apostle. There were false teacher■ ln Ephesus who, from a pretended interest in the cla1111 of Christian slavea, taught them that the gospel was a political charter of emanci- pation; for the yoke of Christ was designed to break every other yoke. They must have been of the class referred to elsewhere who "despised government" (2 Pet. ii. 10; Jude 8), and encouraged disobedience to parents. The tendency of their teaching would be to sow the seeds of discontent in the minds of the slaves, and its effects would be to plunge them into a contest with society which would have the unhappiest effects. 2. 'l.'M opposition of thi, teaching to Divine truth. (1) It was opposed to" wholesome words," to words without poison or taint of corruption, such as would maintain social relation• on a basis of healthy development. (2) It was opposed to the words of Christ, either directly or through hie apostles. He had dropped sayings of a suggestive character which could not but touch the minds of the slave class: "Render to Cresar the things that are Ca1sar's;" "Blessed are the meek : for they shall inherit the earth ; " "Resist not evil;• "Love your enemies, pray for them which despitefully use you." (3) It was opposed to the doctrine of godliness. It was a strange thing for teachers in the Church to espouse doctrines opposed to the interests of godliness. The disobedience of slaves would commit them to a course of ungodly dishonouring of God and his gospel II, TJm MORAL ANl> INTELLECTUAL llllABAarEB OF THE8E FALSE TEACHERS, 1. They were "besotted with pride." They were utterly wanting in the humility of spirit which the gospel engenders, but were puffed up with an empty show of know- ledge. 2. Yet tMy wt:re ign0'1'ant. "Knowing nothing." They bad no true under- standing of the social risks involved in their doctrine of emancipation, or of the true method of ameliorating the condition of the slaves. 3. They " doted about questions and dispute, about WO'l'da." They had a diseased appetency for all sorts of profitless discussions turning upon the meanings of words, which had no tendency to promote godlinells, but rather altercations and bad feeling of all sorts--" from which cometh envy, strife, evil-speakings, wicked suspicioDB, incessant quarrels." These controversial collisions sowed the seeds of all sorts of bitter hatred. 4. The m0'1'al deficiency oj thu.false teacMr,. They were "men corrupted in their mind, destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is gain." (1) '!'hey had first corrupted the Word of God, and thus prepared the way for the debasement of their own mind, leading in turn to that pride and ignorance which were their most distinguishing qualities. (2) They were "deprived of the truth." It was theirs once, but they forfeited this preciou~ treasure by their unfaithfulness and their corruption. It is a dangerous thing to tamper with the truth. (3) They heard that " godliness was a source of gain." They did not preach contentment to the slaves, or induce them to acquiesce with patience in their hard lot, but rather persuaded them to use religion as a means of worldly betterment. Buch counsel would have disorganizing, disintegrating effects uron society. But it was, besides, a degradation of true religion. Godliness was not designed to be II merely lucrative business, or to be followed only so far as it subserved the promotion of worldly interests. Simon Magus and such men as " made merchandise " of the disciples are examples of this class. Such persons would "teach thinga which they ought not for the sake of baae gain" (TitUII i. 11).-T. C. Ven. 6-8.-The real gain of tnu godlimal. The apoetle, after his manner, expands his idea beyond the immediate occasion that led to it. I. 'l'BE GAIN OF GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT. "But godliness with content- ment is great gain." 1. Godliness is a gain in itself, because it has " the promise oj the life that now is, and of that which is to come." Godly men come into happy an<l thriving circumstances, for they are tau~ht to pursue their ca\liugs with due industry, foresight, and perseverance. 2. Godliness, allied to cO'lltentment, is great gu in. (1) Thi ■ does not mean that contentment is a condition necessary to the gaiulul character of godlinesa, but is rather an effect of godliness and part of it11 substantial gain. 11 is a calm and sedate temper of mind about worldly interests. It is God's wisdom and will not to give to all men alike, but the contented mind is not disquieted by this fact. (2) The godly man is content with what be posseSl'es; submits meekly to God's will, and bears patiently the adverse dispensations of his providence. The godly heart i1 freed from the thirst for perishing treasures, becaWMI it p o ~ treasures of a higher anj more enduring charaoter. I, TIJlOTBY, S 130 THE FIRST EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY. [ OK. TL 1--,ll,
II. TIil!: REASON Jl'OB THI8 SENTIMENT. " For we brought nothing Into the world hecaUBe neither are we able to take anything out of it." 1, We are appointed 1,y God lo come nalced into the world. We may be born heirs to vast po88esslons but they :lo not become ours ti(I we a~e actually born. Rich and poor alike brin'g nothing into the world. 2. This fact is a reason for the statement that we can carry nothing out of the world. It is between birth and death we can hold our wealth. The rich man cannot carry his Pstales with him into the grave. He will have no need of them in the next life. 3. There could be no contentment if we could take anything with 1tS at dmlh, because in that case the future would he dependent upon the present. 4. The lesson lo be learned from th&e facts is that we ought not eagerly to grasp such essentially earthly and transitory treasures. III. THE TRUl!: WISDOM OF OONTENTMENT. " But if we have food and raiment ~it~ these let ~ b~ ~atisfied." These are !"hat Jacob desired, Agur prayed for, and Chnst tangbt bis d1sc1ples to make the subJect of dai!v supplication. The contented godly ha"e these gifts along with God's blessing. The Lord does not encourage his people to enlarge their desires inordinately.-T. C.