BEFORE dealing further with special subjects of Recreation, we will write upon one or two matters about which our advice has been asked. They open out some very practical points which most closely concern almost all of our readers, in one way or another.

The first is, to consider the case of some who cannot always choose for themselves, because they are under authority, to which it is either absolutely necessary, or else very expedient, to yield.

Under the head of "absolutely necessary" obedience we place the wife in dealing with her husband, and the son or daughter with their parents; while in connection with yielding, which may appear "very expedient,” we think of those in any kind of employment, as governess, companion, or in any other capacity, which, of course, they could give up, if the worst came to the worst.

The former of these cases shall have our attention first.

There are many whose position in life does not allow them absolute freedom of choice. When it comes to a real conflict of will and wish, it is their duty to submit, the wife to her husband, the son or daughter to the parent. God's expressed law is that these should obey; and when they do so, the obedience is rendered, in the highest sense, to God Himself,

whether the particular matter in hand be great or small, or whatever be its nature. On the other hand, when they do not yield, or yield only with sullenness and temper, they disobey God, whose law they thereby break.

There is only one limit which can possibly be conceived to this absolute law. It is when obedience to the earthly authority would entail the breach of an as plainly expressed law of God as this one is, such as to steal and the like. But where no actual commandment of God exists, and it is merely a question of what we think to be right, then the duty of yielding becomes a necessity.

The bearing of this on matters concerning Recreation is simply that, when the authority is pushed to the furthest extreme of insisting, it is the duty of the wife or the child to yield to the wishes of a husband* or a parent, when whatever is required is not expressly forbidden in God's Word.

At the same time, it is quite right to seek, in a becoming and proper spirit, a relaxation of the authority, if it can be obtained. But so much of our success will depend, humanly speaking, upon the way in which it is done. We do not now allude to the faith and prayer which would, of course, accompany such an

*

Every Christian girl, to whom matrimony is proposed, should carefully consider how far she is prepared thus to hand over her freedom of action and obedience to another. When that other is not a decided Christian, it is positively wrong to do so; and this is one of the strongest reasons why a Christian woman should never entertain for a moment the thought of marrying one whose conversion is not as evident as her own. Otherwise, she places herself in a position in which, sooner or later, she will find herself under the difficulty of being obliged often to act against her own convictions as to her duty to God, just because absolute obedience to her husband is a duty sanctioned by God's law.

Many of the difficulties which beset Christian women in their Christian life are simply the result of yielding to a tempting offer of marriage from one whose conversion was, to say the least of it, very doubtful.

Further remarks on "Consecrated Marriage " will be found on pages 100 to III of "The Consecrated Life” (Nisbet & Co., 21, Berners Street, London, W.), price Is., or post free for 12 stamps. It can be ordered from any bookseller.

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attempt, but to the manner in which it is laid before the one whom it is sought to move.

Two features specially characterise this "becoming and proper spirit" in which to act under the circumstances; firstly, a frank and reasonable statement of our difficulty; and then, as frank an offer to submit. gracefully, if it must be.

A frank and reasonable statement of our difficulty is of the greatest importance. Let it be kindly done; quietly too, without show of excitement; respectfully also, without a shadow of seeming to insist about it. We should explain that to yield would be doing violence to conviction of conscience, and incurring risk of damage to our spiritual life.

Moreover, we should be "reasonable"; ready, that is, with a reason for objecting to what is proposed. This is why, when writing on dancing, two months ago, we spoke so very strongly on the necessity of knowing, as far as possible, the evils which are really involved in doubtful forms of Recreation. Even if our reason is not allowed at the moment to be of force, there is something left in the mind we have sought to influence which can be thought over and weighed, when perhaps we think that the subject has been forgotten. Besides, few things are so annoying, to those who think differently, as mere denunciation of any Recreation, without a clear reason being assigned for it.

Then, in stating our reason, we should most carefully avoid assuming an air of higher spirituality. Nothing so "rubs people up the wrong way," and defeats the object in view. Let it be understood clearly that we do not wish to judge, much less to condemn, others who think differently; that we leave each one absolute liberty before God to settle all such questions for themselves; but that for ourselves we decide that we should be acting against conscientious convictions as to how we can best serve God, if we were to yield.

But there is yet another feature of the spirit in which we should act to be described.

There should be a frank expression of willingness to submit, if it must be. This is most important, for two reasons. First; because it is, after all, a duty so to submit, as we have shown already, and it would be wrong to seek relief from our difficulty on any other ground than the right one. But secondly, because there are few arguments more powerful than absolute submission. Nothing so disarms unreasonable opposition, so paralyses the arbitrary exercise of authority, or renders the coercion of another so difficult, as an offer to surrender our will, if it is really demanded of At the same time, we should explain, as kindly as possible, that, while we willingly submit, the responsibilities before God of anything wrong which may be involved must rest with those who force us to act against our conviction.

us.

Very few husbands or parents would resist the united force of such an appeal as this, especially if made by one who, as wife or child, showed in all the details of daily life the winning devotion and the loving self-sacrifice for which these positions in life offer such endless openings.

We think ourselves that very many of the difficulties which Christians find in settling such matters with those in any authority over them arise from neglect of one or more of the features we have described. But the necessity of exhibiting them becomes all the greater, if the one whom it is sought to influence makes no profession whatever of religion. These are not to be scolded and argued into caring for higher things, but are to be "won" for Christ (in the case of husbands) "by the conversation of the wives" (1 Pet. iii. 1), and in the case of other relationships in exactly the same way. The believer should, like Daniel, act so faithfully in all the various duties of life towards all around him, that "none occasion nor fault" can be found with him by those who watch most closely

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except concerning the law of his God" (Dan. vi. 4, 5). Then he may hope and believe that his testimony for Christ will be a winning" one, when he is known to stand out, not against what he does not happen to like, as a mere matter of choice, but only against what he believes in his heart to be wrong.

But if, after all, it is fruitless, and the Christian has to submit to a higher human authority, it should be done as a Christian, that is, in a Christlike spirit. Then the case must be left wholly in the Lord's hands, and the objectionable Recreation must be entered upon, so long as no expressed law of God is violated, as His will for us. We should lay aside all that feeling of resentment which is so natural to being obliged to act against our will, and receive the trial from His hand and bear it for Him. Thus viewed, we shall bear it in a spirit to recommend the reality of our profession to others.

At the same time, it will be an occasion for special watchfulness. Many who have been forced into Recreations from which they would shrink have given way under them, and fallen into a frivolous and worldly way. This is from wrongly viewing the enforced Recreation. They have taken it up as a Recreation, instead of as a cross to be carried for Christ's sake, which it really is.

It may be a scene of peculiar temptation into which one is forced. If so, it is most important to preserve throughout it all as close a communion with God as can be. And if the surrounding circumstances are not favourable to this, there is all the more need to sustain it by special effort.

But it will also be an occasion for most definite and unwavering trust that God who "is able to keep us from falling" (Jude ver. 24) will most surely do so. When we enter into the scene of temptation, led by His hand, in the path of duty, because seeking to keep His direct command of obedience to those whose authority has His sanction, we are not running into