pe~ce. shall Pr<:ve.il. Such ~ ~ome of _the evils that Christianity abjures, and, in abJtmng, it abJures that which 1s the disgrace, the guilt, and the curse of mankiod. With an exulting confidence, I say to infidels that whatever is bad in the world or the Church, inst&1d of growing out of Christia.nity, is in direct antagonism to it. AU "T,,ng is autichrist; all right is Christian. II. '1~ ~.ron-Eo IN ~ST~AN LIFE. Christian life is not a n~cration. H does nN C(lusist in the mere depn,ation of the morally wrong; its essence is the spirit of ;::,..._-,,,ne&,'-101,e. This love, in its social chru-acter, is forcibly inculcated in these words. 1\·e are her? taught: 1. That the social love euj0ined is courteous. "Be ye kind one 10 :ulC'ther." Christianity requires us to cherish a benignant spirit, and maintain an amiable and considerate deportment towards all mankind. Where this kindness of nature is there will be true courtesy and a. gentle bearing in all onr intercourse with uen. There is a politeness of manner in society which has no heart, no nature; it is mere mechaoism aod polish ; it is often in alliance with the coarse in thought, the :;r:fish in spirit, the pntrid in moral feeling. Such politeness is theatrical. '.l.'he coarse- minded churl on the stage assumes the costume and plays the part of a gentleman. The spirit of Christianity is antagonistic to all that is coarse, crabbed, and morose. Lorn "doth not behave itself unseemly." 2. That tb.e social love enjoined is compas- sionate. "Tender-hearted." There is suffering in society-physical, mental, moral, s,ic,al. Children of sorrow and trial are found in every walk of life. Towards those Christianity inculcates "tender-hearted" compassion. "Put on . . . as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suifering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a q uarrd. against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye" (CoL iii. 12, 13). "Be ye all of one I!lind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be co:rrm:>il.S: not rendering eril for evil. or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; ;~,i,,wing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a. blessing" (1 Pet. iii. 8, 9). :_;_ Tn:u ,hf social lo,e enjoined isforgiuing. "Forgiving one another, even as God for Ci..-i.si:·s 5.lke bath forgiven yon." Few men pass throngh life without meeting with ;i.c:,,e -..ho commit offences against them; those who seek to damage their secular i n t ~ their social enjoyments, or their moral reputation. How does Christianity re'luire its disciples t.o act towards them? Not with the spirit of vengeance, but with tliat of forgi,eness. "Forgiving one another." The words contain three facts. (1) That God bath forgiven Christians. Glorious fact this. (2) '.l.'hat God in forgiving Christians has acted in Christ. " As God for Christ's sake bath forgiven you," 0•&s lv XpW""T<»-in Christ. God works through various organs, through material nature, through moral mind, and through Jesus Christ. But it is only through the last-Christ-that he forgives. "God is in Christ reconciling the world. unto himself." It is only in Christ that he works in the sinner that state of mind which .separates him from his sin. (3) That God's forgiveness of Christians is a rule for their forgi_veness •. "Even as God." How does God grant forgiveness? (a) Freely. No urgrng reqmred, no constraint. (b) Abundantly. "He will abund,a,ntly pardon." "How oft shall my i.Jrother sin against me, and I forgive him? until seven times?" This was Peter's ques- tion to Christ; and what was tbe reply? "Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until se,·en times : but, Until seventy times seven" (Matt. xviii. 21, 22). 4. That the social l0rn enjoined is God-like. "Be :ye therefore followers of God, as dear children." "Become then, foll0wers of God, as beloved chiluren (Ellicott). "God is love." Seek u:, becom; like him in love. Hi.~ love is disinterested, compassionate, forgiving, bound- less, and ernr-actin.z. This is tbe standard to be aimed at; nothing lower. (1) God o:m be imitated in this respect. ,ve cannot become like God in wisdom, power, sove- :rci=n· but we can in love. The child can love as well as the man, and the man as ~n:ii'8'; the seraph. The God of love bath made all souls to love. (2) God mu.~t k imitated in this respect. It is essential to happiness. Heaven is in this love, and r,owl,ere else. "He that lo\·eth dwelleth in God, and God in him." 5. That the social J,,,·~ i8 i;elf-sa,crifu;ing. "And walk in love, as Christ also bath loved us, and bath ~iven himself for us an offering an<l a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour." (1) The self-sacrificing love which Christianity enjoins is like that exemplified in Christ. Cl,rist "bath given himself for us.'' " He gave himself for our sins." •• He loved· us, a11d g,we J,imsP]f for us." Christ so loved mankind that he sacrificed his time, OH. I\", 1-32,] THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS. 201
energy, peace, reputation, life, all to save them. The love that Christianity enJorns must be like thi~, nothing inferior to this, nothing short of this ; eel f-sacrificing love is the love of Christianity. It is the true heroic element. (2) The at,lf-sacrificing love which Christianity enjoins is acceptable to God. It is "a sweet-smelling savour." Its exhibition in Christ was delightful to the heart of God, and the same self-sacrifice in man can alone make man pleasing in his sight. CONCLUSION. What a sublime system is Christianity I It abjures in the life of its disciples all that is false, malign, unjust, impure, and profane, and enjoins that spirit of love whlch purifies, ennobles, and beatifies.-D. T. Vera. 1-3.- Walki11g worthily. It is touching to see how the great apostle, who had a right to issue co=ands to the Churches in the name of Christ, prefers to beseech his readers with gentle entreaty as "the prisoner in the Lord." 'fhis method i~ as much a mark of his wisdom as of his humility and kindnes.s of heart. For we are all more easily _moved by persuasion and sympathy than by patronage and authority. I. CHRISTIANS ARE CALLED TO A HIGH VOCATION. 1. There is a Divine call. We are not left to drift tb,rough life aimlessly, nor are we permitted to carve out careers for ourselves.. Divine purposes go before us, mapping out our course of future service; and Divine voices in the gospel and in our hearts bid us follow our vocation. 2. The call is lofty and worthy of aH honour. Christians are not saved with a bare and 0