that he might so redeem us. That was the price paid for our redemption, for our deliverance from the bondage to sin and Satan. Again, in chap. iii. 1, it is said, "Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work and yet, again, in v. 8, " these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed God might be careful to maintain good works. How often is this repeated, dear friends let us lay it to heart, lest professing to know God in works we deny Him. In chap. iii. v. 2, we get some hints, as to how we are to show a readiness to good works. We are told "to speak evil of no man." Just think of the change it would make in any house, or street, or neighbourhood, if this command were fully obeyed; we would not know that neighbourhood it would be so different from what it was before, there would be such peace, when there was actually no speaking evil one of another. Now this is a command binding upon us all, to speak evil of no man; happy are they who obey it. When it is obeyed, the next command in this verse will not be difficult to obey," to be no brawlers." Evil speaking brings hatred and contention; but here we are told “to be gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men." Do we know what meekness means? Our blessed Lord says, "Take my yoke upon you and

learn of me; for I am meek and lowly of heart."* Yes, we must learn it of Him, or we shall never know anything of it. There is a strong reason given here why we should show all meekness unto all men, even the most unworthy, (v. 3), 'For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice, envy, hateful, and hating one another." Such are the fruits of our fallen flesh more or less in us all; and if we be delivered out of this condition the glory is not ours; but, as the Apostle goes on to tell us, (vers. 4-7), it is that the kindness and love of God our Saviour towards man has appeared. "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour." If in our fallen nature we are to bring forth fruits to God's glory, it can only be by the means which He has given. The natural condition of those to whom the Apostle wrote, as of us all, was one of folly, disobedience, and sin; that into which, by becoming Christians, they had been brought, was to be partakers of this washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost. As our Lord tells us elsewhere, "Except a man be born of

* Matt. xi. 9.

FOURTH SERIES,

V.

Adorning the Doctrine of God
our Saviour.

TITUS II, III. 1-8.

IN the concluding verse of the first chapter of this epistle, the Apostle speaks of those who "profess that they know God, but in works they deny Him;" and in these chapters he desires Titus to teach us, that while professing to know God, we must by our works give proof that we do so. He begins with the aged, those who, though life may be closing for them, have so important an influence on all the rest, for good or for evil.

Aged men are to be "sober, grave, temperate," having a command over their own appetites and passions and desires; "sound in faith," having the faith of the Lord Jesus rooted in their hearts. Grave, yet not gloomy, as none can be who are

abiding in the faith of the Lord Jesus; which brings forth in them the blessed fruit of charity and patience; as it is here said, "Sound in faith, in charity, in patience." It is the aged who have had experience of a long life, and have known their own sins, mistakes, and errors, that can most readily shew charity and patience towards others, especially towards the young and inexperienced. How kindly can they bear with them, how patiently hope for them, even when there is no present promise of good. The fruit that is fully mellow and ripe loses its harshness and sourness, it is sweet and delightful to the taste; so it should be with Christian old age, every Christian grace should be found ripened in the heart then. "The hoary head is a crown of glory, when it is found in the way of righteousness. "Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God."+ Happy indeed is that family where such a hoary head is seen, where such a father or grandfather is loved and reverenced, what a holy influence does he exercise in that family. How do the little children learn a lesson of goodness from that aged, loving countenance; and how do they learn their first little acts of loving-kindness by caring for him.

But aged women are also to have their part

in

* Prov. xvi. 31.

+ Lev. xix. 32.