The Master And His Brethren.

the Master pervades every heart , love ot the brethren shall influence every life . " Beloved , if God so loved us , we ought also to love one another . " The great mistake of the present day , seems to be a too great trusting to the goodness of public institutions , and too little striving to act upon the hearts of men , an attempt to deal with the massesand a too great

, neglect of individual effort ; and yet to regenerate the community we must and ought first to seek the regeneration of the individuals which compose it . Erom a number of good men will arise a united and fraternal society ; whilst you will always find that when institutions are more than a certain distance in

advance of the people , instead of being a blessing , they become a snare and a confusion . The reason of this is obvious ; good institutions to a certain extent pre-suppose a good jieople . Where the degree of goodness existing in the people does not in some measure correspond with that pre-supposed in the

institution , the latter can never be sustained , and good institutions given to a depraved and unprincipled people , would end in bringing that which is good into disrepute . The only road to the effectual regeneration of society is the regeneration of individuals—a recognition of the dependence of one man upon

another — "All ye are brethren , " "Bear ye one another ' s burdens , " " Let brotherly love continue , " "Love as brethren , be pitiful . " The carrying out strictly of this principle in our dealings with our fellow-men , the acting on the heart of the individual , this is the sure road to the Christianism and improvement of mankind . But , on the other hand , have not those who see and

who feel the importance of thus doing his work in the world , too often insufficiently studied the application of Christianity—the embodiment of true and brotherly love—to social wants and social evils ? In a word , do those who really teach , always recommend his truth to others by their actions ? Ancl is it not possible toothat with much Christian profession and

, much Christian practice , great evil and much sin may be co-existing around ? Do we not see it dail y ? Do not fearful social evils flourish in a society wherein many are really holy , ancl where all have a large amount of Christian light and knowledge ? The most debasing and disgusting slave systemfoul

, customs nourishing intemperance , alienation of class from class , in feeling , sympathies and interests , systematic frauds in commerce , neglect of workmen by masters , and of children by parents , whole classes living by sin , usages checking marriage and encouraging licentiousnesshuman dwellings which make

, the idea of home odious and the existence of modesty and self-respect impossible ; these , I say , are but specimens of the evils which may be left age after age . cursing and blighting a people among whom Christianity is the recognised standard of society . To be indifferent to these things is as unfaithful to Christian

morals on the one hand , as hoping to remedy them without ^ spreading vital and practical Christianity among individuals , is astray from truth on the other . The most dangerous perversion of the gospel viewed as affecting individuals , is when it is looked upon as a salvation for the soul when it leaves the bod y , but no salvation from sin here . The most dangerous perversion of it viewed as affecting the community is Avhen it is looked upon as a means of forming a holy

community in the world to come , but never in this world . Nothing short of the general renewal of mankind ought to satisfy any- " faithful soldier and servant" of Christ , and all who aim at that triumph should draw much encouragment from their Eino- ' own words when about to ascend to his " Pather and

our father , " "All power is given unto me in heaven and earth . " " One is your master even Christ , and all ye are brethren . " Nothing short of a general submission to our one master will suffice us , if we are true servants , faithful brethren ; and how shall this end be compassed ? How shall this grand work be

done ? Not merely by joining in worship , however Scriptural , not only by sentimental wishes and inactive prayer ! no , but by a hearty , manly , Christian , and brotherly working together , not so much on the masses only , but on families and individuals . One bright light kindledshining in one homewill

, , transmit its rays to another , ancl in this shall reproduce itself until from heart to heart , ancl from home to home , spreading inwards and onwards , we trust the light may be universal , and the darkness be all illuminated . And this , brethren , is your desire ; is it also your daily aim ? You have a glorious pattern

for your guidance in the history of the early church , the spiritual and inner life of which is most strongly impressed with this family and individual feeling . Indeed , we know but little of the Master ' s mind , who would live a spiritual life in indolence and solitude , who knows no opening of heart to heart , no intercommunion of fears and weakness , hope and trust ; who wants no friends , no helpers , no inner circle of companions and brethren ; who doubts in his own

mind whether sociality in religion can be of God . What family heartiness , what individual efforts and love pervade the New Testament narrative .- No stiffness , coldness , selfishness , and solitude in religion ; but brother with brother striving together for each other ' s welfare , clinging together in mutual love , one

with another , ranking as members of one family , brethren , fellow heirs of the . same grace and hope ; and if their example had been followed , their spirit imitated , much more would have been done towards cementing all mankind together in the bonds of one common brotherhood . This spirit is that of the text

, the most perfect equality , the most complete fraternity . Pride , coldness , stiffness , and selfishness all excluded , and the affections moulded ancl guided by the mind , and into the likeness of the one common Master . Thus , all the grades of societ y , all the distinctions which necessarily arise amongst mankind

, are all not indeed , destroyed , nor despised , but lost sight of and blended together in harmony , thus becoming helps towards the one grand aim—the banishment , not the punishment of sin and the spread of Christ ' s glorious kingdom . It would be , indeed , presumptuous in me were I to labour to point out how and

why this should be our peculiar aim . Brotherly love , relief , and truth have ever been the distinguishing characteristics of our order , and long may they continue to beautify and adorn those who are members of our society . This only would I seek to impress both on . myself and on those who hear me : —that our

work is an individual work . It is our great object to promote the welfare and happiness of men ; we must use individual effort ; each must do his part , and each must begin not on society as a mass , but on the