fool seeks the company of the foolish. 5. We are to keep in view the end of our wall,, "Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls" (1 Pet. i. 9). lJJ. 'l'IIE APPLICATION OF THIS PlUNCIPLE TO THE PROFITABLE UBE OF OPPORTUNITY, "Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.''. '£here. can be no wise or careful walking without a due consideration both of the value of time and or the importance of using our opportunities for doing good. 1. The nature qf this redemption. of time. , It is not the mere effort to rescue the fleeting hours of our life from idleness, vanity, dis- traction, or excessive devotion to business, but an effort to lay hold of opportunities for doing good, t-0 make the most of them, to allow no distractions of pleasure. bf life to stand in the way of their right employment. Jesus, in his extreme youth, wBS ea,.er to be "about bis Father's business" (Luke ii. 49). We are to do good unto all men .'7as we ha,e opportunity" (Gal. vi. 10). We are to do good to our very enemies, after the example of that Father who "maketh his sun to rise upon the evil and the good1' (Matt. v. 45). We are to use our opportunities also for receiving good, giving ,all dili~ce to make our calling and our election sure (2 Pet. i. 10). 2. Reasons for rrdeeming the time. "BC'Clluse the days aro evil." It is not been.use our days are few; though that is also a Y.ery good reason. (1) We have lost much time already (1 Pet. iv. 8); (:!) we do not know how much time yet remains to us (Ja.a. iv. 14); (3) :we ho.ve to girn nn account of all onr time and opportunities. The reason assigned by the apostle is the evil of the days. Time must not be lost if the evil is to be quickly and effectively counteracted. The apostle does not hint. the nature of .the eviL Yet it is allowable to suppose that the days were evil, not in themselves, but by reason of man's wickedness and folly. (1) It is the evil of sin, rather than the evil of. punishment, that is meant. (2) It is pa.rt of the evil that men do not see it at a11. (/3) Itis part of the evil that they do not mourn over it. (4) It is part, of the evil that ,they will do nothing to remove it. There is, therefore, all the more reason for Christians .bestirring themselves in all seasons and spheres of action to counteract the evil of the c;ialys.-T. C.
Ver. 17.-The right understanding qf duty. This is necessary to its efficient performance. . 1 . . L 'C:innsoolL The thou:i;ht of the apost~ turns upon the misapplication or -mis- direction of our powers. "Be ye not unthinking and senseless." It is a sin against our :rational natnre, against our high calling, against the Lord, not to use our intell.ectual faculties with 6Upreme relation to the Lord's will . ,. !L THE Dll'OE.T.AXCE OF A 'I'Bl,E :K:!1.0WLIIDGB O!" THE LoBD's wn.L. Religion, is ii questio::i of knowled,,c,e as well as feeling. Knowledge supplies the basis of feeling. T.nough Scriprare tells us not to lean to our own understanding, it tells .us to love wiili kno'lole,:l!re and all judgment. The knowledge.is needed both to.stimulate and to regulate th; lo.e. We must know onr duties, dangers, temptations, in respect to e,ery condition of life in which we are placed by Divine .providence. It is the~ of the Lord Jesns Christ which snpplies the true standard of action to• every Chnst1an. The direction of onr life is to be determined by his precepts.-T. C. Ver. 18.- Warning against drunkenness. The tremendous sin of intemperance must have had a great hold upon a co,mm~rcial city•like I:phesus.. -It was ,necessary that Christians should beware of snch a.,;i. ·insidious vice. I. Ix DIBHONOUIIS THE LAW OF GoD. (Rom. xiii. 13.) !I. IT DIS'IlJRBS THE BEASON OF JlliN·. III. IT END~GEBS THE HEALT,P: OF THE BODY, IV. IT INJURES THE SOUL. (Hos. iv. 11.) V. IT WABTEB THE SUBSTANCE AND TENDS TO• BEGCIAB'r. (Prov. xxiii. 21.) VL IT COKBUMES PRECIOUS TIME AND DETEBIOBATES .THE OHABACTEB OF WOBK. VII. IT lS THE CAUSE OF OTHEB BINS. Such as swearing, strife, licentiousness (Prov. xxiii. 19). • VlIL IT U:SFITS FOB RELIGIOUS DUTIES. IX. IT KJIBPS SOULS ouT op THE KINGDO)l OF GoD. (1 Cor. vi. 9.) Therefore Chr'u1tians ought to avoid it, abstaining altogether from intoxicating drinke on tho gn:,ur.-:s of Christian expediency, and UBing their influence to rescue others from its ruinO".is fa.i;cination.-T. C. Cll, V, 1-33.] THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS.