tu the favour of our God. But the grace of God is oppos<1d neither to those la\vs 0f t.he humnn mind which point towards tbis diversity iu tho degree of tho rewards of tho faithful, nor to that Divine righteousness which points in the same direcUon. "For God. iR n?t unrighte?ns to forget your work," etc. (Heh. vi. 10). The extent and quaht~, ot personal faith, character, and service are the measures of personal glory and reward. Therefore let us aim at the highest in persona.I character, and the best in personal service; let ns labour that we may "receive a full reward." III. THE MEANS TO BE EMPLOYED. "Look to yourselves," etc. Be on your guard, that you are not led astray from tbe true faith of Uhrist by these deceivers; diligently use the means, so " that ye lose not the things which we have wrought," eto. 1. Guard, against error in your religious faith. Tho things that we really a.nd heartily believe are of the utmost importance to us. Avoid, on the one hand, bigotry, and on the other, laxity of religious belief. "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." Let no one t3mper v.ith your faith in the grand verities of Christianity. 2. Seek to know more of Christian truth. "Search the Scriptures." By so doing you will become established in the true faith ; and if in anything your faith be erroneous or defective, by bringing it to the touchstone of the Word of God you will discover the error or defect. 3. Maintain your spiritual TJitality. In seasons of prevalent disease persons whose physical vitality is low are most likely to fall victims to it. So a low state of piety renders a man an easy prey to error. One of the most effective s11.feguards against the corruption of our faith is a healthy, vigorous, spiritual life. 4. The most effer.tiTJe way of l,ooking to oursilTJes is looking earnestly to Ghrist. That will secure our safety, our progress, and our full reward. Some set out in Christian life and service with fervent zeal, and work earnestly for a time, and then grow lukewarm, and decline into almost useless ser<"&nts. Great will be their loss, and eternal. Let it not be so with us. Let us be covetous of & rich reward, and ambitious of & splendid crown, and diligent both in the pursuit of holiness and of duties of the Divine Master's service, that at last we may have a triumphal "entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."-W. J.
Ver. 9.-Man'6 true rel.ation to the doctrine of Christ. "Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ," etc. In our remarks we shall follow the Revised Version, which is sustained by the authority of all the oldest manuscripts. The text presents for our consideration- L THE SUPREME TEACHER OF THE DIVINE. Our Lord is here represented as the supreme a.Dd infallible Teacher of men in the things of God. "The doctrine of Christ " we understand as meaning the truth which Christ himself taught. And from the connection it seems in this place to refer especially to his teaching concerning the Divine Being and his relations with men. " Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same bath both the Father and the Son." Concerning God, and his attitude and relation to us, our Lord is the supreme Teacher. 1. .As regard.s his word.s. "No man bath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." Tm some of his declarations. "God is a Spirit," etc. (John iv. 24). 'fhe parable of the prodigal son is a wonderfully beautiful representation of ~he attitu~e of the Father towards his rebelli,ms children, also towards his penitent children. His conversation with Nicodemus sets forth with great clearness and force the infinite love of God in the gift of his Son, and the way of salvation for man. The sermon on the mount is a most luminous exposition of the will of the Father towards men. 2• .As regards his life. The life of the Lord Jesus Christ is the supreme revelation of God. "The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his gl~ry, glory as of the Ouly Btgotten from the Father), full of grace and truth." "Jesus sa1th, I am the Way, arid the Truth, and the Life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me," etc. (John :xiv. 6-10). "Neither doth any know the Father, eave the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son willeth to reveal him." II. M..ur's TRUE BEL.ATION TO THE SUPREME TEA.OHING OF THE DIVINE. He must ab)de in it. There is danger of his renouncing it. " Whosoenr goeth onward ~~d ab1deth not in the teaching of Christ," etc. "Goeth onward," or" taketh the lead, 1s • somewhat diffu.lult expression. It may mean, "every one who would set up for a 1-13.J THE SECOND EPISTLE OF JOHN. 13