We see it in others, is in the minds of most of us. and others perhaps see it in us. in ritualistic circles of bowing deeply at the Gloria, or wherever in a Church Service the name of Jesus occurs, strikes us at once as a superstition. In the spirit of this Psalm we may ask, "Will He be flattered by your obeisances, or pleased that you drop your eyes at the mention of his name?" But equally a superstition is the remark so frequently made about the need of "honouring the Holy Ghost," meaning thereby often using His name, if we would have spiritual benediction. Is the Divine Being, think you, sensitive and petulant as a newly-made Peer; offended if all his honours are not duly set forth? The heart of piety, "the root of the matter" is not here. Let us only be at home with God as children in their Father's house; and forms of worship and forms of words will be inspired with a spirit that God will love to acknowledge; and we shall, by forms of our own, in our own way, approach and speak to Him. He truly honours Christ who shews Christ's temper, adopts Christ's maxims, rules his heart to obedience. of His will. The Gloria may be chanted in a service of thanksgiving for slaughtered enemies; but he who has Christ's Spirit will love his foes. The Holy Ghost is honoured by the acceptance of his inspirations; the freedom of the Christian life is the mark of obedience to the Spirit; he who grows in knowledge, adds grace to grace, and waits dependently and trustingly for more of guidance and of light, is the man who shews a true sense of the Spirit of God. The means of grace are only means; valuable in so far, and only in so far, as they nurture grace in the personal character. Even faith, source as it is of all that is pure and strong, has its value here. To rest satisfied with our faith is to worship our faith instead of our God. To what purpose is it in God's sight that we praise faith, exalt faith, declare that salvation is of faith? Where is our faith? shut up in our own heart? held up like the host in a Roman Church for adoration? treasured like the viaticum, that is to suffice for the journey into the great unknown? Faith should be ever on the wing to God, moving to its source and author; it fulfils itself when it ceases to be conscious of itself and is only aware of God. The contrast between the tone of vv. 7-15 and vv. 16—22 is very noteworthy. Errors and imperfections are tenderly dealt with; but so soon as wrong done by man to man is spoken of, the words become offence. "Thou thoughtest that I was altogether as thyself." There are matters which wholly separate a man from God, make a profession of piety appear not so much hollow as offensive; what these things are the Old and New Testament unite to tell us. "They devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive the greater damnation." "He that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how shall he love God whom he hath not seen?" The formalist is reminded that the true service of God is personal trust of Him, personal gratitude to Him, personal fellowship with Him. "Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High and call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me." The wicked is reminded of morality as well as personal communion with God-" Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God." That is, in New Testament language; faith for the pious man; repentance and faith for the sinner-herein is the way of life. For it is no other than faith which has personal fellowship with God-"Without faith it is impossible to please him." THE GROWING CONSTRAINT OF LIFE. "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not."JOHN XXI. 18. I DO not purpose to speak of the apostolate and martyrdom of Peter, but to use these words as generally descriptive of the inevitable course of man's life. The words of our text are true of us all youth is the time for determining our career; in age we are borne along in a course which is determined for us. The boundless self-confidence of the young is no illusion; it is the frank expression of a natural impulse, the response to an obligation imposed on them by God. Their power of achievement is well-nigh as unlimited as their hope; they often fulfil what seem to us their wildest dreams. In the old man composure of spirit, contentment with what has been |