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That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.

For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness;

All these evil things come from within, and defile the man. Mark vii. 20-23.

Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another.

Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people; neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am

the Lord.

Thou shalt not avenge nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people; but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord. Lev. xix. 11. 16, 17.

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Selfishness and pride appear in the following ways among others, viz. :In the risings of anger or revenge at tempt or ill usage;

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In impatience at contradiction, and irritation if our self be thwarted;

In a longing for the praise of men, for honours or distinctions;

In cherishing a sense of self-importance, and using the gifts of nature or providence to feed our vanity or pride;

In feeling little or no interest in the concerns

of others; listening to them merely from civility; and being apt to talk much of our own;

In relating with inward complacency the faults or injudiciousness we have discovered in another, compared with our own better judgment or conduct in the same particulars, or the good effect of our own advice;

In considering our own ease or pleasure in our domestic habits or arrangements, rather than making any sacrifice to those we live with;

In treating trifling annoyances or inconveniences as important, and suffering them to irritate our tempers;

In withholding money, or giving it sparingly, or spending any in self-indulgence, that might be better given to the poor, or to promote the cause of the Gospel. Girdlestone.

It is marvellous how largely we ourselves really influence the circumstances which surround us; how constantly we are the sole cause of troubles or trials, for which we seek a cause in things outside. Hannah.

God's face is still against us for our old and now forgotten sin.

Ibid.

We cannot work easily because it is in chains that we are working; the chains which we have woven by our numerous sins. Then, in our ignorance, we grow angry and impatient; we are vexed and disappointed at the failure of our measures. We think that Providence must be opposing itself to our success, while the true

source of the evil is in ourselves. We have, perhaps, neglected prayer, and so suffered loss of help from God. If so, then be sure that our trials are but blessings in disguise. They are proofs that God is chastening us, and will bestow on us a rich and crowning gift of mercy, and our trials may be but the discipline of love. Ibid.

The world is full of things from which a Christian must abstain. All methods of being powerful or popular, inconsistent with our integrity; all arts of being agreeable at the expense or hazard of our innocence; all ways of encroaching on the property of others, and all immoderate desires of adding to our own; all diversions, entertainments, or acquaintance which have a tendency to hurt our morals or our piety; making common practice the rule of our conduct, without considering whether it be right or wrong; filling our time either with business or amusements, so as to leave no room for the improvement of our heart in virtue, for the serious exercise of religion, and a principal attention to the great concerns of eternity; all this is the "friendship of the world" which is "enmity with God;" and if any man love it thus, "the love of the Father is not in him." Abp. Secker.

True repentance includes at least a change of mind, a turning from our sins to God, a deep sense of the evil of sin, and abhorrence of ourselves for it; a great reverence for God and for His laws, as well as a dread of His judgments, and deliberate and serious resolutions of changing

our course of life, and of living for the future to God and to the purposes of His glory, never to return to our old sins, but diligently to exercise ourselves in all the duties and offices of a Christian life. Sherlock.

PRACTICAL HOLINESS.

If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God. John vii. 17.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matt. v. 16.

Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. Matt. vii. 21.

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not for it was founded upon a rock. Matt. vii. 24, 25.

If ye love Me, keep My commandments.

If

John xiv. 15.

ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done

unto you.

Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples.

John xv.

7, 8.

Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt for the tree is known by his fruit.

Matt. xii. 33.

And He stretched forth His hand toward His disciples, and said, Behold My mother and My brethren!

For whosoever shall do the will of My Father which is in heaven, the same is My mother, and sister, and brother. Matt. xii. 49, 50.

Strive to enter in at the strait gate; for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. Luke xiii. 24.

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

But fornication, and all uncleanness, and covetousness, let it not be once named amongst

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