himself and became obedient unto death is to be highly exalted, and his name is to be above every name, and the whole earth is to bow to him.

The Lord's Supper is a profitable ordinance. Worthy receivers feed upon Christ. They are, not after a corporal or carnal manner, but by faith, made partakers of his body and blood, with all its benefits to their spiritual nourishment and growth in grace.

SELF-EXAMINATION.

The chief end of self-examination is not to determine whether one is a sinner. Every one of sound mind knows that he is a sinner. It is not to find out whether he has particular evil habits or is neglectful of duty. These are important, but not the chief thing. Paul says: "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith." The first thing to determine is, whether one is a Christian-whether he is "in the faith," or" in Christ." Again he says: "Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup, lest coming unworthily he eat and drink judgment to himself."

A service preparatory to communion with self-examination is not that one may render himself worthy, for no one can do this, but that he may come "worthily." If he come in faith, he comes worthily. True, he is a sinner, and has been neglectful, and has easily besetting sins. All that Christ requires of those who come to his table is that they are his; that they stand in right relation to him. That relation is one of

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humility, penitence and faith. It is also one of new obedience, for no man can properly examine himself as to his relation to Christ without resolving to serve him more faithfully.

The question to be settled by self-examination, either when coming to the communion table or at any time, is the question upon which our future will depend at the day of judgment.

Self-examination may be a sore trial and altogether unsatisfactory. If one simply tries to find out his sins, he will be overwhelmed. If his thoughts rest on his relation to Christ, his song will be: "Blessed is the man whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered." His prayer will be: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts, and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

He whose heart is right will take heed to his ways. He who trusts in Christ will repent of and forsake his sin. Though he fall seven times, yet will he rise again. He who is "in the faith" will seek to live the life of faith, but his mind will not continually rest upon his sin. He will not continue in sin or ignore it, or think light of it. "How shall we, who are dead to sin,

continue any longer therein?" How shall one whose life "is hid with Christ in God" live a Christless, godless life? Self-examination, like the observation by the captain of a ship at sea, is to determine the course. How shall a captain who has settled his course sail in the opposite direction? How shall one who is in Christ, and is going to heaven, turn aside or yield to sin? He who delights in sin may well question whether he is truly "in the faith." They who journey to Zion have their "faces thitherward." He whose face is the other way is ordinarily going to some other place.

IDOLATRY.

It is a sin to worship an idol. It makes no difference whether the idol is of gold or of lead, or is a person, or property, or position. The first principle of the divine government is that God alone is entitled to worship. He must be first in the affections and service of men. "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Our Savior's interpretation of this is, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind."

The requirements of the first commandment are positive as well as negative. It is so with all the commandments. "Thou shalt not" always involves "Thou shalt." The prohibition of other gods requires the worship of the true God. He is entitled to faith and service and praise. The day which he has set apart is to be a day of rest and worship. His sanctuary is to be regarded. "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise." "Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name." Unbelief, irreverence, indifference, selfishness and sensuous in

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