of God in which we stand, or the loving Saviour who is our Divine companion and friend. This true humility will correct all the faults of manner arising from assumption and pride, a lofty sense of our own claims, and the exclusiveness which reverses the Divine precept, and thinks ourselves better than others. (ii.) Let us pray that the peace of God may rule in our hearts, bringing into captivity those secret irritations of temper, and feelings of selfdissatisfaction, which make the heart like a vexed and uneasy sea. This peace should have its spring in the sense of forgiven sin through the blood of Christ, and the consciousness of a blessed union with Jesus through the power of the Spirit. It will correct many irregularities, and soothe that sharpness or crossness of manner, which is so pregnant a source of pain and mutual variance in our relations towards others; all that class of faults which we explain by the words "I did not mean to be cross," the involuntary, unconscious, but not therefore guiltless, utterances of the unhappiness of our own hearts. (iii.) Let us learn to love each other, because we love the Lord. Let us cultivate an active good-will towards all men, and show it in a sincere desire to give pleasure to others on all occasions. Sympathy will correct the cold, selfish, hard austerity of manner, repulsive of affection, and chilling, like an Arctic iceberg, the very atmosphere in which it moves, (iv.) There should be an ever active sense of the Divine presence and of providential government in giving to each man his place and his work. Let there be a conviction that each man, however humble, has his vocation, and is called to contribute his share to the common stock of human happiness. This sense of God's presence will tend to correct even a morbid self-distrust and nervous timidity; will teach us what is due to ourselves as well as what is due to others; will enable us to understand our place in the world, with its relative duties and proprieties, and at once maintain our respect to ourselves, our obligations to our fellow-men, and our duty to God. Thus strengthened by inward grace, the life of the soul will show itself in outward manner; just as the vigorous life of some strong tree shows itself in its abundant foliage. It will be a part of the new man in the heart, not alone to love as brethren, but to show that love, first in sympathy, then in manner. "Love as brethren; be pitiful, be courteous." BO VIII. Dress. Moral, tendencies exhibited in dress belong to both sexesExcess in dress and its results-The corrective principles of the Gospel-Due attention to dress—Its grounds and limits— Teaching of Scripture-Extremes in fashion-Extravagant expenditure on dress-Love of admiration-Duty of parents and employers. I Scriptural Illustrations. PRINCIPLES OF CONDUCT. Consistency in dress. 1 Tim. ii. 9; 1 Peter iii. 3—5. Propriety of dress recognised. Gen. iii. 7—21; xxiv. 47; Ps. xlv. 8; Isa. lxi. 10; Ezek. xvi. 11; Rev. vii. 9-13. Its vanity rebuked. Isa. iii. 16; Jer. iv. 30; Rev. xviii. 16. Extremes forbidden. Deut. xxii. 5; Matt. xxiii. 5; 1 Cor. vii. 31; Phil. iv. 5; James ii. 2. Extravagance. Luke xvi. 9; Rom. xiv. 12; 1 Cor. vi. 12; 1 Peter iv. 4, 5. Love of the world. 1 John ii. 15, 16; James iv. 4. INSTANCES. Rebekah veiling herself before Isaac. Gen. xxiv. 65. Vestments of the High Priest. Exod. xxxix. Achan and the Babylonish garment. Josh. vii. 21. Jezebel saluting Jehu. 2 Kings ix. 30. Mordecai honoured by Ahasuerus. Esth. vi. 8. Daniel and Belshazzar. Dan. v. 29. Christ in the robes of royalty. John xix. 5. The Church in glory. Rev. xix. 8. |