The world in8i~ts on " qttid pro quo. Hence the worldly minded will always Bl!k the que8t1on shout the course" pel"l!on pursues," What docs be expect to gain by it?" 'l.'o Rct wit-hnnl hope of recompense is what the world cannot understrmd. And in etriot conformity with this, the world is prompted to'' give as much as it gets" in the way of injury. Cur8e for curse, hAtred for hatred, a blow for a blow, " counterplot for a plot. This is the gamnt of the world's revenge. Tho great Legislator, on the other hand, eet-s bis fa.oe against all this worldly policy. He ridicules doing good for the sake of getting good. Such specul&tive philanthropy is pure worldliness. He must have a helter system wilhin his kingdom. He can dispense with revenge and the quid pro quo, and work his kingdom upon purely philanthropio lines. God the Father is the great Philanthropist, and men, by entertaining love for its own BRke, may become "children'of the Highest" and the elements of a new kingdom,'. '.Hence our Lord directs his people to love their enemies, to do good to those that hate them, to hless those that curse them, to pray fo, their persecutors, to give a kiss_ for a blow, to suffer violence a second time rather than practise it revengefully; to give to the utmost of their power to all who ask. In short, they are to love and do •good and lend, hoping for nothing again ; they are to be merciful, like their Father in heaven; they are to be free from censoriousness, and forgiving ; and they may rest assured that in another life they shall get a grea.t reward. What Christ proposes, therefore, is a policy of patient philanthropy-a policy of consideration, doing always to others what we would like to receive were we in their circumstances. And it is tb.Li new policy of love which is sure to overcome the world. IIL CHRIST SHOWS THE SECRET OF TBUB LEADERSHIP AMONG \IEN. (Vers. 89:;-45.) But if love is to regulate all our conduct, may not others suffer through the proverbial " blindness " of love? There is little danger from the blindness of real love, only from the blindness induced by selfishness. Our danger, ss the Lord here shows, is always from exaggerated self-love; we are blind to our own faults; we see motes in a brother's eye, and forget the beam in our own. Hence be recommends here severe self-criticism, such self-criticism as will prevent all hypocrisy, and secure that our eyes be truly purged. When this is the case, then we can see the little faults in others, and deal with them after we have dealt honestly with the great ones of our own. And so heart- purity is the grea.t secret of successful leadership among men. lf our hearts are set right with God, if we are washed and cleansed from secret faults, if we are purged lrom an evil conscience and dead workR,-then are we in a fit state to deal tenderly with erring brothers and lead them to a better way. And so our Saviour shows, by this pan of his legislation, that only the purified in heart can become successful leaders _of their fellows. It is he who knows his own heart's plagues that can tenderly and skil• fully dee.I with the plagues of others, and put them, by God's blessing, on a better way. IV. CHB.IST FINALLY BRINGS OUT THE STABILITY OF THE OBEDIENT. (Vere. 46-49.) Now, it is important to recognize the position taken np here by the great Lawgiver. He claims absolute sovereignty. His word is to be law. Once we know his will, we have only got to do it. But the claim is not unreasonable, nor is it excessive. He understands the strain and stress of human temptations thoroughly. He not only understand these speculatively, but experimentally; for he" was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin" (Heb. iv. 15). He can consequently give to us the rest advice, advice infallible. If we would stand like a rock amid the temptations of life, then we have got simply and cordially to obey Christ. He is the Rock of ages; nothing can shake him; and nothing can disturb those who have learned to trust him. But those who bear bis advice and do it not, shall be swept away by the torrent of temptation and involved in a ruin that is great. Olllldience is the secret, therefore, of stability. May it be our experience continually !-R. M. E.
EXPOSITION. aaying1. This clearly refers to tae sermon on CHAPTER VIL the mount. That great discourse evidently VerB. 1-10.-Tlle ,ervant (or slatie) of the occupied a position of ite own in the puhlio «niu.rion of Caperno.um u healed. ministry of the Lord. Its great length, it■ Vtir.1.-Xow when he had eU-.d all hil definiiiio 1muo11nccmcn\ of the kind of roign au. vn. 1-liO.] THE GOSPEL ACCOTIDI:N'G TO ST. LUKE. 169