which the outside can be kept clean.  A pure life flows out of a clean heart, and it can come from no other source.  We show our love to the Lord by observing his ordinances:  by baptism, by washing one another’s feet, by partaking with each other of the Lord’s Supper, by communing with him in his broken body and shed blood, symbolized by the bread and wine:  next, in “denying ourselves of all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and living soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.”

Think on this last text a little bit.  “Soberly” means calmly sincere; not moved by fits of excitement.  “Righteously” means doing right; right toward God by obedience, and right toward men in our dealings with them and in our influence upon them.  Many a brother has ruined his power for good by not being watchful.  He told “jokes.”  He delighted in frivolous, trifling things.  He put on a square face at church, to be sure; but a little disappointment would lengthen it fearfully, and a little fun or glee would broaden it out of all Christian shape.

For the benefit of such and all, I will define the last but not least word in the apostle’s category—­“godly.”  Brethren, this means LIKE God; and it includes all the rest, for “God is love.”  To abide in God is to live in holy, heavenly love.  “Abide in me, and I in you.”  Wonderful, wonderful words!  This is heaven on earth.

The apostle says:  “We have been made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”  A beautiful figure.  We sit in the sun, or in sunny places, when the light of the sun falls upon us in that position.  We sit in heaven, or in heavenly places, when the light of heaven with its love falls full into our souls.  I feel like giving utterance to the emotion of my heart in that sweet old love-song of ours: 

  “My willing soul would stay
    In such a place as this;
  And sit and sing herself away,
    To everlasting bliss.

  “Here the Redeemer’s voice
    Sheds heavenly peace around;
  And life and everlasting joys
    Attend the blissful sound.”

And now I will close in the words of Paul’s valedictory to the saints at Corinth:  “Finally, brethren, farewell:  Be of good comfort; be of one mind; live in peace.  And the God of love and peace shall be with you.”  Amen!

TUESDAY, November 3.  Our beloved brother started on his homeward way down the Valley of Virginia.  He passed through Abingdon, Salem, Lexington and Staunton, and on

TUESDAY, November 10, he reached home after an absence of two months to the day.  He says:  “I have been absent from home just two months to the day; and in this time I have traveled on horseback 1,317 miles.  With much thankfulness to our Father in heaven, do I recount my protection and preservation through the dangers and toils of traveling; the strength and support given me in preaching the Word; and the great joy I have had in meeting so many dear brethren and sisters in the Lord.  Amen!”