increase within me true trust in my Saviour. "When He giveth quietness, who then can make trouble?" Being justified by faith, may I have peace. Give me, gracious Lord, a sense of pardon; pour Thy love into my heart, by Thy Holy Spirit; and make me to serve Thee with a quiet mind, fearing Thee only as Thou wouldst have me to fear Thee, in the liberty of the Gospel. Help me, O my God, to communicate to my soul's health, and keep me steadfast. Hear me, and bless me, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

Self-eramination.

O the question in the Catechism, "What is required of them who come to the Lord's Supper?" is given this answer: "To examine themselves whether they repent them truly of their former sins, steadfastly purposing to lead a new life; have a lively faith in God's mercy through Christ, with a thankful remembrance of His death; and be in charity with all men."

Here, first, is true repentance; a heartfelt

sorrow for past sins, with a steadfast seeking after newness of life; penitence leading to growth in grace, following more earnestly the commandments of God, and walking from henceforth more steadily in His holy ways. And, second, is faith, a "lively" faith, a true trust, a sincere belief; not a formal faith, not unreal, or careless; not the faith of slavish fear; but a faith of yearning earnestness. And this faith is in God's mercy through Christ; it is the penitent sinner's looking unto the Saviour; it is belief in the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom all the promises of God are yea and amen. And, thirdly, there is a thankful remembrance of the atoning death on the cross; the praise of grateful, wondering, adoring love the Eucharistic spirit of selfsacrifice, of consecrated consistent living. Fourthly, here is brotherly kindness; a neighbourly good-will, in temper, in word, and in deed; a freedom from uncharitableness; the realisation of Christian Communion within the household of faith, and the behaving as children of our Father in Heaven, Who maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth His rain on the just and on the unjust.

Let me

examine myself, with sincere

searching, on these matters.

HE Sermon on the Mount brings before us the blessedness of Christian character and conduct. (St. Matt. v. 3-12.) Let me examine myself, look into my heart and life, as I read these words of my Lord and Master. "Blessed are the poor in spirit," says the Lord Jesus. Humility-how beautiful, how blessed a grace is this. The man after God's heart used to sing, "Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty." But what has been my behaviour? Have I quieted myself, as David said, or have I been wise in my own conceits?

Much is said in the Word of God about behaviour toward one's neighbours; they see our manner of living, and are influenced by it. Have I shown myself haughty, high-minded, unsympathising, hard, vain? In my social circle have I been puffed up; have I preferred others in honour? Let me beware of spiritual pride. Again. "Blessed are the meek." "Blessed are the peacemakers." Let me examine myself.

law."

VERY Sunday morning I offer the prayer, "Lord, have mercy upon me, and incline my heart to keep this

My covenant God and Father has had mercy on me; and He for His part has been faithful. But as to myself, is my heart more and more really inclined, determined, to keep the laws of the Lord? I will take the Ten Commandments and examine myself; I will read them in the light of the Gospel, and may the Holy Spirit show me the truth.

JEARCH me, O God, and know my heart," says David in the 139th Psalm. But God has searched my heart, He has known me, He has tried me, He knows my thoughts. Yes, unto Him all hearts are open, all desires known, and not a single secret is hidden from Him. But David prays, really, that by God's grace he may be able to search himself—to know his heart, to see his secret faults. God sees and knows perfectly, thoroughly. My prayer shall be that He may cleanse the thoughts of my

heart by the inspiration of His Holy Spirit ; thus, and thus only, shall I learn how perfectly to love Him and worthily to magnify His holy name. One point, in especial, I need to know-What is it which hinders me, hampers me, in seeking to glorify God? What special fault or failing lessens my influence for good, mars my communion with God? I have often said to myself, What is it? But am I still in ignorance, or have I made real effort by God's grace to overcome it ?

Do I hanker after worldly things? Is bad temper a hindrance? Some forget that God's Holy Word calls the covetous man an idolater. Am I "rich towards God"? What proportion of my income do I give to God? My luxuries on the one hand-the Mission cause at home and abroad on the other; how are these? The friends of many Communicants reckon them untruthful, indolent, insincere, selfish. How do I spend my leisure hours? What is my demeanour-my dress- my eating and drinking? Do I avoid persons and places not consistent with the prayer, "Lead me not into temptation"? Do I judge rashly, and speak with bitterness of