Ver. 27. _Profession without Hypocrisy._--Hypocrisy is professing without practising. Men profess without feeling and doing or are hypocrites in nothing so much as in their prayers. Let a man set his heart upon learning to pray and strive to learn, and no failures he may continue to make in his manner of praying are sufficient to cast him from God's favour. Let him but be in earnest, striving to master his thoughts and to be serious, and all the guilt of his incidental failings will be washed away in his Lord's blood. We profess to be saints, to be guided by the highest principles, and to be ruled by the Spirit of God. We have long ago promised to believe and obey. It is true we cannot do these things aright--nay, even with God's help we fall short of duty. Nevertheless, we must not cease to profess. There is nothing so distressing to a true Christian as to have to prove himself such to others, both as being conscious of his own numberless failings and from his dislike of display. Christ has anticipated the difficulties of his modesty. He does not allow such a one to speak for himself; He speaks for him. Let us endeavour to enter more and more fully into the meaning of our own prayers and professions; let us humble ourselves for the very little we do and the poor advance we make; let us avoid unnecessary display of religion. Thus we shall, through God's grace, form within us the glorious mind of Christ.--_Newman._ _Teachings of Baptism_-- I. +Our baptism must put us in mind that we are admitted and received into the family of God.+ II. +Our baptism in the name of the Trinity must teach us to know and acknowledge God aright.+ III. +Our baptism must be unto us a storehouse of comfort in time of need.+ IV. +Baptism is a putting on of Christ.+--Alluding to the custom of those who were baptised in the apostle's days putting off their garments when they were baptised, and putting on new garments after baptism. 1. In that we are to put on Christ we are reminded of our moral nakedness. 2. To have a special care of the trimming and garnishing of our souls. 3. Though we be clothed with Christ in baptism, we must further desire to be clothed upon--clad with immortality.--_Perkins._ Ver. 28. _All are One in Christ._ +I. People of all nations, all conditions, and all sexes.+ II. They who are of great birth and high condition must be put in mind not to be high-minded, nor despise them of low degree, +for all are one in Christ.+ +III. All believers must be of one heart and mind.+ +IV. We learn not to hate any man, but do good to all.+--Men turn their swords and spears into mattocks and scythes, because they are one with Christ by the bond of one Spirit.--_Perkins._