blades or burnt up by the flames, but that if it reached the end of the bridge it was safe for ever. The Brig of Dread is not after life, it is during life, and that road I have been speaking of lea ds over it up to Heaven. It was off that Brig that Judas fell, it was firmly over that Brig that Matthias walked.

Every man may be saved in whatever state he is, but also every man may be lost. A prince may be saved by fulfilling the duties of his position, and may be lost by neglecting them. A magistrate may be saved by dispensing justice, and lost by unjust judgments. A priest may be saved by preaching the truth and feeding his flock, and may be lost by preaching falsehood and deserting his sheep. A labourer may be saved by honourably fulfilling the task for which he is hired, and may be lost by defrauding his master. David was saved, and Saul lost, and both were kings. Daniel was chosen, and Balaam rejected, and both were prophets. Matthias is in Paradise, and Annas and Caiaphas in hell, and these were priests. Peter is blessed, and Ananias cursed, and both were married men. Deborah is exalted to heaven, and Jezebel cast out to be the meat of dogs, and both were widows. Abel is in

Paradise, and Cain bears the brand for ever on his brow, and both were shepherds. All conditions furnish Heaven with saints, and Hell with outcasts. "Every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire" (Matt. iii. 10). Every tree, observe, of whatever sort, apple or pear, or fig or cherry, or only the elder with its black berries, and the thorn with its scarlet hips. So it is with man, every man, whether rich or poor, whether master or servant, whether old or young, unless he brings forth his proper fruit, is cut down and cast away. The fig is not required from the thorn, nor the grape from the bramble, but each must bring forth that fruit which belongs to, and is suitable to, his calling and his position. God said, "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit, after his kind, upon the earth" (Gen. i. 11). It is the same in His Church, He expects each man to bring forth fruit "after his kind" and no other. He does not expect the fruit of one which belongs to the stock of another. You will be very likely to bring no fruit to perfection if you try to do that which does not belong to your calling. The priest preaches, and the ploughman ploughs, but if the ploughman

begins to teach he will make as great a blunder of his teaching as the priest would of the furrow if he attempted to plough. And the same with other callings.

"Study to be quiet, and to do your own business says S. Paul. And what will the result be? "Ye shall increase more and more " (1 Thess. iv. 10, 11). It is those who mind the affairs of others who are discontented with their own calling, who think they could profit more were they in any other situation, and therefore neglect the duties of their own, who bring no fruit to perfection. It is those who look steadily at the duties of their calling and neither looking to one side nor the other, labour therein to perfect themselves, who "increase more and more."

The prophet Habakkuk says, "I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what He will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved" (ii. 1). That is an admirable resolution, which it will do well for all to adopt. Stand upon the watch, each on your own tower,

each where you have been set. Do not think you can see better on any other tower, the Great Captain has set you where you are, and what he says unto you is, Watch

where I have planted you. What for? Watch and see what He will say to you there, when He makes the round of the walls, and looks to see how His watchmen are keeping guard, and be ready, if He wills it, to move elsewhere, but not unless He wills it; and again, watch what answer you will give when you are reproved; how you will amend your errors, how you will excuse negligence and correct it.

F

SERMON IX.

CO-OPERATION WITH GRACE.

(THE ANNUNCIATION.)

S. LUKE I. 38.

"Be it unto me according to thy word."

In the beginning, when God would create the world He said "Let there be," and what He willed was immediately. "Let there be light," and at once light sprang into being. "Let the dry land appear," and the waters rolled back. "Let there be sun, and moon, and stars," and the heavens were filled with brightly shining bodies. But now that He is about to renew the face of His earth, fallen from the glory which it had when it was very good, He does not act in the same commanding manner. Man has fallen, man the crown of