opposition patiently, however firmly? Will he show that he remembers the
text, "The bondservant of the Lord must not strive"? [2 Tim. ii. 24.]

THE REV. C. SIMEON.

That text was the watchword of a great man of God, the Rev. Charles
Simeon, in the early and exquisitely trying experiences of his long
ministry (1782-1836) at Trinity Church, Cambridge. The parishioners shut
their house-doors in his face, and locked their pew-doors against those
who came to hear him. Every form of irritating parochial obstruction was
employed. And the young Clergyman had by nature a very short temper, and
a very fearless spirit. But he had found peace through the blood of the
Cross a few years before, and the interests of his Saviour were become
all in all to him. So his first thought was, what would best commend
Jesus Christ to the angry people? And the words seemed to sound
constantly in his soul, by way of answer, "The servant of the Lord must
not strive." Never was tried patience more beautifully made perfect. He
was always giving way, and always going on. He carefully ascertained
that it was illegal to lock the pew-doors; but he _did not take the law_
of those who locked them. His soul was kept in peace; and by degrees, as
might be expected, a calmness which clearly was not cowardice but
consistency won a victory whose effects are felt to this day through the
whole Church of England in the results of Simeon's mighty influence.[12]

[12] I may be permitted to refer to my brief sketch of Mr Simeon's Life:
_Charles Simeon_ (Methuen, 1892), ch. iv.

THE SECRET OF PEACE.

How shall we, in our measure, whenever called to it, "not strive," but
"let our oblivion of self be known unto all men"--in the cottage, in the
villa, in the vestry? There is only one way. It is by abiding in the
Secret of the Presence, in the "pavilion" where "the strife of tongues"
may be heard indeed, but cannot, _no, cannot_, set the hearer on fire.
We must claim on our knees, very often, our Master's power to keep the
soul which He has made, and which longs to manifest Him

"In faith, in meekness, love,
In every beauteous grace,
From glory thus to glory changed
As we behold His face."

POWER OF A CONSISTENT LIFE.

I have inevitably touched only some parts of the great subject of
personal ministerial Consistency. More will be said later. But the
treatment on paper, at almost any length, must be incomplete at the
best; many an important side of t