almost always goes greater lengths in sin tha.n he went in the ea.rly sta.ges. Every relapse is more dangerous than the disease. "It Is quite possible tha.t a ma.n who has conquered some old vice or besetting sin may, as a reformed man, pass under the dominion of spirits who are far more plausible and no leBB evil than the one he has subdued. Instead of one coarse spirit, think of eight mbtle intellects crowding into a man's soul."-B. T. Vere. 49, 60.-Bplritual relatiooships. There is difficulty in ascertaining the precise relationship to Christ borne by the persona called "his brethren." They were what we should call "blood-relations," but they may not have been either children of Joseph before his marriage to Mary, or children of Mary born after the birth of Jesus. Tha term ta known to have often included cousins, and cousins of different degrees. Tha point we want is that they came, claiming Christ's special attention, because they were blood-relations. I. FAMILY nELATIONBHIPS LIE ON A LOW PLANE. Only low comparatively. Until compared with spiritual relationships, it seems to be a very high plane. We regard as morally most valuable the influence and mutual service of family relationships. It is not possible to think of Christ as failing to recognize family ties. They altogether fail in imagination, insight, and spiritual sensitiveness who think our Lord's answer was rude, harsh, and unfeeling. Pulsford says, very suggestively, "A man's relations are as distinct as are his own flesh and spirit. His blood-relatives are often not his spirit- relatives. Blood-relations are of time and for time; kindred spirits are of eternity and for eternity. Natural life has its own associations, and Divine life its own. When the Divine life is quickened ln a man he enters into a new world of relationships. And in proportion to the reality and fervour of his new life will be his attachment to his new kindred, and his power of attaching them to him." II. SPIRITUAL BELATIONBmPB LIE IN THE mGHEB PLANE, BUT ABE WELL BEPBE- BENTED BY THOSE IN TBE LOWER PLANE. "It was as if he had said, 'Truly she is my mother, and they are my brethren; but in the higher life,not alone the one who reared me, but every one who is like her is mine. Not alone the gentler companions of my childhood are brothers and sisters, bnt all who have pure and large hearts. For all true relationship springs from moral states, and not from the mechanical arrangements of society. God is the one Father, and all men become intimately related to each other in proportion as they are intimately related to God'" (Beecher). It is a happy thing indeed when one's near relatives in the flesh are also real relatives, kindred souls, one with us in the love and service of the risen and living Lord.-R. T. HOMILETICAL INDEX TO
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW.
VOLUME L OHAPTEB L Tll"Dlll l'.t.GB Tll]IIIB l'.t.GB The Nazarene 47 The Introduotion 9 The Happy Misnomer of the Wise The Birth of Jesns Obrist,.. 12 Men of the Ea.et 48 Genealogical Lessons 15 The Providence that befriended the The Na.me" Jeans" 16 Earlie et Life of J eeus . .. 50 Immanuel 17 A Notable Instance of the Vicarious Boggestions of Just We.ye of oovsring in the Haman Lot and in Sufl'ering 61 Sin ... 17 Childhood of Jesus 51 The "Name which is above Every The Star 62 Name" 18 Gentile Worshippers 64 The Name, the Burden of Prophecy 19 System in Providence 66 Genealogy of our Lord 19 Providence in Evil 68 Nativity of our Lord 20 Providence in Propheoy and History 69 The Pedigree 21 Born a. King; died a King; lives a Joseph's Testimony 23 King... 61 The Mission of Geoea.logiee 24 The Individuality of Divine Lea.dings 61 Messiah'e Sonshipe 25 The Honour of a. Oity 62 Strange Linke in Genealogical Che.ins 26 Man's Guile and God's Omnieoienoe 63 The Mystery of the Incarnation 26 Worshipping a. Ba.be 63 The Holy Ghost before Pentecost 26 Representing ourselves by our Gifts 64 Jnstioe is Oonsidera.teneee 27 The Blending of the Ordinary and the Dreams as Revelations 27 Bpeoio.I in Divine Dealings 64 A Mission revealed in a Twofold Vicarious Sorrow 66 Name 28 Fee.re qna.lifying Faith 66 Scripture Fulfilments 28 Nazareth as our Lord's Training• sohool 66 CHAPTER IL CHAPTER ill, The Wise Men from the East 88, 46 The Lord's Infancy 42 The Forerunner .. , 76, 89 "The De.ye of Herod the King" 4A, The Baptism of Jesus 79, 84, 90 The Pilgrimage of the Magi 45 Preparation for Christ 81 The Innocents , .. '6 The Fruit of Repentance ... 8ll II INDEX.
THlll[B P.A.GB THBKB PH ■