aad the Christian cause is damaged in the eyes of the world by those most anxious to promote it ,}hN?ugh their unwisdom ~nd narrow-mindedness l. "I am become all things to all men, said St. Paul, "that I might by all means save some" (1 Cor. ix. 20-22). And his bearing towards men of so many different ranks and classes in the strangely mixed society in which he moved, shows that this was no vain. boast, (1) Tho first coudition of success in seeking to influence others for their Jiic,b,est good next to nn earnest_ desire to do so, is that one should understand them. And this is imp~ssible with- out pams and study and a 13:rge-hearted Christian sympathy. So with the, 11/issfonary amongst the heathen; so with the minister at home; so with the priv~te' Christian seeking to win to Christ his worldly friends or business associates; if he is to persuqde men (2 Cor. v. ll), he must understand the truth in its persuasive power, and he mu~t understand men and how they are to be persuaded. (2) But the Christian mus't be wise for himself as well as for others. His wisdom must be circumspect. It is his :first bu.siuess_ to "keep himself unspotted from the world" (Jas. i. 27); to take care that, bemg "m ~he world," he be not" of the world" (John xvii. 14-18). He should have "good testimony from them that are without," especially if he hold any office in the Church (1 Tim. iii. 7)-such a repute as will "adorn his Saviour's doctrine;" and yet he must rejoice if "men se.y all manner of evil against him falsely for Christ's sake'.' (Matt. v. 11). The wisest and most careful behaviour cannot always, avoid suspicion, where malice and slander are busy. 2. To wisdom must be added promptness and al,ert activity. There must be a quick eye for each opportunity as it arises, ap,d an instant, vigorous effort to take advantage of it. The right occasion makes the right action. A thing well done or well said at one time may be malapropos if timed a little sooner or later, (1) We must cherish a keen sense of the value and the shortness of time itself-of our own personal lifetime, the single opportunity granted us for doing God's work on earth, the seed-time for an eternal harvest, "t.he day" with its "twelve hours" when the day's work must be done, or left undone for ever (John ix. 4; Ps. xx.x:i.x. 4; xc. 12; 1 Car. vii. 29; Heb. iii. 7, 13). (2) At the same time, we must have a proper understanding of the work assigned us, a sense of our individual calling in life, a recognition of the particular "will of God" respecting ourselves as from time to time it may be indicated. We must acquaint ourselves with the conditions of our time and of our work, so that each may be fitted to the other, and that we may not ,vaste our strength by misdirection or "fight as 0l)e. that beateth the air," but may be able to "serve the counsel of God/or our own gerz,eration"(Acts xiii. 36). (3) And, finally, we must be animated by a vigorous, earnest spirit--unhasting, unresting---neither dulled by sloth nor fretted by impatience, So, "as good stewards of the manifold grace of God" (1 Pet. iv. 10), we shall tum every moment and every opportunity and every endowment of our nature to the best account, and shall be able "at his coming" to u render back to our heavenly Master "his own with usury (Matt. xxv. l::7). And this is" redeeming the time" (ver. 5). 3. Where a wise, and wisely energetic, Christian man has the gift of apt and winning speech (ver. G), his Christian usefulness )s l~rgely multiplied. Indeed, the ordinary talk of an ordinary Christian, who cannot shme rn the brilliant gifts of eloquence or wit, will at least be free from everything foolish and inept, from everything gross and ill-mannered. '!'hough he be .but a plain and unlettered man, his conversation will manifest a thouahlful, observant mind, and a pure and chastened disposition. Living a life of prayerf~l communion with God and with eternal things, "meditating in his Law day and night" (Ps, i. 2), be will be "taught of God;" and when he speaks, "the opening of his lips will be right words." It is astoni~hing how much shrewdness and kindly good sense and helpfulness, how much of the highest and homeliest moral wisdom, drawn from the everyday experience of life and the lessons of nature, is found sometimes in men who know scarcely any book but their English Bible, and Lave had little culture but that which is given by pmyer (Jas. i. 5). A simple ChriBtian man of this kind will often know better than the practised scholar "how to answer" concerning his hope, and will baffle the questionings of a clever scep- ticism. .And when fine culture has been employed upon good abilities under the teaching of the Spirit of truth, and large knowledge has been gathered from books and men, the outcome in the man's conversation ought to be something rich and valuable in a high degree. (1) Attractive speech jsoneofGod's "greater gifts" (1 Cor. xii. 31), to be humbly sought and diligently improved and wisely and seriously used. There is none moro CH. IV. 1-18.] THE EPISTLE TO 'fllE COLOSSIANS. 21Q
commonly and lamentably abused. How much that is said in Christian circles woul,l be left unsaid if only that which is "good unto cdifyin:;:" (Eph. iv. 29) were allowed to pass the lips I (2) But this rule by no means forbids kindly humour and the play c,f wit, The "salt" that "seasons" conversation (ver. 6) contains these wholesome ingre- dients. A dull, uniform gravity is not the most edifying style of discourse. But the purpose and the effect of a Christian man's speech shoulrl always be serious, however light and graceful the form which on proper occasions it may assume. The conversation of the social circle is one of the greatest "opportunities" to be "redeemed" for Christ; and is afforded to us all. And especially when we meet those who are not ChristianR, the prejudiced, the ~ceptical, the wavering, much may depend on our being "ready" with "the meekness of wisdom" to "give an answer to every man that asketh a reason of the hope that is in us" (1 Pet. iii. 15). The private conversation of the Church in its daily intercourse with the world should be a powerful ally to the public ministry of the Word (vers. 4, 6).