t is to be the man who knows how
to pray secretly in public. The man who pores over the Word all alone is
to be the man who, out in the open field of life, "sins not" because he
has "hid that Word in his heart" [Ps. cxix. 11.]; and who, being called
upon by circumstances, however casually, to show himself actually a true
"man of the Book," is internally ready to do so. Nothing short of "a
life with Christ behind our work," always and everywhere, is to content
us Pastors. To live that life is from one point of view our wonderful
_privilege_, in our living union with our blessed Head. From another
point of view it is our truest and deepest _work_, as we watch and pray
over our privilege, and draw upon our Head in the holy diligence of
faith.

I have spoken already of this vital connexion between the walk with God
in secret and the secret walk with God in public. But it bears
reiteration. It is something gained if we only remind one another, with
the emphasis of repetition, that such a life is our bounden duty and our
blissful possibility:--

"You may always be abiding, if you will, at Jesu's side;
In the secret of His Presence you may every moment hide."[10]

[10] I quote from a beautiful hymn, beginning, "In the secret of His
Presence." It is given in part in several recent hymn-books, but for its
complete form see _From India's Coral Strand_, (_Home Words_ Office,
Paternoster Buildings,) a collection of the poems of its gifted writer,
a Hindoo Christian lady, Miss E.L. Goreh.

But now, what will be the surface and expression of such a hidden life,
as the young Clergyman passes through his busy common day?

LIFE IN LODGINGS.

Let me speak first of his life indoors, that is to say, probably, in his
lodgings. There the day at least begins and ends; and, in more ways than
he is aware of till he sets himself to consider, he may--or may
not--glorify his Master _there_. He is quite certain to be watched,
whether the eyes are friendly or unfriendly to himself and to his
message and ministry. He will be watched of course not only as a man but
as a Minister. And the results of the observation may be most important,
for good or for evil, to the immediate observers; and they are pretty
sure to reach many other people through them. "What shall the harvest
be?"

SELF-RESPECT.

Let one result be, a clear impression in the house that you, the new
Curate, are a man of SELF-RESPECT. Perhaps that _word_ will not be used,
an