growth, of a rnrituro, noble, and serviceable character. 2. Especially, obedience and subjection a.re the best prer,ara.tion for the exercise of authority and command. As society is constituted, it is natural and necessary that, whilst generation succeeds generation, the younger should step into the places of those who have gone before them, and should wield the power which they formerly acknowledged and cheerfully obeyed. 3. 'l'hns the order and happiness of society and of the Christian Church are secured and promoted. Insubordioation is a curse a.like to Church and state. True liberty and true order are not opposed, but harmonious. It is well with that community where the elder and the rulers exercise their power in the sight of God and for the public good; and where the younger and the subject submit themselves "to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake."-J. R. T. Vera. 5, 6.-0hristian humility. It is natural for men to think highly of themselves and depreciatingly of others. Pride was always reckoned by the old Catholic moralists among the seven deadly sins. It is a sin into which too many habitually fall, however it may seem to them anything but a sign of degradation. Christianity attacks this habit, and seeks to substitute for it in human character the fair but often despised grace of humility. I. THE SPHERE OF HUMILITY. 1. The Christian is humble before God. A just and scriptural conception of the Divine a.ttrib:1tes is necessary to true humility. A man must compare himself with infinite greatness and excellence, with infinite power and wisdom, in order that he may form a proper estimate of himself. Such humility displays itself in reverential prayer, in scrupulous obedience, in patient submission, especially under disciplinary affliction. 2. The Christian is humble in his demeanour towards his fellow-men. '!'his is a far more difficult exercise. And it must not be supposed that humility is expected, of the same kind and the same degree, in the attitude of man to man, as in the attitude of man to God. A wise man is not required to regard " fool as his superior in wisdom, or a virtuous man to regard a criminal as his superior in character. But the Christian is to guard against an overbearing and haughty spirit ; he is to treat the lowly and the poor with due respect and considerir tion. Humility is best shown iu the bearing of a man towards those who are his inferiors, and even towards those who are ungrateful for favours and services. II. THE DISCIPLINE AND HABIT OF HUMILITY. The expression in the original translated "gird yourselves with humility," is not without difficulty; yet it seems to imply both that an effort and resolution are required, and that humility is to become a vestment, a clothing, to be habitually worn for use. III. THE MOTIVES TO HUMILITY. The need of powerful motives in order to overcome powerful temptations is obvious; and such motives are provided for the Christian's benefit and a.id. 1. The consciousness of our own feebleness and ill desert. None who truly knows himself can cherish pride, His frequent errors in the past, his liability still to err, must be too present to his mind to allow of self-confidence and boa.sting. 2. The pressing necessity of the service of man. All around us a.re those who need help. It may not promote our personal advantage to minister to their needs; and such ministry may involve the sacrifice of self, the crucifix.ion of pride. 3. The prospect of the future exaltation of the lowly. This is a proper motive, for it is one presented by the inspired writers. The way of self-denial is the way to victory. 4. The precepts and example of the Lord Jesus himself must have great force with his affectionate followers; end he has shown us that it is right and admirable even " to wash one another's feet" 1-J. R. T.
Ver. 7.-The cure of care. The Christian religion is not simply a body of doctrine, it is a provision of grace. Its practical helpfulness has been proved by all who have accepted its guidance and put themselves under its authority. It is intenu.ed not merely to brighten this life, when dark, by the prospect of a better life to come, but to supply motives to service and to endurance, even when toil is hard and thankless and trials are many and oppressive. I. TnE ILL THAT CALLS FOR REMEDY, This is anxiety ; and from the beginning humau lifo has abounded in occasions of anxiety. No doubt the measure of this evil Vl\ries with the character and temperament of individuals, and with their needs and I, PETEII Q 226 THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETER. [oa. v. 1-14.
ciroums~nces. The anxieties of some are personal; those of others are relative. Many are anxious because health is broken, or circumstances are narrow, or a vocation is uncong~nial. Some are anxious concerning the prospects of their children, others concernmg the state of their Church or their country. The anxieties of not n fe,v arise from their spiritual state-their tempt3tions, doubts, and fears. 'l'hese nnxietieR are distra_ctions, and have a tendency to depress the spirits, to mar h:ippiness, to cripple in the discharge of duty. • II. THE REMEDY PROPOSED FOR THIS ILL. It is, in the simple -Jangunge of St. Peter-language prompted, there can be no doubt, by his own personal experience-to cast anxiety upon God. But how is this to be done? It is to be done by confession i.e. where t~ere i~ a con~ciousnes~ of sin, where there has been distrust or murmuring'. By prayer; in which deliverance 1s to be sought. "Roll thy burden," ~aid the psalmist "upon the Lord." By faith; in which the anx:ious Christian, convinced of God's all~ sufficiency, is content to leave all that concerns him in the wise and merciful hands of his Father and Saviour. Whether the cause for anxiety be temporal or spiritual, great or small, persona.! or relative, the remedy is the s:i.me, and is equally efficacious. Ill. THE ENCOUR.!.GEM.EXT TO APPLY TIIE REMEDY TO THE ILL WITH A VIEW TO RELIEF A1''D CURE. The apostle assures us that God "careth for us." By this we understand that he observes, being minded otherwise than the fabled Epicurean deities, who were deaf to hnman cries and indifferent to human affairs. And he takes a deep and sympathetic interest in the condition and the sorrows of his children upon earth, Nor is this all. There are ways in which.Goel gives expression to his interest and care for his own. By his providence he guides and governs all human affairs for their good. And by his Spirit he brings their hearts into harmony with his will, and thus causes all things to work together for their good.-J. R. T.