Ver. 2.-.Aged Ohristian men. "That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in cl,arity, in patience." There are appropriate fruits for every time or life, and the Christian man bringeth forth fruit io his season. A frivolous, fantastical age is a distasteful spectacle. Old age should be ch~erful; but fun should be without frivolity, and laughter without levity. I. THE REVERENCE DUE TO AGE. We look for 8obriety of character as the result of the experience of a man who has found that there are limits to all expectations; gravity io one who is 11eari11g his great account; and temperance in one who is supposed to have trampled down the fierce p,1ssions of youth. We reverence age for the consistency of the loug years of life,, a11d for fidelity to conscience and to Christ. II. THE FRUITS THAT MAY RIPEN 1N AGE. They are: 1. Faith, which is a grace that grows. As men know more of Christ by heart-experiences and lii'e-experiences, so ought their faith to increase in him whose promises have all been" Yea and Ameo." 2. Oharity, alike iu kindly estimate of others, m less bigotry, and in more compre- beosiveness of embrace tc all who may belong to other folds uoder the great Shepherd. 3. Patience. I<'or while manhood has to work, age at eventide has to wait, sometimes in pain or in weakness. Still "they serve" while they wait, by prayer and quiet submission tc the great will, the Lord's will. They are "examples to the flock."- W. M. S. Ver. 3.-Aged Ohristum women. "The aged women likewise." Our" behaviour" is a ~ign of our character. We cannot hide the "roots" of our life. Wee.ls or flowera soon appear upon the earth. I. HoLY WOMEN. Not sanctimonious, or stiff, oc prudish; but holy. Never suffering irreverence to characterize their speech, levity to mark their looks, or folly to appear in their dreee or demeanour. Holy, so that their quiet fellowship with God may affect their influence, and the enjoyment of the "earnest of the heaveu" they are approachinr in their old age may be known by their conversation. II. TRUE WOMEN. "Not false accusers." This does not apply to courts of law, but to common life. 'fhe word is expressive; it is" make-bates," from which our word "abate." They <lo not lessen the honour, the reputation, the good report of others by accusations which are unworthy and untrue. III. 'l'EMPERATE WOMEN. "Not given to much wine." Never flushed with tlw semi-intoxication of indulgence. Never made frivolous and foolish in speech throu!!;l, strong drink. Avoiding this as the tyranny of a habit which may become with them a second nature. "Not given to much wine." IV. UsEFUL WOMEN. "Teachers of good things." Of the highest truths that make for salvation, and of all the truths which they have learned, that minister to industry, t.o 18 86 THE EPISTLE TO TITUB. [OH. U, 1-lf;.
household eoonomy, to thrift and piety and proaperlty. Every aged woman bas a large minist.ry to fulfil when 1be remembers bow large iB the category of .. good tbinga."- W. M. S.
Vera. -l, 5.-0ounsel, to YOUfl!J womM. Here there are what may be termed "in1tructions" to the aged women as to the counsels to be given by them to the youn" women. Such authority does the gospel give to age; such reverence and respeot fo~ .. ge does it expect from young women. Nations deteriorate in character whenever _voutb becomes insolent in its own independence, and reeentful of authority. • L SoBRrETY, or wi>ldom; that calm quietude or heart and mind whiob is not intoi:i- C3ted b~· ,anity, or carried away with the sensationalisIL of pleasure. II. CHASTITY. Alike in thought, in speech, and in manner and conduc\. Purity makes queeuly women. One stain spoils the most exquisite sculpture. The beauty or marhle i~ its purity, and the beauty of womanhood is chastity. II 1. Hou:-KEEPERS. Making home first of all a centre or attraction by Its order and cle,i.nliness and comfort ; then by its harmonies or peace and love, so that no discordant notes msy mar the music of its joy ; and then by avoidin)! gossiping visits, and the excitements of habitual restlessness, and a too great love of shopping, seouring the safety of economy and the honour of a wife who "weaves" all into beauty and order at home. IV. OsEDIENOB. Not slavish aubmission to man; for woman is his equal, and "was not," as an old divine says, "taken from his feet, to be beneath him, or bis bead, to be above him ; but from his side, to be equal with him." Still, there is the obedience which consists in consulting him, judging and conforming-where conscience is not uffended-to his juilgment and his wishes. All this that "the Word of God be not blasphemed," or its fame injured, which i1 th~ true meaning of bwpbeme, viz. to blast the fame of it.-W. M. S. Yer. 6.-0ounsds to young men. "Young men likewise exhort to be sober-minded," so tbat- L 1'Hn •A Y TAKE SUCH A VIEW or LD'B i l TO INCLUDE 1TB Dlll'PIOULTIES A!fD B.ESPO~SIBILITIES. Il. THEY II.AT BE KEPI' FllD FRO• THE UNDUB DISA.Pl'OINTKKNT OF TOO ENT.BIJSI• ASTIC llllillS. fil THEY II.AT BE KEPT FROll TBE WINE-CUP AND ALL llABllFUL 8TlllUL.ANTll IV. TBEY II.AT REMEMBER THAT Lll"E IS A SOLEllN TBING, P'ULL 01" .ACOOUNTABILl-:"Y. V. THEY II.AT KEEP TllEIB lllND8 OPBN TO OOCJ1111EL l"BOH AGB ABD EXPEBIENOE. -W. .M. S. Ven.. 7, 8.-~ ten,ch,e,'s injlu.enoe. Titl18 iB to remember that peraonal character i1 the most eloquent cour:,sel and the most convincing argument of the gospel. L PATTERN. Not a slavish ei:ample of mere deeds. For this is not the goRpel ideaL We are not to copy mere actions, but to catch the spirit of tlui teucher. This makes tru~ art, and it makes also true religion. We admire the pattern, but we do not copy it by "the rule of thumb," but by the adoption of the same spirit. Christ in us I '!'be mir.d of Christ. 11. DOCTRINE. Not mere dogma, which is an artificial thing, and may or may not be true, accordina as the authority which gives it may be wiBB and enlightened, or ignorant and su~rstitious. Doctrine is different. It is a revealed truth which has its responae in the heart and con.science, and its att.estation in life. This the gospel baa, And he iB to show "uncorruptness; " that is, he is not to defile it with worldly com- promise&. And "gravity;" for it is not meant to be the light theme of intellectual discD11Sion, but the gravest matt.er of obedience. Ami "sincerity." It ls not to be r,rtaehed for t::Dpf!dient reasons, as, for in"taoce, the ,ecurity of life, or the ,ajety of e1ui at.ate, or the ways in which even SocraLes would have men honour the god&, aahough ir:,wardly he diiibelieved in them; but with si&cerity of conviction as to their reality a!id truth. IIL SouND IIPEBOH. No hollow rhetoric. No i,tat.ementl in exceu of fact for the 111ke of impre¥ion i bot aonnd all through in argumeot. illuatration, and atte1tation. CR, O. 1-16.] THE J<~PIBTLE TO TITUS. 37
Such conduct and speech will 1hMM those who "see the fruite," and can -.y no "evil" of us.-W. M. S.