lso hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us"? And should not
this Spirit of GOD-likeness be carried into the smallest details of
life, and not be merely reserved for special occasions? If we
understand aright the meaning of our SAVIOUR'S direction "Be ye
therefore perfect, even as your FATHER which is in heaven is
perfect," it teaches this great truth.

We are to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, not to
break one of the least of the commandments, not to give way to anger,
not to tolerate the thought of impurity, to give no rash promises, or
in conversation to say more than yea or nay. The spirit of
retaliation is not to be indulged in; a yieldingness of spirit is to
characterise the child of the kingdom; those who hate and
despitefully use us are to be pitied, and loved, and prayed for. Then
comes the direction, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your FATHER
which is in heaven is perfect." In the little frictions of daily
life, as well as in the more serious trials and persecutions to which
the Christian is exposed, he is to be manifestly an imitator of his
heavenly FATHER.

Now, GOD'S perfection is an absolute perfection; while ours, at best,
is only relative. A needle may be a perfect needle, in every respect
adapted for the work for which it was made. It is not, however, a
microscopic object; under magnifying power it becomes a rough,
honeycombed poker, with a ragged hole in the place of the eye. But it
was not made to be a microscopic object; and, being adapted to the
purpose for which it was made, it may properly be considered a
perfect needle. So we are not called to be perfect angels, or in any
respect Divine, but we are called to be perfect Christians,
performing the privileged duties that as such devolve upon us.

Our FATHER makes according to His perfection the least little thing
that He makes. The tiniest fly, the smallest animalcule, the dust of
a butterfly's wing, however highly you may magnify them, are seen to
be absolutely perfect. Should not the little things of our daily life
be as relatively perfect in the case of each Christian as the lesser
creations of GOD are absolutely perfect? Ought we not to glorify GOD
in the formation of each letter that we write, and as Christians to
write a more legible hand than unconverted people can be expected to
do? Ought we not to be more thorough in our service, not simply doing
well that which will be seen and noticed, but as our FATHER mak