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Every minister will sympathise with St. Paul's feeling, when he wished not only that he might stir up his people's hearts, but that they, equally, might stir up his. The obligation is mutual; but the reciprocity is not sufficient among us. "Provocation " is one of those many words which have gradually deteriorated, and taken a lower and severer sense than once, and more properly, belonged to it. To "provoke" is simply to call forth; and is used by many classic authors equally in a good sense as in a bad one. Therefore the literal sentence would be — "Consider one another to the stirring up, the inciting of love and good works." If there be yet ought of severity in that expression, it is qualified by the word which precedes it — "Consider one another" — which is a term of careful observation and tenderness. So that no one who "considered " would ever be really harsh! The whole sentence, too, assumes that those who "provoke" have "loved" and have "goodworks" already — only that they need to .be brought out into greater clearness and power. Now my argument is first that your "love" falls short; that you do not love as you might, as you ought to love God and His Church. Now the first question is, How is love to be quickened or provoked in a man's heart? The answer is, Only by the work of Christ. Your love can never be anything but a reflection — the reflection of the love of God to you. Therefore you must feel that you are loved. And the more you "feel that you are loved, the more you will love. For to feel loved, you must feel forgiven. Let me then " provoke you" first, to accept your forgiveness, and to believe, without the shadow of a doubt, that God loves you. Do not wait till you are holier. Do not place sanctification before justification. "I am forgiven. I am loved. God loves me." Is there no echo? Will you give Him no return? Now to make this" love," and to increase this "love," one way is to do good works; for good works make love, even as love makes good works; we all love those to whom we have been kind; the being kind makes us love them. So the two act and re-act therefore I say, I say it reverently but I say it literally, "Be kind to God!" Do you say, What are the "good works" I am to do? God will show you if you ask Him. You need not go far afield to find them. Love in the home! Shed love in your own family. Be great in love, specially where it is the hardest. There may be some one in the house who is to you continually provoking; that person is a provocation to you. Now turn the "provocation" the other way. "Provoke" that person first to love. Do it kindly, do it patiently, do it every day. Pray about it, persevere in it, and you will succeed. "Love and good works" will win the day. And there is another work for Christ. A church is, or ought to be, a fountain of work; and every member of a church should be a worker in the church. Is there not one amongst them whom you could" provoke?" to whom you could tell the happiness you find in God's service; and so stir that one up to join you in your blessed offices of more "love and good works! Love and good works!" never divide them. "Love and good works." For this you were created — for this you were redeemed. This is religion. This was Christ. This will be heaven.

(J. Vaughan, M. A.)

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KJV: And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

WEB: Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good works,