Christianity tends to do away with, that proud spirit that sets up castes and oppose# class to class, preventing that cordial sympathy that should ever bind together all the many members in the great family of man. Why should we be proud? What are we proud of? Is it of our bodies? They are “fearfully and wonderfully made,” yet dust they are, and unto dust they must return. Is it of our souls? God “ breathed into man’s nostrils the breath of life, and he became a living soul.” Is it of what we are? We are only creatures of a day, and our foundation is in the dust. Is it of what we have? We have nothing, be it worldly wealth, or intellectual endowment, or physical superiority, or spiritual grace,—-nothing that we have not received. We are pensioners on the Divine bounty, daily recipients of the Divine favour, almoners on the liberality of God. Most of us have read the Rev. Legh Richmond’s little book entitled ‘The Dairyman’s Daughter,’ and the text which by the blessing of God became the means of converting that once poor, proud girl, That text was, “ Be ye clothed with humility ” (¢yxouBdoacde : literally, “ wrap tight round you your humility,” in allusion to Christ irding himself with a towel to wash his disciples’ feet), and by its application to her eart she was led to feel her own emptiness and Christ’s fulness. Next to the robe of Christ’s righteousness, and inseparably connected with it, is this garment of humility which distinguishes every converted soul, which every child of God puts on, and which every Christian wears, Of all the many promises of Scripture, not one is made to the proud. ‘God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble;” “The humble and the contrite heart the Lord will not despise.” 3. A second characteristic 1s teachableness, Christ was “meek and lowly in heart.” He invites us to learn of him. Most children are docile; at all events, childhood and youth are the seasons for learning. Though there is no age however advanced at which we should not be learners, and no stage ol progress at which we shall not have still much to learn—for here “ we only see through & vlass, darkly "—yet there is truth in the trite old proverb, “‘ Learn young, learn well.” The Christian, by hie very profession and by his practice, when truly converted to is a disciple; and what is that but a learner, a scholar in the school of Christ? There are three teachers in this school—the Word of God, the providence of God, and the Spirit of God. The entrance in of that Word giveth light; it makes “wise unto salvation.” Every time we hear it preached, or peruse it prayerfully and thoughtfully, the light is brightened and increased. It is our privilege, and should be our pleasure, to study that Word daily and diligently, dutifully and devoutly. If it were only a single text meditated on each day, it would result in spiritual blessing. We are to search this Word. There is @ treasure in it, and we are to dig for that treasure—a pearl of great price, and we are ¢o seek for that pearl, and, if needs be, part with everything else rather than miss it, That treasure is Christ, “in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” That pearl is Christ—a pearl of exceeding price. There are shallows in this Word where a child may wade, and depths which no human line can fathom. “Search the Scriptures,” said our Lord; “for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” The providence of God teaches us in many ways and furnishes many lessons. We need grace to mark those lessons and follow the leadings of that providence, and in this way the most afflictive dispensations are productive of , 80 that there is occasion to say, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted.” he Spirtt of God is the great Teacher, he leads us into all truth, he takes of the things of Christ and ahows them to us, he convinces us of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. Let us pray for childlike docility of spirit ; let us come to the three teachers we have named, and hear what God the Lordi will say to our souls. 4. A third characteristic ts trustfulness. Children are proverbially confiding. When we pass from the years of childhood we become wary—too wary; cautious—often far too cautious, though never too circumspect. Let a parent make a promise to his child; that child never questions his father’s word, he never doubts his father’s ability to perform his promise, he never suspects his father’s willingness to make good what he has said, Would that we all acted thus towards our heavenly Father! Would that we all took him in this childlike manner and with this childlike trustfulness at his word! Would that we all sought the Spirit of adoption, by which we could look up and say, “Our Father in heaven,” and inward and say, “ Abba, Father,” and outward and around saying, “All things work together for good to them that love God,”—the beautiful things of earth and sea and sky are mine, for my Father made them all, In the ‘ Life of Sir
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Henry Havelock,’ one is amused with a remarkable example of childlike confidence on the part of his son which is recorded therein. Sir Henry had had occasion to call at a public office on business. He left his son at the door to wait for him outside, The father, after despatching the business in hand, passed out of the office by another way, in total forgetfulness of his son and of the appointment made with him. The boy, however, had such perfect confidence in his father’s promise and usual punctuality, that he waited, and waited, and continued waiting all the day long, till ale shades of evening were gathering. By that time something had occurred to remind Sir Henry | of his sen, when, going immediately to the place, he found him on the spot where he had left him in the morning. God has given us his sure Word of prophecy and promise; he bids us wait, and that prophecy will be fulfilled and that promise per- formed. An earthly parent may fail or forget; God never forgets his promise, nor fails to perform. it to his people. He is never slack concerning his promise; at the time of Ne it shall come, and not tarry. It is ours to wait and watch and work, “ for