"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 5:16).

IN one of our large cities, recently, three bright-eyed, happy-looking children, a boy and two girls, entered the car in which I was riding. They conducted themselves so charmingly, and appeared so well-bred, that instinctively I turned to look at the mother who, I gathered, was close behind them, to have a glimpse of her face. My thoughts were turned from the children to the happy mother who had brought forth and trained such little ones. It was because of what I saw in the children that the desire was awakened in me to know something of the parent.

And I thought, Is it not so with us and the world? When the Christ-like conduct of God's children is seen, they naturally ask themselves, What has made these Christians what they are? What is the secret of their lowly ways, their gentleness, their unselfish love, their considerateness one for the other, and for others-so different from the generality of men met with? for it is evident that if such children as attracted my attention were more common, I should hardly have noticed them. But being so different from most children of their age-not boisterous, not bold and loud and selfish, as so many are-my attention was at once attracted to them; and from them to the mother whose influence and training had made them what they were.

Does not this incident illustrate the meaning of our Lord's words at the head of this paper? His disciples are exhorted to let their light so to shine before men that they, seeing their good works, might admire the grace of God which operates in them, that their heavenly Father may be glorified in and by them. The children's conduct always reflects on the parents, whether it is to their praise or otherwise. How often are parents blamed for the reprehensible conduct of their children; and, on the other hand, they are honored by the praiseworthy behavior of their offspring.

Scripture abounds with illustrations of how God is judged by those who know Him not, through the evil conduct of those who are called by His name. Take the case of David in the matter of his sin with Bathsheba, as the prophet Nathan fearlessly and faithfully tells him, "By this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme" (2 Sam. 12:14). Poor humiliated Jacob also, complaining bitterly of his sons' treachery with the men of Shechem, says, "Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land" (Gen. 34:30).

The unworthy conduct of God's people may be made to reflect upon the character of God Himself, as the base conduct of Eli's sons did in Israel (1 Sam. 2:17). And when God threatened to destroy Israel because of their shameful idolatry, Moses at once thought of the effect the news of this might have upon the nations around them; and by the pleading of this and of God's promise to Abraham, he prevailed upon God to spare them (Exod. 32:9-14). So also it is written that the holy name of God was blasphemed among the idolatrous Gentiles because of His people Israel's sins and self-righteous hypocrisies.

May the thought of this stir us to increased and constant watchfulness over our ways and our spirit, and may our one great object in life be to glorify our Father, whose honor here is connected with the irreproachable conduct of those called after His name. And how sad when our ways give occasion to unbelievers to speak evil of Him who is known on earth chiefly through His people, who are expected to manifest Christ in their lives.

As we have referred to the bad effect produced upon the Gentiles by the evil doings of the Jews, we wish to note, on the other hand, what is written in 1st Pet. 3:12 concerning the Jews converted to Christ. To them the apostle says, "Having your conversation honest among the (idolatrous) Gentiles:that whereas they speak against you as evil doers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation."

Let this parting word of Christ our Lord abide with us:"Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples" (Jno. 15:8). C. Knapp