with Uhrist, and serve, we had better, with him, find out the" publicans and sinners." -RT. Ver. 16.-Moods of 'l"iligious life. The immediate connection of our Lord's words should be noticed. His answer is sufficient for tho occasion, but it carries deeper and wider applications. Whenever the soul is full of the felt presence of God, it can go by itself, in gladness and freedom, without any fa.stings or forcings of will. But when the sense of God's presence is lost, the soul should gird itself up in sacrifice and self- discipline, to win back the lost blessedness. ' I. THE BRIDEGROOM'S PRESENCE, AND THE STATE OF FEELING AND 0ONDU0T BUITADLE TO IT. The disciples had Christ present in human body. We envy them the material realization; it was a bridal-time. And yet the inward sense of Christ's presence is a higher and better thing. (Illustrate from Longfellow's • Footsteps of Angels.') Though we have, as we say, only the spiritual presence of Christ, we are not left with- out both inward and outward signs of the reality of that presence, Inwa'l"d. (1) Rest of soul; (2) freedom from doubts aud fears; (3) communion of spirit with spirit. Outward. (1) Vigour and energy in the efforts to live a right life; (2) pleasure in scenes that help to commnnion with Christ; (3) love of the brethren. What is suitable to the Bridegroom's presence? No mournings; no fa.stings; no forcings of will. The soul is moved freely by inward inspirations. We should feel the "liberty of love; " a quiet, intense joy, finding expression according to disposition. Il. THE BBIDEGBOOll'S ABSENCE, AND THE STATE OF FEELING AND CONDUCT SUITABLE TO 1T. "Then they fast." Illustrate, condition of disciples between Ascension and Pentecost. For us Christ is never absent in fact; he may be in feeling. Though matter of feeling only, we are not left without signs of the absence. Especially in lost impulse to goodness. (Illustrate, failing vitality in the body.) What is suitable to the Bridegroom's absence? Apply to those who feel the Bridegroom is gone, and: 1. Do not even mourn. (Illustrate, John Bunyan's • Holy War,' Mansoul hardened.) 2. Only mourn. M:ansoul sorrowing. 3. Fast as well as mourn. Mansoul putting away its evils, sitting in sackcloth, and sending messages after the lost prince. Are we jealous, as we should be, a.bout keeping ever with us the sense of the Bridegroom's presence ?-R. T. Ver. 16.-New truth in new settings. "They put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved." Oriental bottles are skins of sheep or goats. Old bottles would crack and leak, under pressure of the fermentation of new wine; new skins would expand under such pressure. The old wine-skin of Judaism had become stiffened with age, and even worse stiffened by the efforts of the rabbis to keep it in good condition, Christianity could not keep within its narrow limitations. This is the first reference of our Lord's words; but he illustrates a fact of permanent interest. L NEW TRUTH IS ALWAYS COMING INTO THE WORLD. Practically new truth is. The critical philosopher may question whether such a thing as "new truth" is possible. Truth new to an age is possible. Truth of science may exist, but it is new when it is first brought to human apprehension. And even old truths become new when they are revived after being lost to the world for a while. What may be firmly declared ie that primary truths of morals and religion must be old as humanity. The Puritan father assures us that "The Lord hath yet moro light and truth To break forth from hie Word." But whatever breaks forth will only be new to us. Still, the interest of each e.ge lies in the new truth, scientific, moral, religious, that it may reach. It ill said that so much is now being discovered, scientific and even biblical works that are ten years old are out of the ruillling. Athenians ever inquired for "something new;" modems are well-nigh surfeited with things new. Show in what sens~s Christ brought new truth concerning God e.nd man. Show that the range of truth, many age, seems new when compared with the range of truth in a.jrevious age; though it may be really no more than the uprising into view of neglecte parts of the great circle of truth. II. NEW TRUTH IS ALWAYS CALLING FOB NEW SETTINGS, The teachers of new on. IX. 1-38.J THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTilEW. 101
truth want to express it in their own way. This occasions most of tbe controversies of our time. The conservative among us do not object to the new truth (if it is truth they cannot object to it), but they want it expressed in the terms that are familiar to them. They want the gentleman of to-day dressed according to the age of wigs and buckles. The liberty Christ claimed for himself, and for his disciples, was liberty to get new wine-skins for the new wine. And the modem Christian teacher asks per- mission to put his now truth in appropriate new seUings.-R. T.