is good we need not be afraid. On the contrary, we receive praise from the rulers. 4. If thou do that which is evil, be afraid. This refers not only to bold crimes, but to lying, cheating, gambling, drunkeness, etc. Wrath comes upon the evil.

To the early disciples a weighty question occurred: "What are we to do with the governments of the world, since they are all in the hands of the heathen, and with despots at their head?" Paul gives the reply: "Bad as human 5. For conscience' sake. The highest governments are, brutal and ferocious ground of obedience is conscience—a as is often their spirit, there is a benign consciousness that we are doing right. and beneficial side to them. Govern- There is a moral necessity for subjection. ment is ordained of God. * * At" For the Lord's sake." Rulers are all times, every government, that truly is God's ministers and in obeying them a government, is ordained of God, and we really obey God, who appointed entitled to our obedience." The excep- them. tions to this normal law, and its limitations, the Apostle does not discuss. We must obey the government in its legitimate demands-in the things that pertain to this life and this world. It has nothing to do with conscience, faith, religion and our higher duties to God.

Government is limited by the law of God. And if it oversteps the law of God, it oversteps the boundary line of its authority, and ceases to be a government, and has no title to be obeyed. Ce-ar is then no longer Cæsar, but, so far, simply a private man.

In our lesson, however, the Apostle only di-cusses the question, "What is the duty of a Christian to a government which he acknowledges to be the governmeni?" 1. Let every soul be subject to the higher powers. Every soul means every person. The subjection is to be from the heart, not merely outward, slavish submission. All power is of God. First is parental authority. Children, obey your parents in the Lord." Next comes our obedience to teachers, in school and in church. By such obedience we are trained to obey civil rulers.

2. Resisteth the ordinance of God. The fact that God has appointed that we should live under rulers is the ground of obedience. Human society is under law and rule-not disorderly, every one doing as he pleases. We are not like the animals. Even savages have their chiefs. whom they obey.

3. Rulers are not a terrr to good works. This refers to good rulers. No others have a divine right to rule. They overthrow their own po ver when they do wrong. They are al o under a higher power and law.

Do that which is good. By doing what

6-7. Pay tribute.-Taxes to support the government. It is disloyal to cheat the government out of taxes, to smuggle goods, without paying custom dues. We ought cheerfully to render all our dues, and also honor, to whom it is due.

8. Owe no man anything. He now passes to our duties to our jllow men, who are not rulers. Always pay for what you get; live honestly and peaceably with all men. The only debt we can never fully pay is that of love We always owe love to one anotherkindness, courtesy, respect and aid.

9. For this, thou shalt not commit, etc. He here enumerates the laws of the second table, which teach our duty to our neighbor. All are comprehended in one command: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Love is the fulfilling of the law.

10. Love worketh no ill. Because it thinks and feels kindly, it works only good, and no ill. How this strikes against rivalry, hatred and all injuries; against taking undue advantages, interfering with the prosperity and happiness of others! Love is the fufilling of the Law. Hatred breaks every law at one stroke.

Gambling, dealing in lotteries, the sale of strong drinks to minors and inebriates, keeping back wages due-these all work ill to our neighbors. Let every Christian engage in honest, useful and honorable occupations, and thus render obedience to Law--to God's law, which is the law of Love.

"The Roman Christians, to whom Paul wrote, were under the rule, and lived not many yards from the palace of the Emperor Nero, whose is one of the names in history most conspicuous for

tyranny and blood. Yet, bad as he was, what must be the result of it, is not and bad as was his government, it was pursuing a business which works no ill the best thing of which the age was to him, and love to that neighbor would capable. When he was assassinated, a prompt him to abandon the traffic."series of civil wars and of brief tyran- Barnes. nies succeeded, under which the empire declined to its final fall under the incoming flood of the northern barbarians, under which the ancient society perished."- Whedon.

LOVE IS

THE FOUR TRIALS.

There was once an old monk walking through the forest with a little scholar

THE FULFILMENT OF THE by his side. The old man suddenly

LAW.

stopped and pointed to four plants close at hand. The first was beginning (1). It fulfills the law negatively by to peep above the ground; the second abstaining from that which the law forbids. (2). Love is obedient, positive-earth; the third was a small shrub ; had rooted itself pretty well into the ly, to the authority of God's word. His whilst the fourth and last was a fullword has established government in the family, the State and the Church. Love prompts to obedience to all these "ministers of God."

Love is a "principle, not merely a feeling; it is cultivated and exercised as a duty, not yielded to merely as a generous instinct; it is a submission to God's command, not merely an indulgence of constitutional tenderness."

THE GOOD RESULTS OF A LOVING
OBEDIENCE.

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These are seen in the family and in society. 'If all men would at once abandon that which is fitted to work ill to others, what an influence would it have on the business and commercial affairs of men! How many plans of fraud and dishonesty would it at once arrest! How many schemes would it

sized tree. Then the old monk said to his young companion:

"Pull up the first."

The youth easily pulled it up with

his fingers.

"Now pull the second."

The youth obeyed, but not so easily. "And the third."

But the boy had to put forth all his strength, and use both arms, before he succeeded in uprooting it.

"And now," said the master, hand upon the fourth." But lo! the trunk of the tall tree (grasped in the arms of the youth) scarcely shook its leaves; and the little fellow found it impossible to tear its roots from the earth.

Then the wise old monk explained to his scholar the meaning of the four

trials.

crush! It would silence the voice of the slanderer; it would stay the plans of "This, my son, is just what happens the seducer and the adulterer; it would with our passions. When they are put an end to cheating and fraud and young and weak, one may, by a little all schemes of dishonest gain. The watchfulness over self, and the help of gambler desires the property of his a little self-denial, easily tear them up; neighbor without any compensation, and but if we let them cast their roots deep this works ill to him. The dealer in down into our souls, then no human lotteries desires property for which he power can uproot them, the almighty has never toiled, and which must be hand of the Creator alone can pluck obtained at the expense and loss of them out. others. And there are many employments all of whose tendency is to work ill to a neighbor. This is pre eminently true of the traffic in ardent spirits. It cannot do him good, and the almost uniform result is to deprive him of his property, health, reputation, peace and domestic comfort. He that sells his neighbor liquid fire, knowing

"For this reason, my child, watch well over the first movements of your soul, and study by acts of virtue to keep your passions well in check."

If you've received the right impression,
You'll surely find the right expression;
And if you use the right expression,
You'll surely make the right impression.

RUCKERT.

LESSON XIII.

THIRD SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY.
CHRISTIAN LIBERTY.-Galatians 4: 1-16.

6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

June 29th, 1884.

9 But now, after ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.

11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

12 Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.

preached the gospel unto you at the first.
13 Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I

14 And my temptation which was in my flesh ye
angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an

15 Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye them to me." would have plucked out your eyes, and have given

16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. 8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. GOLDEN TEXT.-Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free. Gal. 5: 1. CENTRA TRUTH: -Be lievers are not slaves, but sons of God.

NOTES.

Verse 1. Heir, but not in possession of his inheritance. A child under age. Lord of all, by his title and rightful ownership. 2. Appointed of the father, when a father gives his sons their inheritance; the time is for him to designate. 3. Children, minors. 4. Fulness of the time, the period set by the father. 5. Redeem, from the bondage of sin and from under the law. Adoption, haring lost the right of sons, we could come into God's family now by adoption only. 6. The Spirit, the Spirit which filled the Lord Jesus. Abba, Father, in Chaldaic. 7. Then an heir, unless disinherited. 8. Knew not God, before Paul preached the Gospel to them. No gods, but idols.

Beggarly elements, or rudiments; aving known of the fulfillment of the law, why turn back to it and to the Jewish ceremonies? like a schoolmaster turning back to learn A B C. 10. Ye observe, Paul names some of the things they do to show them precisely what he disapproves. 11. Afraid of you, that you have no spiritual and real piety; only formal religion. 12. As I am, not following Jewish customs. Not injured me, when I preached unto you. 13 Infirmity, the thorn in the flesh, 2 Cor. 10: 7-9. 14. Despised not, did not think less of me for my trials and infirmity of body. 15. Blessedness, joy of soul, or rejoicing that I was with you. 16. Tell 9. Known of God, they did not first know you the truth, this implies that Paul had seriGod, but God in mercy recognized them and ously offended the Galatians by his faithful sent His servants to call them into His grace.reproofs.

QUESTIONS.

State the title of this lesson. The golden 7. Are Christians slaves of God? What text; and central truth.

Verses 1-3. What is said of the heir? Under what is he? How long? Who fixes the time? Were the Jews in slavery? Under what? What is meant by elements of the world? (The A B Cs of religion-forms, symbols and rites). Were these things good in their day? Were they to continue forever?

4. What is meant by fulness of the time? Had the Jews long waited for the coming of Messiah? Were the heathen desirous, also, of

a Saviour? Could they not save themselves? How did God respond to human longings? What two natures belong to Christ? How was He made under the Law?

5. What did He come to do? What do we receive? What is included in adoption?

6. What Gift next to that of the Son? From Whom? For whose sake? What is the effect of receiving the Spirit? What follows? Can we be Christians unless we have the Spirit of adoption?

Ques. 124. Which is the third petition?

then? What, besides, are ons? Through Whom? Are they kept back from enjoying the inheritance? What does Paul say? ("All things are yours").

8-9. In what state were the Galatians before

Paul preached to them? Is this true of all mon? To what did the Galatians seem disposed to return?

10-11. How did backsliding show itself? How did Paul feel in view of their conduct?

12-16. How had they received the Apostle at first? Was he physically strong? What was, perhaps, his "thorn in the flesh?" What would the Galatians have done for him? Of what had they loudly boasted in the beginning? How did they seem to regard Paul now? Do true friends speak the truth, even if it gives pain? Should you get angry at parents and teachers who correct you of your errors?

CATECHISM.

Ans. "THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN;" that is, grant that we and all men may renounce our own will, and without murmuring obey Thy will, which is only good; that so every one may attend to, and perform the duties of his station and calling, as willingly and faithfully as the angels do in heaven.

LESSON XIII.

Third Sunday after Easter.

29th June, 1884. under the law, and bound (hence bondservants) to fulfil its rites and precepts. He does not deny that they were children, and therefore heirs; but not having attained their spiritual manhood, they were still servants.

THE GALATIANS. "The first syllable of the word Galatians is identical with Gaul, an old name of France; and with Gallie, Gaellic, Welsh (Wallic), as well as with Celtic. It is the name of that great, brilliant and brave, but fickle race which, once occupying central Europe, was driven westward by the great Germanic tide pouring in from Asia; and which now remain upon the western margin of Europe, as the French, Welsh, Scotch and Irish peoples."

GALATIA was a Province of Asia Minor, which derived its name from one of the Gallic tribes which moved eastward, instead of following the other tribes westward. In 280 B. C. this tribe made an incursion into Macedonia and Thrace, and finally settled in what was then named Galatia.

THE CHURCHES OF GALATIA were founded by St. Paul during his second great missionary journey, about A. D. 51 (Acts 16: 6). Again in the autumn of 54, at the beginning of his third tour, Paul visited them (Acts 18: 23). These believers were afterwards visited by Judaizing teachers from Jerusalem, who taught these Gentile believers to conform to Jewish practices ("observe days and months," as well as to believe in circumcision). They were thus influenced to repudiate Paul, and lose sight of Gospel liberty.

THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS.'Reports of the above state of things were brought to Paul from time to time, till at last as he was leaving Macedonia, the news was such as to induce him to write at once. The epistle is an argument for Christian liberty, and has always been held in high esteem as the Gospel's banner of freedom."-Meyer.

Lord of all-but not yet possessors. Children in a family have no control over the property; so the Jews, being in a state of religious infancy, were not yet in possession of the birthright of freedom.

Under tutors and governors-guardians and stewards. At a time appointed of the father, children are released from the oversight of masters, and are given liberty to care for themselves.

Even so we-that is Jews. Paul includes himself among the number. The nation was in a state of childhood, previous to the ushering in of Christianity.

In bondage-to the law of Moses. They had not attained to full spiritual manhood. And much less had the Gentiles attained such a state of free sonship.

The elements of the world-the rudiments of instruction and training, the first principles or lessons of religion; the elementary lessons of outward things (Col. 2:8, 20).

Of the world-" Paul calls them the rudiments of the world, which, not being renewed by the Spirit, only perform worldly things."-Luther. Like the things of the world, they were transient, temporary and of little value."-Barnes.

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Now the Jews, in Paul's days, were in bondage to the letter of the law, chiefly occupied with certain rites and observances, and kept its precepts in a slavish spirit. And the Christians of Galatia were fast becoming like them, falling into a similar state of bondage to Jewish rites and formalism.

Hence Paul writes to show how far short they fell of attaining

THE LIBERTY OF THE SONS OF GOD. Paul's doctrine of Justification by-When the fullness of the time was come Faith was coming to be regarded as apos--the proper time when Jews and tasy by these impressible Gauls. Unable Gentiles, by their long course of preto go to visit them, the Apostle seat this paration, were ready to receive the letter from Corinth, about A. D. 57. long-expected Saviour. "The gospel

In our lesson Paul sets forth and was withheld until the world had illustrates the bondage of the law. arrived at mature age; law had worked V. 1. The heir, as long as he is a child, out its educational purpose, and now was differeth nothing from a servant. The superseded."-Lightfoot. "God does Jews were heirs, but still were in a con- nothing prematurely, but fore-seeing the dition of servitude, and could be made end from the beginning, waits till all is free only by the Gospel. They were ripe for the execution of His purpose."