vIL Ir IS OONGREGATION.U.. "Speaking one to another." This is probably an allusion to antiphonal congre,,"11.tiona.l singing. But whatever be the method adopted, and though a choir may take its part in the service, it is plainly the intention of St. l'aul that all the people should sing, and that thus one should exhort and encouracre another. We cannot praise God by proxy. "' VIII. IT IS ADDRESSED TO Goo IN CHRIST. "To the Lord." Pliny writes how tho Christians in his time met in the early morning to sing hymns to one Christ. We are not to sing simply for our own delectation or spiritual culture, or merely to attract and interest others, but mainly as addressing God and Christ in praise and communion.- W. F. A. Ver. 20.-Thanksgiving. There are three points in this exhortation to thanksgiving thn.t arrest our attention, viz. the time, the objects, and the method. I. TBE TIME FOR THA.NKSGIVI50. There is a time for everything. When, there- fore, is tha.nks~ving seasonable? Always. Ail we should pray without ceasing by linng in constant colll.!D.unication with God, so a spirit of gratitude should pervade our whole life and express itself by the brightness and colour that it gives to every.action (Ps. xx:xi,. 1). If the conteKt limits the application of St. Paul's words to public worship (,er. 17), the breadth of their incidence is still very significant. Every Chris- ti.an a:ssembly sh011ld be joyons with praise, in every prayer supplication should be mingled mth thanksgiving (PhiL iv. 6). There are tim~s when this i&..difficult, e.g. in trouble and in moods of spiritual depression. But the difficulty would be diminished if we thought 1658 of our own feelings and more of the gifts_.and deeds of God's; good- ness. Modern religion is too subjective, and thereforo it fluctuates with our varyinp; phases of experience. Thanksgiving should call us out of. ourseLves. to contemplate and praise God. Under the darkest cloud a thankful heart will see innumerable co.uses of gratitude. But let our thanksgiving be honest." If we do not feel grateful, do not let us try to force the expression of gratitude. , IL THE OBJECTS OF TH.U"KSOIVINO. "All things." 1. Personal blessings. While we thank God for common gifts to all mankind, our gratitude would be warmer and more genuine if we reflected on the special proofs of his goodness in our own lives. 2. Jt':resh bleEsinga. If thanksgiving is to be perpetual it must constantly find new food for gratitude. This, of all parts of worship, should not be a mere repetition of old, worn thoughts. Our ideas on this point are too narrowed by conventionality. If we art careful to say grace before me.at, why should we not be equally ready to thank God for a good book, a cheerful visit, or a refreshing walk? 3. Thing, that we ca,nnot see t.o be bleui'fl{Js. Gratitude for troubles is difficult to realize. lt is only possible through faith. But if we believe that God is blessing us in them we should thank him aa one would thank a surgeon for e.en amputating a limb to save his patient's life. lIL 'IHl! METHOD oY TBANUOIVING. 1. It. should be offered to God our Father. It is a direct speakin 6 to God. Ail he is the Father of mercies, his fatherhood should be the attribute that is most in our thoughts when we praiso him. We are not render- ing adulation to a distant monarch who claims it as the condition of sparing our lives; we: are expressing our love and genuine devotion to our Father. 'fhcrc should, there- OH, V, 1-33,] 'l'llE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS.
fore, be no cringing abjectness in our worship, It should be cheerful and confident. 2. The thanksgiving is to be given in the Name of Ohrist; i.e. (1) in recognition that Go,l's blessings come to us through Christ; and (2) as receiving and appreciating them in the ,;pirit of Christ.-W. F. A.