d the aim and end of Revealed Truth from Genesis to Revelation is to
teach man how to acquire the power to do this, and how to do it,
together with the promises of eternal rewards for doing it. And until
our understandings are so filled with the knowledge of the glorious
truths of God's kingdom, and our hearts with the love of doing his
will that we can make no further progress in knowledge and wisdom, and
no additions to the warmth and measure of our love by reason of our
_sinless perfection_, we have daily need to offer this prayer.

Gospel and church ordinances are all important. In my view they hold a
relation to every true Christian in the lines of example, power and
use somewhat like that which the harness has to a draught horse. The
horse has to be first trained to the draught by means of the harness;
and when trained he draws by the same means. Entering the church in
the Lord's appointed way--inwardly, through repentance towards God and
faith in our Lord Jesus Christ; outwardly, by a threefold immersion of
the body in pure water, the beautiful emblem of truth, in token of our
belief in the blessed trinity of God--is simply putting on the harness
for work in the Lord's vineyard. It is also the act of putting on the
Christian soldier's armor and entering the service. But of what use is
a helmet, sword and shield to an idler in the camp? Of what account is
harness, unless the horse that carries it is trained and made willing
to use it?

The apostles all speak much of _charity_, which is love to others
filled with a desire to do them good. This love is of God; for our
Lord was filled with it as "he went about doing good." It is this same
love or charity in God that has brought salvation to man. Paul and
Peter often call it _grace_, but it means the same thing. Moses and
the prophets mostly use the word _mercy_; but it also means the same.
These three words, _love, grace, mercy_, in their true sense, are
comprehended in the word CHARITY, which, as an attribute of God or a
conscious feeling in man, is the love of doing good in the desire to
make others good and happy. If _charity_ were made the life and spring
of man's love universally, peace and happiness would be the universal
order of man's life on earth. Millennial glory would crown humanity,
and the knowledge of the Lord would be its princely attire. Then the
wolf of worldly rapacity, having lost its power, would dwell with the
lamb. The leopard of crouching dec