our common everyday observations and experiences, that if the Father carE.S, in a very - W -,.1 for tha·aatcw _ad the adornillilllt. (ahow a mother's daily care to feed har birdJi and·t.en.d her flowers), he wifl much more anxiously care for every welfare of his children (see the way of that same mother with her babe). The following line of thought will be readily illustrated. I. Man is a part of God's creation, just as truly as fowls and flowers are, and must be just as fully included in the Creator's daily care. "The eyes of all wait on thee." II. But, if included, man must be included as man, and I\S God knows man, and all his wants, bodily and spiritual, seeing that God created him, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. IIL For God's care-if we are to conceive of it as worthy of God-must be in precise adaptation to each creature for whom he cares. IV. Then we may be sure that God cares for man so far as man is kin with the fowls and the flowers. V. Then we may be sure that God cares for man so far as man is superior to the fowls and the flowers, Remember Mungo Park's reflection when, in a time of utter despair, he found a small moss, and, admiring its root, leaves, and capsule, thought thus: "Can that Being who planted, watered, and brought to perfection, in this obscure part of the world, a thing which appears of so email importance, look with unconcern upon the situation and sufferings of creatures formed after his own image ? Surely not." That reflection inspired new effort, which resulted in Park's rescue.-R. T. Ver. 33.-77ui first object of human pursuit. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness." In a former homily on this chapter it is shown that the kingdom of God is the d,om,, or rule, of God's will. There is a traditional sentence given by Origen, and by Clement of Alexandria, which our Lord might have uttered, for it is very like this authentic passage: "Ask great things, and little things shall be added to you; ask heavenly things, and earthly things shall be added to you." Man is made for God. "What is the chief end of man? To glorify God, and enjoy him for ever." "Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee." In this text our Lord says, "There is one great end and purpose of your being, and that you must voluntarily make your one, first, chief end." There may bo intermediate ends and objects which rightly call for your attention, but there is one which must never be forgotten. You were ma.de for God; to love him, to serve him, to praise him, to live in fellowship with him, to do and to bear his holy will. The true order of our human pursuits should be-first, God ; second, others; third, self. Or, to put it in another way-fir1t, righteousness ; second, duty ; third, pleasure. Or some point and freshness may be gained by ma.king a distinction between the kingdom and the righteousmss. I. Gon's KINGDOH IS THE REIGN OF ms WILL. And that concerns ccmduct, God's will covers and concerns all our doings and relations. II. Gon's RIGHTEOUSNESS IB HIMSELF, And that is character ; concerns character ; stands as model for the moulding of character. Then man's two supreme ends-which are really one-which he must always and everywhere put in the first places, are: 1. God's character-to be like him. 2. God's will-to serve him. It will be a joyful surprise to any man to find how all life goes into place, and everything gets provided for, when he seeks first the kingdom and righteousness.-R. T.
EXPOSITION. -the personal danger of having H (vers. 1, OHAPTER VII. 2), its seriousness as a sign of ignorance and Vere. 1-12.-{2) Ae anxiety about the as a hindrance to spiritual vision (vers. 3-5), things of this life binders us Godwards (oh. eveu though there must be a recognition of vi. 19-84), eo does censoriousness manwarde greu.t moral dift'erences (ver. 6). Grace to (vors. 1-12), our Lord thus taoitly opposing overcome it nnd to exercise judgment rightly two typically Jewilb faults. Censoriousness can be obtained by prayer (vers, 7-11), tlu, 2M TUE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MAT'l'HEW. ,[oli:. vu. 1-29.