with their vision, beOll'l.lee it ie distorted by prejudice? Or shall we say that where no goodness ie seen it is because there is none to see; that piety, being popular, is simu- lated, and they e.re looking at those who are only pretending to be Christian men, anr1 that godliness is no more aecountable for hypocrisy than the good coin is answerable for the counterfeit? We might often make one of these two replies, with right and reason on our side. But that would not meet the case; it would leave the question partially unanswered. 'l'he fact is that goodness is often unseen in eoneequence of the intervening of some surface faults which hide it from view. There ie- L THE COVERING OF RETICENCE. Many a man is right at heart, sound in faith, well fitted by hie knowledge and intelligence to render essential service; but he is so reserved, so self-contained, so inaccessible, lives so much in the inner circle of his own familiar friends, that be is far lees forcible and influential than he is capable of being;- he is hiding the light of his character under the covering of reserve, instead of setting it on the candlestick of open-heartedness and expressiveness. II. THE COVERING OF RESENTFULNESS. Other men are warm-hearted, good-natured, diligent, and devoted ia every good work, capable of rendering admirable service; but they are quick-tempered, irascible, ready to take offence; so hasty and resentful that they are shunned when they would otherwise be approached ;-they hide the light of their character under the vessel of ill temper. III. THE COVERING OF SELF-ASSERTION. Some men are upright, honourable, zealou~, resolute, forcible, well fitted to effect great things, but they hide their li~ht under the bushel of self-assertion; they insist on everything being done in the way they prefor ; they make co-operation impossible; they cut their influence in twain by their want of conciliation and concession. IV. THE COVERING OF DISC0~TESY. There are those who are honest, and even eam0l!t and hardworking Christian men, acting along the lines of holy usefulness; but they cover their character with the vessel of blnntness, or ignorance, or positive rudeness, instead of putting the light of piety and zeal on the candlestick of courtesy. Now, it has to be remembered that our children and our neighbours, all with whom we have to do, judge of our character not only by its solid and essential elements, but also (and rather) by its superficial features; they will be affected and influenced, not more by that in us which is deep and decisive than by those outside qualities which are visible to them just because they are outside. Ilence, if we care, as we are bound to do, that our character should be telling on those with whom we are connected, and for whom we are responsible, we shall strive and pray to be not only pure and just and true, but also frank and amiable and courteous. If we would not go through our life with our Christian character covered over and lost by some superficial failing, if we would have it fixed on the candlestick on which it will" give light to all that are in the house,"-we must not only think on the things which are true, honest, just, and pure, but also on those things which are II lovely and of good report."-C.
Ver. 17.-Revelation-a duty, a fact, a certainty. These words of our Lord may have been a familiar aphoris!J;} of his time, or they may have been :i. sententious saying of his own, having many applications. Certainly they are significant of many things. They may be regarded as expressing for us- I. A SACRED DUTY WE A.RE CALLED UPON TO DISCHARGE. It is in this sense our Lord used thtim on the occasion reported by Matthew (x. 25-2i). What was then hidden in the minds of the disciples they were to reveal to the world in due time; t.he truth which the Master was making known to them II in the darkness" they were to "speak in the light." And this duty is of universal obligation. What G,\d reveals to us and what is, at first, hidden in our own soul we are bound to bring forth into thu light of day. It may be any kind of truth-medical, agricultural, couunercial, econu- mical, moral, or directly and positively religious; whatever we have learned that is of value to the world we have no right to retain for our own private benefit. Truth is common property; it should be open to all men, like the air an,l the sunshine. When God, in any way, says to us, " Know," he also says, " Teach; pass on to your brethren what I have revealed to you; • there is nothing secret that shall not be matle manifest, nor hid that shall not be known.' " II. A 81':nI0US FAC'l' WE DO WELL TO CONBIDEB. Guilt loves secrecy. "E,ery one TIIE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. [oa. nn. 1-lift.