October 22

"Lying lips are abomination to the Lord."—Proverbs 12:22.

MY Lord, in Thy great mercy and by Thy Holy Spirit's power, keep me from every form of lying.

There is the deceit of professing to be what I am not. There are too many, pagans in reality, who are masquerading in the fair and seemly dress of Christians. They have been baptised with the baptism of disciples, they call themselves by the name of Jesus, they sit down at the holy Table of the Lord; but they are as far from Christ as east is from west. Let me not resemble these.

There is the deceit of professing to be more than I am. That is a peril which besets many a genuine child of God. The peril of avowing what he does not deeply feel, of uttering brave words which outrun his heart's experience, of claiming credit for a knowledge and a love profounder than he has. Let me beware of the subtle perils of exaggeration.

There is the deceit, too, of professing to be less than I am. To some the temptation comes from this side—the side which calls itself wisdom and prudence, and is in reality pusillanimity and cowardice. To hide their affection, to stifle their enthusiasm, to withhold their confession, to restrict and abate their service, for fear of ridicule and opposition. Ne quid nimis, ne quid nimis, let there be nothing extravagant and in excess—it is their constant cry. Let me be on my guard against the treachery of concealment.

From all hypocrisy preserve me free, my God. "I believe he would have gone to the stake rather than tell a lie," Mr. Barrie writes of Joseph Thomson. It is a shining tribute which I desire with my whole heart.