neighbours would expect; it is inevitable that we should occasiollfllly ditrer ns to what is due from 0110 to another. II. OuR DANGER UNDER A SE:KSE OF INJURY. 1. The mistake we are likely to fall into when we have a sense of injury is that of instantly concludin'-' that we have been wronged; we are apt to hmry to the conclusion that some one ha:' s\icrhted or injured us. But before we gi~e way e~en to a strong feeling, we should mak: quite suro that things are as they seem to be. 'l'here are many possibilities of mistake in this world of error and misunderstanding. 2. The sin into which we are tempted to fall is that of gi.ing way to unbecoming anger and unchristian retaliation-a feeling of bitter resent- ment, vindictive, passionate, such as does not become the children of God· and action which is intended to result in suffering on the part of the wrong-doer; w~ proceed to "avenoe ourselves" III. "ouR DUTY ·WHEN WRONGED. 1. Direct communication, and, where it ie neces- sary, fr'ie11dly remonstrance. Matthew tells us that Christ enjoined upon us that under a sense of injury, we should "go and tell our brother his fault between ourselve; and him alone." This is surely most wise. Instead of dwelling upon it and magnify- ing it in our own mind; instead of talking about it and causing it to be spread abroad and discoloured and misrepresented,-the one right thing to do is to go at once to our offending neighbour and tell him our grievance. It is very likely he will explain every- thing, and there will be no need of any overlooking on our part; or, if wrong has been done, it is very likely he will appreciate our fairness and friendliness in coming straight to him, and will make the apology that is due on his part. 'l'hen must come: 2. Fru and full forgiveness. "lf he repent, forgive him." If be should refuse to repent, we must pi:y him and pray for him, that bis eyes may be opened and his action ammded, and himself raised by doing the right and honourable thing. But if he repent, then it is our high and Christian duty to forgive. And how shall we forgive? Even as God, for Christ's sake, forgives us (Eph. iv. 32). (1) Immediately. (2) Frankly and heartily; reinstating the one who bas wronged us in the place he occupied before in our confi- dence, affection, kindness. (3) Uncalculatingly. "Seven times in a day." However often our child, our servant, our neighbour, may offend, if there be sincere penitence on his part, and therefore an honest effort to amend, we do well to forgive. The more of this grace we have in our heart and life, the closer is our resemblance and the fuller is our obedience to our forgiving Saviour.-0.
Vers. 5, 6.-Effective faith. It is the part of a wise teacher to endeavour both to elevate and to bumble his disciples. He will not discharge his whole duty nor realize his full opportunity unless he imparts elevating aspirations and unless he promotes a deep humility of heart; he will thank God and congratulate himself when he knows that bis bearers are happily sensible of progress, and also when he learns that they are profoundly dissatisfied with their attainments. Both these results ensued from the teaching of our Lord. I. 'l'HE DISCIPLES' DISSATISFACTION WITH THEMSELVES. Evidently the apostles of our Lord felt that there was something lacking iu their souls which they would gladly possess. The doctrine of the great Teacher, perhaps, was not so clear to them as they could have wbhed; or perhaps they felt themselves a painfully long dislance behiud their Leader in their spirit and bearing; or it may be that they found themselves unable to do such works as they judged they ought to be able to do, in and through the Kame of the great Healer. But whencesoever their source of dissatisfaction, they acrr,.ed 0 that they were in spiritual want. II. '1 HEIR CONCLUSION AS TO THE REMEDY THI\Y NEEDED. They agreed that what was waLLted was an increase of faith. .A..nd they were perfectly right in their judgment. 1. They wanted to believe in Christ in a way not then open to them. They became "greater in the kingdom of heaven" afterwards, more enlightened, more spiritual, more devoted, more useful, because afterwards they bad a deep and a firm faith in Jesus Christ as their almighty Saviour, as their Divine Lord. But they did not know him yet as such • for as such he had only begun to reveal himself to them. 2. But they needed a fuiier faith in him a, they did thmknow him. A more complete and implicit confidence in him (1) would have led them to eject from their min~s all the_ir own o_ld prejudices and prepossessions, and so have made way for the reception of his truth in ou. xvn. 1--37,] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. 99