word, we are led out of Pharisaic tbank(ulnee11 that we are not BI! other men into Obrletian humility and eelf-abasement,-tben are we in some measure fitted to take up the problem of other people's trespasses and to eolvo it. It is the "spiritual " who are to undertake the delicate work. II. THE LAW OF CHRIBT IS TO BE OUR METB'OD. (Ver. 2.) Now, when we consider broadly the work of Christ, we find that it resolves itself exactly into this work of restoring the erring. This was the purpose of bis lifo and death, to bear other people's burdens-the burdens or sin. Of course, Christ could deal with sin in a more radical way than we can. He was sinless; he was Divine; he could accept of the respon- sibilities of human sine and atone for them, as we cannot do. But we can surely have fellowship with him in concern abont other people's spiritual state; we can sympathize with them, and perhaps encourage them to make us their eonji.d,a;ntes, so that we may do something for their relief. We can also keep their restoration steady as a. star before us, and follow the Master in leading them to renewed hope. In all these ways we may follow· the law of Christ in dealing with delinquent brethren. The fact is that, because we cannot share in Christ's atoning work, we are tempted often to let sin lie outside our deliberate philanthropy. We are willing enough, perhaps, to help a. fenow out of the burden of poverty, of outward misfortune ; but to help him as a spiritual counsellor seems beyond our province. And yet we are not surely very thorough in our philanthropy if we do not try to touch and remove the deeper burden of heart-trouble by leading the erring to our elder Brother. •111. THERE WILL BE JOY AS WELL AS DISAPPOINTMENT Ul'ON THIS PATH OF CHRISTIA~ SYMPATHY. The heavenly world gets more joy out of the penitent prodigals than out of the unfallen beings (Luke xv. 1-10). It is the same with us in our humble efforts after restoring erring. brethren. What a joy it is to think that be has repented and got unbur- dened and restored I There is no joy of exactly the same pure intensity in all the world. Tb'ere is music arid dancing in our hearts as in the great Father's honse. Earth and heaven are one (Luke xv. 25). There will be a measure of disappointment. Souls over whom we have sighed and wept, for whose salvation we have longed, may dis- appoint us sadly; but we can assure ourselves that in this respect also we a.re in fellow- ship with God. Every impenitent soul must be a disappointment to the Supreme! We leave the mystery at his holy feet, and, notwithstanding disappointment, resolve in dependence on him to work bravely on until our day is done, persuaded that our tale of souls relieved shall be longer in the end than we have dared to dream.-R. M. E. Vere. 6"-10.-The seed-ti'TT/,/J of philanthropy. Paul bas just spoken of the most delicate and precious form of philanthropy-that which deals with a brother's sins. And now he passes on to speak, just for a. moment, of the duty which the Galatians owe to their spiritual teachers. They are pre-eminently the unburdeners of men's hearts ; they undertake as life's chief work the ministering to minds diseased. Let them _be considered, therefore, and receive all good things from those they serve. But he passes on to the greater truth of which this "ministerial support" is only a small application-that life is a seed-time; and, according as men sow, must they reap. Let philanthropy rejoice, therefore, in every opportunity of doing other people goou, for a harvest with its golden glory awaits all true workers in the other life. J. WHEN THIS LIFE IS LOOKED Ul'ON AS SEED-TIME, WE ARE PROJECTED OF NECESSITY FOR OUB HARVEST Ul'ON ANOTHER AND BETTER LIFE. The mistake many make is in tnrQing this life into harvest and looking on what it affords as all. It makes a. mighty difference if I am living in the autumn only and am for ever past the spring. Now, Christianity, as the religion of hope, leads us to this view of the present life. lt is only 11eed-time. The harvest is not yet. No refinement of speculation can be allowed to cbeat·us of our assurance of immortality. We are only in the spring. The summer and the autumn are before us. 11. THOSE WBO BOW TO THE FLESH HAVE A FEARFUL HARVEST BEFORE THEM, (Ver. 8.) Now, it is well for us to remember here that ritualism, or salvation by cere- monies, is the error me.inly attacked in this Epistle. And a careful study of Paul's writings shows that be puts this into the same category as the sius of the flesh. 11 Whereas there is among you," said he to the Corinthians," envyiug, and strife, and
divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?" The exclusiveness of the coremouialisLa 828