i■ essential to improving the connection between the more and the less prosperous con• ditions of society. Till Christianity shall have breathed into us this spirit of respect for our nature, wherever it is found, we shall not know how to raise the fallen. Perhaps none of us have yet beard or can comprehend the tone of voice in which a rnnn thoroughly impressed with this sentiment would speak to a fellow-creature" (Channing). This duty is fittingly made the basis; for when we have learned to honour all men for the worth of their nature, we shall come more readily to being sub- ject to what God ha.s appointed for man-including civil government. 2. '1.'he brother- hood. "Love the brotherhood." \Ve are to understand all that truly belong to the Christian circle. We are to love men beyond the brotherhood, but compassionately with a view to their being brought within the brotherhood. It is only within the brotherhood that we can get outlet for our brotherly feelinus, because it is there only that there is community of life, that there are excellences in which we can rest with complacency. "In its true idea, or regarded as the union of those who partake in the spirit of Jesus Christ, I revere it as the noblest of all associations. Our common soci:tl unions are poor by its side. In the world we form ties of interest, pleasure, and am bit.ion. We come together as creatures of time and sense for transient amuee- men tor display. In the Church we meet a.s God's children; we recognize in ourselves something higher than animal and worldly life. We come, that holy feelings may spread from heart to heart. '!'he Church, in its true idea, is a retreat from the world. We meet in it that by union with the holy we may get strength to withstand our common intercourse with the impure. We meet to adore God, to open our souls to his Spirit, and, by recognition of the common Father, to forget all distinctions among ourselves. This spiritual union with the holy is to survive all ties; the union of the virtuous friends of God is as eternal as virtue; and this union is the essence of the true Church." Let us, thee, value the brotherhood as meeting the social side of our spiritual life; let our love go out towards a.II who have the reality of life in Christ, however much they may differ from us ; let our love go out towards them even in pro- portion to the depth of their life; let us rejoice in the progress they are making ; Jet us seek also the better realization of the brotherhood, including many conquests for it from the world. Stress was to be laid on this in connection with subjection to civil authorities; for iI the brotherhood was dear to them as Zion of old to the captives (I's. cxxxvii.), great care was to be taken that there was no unnecessary collision with these authorities. 3. God. "Fear God." This is the feeling of reverence which we are to entertain towards God as infinitely exalted above us. \Ve are to fear God because of the far-reaching power, wisdom, even goodness, which he has displayed in his works. Even in the contemplation of a little flower, Linnmus said, "God eternal, omniscient, omnipotent, I saw him as he was passing by from behind, and I was amazed." We are to fear him because he gave us being, because he has bound us by natural law, because he has especially bound us as free responsible beings by moral law. We a.re to fear him who is the absolutely holy Lawgiver, and especially when he commands from Calvary. It is evident that this fear to God has to do with subjection to civil authorities. It will keep us from over-estimating the ruler, !:.S though his word were simply to be obeyc<l, his example to be followed. We have first to inquire whether no injury is done thereby to Divine law. It will keep us, on the other hand, from under-estimating the ruler. .As placed over us under God, be has (with the necessary reservation that bas been pointed to) a right to our obedience. 4. ThB king. "Honour the king." We may esteem the king because of bis personal exc~llen?e, :rnd we may Le attached to bis rule because of the advantages connected with it; uut we honour him because of the office which he holds. Without this feeling animat- ing us, we cannot give subjection so as to enjoy the approval of our God.-R. F.
Vers. 18-25.-SubJection of servants to their masters. I. THE GENEDAL NATURE OF THE suDJECTIOO TO MASTERS. " Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all fear." The word for "servants" here is more courteous than in Ephesians and Culossians. It is literally "domestics," and includes free servants and bondservants. From the strain of the exhortation it would seem that the latter are principally addressed. It belongs to the present constitution of things (and for ends of training) that some are ill the position of requiring i;crvice, others are in the position of render• orr. n. 1-25.J THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETER. 125