have grown smaller and smaller in his own estimation. So it was with
John. And I do hope and pray that as the days go by we may feel like
hiding ourselves, and let God have all the honor and glory.

"When I look back upon my own religious experience," says Andrew
Murray, "or round upon the Church of Christ in the world, I stand
amazed at the thought of how little humility is sought after as the
distinguishing feature of the discipleship of Jesus. In preaching and
living, in the daily intercourse of the home and social life, in the
more special fellowship with Christians, in the direction and
performance of work for Christ--alas! how much proof there is that
humility is not esteemed the cardinal virtue, the only root from which
the graces can grow, the one indispensable condition of true
fellowship with Jesus."

See what Christ says about John. "He was a burning and shining light."
Christ gave him the honor that belonged to him. If you take a humble
position, Christ will see it. If you want God to help you, then take a
low position.

I am afraid that if we had been in John's place, many of us would have
said: "What did Christ say,--I am a burning and shining light?" Then
we would have had that recommendation put in the newspapers, and would
have sent them to our friends, with that part marked in blue pencil.
Sometimes I get a letter just full of clippings from the newspapers,
stating that this man is more eloquent than Gough, etc. And the man
wants me to get him some church. Do you think that a man who has such
eloquence would be looking for a church? No, they would all be looking
for him.

My dear friends, isn't it humiliating? Sometimes I think it is a
wonder that any man is converted these days. Let another praise you.
Don't be around praising yourself. If we want God to lift us up, let
us get down. The lower we get, the higher God will lift us. It is
Christ's eulogy of John, "Greater than any man born of woman."

There is a story told of Carey, the great missionary, that he was
invited by the Governor-general of India to go to a dinner party at
which were some military officers belonging to the aristocracy, and
who looked down upon missionaries with scorn and contempt.

One of these officers said at the table: "I believe that Carey was a
shoemaker, wasn't he, before he took up the profession of a
missionary?"

Mr. Carey spoke up and said: "Oh no, I was only a cobbler. I could
mend shoes, and wasn't ashamed o