prejudice from our eyes, till we come to see the King in his beauty, and behold the land which is afar off. Pride, however, shuts us out from this. The first lesson we have to learn is to think little of ourselves. Then and only then can we receive Christ as our all. Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." 2. Humility is essential to the growth of the Soul in holiness and grace. All true spiritual progress is the work of God. Of ourselves we can do nothing. The more humble we are, the more readily shall we realize and accept this our real position; and in doing so shall be induced to look to God for help and guidance. Hence we read that God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble. We cannot, therefore, receive grace at all, unless we be humble. Man is as clay in the hand of the potter. If he do not yield to the power and grace of God, how can He fashion him after His own will? Humility, then, prepares us to feel our inability to do any good thing of ourselves, and to look for all in God. 3. Humility opens the pathway to honour and glory. The first honour which is put upon the humble spirit is enjoyed here below. The Most High graciously condescends to come and dwell with him (Isa. lvii. 15). His heart becomes the abode of His God, and His body the temple of the Holy Ghost. This strikingly contrasts with the experience of Nebuchadnezzar, who, boasting of Great Babylon as the work of his own hands, and the expression of his own honour and glory, was cast out from his kingdom, to dwell with the beasts of the earth (Dan. iv. 30-33). God declares that He will put honour on them that honour Him. Hence the prophets of old, when they told and interpreted dreams or foretold things to come, took no credit to themselves, but gave the glory to God. The miraculous power which the Apostles exerted was associated with a recognition of the name of Christ. Thus Peter and John, after the lame man had been healed, disclaimed all power in themselves. When the people of Lystra took Paul and Barnabas for gods, and would have worshipped them, they restrained them with eagerness, declaring that they were but men like themselves. And even the Son of God Himself attained to the highest glory through His humility. He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." So God promises to honour them that honour Him, and to give a place in His kingdom now, and to recognise hereafter, those who come to Him with broken spirit, and serve Him with humble heart. The proud Pharisee might boast of his good works, his fasting and his tithes; but the heartbroken publican who, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast saying, God be merciful to me a sinner, went down to his house justified rather than the other: he that humble himself shall be exalted." Be ye therefore clothed with humility. 4. Humility is associated with the purest happiness. Mr. Ruskin says, "The peculiar characters of the grass, which ada it especially for the service of man, are its apparent humility an cheerfulness. Its humility, in that it seems created only for lowe service, appointed to be trodden on, and fed upon. Its cheerfulnes in that it seems to exult under all kinds of violence and sufferin You roll it, and it is the stronger the next day; you mow it, and it mu tiplies its shoots, as if it were grateful; you tread upon it, and it only sends up richer perfume. Spring comes, and it rejoices with all the earth glowing with variegated flame of flowers, waving in soft depth of fruitfu soil. Winter comes, and though it will not mock its fellow-plants by growing then, it will not pine and mourn, and turn colourless or lea less as they. It is always green, and is only the brighter and gaye for the hoar-frost." So humility in man helps him to maintain a serenit and calmness amidst all the storms of life. It makes him feel an know his true position, gives him a just and correct estimate of him self, directs him to look for everything out of himself in Jesus Chris and thus brings to him the peace of God which passeth all understand ing. What strong motives then have we to urge us to humility! Like th grass we shall soon perish. "All flesh is grass." Like the grass, then let us train our spirits to humility and cheerfulness. Our dwelling place is in the dust, and soon, whatever now our position and circum stances, we shall lie low in the earth. Of what then have we to b proud? Whatever we have is the gift of Divine grace and goodness If we are better situated than others; if we are more blest than ou fellow-men; if we are more highly privileged than many,—it is not du to ourselves, "Who maketh thee to differ from another, and what has thou that thou didst not receive?" Above all, the Lord Himself, the highest of all beings, sets us the example of humility. Though dwelling in eternal glory, He clothed himself in human flesh. Though He was rich for our sakes he became poor. Though being in the form of God, H thought it not robbery to be equal with God, yet He made himself of no reputation, took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And though He was holy, pure, and perfect, yet He was made sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him Be ye therefore clothed with humility. HOSPITALITY WITHOUT GRUDGING. ONE morning a poor man came to our house to sell my father a cow. He had walked five miles through the snow, and looked very tired. He was sorry to part with his cow, but said they had all been sick this fall, and he was obliged to do so in order to get food for his children through the winter. He looked far from strong, and I pitied him. But my mother did more than that. She came into the kitchen, where I was paring potatoes for our dinner, and said: "Just wash your hands, Edith, and get out the little waiter; put a plate of biscuits on it, while I heat up this coffee; now you may put on a little plate of butter, a piece of mince-pie, and some bread. I will cut off some beef from the outside of this roast, as it is nice and brown. Now all is ready but the coffee, and that will boil in a minute or two Over the hot coal fire. Take it in now, and put it on the little stand before Mr. Weaver. I know it will do him good; I dare say they live poorly this hard winter.' I felt sorry for the man, but it took my good mother to do all this for his comfort. She always offers refreshment to persons stopping here, who she thinks would be the better for it. I never knew my mother's cupboard so empty that there was not something in it for the needy. I don't believe there is a poor child in the town who has not had cause to remember it one time or another. They like to come to our house on errands. It did my heart good to see the pleased look on the poor man's face. The surprise was so great that he hardly knew what to say at first. But I did not wait long in the room after placing it before him, as I thought he could eat more comfortably if left to himself. He looked over the waiter with a real famine-like eager ness, much as he tried to restrain himself. "Give him a good price for his cow, father," I whispered, as I pulled his sleeve when he was passing through into the dining-room. "How much are you willing to deny yourself for the sake of his poor family, Pussy?" he asked, pinching my cheek softly. "About five shillings, I think, father." "All right, then," he said, giving me one of his own quiet laughs in the corner of his grey eyes. My father does not beat a poor man down in his prices. I believe he does business just as he thinks the Lord would approve if He were standing by. If there is one lesson of my childhood which I shall never forget, it is this: of being kind to the poor. He made his bargain with the man, and when he counted out the money, he laid a five-shilling piece on the top, and said: "There is a Christmas gift for your little ones." The poor man burst into tears. After a while he said: "Mr. Gray, I always heard you were a good man to the poor, but I never expected such treatment as I have had here to-day. May the Lord reward you a hundred-fold! If you will let me, miss, I'll take these cakes you have set for me home to my little Jane. I wouldn't be so bold, but she has been poorly ever since she got over the sickness, and yesterday she was crying for one of these very cakes." “Take them and welcome,” I said, “and I will send her a paper of them besides." It did not take my mother long to fill up the largest basket she had with good things for that poor family, not forgetting some especial dainties in one corner for the sick child. "We can do without cake till next baking day," she said, as she emptied the whole panful into the basket. I knew that poor family would have one good meal that winter, and I would eat potatoes and salt for dinner for a week, for the sake of the pleasure it gives me every time I think of it. Father hailed a cart which was passing, and got the man a ride almost to his home. He went away with a different look from that which he wore when he came in. When I have a home of my own, I mean to use hospitality just as my mother does. I wish there were more housekeepers "given " to it, as she is. I am sure that poor family will not soon forget her; and I think, after all, we have the most happiness in it. "LET LOVE BE WITHOUT DISSIMULATION." (Romans xii. 9.) BY THE REV. A. M. STALKER. In other words, "Let Love be unfeigned." How strangely the com mand would sound in an unfallen world! It would scarcely be understood. "Ignorance" is sometimes "bliss." Intelligence is sometimes humiliating, and is never more profoundly felt by an ingenuous mind to be so, than when listening to Paul's present exhortation. The exhortation is called for, else it would not be given. The history of its necessity is a comment on part of sin's doings in our world. It has polluted what was pure in the human soul. It has generated insincerity, and taught men the art of making masks for it. Nathanael's fingers were never soiled by such employ. He needed no mask. He could afford to be transparent, JESUS Himself being Judge: "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no Paul wished his brethren in Rome, and his brethren in Philippi, to be like him, "sincere and without offence."* We ask,— guile.' FIRST. WHAT IS THE LOVE TO WHICH PAUL REFERS? It is unques tionably benevolence, good-will to all men. There is no exclusive allusion, here, to "the love of the brethren." That is enjoined in the following verse," Be kindly affectioned one to another, with brotherly love." Paul is at one with Peter, when he says, "Add to brotherly kindness charity." Cherish a disposition that will find its delight in making all men happy. Feel kindly towards all, and thus will "be without dissimulation." your "love" 1. Its SECONDLY.-HOW IS LOVE OR KINDLINESS FEIGNED? reality is sometimes feigned. Kindliness is expressed when it is not felt-when in the bosom it has no existence. A sign is hung out when-were the warehouse of the soul "searched with lighted candles "the goods it indicates could not be found. There they have no place. The man deliberately deceives. He wears a face I which does not belong to him. His two faces make him a moral * Phil. i. 10. monster. Were the heart and the countenance to change places, the man, as he is, would be seen. The lustre with which his looks and bearing seem radiant, is assumed; it is not kindliness; it is not the outcome of "the hidden man of the heart." It feigns. It dissembles. 2. The intensity of kindliness is sometimes simulated. Kindly feeling may have place; but, if not infinitesimally small, there is as little as there can possibly well be, in order to its having existence at all. Were the tiny amount avowed, however slight an estimate we might form of the man's genial nature, we should say, " Well, he is at least candid." He is honest, and that, in this make-believe world, is something. He is cutting only according to his cloth. His window shows no finer article than is in stock. The sound of the trumpet echoes musically in the man's soul. He professes only what he possesses. We like him-but we don't find him every day. Upright merchandise is rare. Terms of exaggeration are in frequent request. They clothe themselves in huge capitals that stand for far less than their own size. So is it, often, as to professed kindly feeling. Adjectives are piled one on another to indicate its glowing fervour. One of the least significance would suffice to tell the true figure on the scale at which the emotion stands. The superlative is sonorously used-and with various emphasis where the simple positive would be quite enough. All beyond it is ungenuine, misleading, "sounding brass and tinkling cymbal." It affects a glow in the man's heart which, put in plain words, is the next remove from a chill. Kindliness exists, but its intensity is overstated. The degree avowed is at war with that indicated on the thermometer of the soul. It feigns. It dissembles. THIRDLY.-IN WHAT WAY IS FEIGNED LOVE OR KINDLINESS TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR? 1. It proceeds sometimes from counterfeit politeness. Politeness is a gem. It cannot be too highly prized. The danger is not in over-estimating its worth, but in misunderstanding its nature. Wherein does it consist? Certainly not in what is conventionally known as etiquette. Etiquette is literally "forms of ceremony or decorum." It is a kind of artificial humanity. Yet a man who does not possess it is, in some circles, called boorish. It may exist without any soul. Its beginning, middle, and ending may be mere buckram-a skilful collocation of a precise amount of starch; but it is often deemed a sine qua non if an individual would be welcomed as an agreeable member of society. Hence the popularity it has attained, and the place it holds in the category of things to be worn. To make it fit the wearer, is not always easy. Then dissimulation lends its aid-kindliness is feigned. No sincerer man than Paul ever lived, and yet, perhaps, a more polite man was never found. He emphatically illustrated his brother Peter's injunction, "Be courteous." For what is politeness? Not a mere "ceremony,' but "benevolence in little things. It is genial emotion concerning itself in trifles with something like resistless charm. You, perhaps, know a man who is a stranger to etiquette, but who "lives, and moves, and has his being" in the element of kindliness. His fustian jacket, his bluff look, his brawny hands, present visible harmony between |