and unconsidered, do we benefit and even bless our kind. To comfort the sad, to cheer the weary on their hard way, to guide the perplexed, to help the wavering to a wise decision, to ~trengthen those who are ready to faint in some field of holy usefulness, to whisper Christian hope in dying ears,-this may satisfy the ambition of the good and wise.-C. Vere. 5-10.-Signs of faithful service. Whether this is intended to point to the Person and work of the Messiah, or to that of some living prophet, it treats or the faithful servant of God; it is applicable to any one among us "that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant" (ver. 10). We find here marks of fidelity in holy service. I. COMING INTO THE SHADOW OF PERSECUTION. ·In doing this the faithful one: 1. Follows in the train of the noblest men of ancient time (Matt. v. 12). 2. Treads in the footsteps of the Divine Master (Matt. xvi. 24, 25; x. 22-25). 3. Takes the necessary consequence of his faith[ulness. For the man who fearles~ly speaks the truth, and unwaveringly follows the example of Christ, must come into conflict with the error and the evil which is in the world. He must (L) teach that ~gainst which the pride of human intellect will rebel (Mark x. 15; 1 Cor. i. 23; ii. 14; iii. 18); (2) 1,ay and do things which reflect upon the habits of men; (3) take up positions which militate against the temporal interests of ruen (see Acts xix. 25). It is still true, though the provocation and the resentment take different forms in our time, that "all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Tim. iii. 12). II. RESOLUTELY PERSISTING IN THE PATH OF FAITHFULNESS. Not "turning away back;" "setting our face like a flint "-immovably determined to go on in the direction in which truth is pointing, to which God is calling. "None of these things [neither bonds nor afflictions] move me," is the langue.gc of Christian fidelity (see Acts xx. 24; PhiL i. 20). III. FINDING REFUGE IN GoD. '' The Lord God will help me; and I know tbe.t I shall not be ashamed" (ver. 7); "He is near that justificth me" (ver. 8). Let him the.t obeyeth and wulketh in <larkness trust in the Name of the Lord, e.nd stay upon his God-upon his near presence, upon his parental pity, upon his upholding grace, upon his overruling, victorious power, which will make truth &nd righteousness to triumph in the end.-0.
Ver. 11.-Ineffectual light and guilty dadmess. These words a.re not e.pplicable to those who have had no special privileges, and to whom there has been no alt~rnative but that of groping their way in such light e.s they could gain from their own reason and from the conclusions of other men. They apply to those only who will not we.lk in the light which is offered them. There are- I. THOSE WHO BEEK NO DIRE0l' ILLUMINATION IN THEIR CHRISTIAN COURSE. If we would order our Christian life according to the will of our Divine Master, we must not content ourselves with regulating our de.ily conduct by the mles and maxims which are current in the circles in which we move, or by the notions of propriety we hnppen 254 'IHE BOOK OF 'l'HE PROPHET ISA.IA.H. [ou. L.1-11.
to have formed from our elders and associates. We are bound to ask and to consid11r what the will of Christ is, as revealed in his Word and as illustrated in his life; and we are bound to seek the illnmination of his Divine Spirit. Otherwise, we shall walk along a very much lower lev~l than o~r Lord intended us to take. .And though wo be not finally condemned, yet will the time come when we shall awake to our grievous error, and be afflicted with a profound regret. II. THOSE WHO PERSIST IN CO~STRUCT!NG THEm OWN THEOLOGY. God has revealed himself to us in Jesus Christ; in him and throuub him we know bis nature his dis- position, his will concerning us; we know the way°by which we can reuain his favour return to bis likeness, ascend to bis home in heaven. Dut there are th~e who will not learn and live; who proudly turn away from the Teacher that came from God to tell us of the holy Father of man. They prefer to construct their own theology; it is an utterly unsatisfying one; it is not the Dread of life, but the ashes of disappointment. And they pay, in a great and awful privation, the penalty of their fully and their sin. III. THOSE WHO WILL NOT LEARN FROM Goo TIIE MEANING AND THE WORTH OF HUMAN LIFE. What are we here for? Can anything be made of the mortal life we are living? Is everything vanity? May we treat our life as a game to be played out· or as a mart where all things can be turned into money; or as a selfish scramble U: which the strongest and swiftest secure the best prizes? There are many that say, "Who will show us any good? Life is not worth living." They walk in the light of the poor sparks their own wit bas kiudled. They will "lie down in sorrow; " they will come to mourn their great mistake, to reproach themselves for the greatness of their folly, the seriousness of their sin. For all the while that they were cynically dismissing their opportunities, there was shining on their life the light that comes from heaven. Christ was inviting them to make of their earthly life a holy sacrifice unto the living God, a noble and valuable service to their fellow-men, a time of pure ano. sacred joy, a discipline that would train the docile and obedient spirit for a broader sphere and a brighter life in a higher kingdom.-C.