momlly worthless, God loveth a cheerful giver, because a cheerful giver 18 m all certainty a voluntary giver. The "voluntary system" is not one form of charity; it is tho only form. Unless we willingly give, the less said about our charity the better; for we haue none I 2. The" willin,q" must be rightly prompted. True charity means heart-love. 'l'he coin is base unless it bears this stamp. 'l'hough it may pass current nmongst men, God will arrest "nd condemn it. }i{()tives in giving should be carefully studied; not others' motives, but ours 1 II. 'l'o DO. Somo are chnritable in intention, not in action. Fruit trees are some- times destitute of frnit, but to those thus symbolized there is but little enconra"'ement in the fate of that barren tree which confronted Christ as he walked from Bethany tc Jerusalem. Charity must be spiritual, bnt it roust be practical also. Our love will never feed the hungry nor clothe the naked; and if our love does not prompt us to do, it is of less value than a mote in the sunbeam, Faith without works is dead, anc' charity without works is dead, buried, and rotting in its grave. III. To GIVE ACCORDING TO OUR ABILITY, (Ver. 12.) Not according to what others give. We are apt to give according to the ability of somebody else. Perhaps when we judge of our own ability we had better ask God to help us. 'There are two occasions when a man's possessions are apt to dwindle-the one when he makes out his income-tax return, and the other when he is asked for a subscription. We need much grace rightly to estimate our own resources. Charitable appeals are apt to derange the laws of arithmetic and to lead to astonishing results. IV. To GIVE JUDICIOUSLY. 1. The needs of any case should be carefully considered. Not to make them less than they are, but to know them as they are. To give to undeserving cases is not only to waste our substance, but to do a vast amount of mischief. 2. We are not required to impoverish ourselves that others may be ,nriched. (Ver. 13.) Though, if we had tendencies in this direction, perhaps we should no, be travelling away from our Master's example (ver. 9). Our danger probably lies in being content with the impoverished condition of others. But the object of charity is not that the poor should be made rich and the rich poor. 3, .in equality is to be aimed at. (Ver, 14.) As to believers especially we should remember that they arc members of the same faith, and should seek to make their condition equally healthy with our own. But our charity should not be restricted by the limits of "the house- hold of faith." One has well said, "Our luxuries should yield to our neighbour's comforts, and our comforts to his necessities." This seems Paul's conception, who explains what he means by "equality" in the expression following : "Your abundance being a supply at this present time for their want, that their abundance also may become a supply for your want" (ver. 14) ; and be illustrates it by reference to the manna given to Israel in the wilderness (Exod. xvi. 18). How far from approach to this equality is the giving of many I 4. We must not so give as to check the exertions of those whom we help. Paul does not apprehend that so undesirable a result will follow the charity which he recommends; he anticipates that the poor may become so rich as to help those now helping them. Unwise charity hinders, not helps, the recipient. Pauperism is a poor harvest to rea.p. Still we must see that this argument is not unduly pressed. It is to be a protector, it is not to be a murderer, of charity.-H. Ver. 18.-.An enviable reputation. I. A GREAT CHARACTER IS BETTER THAN A GBE.,1.T NAME. The brother referred to here is unnamed; a better mark than a name is put upon him. A great name may be inherited; may be won by a merely fortunate con- junction of circumstances; may be unmerited; may have no moral excellence associated with it. A great character must be earned, A great name blesses one's self; a great character, others. II. THE APPROBATION OF HOLY MEN JS VERY PRECIOUS. The applause of a fallen world may be reckoned at a cheap rate. Mere popularity is quite in contrast with the pra•se of all the Churches. That men who love Christ, and who thus have corrected tastes, can see in us what is lovely should cause us to be deeply thankful to God, who has wrought this good thing in us, When the approval is widespre~d and _general nmong such, it becomes correspondingly precious. The pr~ise of _God,_ mdeed, IS what we should strive after· but this may be expressed by the lips of his children, III. REPUTATION u'IN THE GOSPEL" IS MOST TO DE DESIRED, This was the repu• IT, COIUNTIITANS, p 210 THE SEOOND ErISTLE TO 'l'III~ CORINTHIANS. [ou. vm. 1-24.
tat.ion of tho brother alluded to by Paul. It was in the sphere of the gospel that he had obtained his renown. And this is the very highest sphere. How can wo make known the gospel? How can we exalt it in the estimation of men? How can we show foi:th ii:5 excellences in our lives? These should be supremo questions with us. Hcputat10n m arms, art, science,-what are these compared with reputation in the gospel? What can arms do for men, or art, or science, compared with the gospel? 'l'hc gospel presents the most magnificent arena for human life and achievement. 1-V. Orn.ION IS TESTED BY TRUST. Here is a tost of men's words. Will those who praise us put confidence in us? It was so with the brother in question (ver.19). The friends who praised him trusted him with money, and this is an extreme form of trust with most men. They praised him for a piety which extended to the secularitics of life. His gospel rnled tbo money-bag. We want more pounds-shillings-and-pence religion. If our piety does not mako us uncorrupt in practical life, we had better cast it to the dogs, for it is only fit for thcm.-H.