Ohriet ie beet advanced when ee.ch one does ee.rneetlywhe.t he can do beet. The a.r.J0,th 10.ys, "Use your own sanctified girts to the beet of your ability, so will God be well- ].lee.eed, and your brethren and the world be blessed." 1. Prophecy: the spiritual insigl, t the.t apprehends with increasing clearness God's purposes of Baving grace. }[inistry : the official attention to fiae.ncial and business matters of the Church, in which th~ "deacon" wins his good degree. Teaching: the assiduous inculcation of received truth, that the people of God may be built up in the faith. Exhorting: the eam~st pleading with men, that their hearts may be won, or more fully won, to that which jg Divine and good. Such the more official duties. 2. The more private and spontaneous duties are to be similarly performed. Giving: for some who a.re so favoured have it as their special work to hold in trust for others, and to bestow as they have opportunity, the good things of this world. Let this be with all liberality of heart. Ruling: there will be committees for such philanthropic work, and men of enterprise will have it as their special business to lead the way. Let this be with diligence, for success or failure will follow according to their devotion or half-heartedness. Showing mercy : some will have it for their work personally to dispense the help which perhaps the liberality of others affords. Let it be with a cheerfulness that shall make the blessing doubly blessed; let their presence be hailed everywhere as it were sunshine in the gloom. Such is the principle of a true Christian humility, merging into love. The old Greek wisdom urged upon its students, "Know thyself." Our Christian faith inculcates the same lesson upon us. Not by our seeking to do others'-work, but by our fulfilling, as best we may, our own, will the co=on weal be advanced. Yes, know thyself, and know thy Saviour; so she.It thou save thyself, and promote the salvation of the world. -T.l!'.L. Vera. 9-21.-0hristian love. Now we come to the great central principle of the Christian life in its social relations among men-true love. And, as the apostle addresses Church-members, he paints this love, by a few vivid strokes, as they owe it to their fellow-members, and also to those that are without. I. First, as members of Christ, they are to love one another. 1. The ethical cliarader o/ this love. It is holy. Not a mere sentimental tenderness, but a love that abhors the evil, in whomsoever found, and cleaves only to the good (comp. Jas. iii. 17, "first pure," etc.). _2. The manifestations of the love. Tender affection, as of the members of one loving family ; self-sacrificing respect, so contrary to the spirit which asks, " Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? "-zealous to practise this regard for others with a diligent industry; animated to this diligence by the fervour of the spiritual life; sanctifying the love and service by loving and serving them in Christ. 3. The supports of such love. The exultant joy of Christian hope, in view of that appearing of our Lord; the patient endurance of trial and pain, by the power of that hope ; the abiding fellowship with God, which ever rekindles the hope and makes it holy. 4. The practical working of this love in the matters of the life that now is. Relief of needy ones, as being the needy ones of God's household ; hospitality to all who for the Lord's sake hnve left their home and rest. 6. The forbearance of this love. When, unhappily, even Christian brethren misunderstand and strive and persecute, they are still to be loved an<l. blessed ; not for auy provocation is cursing to be rendered back. 6. The sympa- thies of the love. A real and mnnifested joy, in sympathy with rejoicing ones; a real and manifested sorrow, in sympathy with sorrowing ones. 7. The unity of love. Of the same mind. 8. The humility of love. Not high, ambitious aspirations, but willing- ness for lowly work; and to this end, not self-conceited wisdom, but the heart of a little child. II. SecoI\dly, as showing forth Christ to men, they 6I'8 to lovo oven those that are without. 1. No 1·evenge to be allowed. Think of their temptations to old habits ruid prnctioos. 2. Honourable conduct to be strictly mai11l1ii11t'd. Yes, even with the cmphnticnlly "heathen" mn11. 3. Peace to be souglit with all. 011 our side at lea.,,t it is possible, nnd so the snnctit.ios of the Christian's own he1u-t shru.l not be viob.teJ. 4. Ag1ti11, no vengeance towards el1ose wliose crimes may seem to cry for 1Jengeance upon tliem. No, not even i11 tho w11y of justice, for n hio'her Ono is Judge, and all wmth must be left to him, whoso very wrath is love; and~in truth, our rising wrath itself must be tmneformed to love, a lovo which eh.nil oven feed and give drink to the enemy in hil 878 THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS. [ou:, xn.1-21,
distre..<l'. And r,ht'11 not this shame his hcnrt? and his Bhl\me ml\y be to him for salvB- tfon. So shall the e~il not conquer us, but be itself conquered by the good . .. Who is sufficient for these things? " The high perfection of this Ohristian lovo -ms far beyond our reach. But it h~ been shown forth once, in him who said, "I have overcome the world." Yes, its evil was vanquished by his sacrifice of love. And, through him, we may conquer too. May the living Christ be ours, and hie grace shall be sutficient !-T. F. L.