think are not doing so much as themselves, not foregoing so much as themselves. The creeping in of that spirit-whether shown in acts, words, looks, or manner-is one of the flies that makes the precious perfume not sweet at all. The mortification of the spirit of self-comparison, the hidden self, in work done for the sake of spiritual credit, of fair spiritual repute to self, is a very important prelude to true work for the Lord. Do we not need absolutely His strength and Word to lay this aside? It is immensely easier said than done. Thank God when we are brought to the unreserved attitude of desiring to do it. It will need great humiliation, and fresh drawing upon Him, who can alone enable us to work in that spirit so well described as a life-service, which is the death of self.

Then I would say again, consistency in the common things of life is all-important to fruitful service for God, either in direct work for Him, or in any other walk of Christian life. Let us try to remember that, while we are in His presence at all times, we are at certain times more than at other times under the observation of those around us. In our own household, amongst our servants, amongst those in any respect under us, and over whom we have an influence, and before whom we walk, by these we are watched. Let us remember that, and remember that very much wisdom and knowledge, very much faith and love, will be outweighed by small inconsistencies in common things.

I was very much struck in talking the other day with a domestic servant employed in a menial capacity in a college at Cambridge, by the way in which she used consistency as a synonym for considerateness. "Mr. So-and-so," she said, " was very consistent," and from the context one could see she meant considerate of the rights and claims and feelings of those around him and under him. I think that synonym may give us some instruction. Our consistency "equals" our considerateness in the opinion of many amongst whom we move. And it is consistent for a follower of Christ to be considerate of the feelings of others.

We

There are other points I should like to have mentioned, but I have come to the second part of the subject-readiness, want readiness in the presence of the Lord, in the right spirit, and the right way, to own our own failures, our spiritual failures; we may have occasion to own them to others, if so let us be willing. Let no one have to say of us we are hard to be per

suaded we have done wrong, have fallen into not only a misfortune, an infirmity, but a sin. It is sad when such a tendency finds power in an otherwise enlightened conscience.

But when we are so ready to confess our faults, there is one reflection that will be present-"it need not have taken place." How often we have to own this. Perhaps yesterday I lost patience just after I had been confessing and remembering I need never lose it. It is very hard to remember that, to look upon my own faults; it is so much easier to excuse them. But however hard it may be, let us honestly confess, and the blessedness of doing so is this, it brings us a blessed sense of union with the all-sufficient source of grace, with Him who is able every hour and every minute all-sufficiently to meet every such confession, to stimulate and raise us up to renewed and consecrated service. There I possess a secret that will avail in all circumstances, and to the end of time.

I am speaking, you observe, of the practical side of things, and I say that practically there need not be failure in patience, or any approach to it; there need not be any want of consistency, or any approach to it; or, most wonderful of all, this thought of self, this spiritual thought of self that mars my work, and ruins an otherwise useful hour, need not be at all. Readiness of confession, humility of spirit, is rendered perpetual by the recognition of the side of truth, that there need not have been this, or that, or the other flaw or fault, and by the grace of God there shall be no more such failures.

Now we reach the last part of the programme-readiness, and the words of Samuel, "Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth :" familiar words and circumstances, yet let us take a thought or two out of them.

First, we are servants of a Master, we are continually in the Word of the Lord brought face to face with the aspect, "Servants of a Master." Again and again the thought appears like a strong buckle, keeping together other aspects for practical utility in service. Thy servant," this is a title in which prophets and martyrs rejoice; let us rejoice in it too. Samuel's wonderful equipment for the service of God began in his deep sense of the blessedness of being a servant. He carried it out next morning in a very striking though humble way. Before he attended to the solemn spiritual service laid upon him, he patiently and attentively went about his temporal duty, opening the doors of the house of the Lord, and trimming the lamps.

There is one thought more here: "Speak, Lord." Now what have we to do in Christian work? Not to be original, or become inventors. God forbid! the moment we do that we had better stop; we have but to get what the Lord has to say, to draw out of His infinite origin of truth, and patiently, humbly, simply, and by His great mercy faithfully pass it on. Utterly unoriginal, utterly unambitious for reputation of self, we must speak as servants, and speak the Master's word.

Just one more thought—an important one-and one that has a close connection with this. God speaks in hundreds of different ways about His will; He may speak to me out of trial and sorrow; He may speak in a moment of joy or grief; but while He speaks by all these He gives validity to them all by speaking in His Word. The moment I get outside of that to other regions, as if other oracles spoke with the same validity and finality, that moment I get out of speaking as His servant, and out of the way of service altogether. Therefore I leave with you this word with regard to the Book. If we be the people of the Lord, let our watchword in connection with the Bible be nothing less than submission. I want to distinguish that from reverence; reverence is short of submission. There is a large amount of reverence for the Bible floating about. That is all very well in its way, but we want submission. Reverence is quite conceivable without submission. A dethroned king may be reverenced because of his former dignity and his conduct when on the throne, yet all this without one spark of submission to him as the present embodiment of law and authority. Now we want to remember the Book is the source of all authority, and that the Bible is worth little to the Christian were it not for the authority with which it speaks. It has the unchallengeable authority and sanction of the Lord God Himself. It is for me then to ascertain its meaning; it may take me some time to do it, but that is altogether a different thing from being uncertain. Being ascertained, its utterance is final; my present ascertainment of its meaning in humility, prayer, and dependence on the Spirit of God is for me the final voice of authority and command. There is nothing higher. When the Word speaks it is law. That is what I want to leave with you. Let us put away from our hearts all distrust of the oracles of God. We may not yet have heard correctly, but do not let us doubt its finality, and its right hearing is the right authority and standard for me. Let us close then with these

beautiful words of an old prayer, which may well be ours moment by moment: "O Almighty and most merciful God, of Thy bountiful goodness keep us, we beseech Thee, from all things that may hurt us; that we, being ready both in body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish those things that Thou wouldest have done through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." Hymn No. 16 was sung

"Praise God, ye seraphs bright,

Praise Him, ye sons of light.'

The proceedings of the morning closed with prayer and the benediction by the Rev. D. B. HANKIN.

HE proceedings of the evening meeting commenced with the reading of Psalm ciii. in unison by the whole audience. Hymn No. 1 was then sung

"And may I really tread

The palace of my King?"

Prayer was presented by LORD RADSTOCK.

S. A. BLACKWOOD, ESQ., C.B.,

then said: Before our brethren speak to us at length on the subject of the evening, may I ask your attention to a passage in Numbers? "And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with Him, then he heard the voice of One speaking unto him from off the mercy-seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims: and He spake unto him. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against