·ruEY AREl CALLED UPON TO TEACH. This idea. is BO obvious the.t it seems to be a. waste of words to state it. Yet it is constantly ignored. 1. Special training is neede,d,, In the present day the air is la.den with questions concerning the foundations of the faith, and no one is fit to be a. teacher of others who is not prepared to meet those questions. Though some of them may not be readily answered, a.t least the teacher must know how to give some guidance to the inquirer in his perplexity. 2. Divine lighe is needed. It ls not enough for the teacher to have been trained in theological studies. These may have left him in a midnight darkness ; and they will do so if he ha.s not opened bis soul to the light of God. V. THE ONLY BAFB GUIDE 1B JESUS CHBIBT, He has clear vision, a.nd he lea.de surely through all difficulties. We lean on the teaching of ignorant men when we might go straight to the teaching of Christ. With the Light of the world shining upon our path, we should be able to see, and yet this will not be possible if we are blind. Now, it is the great work of Christ not merely to guide the blind, but lo give them sight, so that they may see their way and follow him by their own vision of truth.-W. F. A. Vere. 21-28,-The triumph of a motMr's love, Jesus wa.s beyond the borders of Palestine, on heathen soil. He ha.d not extended his travels in order to carry his ministry to the heathen; but he was in retirement. He had left Galilee because the Galiheans were in a restless state-many of them perplexed by his teaching and turn- ing from him, and also because the official teachers were seriously impeding bis work. After this our Lord never resumed his old open ministry by the seashore and on the hillside. Yet even ;during his retirement he could not resist the pleadings of a mother's love. I. THE CONDUCT OF THE HOTHEB. The vivid picture given to us by the evangelist sets before us a very remarkable character, Let us observe some of its most interest- ing features. 1. Devoted love. A mother is just absorbed in her devotion to her poor daughter. As is often seen, the very affliction of the child the more endears her to the mother. A mother's love is no mere sentiment, and it is not satisfied to expend itself in idle tears. It inspires a keen and energetic interest. The mother is lifted above her people, and is carried forward to attempt what others never thought of, because her love will not permit her to give up her hope and her effort. 2. Rarefaith. (1) The woman was a heathen. Yet, like the centurion of Capemaum, she had a faith greater than that of any Jew or Jewess. Thus, although our Lord's immediate ministry is to Israel, it is manifest, even while this is being carried out, that other peoples must share its benefits. (2) She recognized the Messiahship of Christ. Though a heathen, she had learnt to share the hope of Israel. In the time of his exile, depression, and disappointment, she did not fail to recognize the very Christ of God. 3. Unyielding persistency. The wonder is that this woman would take no refusal; and yet shall we call it a wonder at all when we remember that she was a mother? Here is the greatest instance in all history of the victory of persevering prayer. 4. Quick inventiveness. Jesus was a Master of the fine art of repartee; but for once he gladiy allows that his words are perfPctly met and replied to, and he generously leaves the last word with his applicant. lu this word there is a full admission of all Christ said, and no departure from. perfect humility, and yet there is a brilliant shaft of wit as modest as it is effective. 'fhere is room for the quick intellect in the kingdom of heaven. II. THE BEHAVIOUR OF CHBIST, On the surface this is mysterious and apparently ungenerous; but a fair consideration of the whole narrative will not leave any ground of complaint against it. 1. A true statement. The mission of Christ was to the Jews. This was a fact not to be gainsaid. Though he came for the salvation of the world, bis method was to begin with Israel e.nd to confine bis personal labours on earth to the people who were to be his instrument for saving others. 2. A test of faith. Our Lord's discouragement of the applicant would have been unkind if she had been a weak and timorous person. But with his keen intuition of character he could see at ,. glance that she was a woman of courage and confidence. It was an acknowledgmeut of her good qualities that permitted the severe test to be applied to her. 3. A final blessing. In the end this eager mother got all she sought after, and therefore she had no com- plaint against Christ, but, on t)le contrarr, good gro-uI\d for thankfulness. Jesus Chri~& ~ATrHEW-Q, J lH THE G-OSPEL ACOORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [oR. xv. 1~9.
does not refuse any true applicant for hls grace. He may seem to dlsoourage at first_ but in the end faith is always rewarded..-W. F. A.