of the Illustration and commentary Cumiebed by the beneficent life and self-sacrificing denth of the great Preacher. I, Tmll MOMEN'l'OUB ooNFLIOT. "Be not overcome of evil." A man bas ooen wron"ed 0 by hie neighbour. The feeling of injury begets a desire for retaliation. The rese nt- rnent is just, ie a testimony to the sense of righteousnese imbedded in the conscienc'3, But the feeling te!lde to go to~ far, and to become a lo~ging for_ revenge in any shape that may present itself. Here 1s the subtlety of temptation, makmg evil appear as good. Undisguised vice is easy to repel, but a righteous indignation may open the "ate through which unrighteous passion enters like a flood. Thie is one form of the nniv;rsal battle against sin, which ie ever ready to take advantage of lawful natural impulses end to push them to excess. The warning of the text applies, therefore, to the whole sphere of life. All good conduct implies the possibility of the reverse. Solicitation11 to evil are everywhere about us. Physical evil, such as a. painful disease, may become moral evil when it produces murmuring, peevishness, utter idleness, and blasphemy. The struggle is fierce and prolonged, for "we wrestle against powers, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ae the gifts of God in the material universe are secured at the expense of painful thought and toil, so the blessings of the spiritual life are not to be had at our ease, but only by strenuous wrestling. II. THE METHOD OF WARFARE. "Overcome evil with good." To resist the evil inclination is the first part of the duty, but it is not alone a sufficient maxim. We have a. weapon to wield; we must occupy ourselves in the practice of what is good. Not only arrest the hand that is a.bout to strike an angry blow, but find some service for the hand to render to our opponent. They sin least, are least subject to t.emptation, who a.re engrossed like the Saviour in "doing good." He could move uncontaminated in the presence of "publicans a.nd sinners." The outrush of active benevolence barred the influx of evil. 'l'he moment we try to see if we cannot benefit a would-be foe, we are conscious of a changed sentiment within; we pity instead of hating and condemn- ing; we lose our worse to find our better self. This is a law to1be remembered in all attempts to combat the forces of evil. " Resist the devil; draw nigh to God.." The drunkard ma.y sign the pledge of abstinence, but he needs meetings, society, efforts for others, to occupy his leisure moments. Do not gaze at the Sirens, but make for the home whose pure pleasures will profitably engage your energies. Let the young man have hie stu4y, and his proper recreation, and thus by the pursuit of what is elevating rise above petty meannesses and degrading amusements. III. THE INSPmmo P ATTEBN. Christ is our Exemplar, "who, when he was reviled, reviled not again." He " committed his cause to him that judgeth righteously," and instead of heaping reproaches on his persecutors, prayed for their forgiveness, died for their salvation. The spurious Gospels, with their narrative of the Saviour's boyhood as a scene of vengeance wreaked on his youthful companions for their opposition and insult, condemn themselve11 as contradictory to the after-life of the" meek and lowly" One. He never exerted his power to harm his foes. His only miracles of judgment were on the swine and the barren fig tree. In Gethsemane the band of traitors were awed to the ground, but not injured. He knew that "to whomsoever much is forgiven, the same loveth much." Afterwards " a great company of priests became obedient to the faith." Saul the persecutor was changed by appealing love into Paul the missionary. The Lamb" led to the slaughter" unresistingly has proved himself in victorious submission the "Lion of the tribe of Judah.0 ".Arm yourselves likewise with the same mind." IV. 'l'HE SUCCESS OF TIDS METHOD. Good is stronger than evil because it is on the side of God and the angels; it is backed by eternal laws. Like produces like. Strife leads to more strife; war sows a crop of dragons' teeth that yield a harvest of future enmities and battles. Germany, exaoting a heavy indemnity from France and seizing two foir provinces, has lnid herself under crushing armaments and ceaseless fears of coming roprisnle. The pence principles of Christ, wherever faithfully adhered to, prove their soundness and fruitfulness. 'l'he man who resists not tames the spirit of his opponent. Obstinacy that defies the chilling blllst is forced to relax when the warmth of Christian kindness shines on its oute1· crust. The coals of such a fire do not tlemily bum, but they melt the unjust into contrition and confession. The disuse of duelling has contributed to courtesy nmouget men. We are not lit to take the law into our S8i THE EPISTLE OF rAUL TO THE ROMANS. [oB. XII, 1-11,
own bands and mete out justice, but we C.'lnnot do wrong in cultivating mercy nnd gener,.~ity. 'l'he observanoe of what is good works no mischief, wherel\s we Illl\Y run int<> many a.n error if we fight en\ with c~il either in ourselves or others, and foncy that the end may justify the means.-S. H. A.