draw out of the instrument tones that expressed the deep impression which the beautiful had made on him. But we are not all so. Still all have some such power in some degree. We all, especially when we are alone, express our feelings in some feeble lay. Like some poor bird that trills its one simple note of love unnoticed by man, but easing the fulness of its little breast, and doing what God places it for in the world; so amongst us, in our congregation, however faint and low, still loving hearts will always find some voice to express their praise to God; and music will then be rightly used, most gloriously employed, and the Church's service at the same time most hallowed, when the best that we can accomplish sounds forth from organ and from choir, and the influence of those sweet sounds draws forth expression from the congregation round, and all in heart and voice lift up their souls in solemn praise to the glory of the Lord in the holy temple of His house.

(3.) But, lastly, what has this to do with silence? A great deal. For all great works great preparation is needed. And for the true preparation of the music of the sanctuary silence is necessary. The music we have been speaking of is the music of worship, and the music of hearts. We render it here in the temple of the Lord where He is; and as we acknowledge His presence, we hear the cry in our own hearts, "Let all the earth keep silence before Him.” We come here to worship-to meet God, to deal with Him. We bow before Him in supplication and confession before we dare to praise Him. We receive

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His gracious promise of pardon and release. Is not silence the attitude in which to wait for this? "I will hearken what the Lord God will say concerning me for He shall speak peace unto His people, and to His saints, that they turn not again." Surely silence is the attitude of listening and attention. And again, what is necessary in God's house? reverence. Keep thy foot," says Solomon, "when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools: . . . for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth; therefore let thy words be few.” 2 And again, silence is the condition of real work-of most work with the hand, of all real work with the head. The silence of preparation is like a dam across a stream. That which would be wasted in brawling itself noisily away among a hundred petty obstacles in the stony valley, becomes deep, and clear, and strong as it rests, in the lake behind the barrier, a reservoir-source of life-giving refreshment to thousands, source of well-directed strength for work, whereby the earth may be made glad and plenteous, and men be clothed and fedsmooth and still, so that heaven itself becomes reflected in its unruffled calm. So in the silence of thought, in the silence of humility, in the silence of reverence, in the silence of deep feelings, in the silence of earnest determination, we prepare an offering of prayer and praise, which wells forth, not from the noisy utterance of our lips, without influence and without expression, but a strong deep flood from the IPs. lxxxv. 8. 2 Eccl. v. I, 2.

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heart itself, which flows, and will flow, on and on for ever, which has God for its object, our own deepest interest for its subject, our whole life for its channel, and eternity for its end. The worth of this silence, this self-denying silence of thought and preparation, David knew: "While I was thus musing, the fire kindled and at the last I spake with my tongue." The power of deep silence nature knows-in the awful stillness before the tropical storm, when not a sound is heard, and presently the thunder peals forth in all its power, and the lightning in its wrath desolates the earth. Or in the silence before sunrise, in the quietude of the morning hour, while yet darkness prevails, until, dressed in his glory, the majestic sun arises, and the air is filled with the noise of life, and 66 man goes forth to his work and to his labour until the evening." Deep silence has preluded, how many acts. The silence of the night preceded the Angels' song that told when Christ was born; deep silence reigned around the Cross while Jesus finished redemption's work; deep and solemn silence there is, we are told, in heaven-there, in the very temple of God, the silence of expectation, and of awe and wonder; and while that silence lasted the smoke of the incense rose up before the throne of God, which is the prayers of all the saints.2

Oh, brethren! if we would tune our voices to sing the songs of God aright, let us listen in silence to catch that note of holiness, the note of a spirit that holds communion with God; without that note our

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1 Ps. xxxix. 4.

2 Rev. viii. I—3.

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sweetest utterances are discord in His ears. would direct our prayers aright in any way, in the business of life, in our social intercourse, in all our works, oh, let us concentrate ourselves by silent preparation and discipline, that we may improve every gift we have, that we may still have a strong and steady stream of strength when the way becomes long and the work ceases to be attractive! Remembering the presence of God, let us do all we do heartily, as unto Him, and not unto men; whether it be that special work which comes before you to-day, whether it be in the constant and earnest addition of the offering of your own hearts and voices in the services of God in this church; whether it be in the thousand complex actions which make up your life, which, except on one plan are discordant, feeble, harsh, variable, meaningless, worthless; but which, turned to the one key of God's glory, make your life one noble melody, weaving in, in mystic harmony, all chords of joy and sorrow, difficulty and success, till death puts in a rest, and after one more silence the music bursts forth again, taken up by the choirs of heaven.

IX.

OUR CITIZENSHIP.

PHILIPPIANS iii. 20.

Our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.

THIS word conversation is that to which I would first call your attention. It does not mean what to many it might appear to mean. By conversation we commonly understand the interchange of thought and words. Here we have something which involves the whole course of our acts. Conversation, as we commonly use the word, refers to our private life, and our less formal communications; it does not exclude the lightest topics or the most frivolous behaviour. The real meaning of the word here is best expressed by a term which with us represents the development of public life and it refers only and entirely to things of the greatest possible importance. For "conversation" read "citizenship," and you have the nearest approach in one word to the Greek πολίτευμα. That which in things of this world represents your relation to your fellow-men-your position in civilisation, in the right and art of govern

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