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human flesh. In this lowly form He went from city to city, from village to village, accompanied by a few obscure followers, for the sole purpose of enlightening men and saving their souls. He was literally a "root out of a dry ground." There was no form nor comeliness in Him, nor any beauty which would attract the attention of the rich and mighty on earth. While the rulers of this world were revelling in luxury and ivory palaces, He, the Lord of life and death, had not where to lay His head. He seeks not the great and noble in the land, but the poor, the mean, the ignorant and helpless. "Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not," said He, "for of such is the kingdom of heaven." "Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls." He never tires of doing good. He never repels anyone for his unworthiness. Finally, he is led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers He openeth not His mouth. Twelve legions of angels are at His command, but instead of resenting the indignities inflicted on His sacred body, He prays for his murderers. He bows His holy head and dies. His soul enters Paradise, and thither followed it the soul of the converted thief. If any one can reflect upon these solemn truths and call to mind that all this suffering was endured for his sake, and still remain unhumbled before God, his must be a hardened heart indeed.

O brethren, let us often call to mind the misery which our Lord endured for our sins, to make an atonement for them, to satisfy the offended justice of God, to pay the penalty due to God's justice for the sins of the

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world, and let us under a deep sense of our unworthiness, humble ourselves in the dust, cast down all high imaginations, and seek, with all humility and gratitude, forgiveness and redemption at God's hands for Christ's sake. Let us abhor the pride of the human heart, which in the hands of our great spiritual enemy has been the cause of so much sorrow and wickedness in the world. Let us most willingly and cheerfully hasten to tread in the steps of our blessed Lord, and obey that precept, to love others as He loved us. Greater love cannot be imagined than that which the Redeemer showed for our fallen race. The greatest and brightest acts of charity ever exhibited by the human race are as nothing compared with His love. They shine with less splendour than the meanest tapers in the rays of the meridian sun. Still we can imitate His acts of beneficence, His unwearying kindness, and His unselfish philanthropy, and it is our duty as well as our privilege to do so.

Unhappily at this time we have a very pressing and strong claim upon us, calling for the fullest exercise of benevolence and liberality. In France, us you all no doubt know, during the last few months many thousands of men have been killed and wounded in the war, which is still raging. Of those who survive their wounds there are still many thousands. Of these some are still suffering severely, and I grieve to add that the small skirmishes that are almost daily occurring, constantly add to the number of the wounded, so that it is to be feared the number of sick and wounded still continues and is likely to continue to be very great. We are happily free from such a dreadful visitation, for which mercy we cannot be

too thankful to Almighty God. One way in which we can show our thankfulness is, by contributing to the wants of our afflicted brethren, and helping those who suffer from the calamities of war. Your aid to-day

is asked for this purpose. It will be I suppose sufficient for me to state this much, and leave the whole in your hands. It cannot be necessary for me to go into the particulars of this awful war ; not to harrow your feelings with details of the dreadful sufferings caused by it. The Daily Papers, from their number and cheapness, are so placed within the reach of all, that I have no doubt most, if not all, know enough to convince us of the sad and pressing necessity of doing all in our power to alleviate such devastation and misery.

Both the parties concerned in this war, both the Germans and the French have complained, as we might expect they would do, of our not sympathizing more earnestly, if not in fact siding with either party. This is what we might have expected, but there is no doubt we have taken a right course in maintaining a strict neutrality. Both parties have sinned. Both are suffering the consequences of their sins. It is through the rich mercy of God our part to overcome evil with good. The best answer we can give to their complaints of our want of feeling and indifference is, to send them help abundantly and promptly. The hundreds of thousands of pounds sterling sent for their help in the hour of their direst necessity is the best proof that we are not indifferent; that we feel for their calamities, pray for them and sympathize with them in the true spirit of Christianity.

SERMON VI.

GOOD WORKS NECESSARY.

Gal., Chap. vi., v. 7, 8.

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

GOD

OD has given us certain unchangeable laws by which we are to be guided in our doings. If we do such and such things, we know by experience that such and such things will follow. There may be sometimes a variation, at least in appearance, from the general rule, but still the general rule holds good in most cases. Industry generally has its reward-idleness its misery. The farm of the active husbandman abounds with plenty, that of the sluggard is too often a scene of wretchedness

in his own eyes. He who is prudent and thoughtful

saves himself many an hour of care and anxiety. He who never thinks till compelled by actual necessity pays the penalty of his thoughtlessness, and is continually in difficulties. So it is with things spiritual. He who only lives for this world lays up for himself things that can only benefit him in this world. When he goes out of this world none of those things profit him. He brought nothing into this world, and nothing can he carry out. His then is a wretched state. He is in the condition of that person described in the 19th chapter of St. Luke,

who having received a pound made no proper use of it, But how different is the lot of him who has made use of the talents committed to his charge, who hath attended to the duties of this life and sown unto the spirit. He, too, according to the immutable law appointed by God reaps his reward, everlasting life. Every advantage is his. The worldly-minded is obliged to leave behind him all those things upon which his mind doted upon earththose things are left to others, some of whom probably he knew nothing of, but the works of the good man belong to him even after his departure from this world. "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.”—Rev. xiv., 13.

May the Spirit of God be with us and put into our hearts that which may spring up to life everlasting while we proceed to consider the words of the text.

The Apostle, before he wrote the words of the text had been suggesting that every man should prove or examine his own work, that he should be careful not to think himself something when he was nothing, that he should have cause for rejoicing in himself and not in another: that every man should bear his own burden, and be willing to give or communicate to him that taught him, that is to the ministers or teachers of God's word, and then the Apostle, knowing the desperate deceitfulness of man's heart, that instead of doing what it is really called upon to do in all honesty and fairness, it will, through the wiles of the devil, the world and the flesh, be making all sorts of excuses, or only pretending to do what it ought in reality to do, gives this solemn caution, "Be

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