owner. calls in the help of no one else. He is satisfied with what he himself can perform. So with the hypocrite. Self-esteem is the rock upon which he splits. There is no religion like his own, no righteousness like his, and so he wraps himself up in it like a web, and desires none of the righteousness of his Saviour, or the pardon of his God. (5) Because it does not answer any other good purpose, except the temporary sustenance of the It does not afford shelter, for the first breath will blow it away; nor a dwelling, for it is too flimsy. But it provides food for the spider. How many a hypocrite lives on his profession. He puts on religion for some selfish purpose; goes to church or chapel to get custom, and to gain the money of the respectable. (6). Because at the last it must be swept away. The spider's. web may remain in a hidden corner for a season, but at last the prudent housewife will be sure to detect it, and she will call her maid, who with her brush will make but short work both of the spider and his web. So the hypocrite may for a time escape the notice of his fellow-creatures, but the time will come when the all-searching eye of God shall see this refuge of lies, and it shall be swept away, and destroyed in the fireof hell. Vicar of Colerne, Chippenham. Hypocrisy. J. S. BIRD, B.A. A hypocrite may be both the fairest and the foulest creature in the world; he may be fairest outwardly in the eyes of man, and foulest inwardly in the sight of God. How uncommonly do such unclean swans cover over their black flesh with their white feathers. Though such wear the mantle of Samuel, that should bear the name of Satan. Secker. Germs of Thought. THE PREACHER'S FINGER-POST. The Worthless, the Subordinate, and the Vital in Personal Christianity. "BUT I WILL COME TO YOU SHORTLY, IF THE LORD WILL, AND WILL KNOW, NOT THE SPEECH OF THEM WHICH ARE PUFFED UP, BUT THE POWER. FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOT IN WORD, BUT IN POWER."-1 Cor. iv. 19, 20. In the first part of these verses we have two things worthy of note. First: The spirit that should regulate all our purposes. "I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will." Paul had purposed to visit Corinth, but he held that purpose subject to the will of God-"If the Lord will." This is the spirit that should ever rule finite minds. Secondly: The liability of the best men to disappointments. It seems that some circum stance had occurred to prevent Paul from paying his intended visit to Corinth, so that he had to send Timothy instead. This disappointment caused some of his enemies at Corinth to be "puffed up." Disappointment is the lot of all, even of the best. The words suggest three things in relation to Christianity the worthless, the subordinate, and the vital. I. The WORTHLESS. "The speech of them which are puffed up." It may be that the special reference of the Apostle here is to those members of the Church at Corinth who proudly asserted that Paul would not venture to visit Corinth again. And when they heard that he was sending Timothy instead they boasted, may be, that Paul was afraid to come himself. They were "puffed up" with the idea that they knew more about Paul's feeling and intention than their fellow members. They were inflated with the spirit of vanity and conceit. Now there has always been, and still is, a great deal of this conceit in professors of religion. What is called the Christian world seems to be as rife with "puffs as the world of commerce, literature, or politics. The "puffed up spirit of conceit is disgustingly prevalent. Some in connection with Christianity are puffed up, First: On account of the superior contributions they are able to make to the cause of charity and religion. Having more of this world's goods than others, their 66 names stand pre-eminent on subscription lists, are emblazoned in reports, and are loudly trumpeted in secretarial oratory on platforms. The more they give the more they are praised, and the more they are praised the more they are "puffed up." Some are puffed up," Secondly: On account of their superior intellectual endowments. Not a few, both amongst the laity and the preachers in our churches, imagine themselves as possessing mental faculties and furniture, far superior to the majority, and they are "puffed up.' But the very fact that they are "puffed up this ground, proves the inferiority of their mental endowments. As a rule, the higher a man's intellectual endowments, the more humble he will be. The prigs and pedants in our pulpits, as well as in our pews, are objects of disgust to the truly on thoughtful and devout. Some are 66 puffed up,” Thirdly On account of the extensive popularity they have obtained. Not long since, an inflated pulpiteer was boasting to me of the crowds he attracted to his church, and the wonderful relish they displayed for his utterances. Those who are acquainted to any extent with the gross tastes, crude notions, and vulgar sentiments of the populace, will scarcely be disposed to render great honour to the man who will attract the largest numbers. The most miserable prints have the largest circulation, the most empty talkers attract the largest audiences. Some are "puffed up," Fourthly: On account of the supposed superiority of the Church or sect to which they belong. Such people are constantly glorifying "our Church,' "our denomination," "our body.” A great Churchman must be a small man, a great Nonconformist must be a small man. He who is impressed with the greatness of the universe, still more with the greatness of God, could hardly consider any human institution great. What is the roof or dome of the greatest cathedral on earth to the spangled heavens that over-arch us? Some are "puffed up," Fifthly: On account of the assumption that they and their community are the special favourites of heaven. There are those who regard themselves as being “in the covenant,' the "dear elect," the "chosen few," whilst the great bulk of the race are outside the pale of saving mercy and the and the divine regard; and they are "puffed up by this impious delusion, and talk to their fellow-men with supercilious haughtiness. If a man wishes to meet foundation of the most ridiculous and contemptible vices-the vices of affectation and common lying." Aye, this "puffing up" spirit, this vanity is "the canker of religion, it gnaws like a worm at the root, and when we look for the harvest it is dust and bitterness." Another thing which the words suggest in relation to Christianity is II. The SUBORDINATE. What is the subordinate ? The "word." "The kingdom of God is not in word." Take the "word" here as representing profession in religion. What the Apostle says is, that the kingdom of God is not in profession. There should be a "word" or profession, but this is not religion. Not unfrequently do we find, in the New Testament especially, the subordinate element depreciated as compared with the vital. Thus Paul depreciates baptism as compared with preaching. First: A profession of true religion is important in itself inasmuch as it is a duty. "Whosoever shall confess Me before men," says Christ, "him will I confess before My Father and His holy angels." But it is a duty only where the reality exists. The man who has not religion sins and acts in violation of duty and his profession is hypocrisy. The profession of a thing is not the thing itself, though the divine thing should have public expression. It should be strong enough to be irrepressible in demonstration. Secondly: The profession of true religion is an aid to religion itself. It is possible, it may be, for religion I |