perfection of our righteousness, and have a profound sense of our sinfulness, and realize the guilt and shamefulness of sin before God. (d) When we are caught in the frivolities of life, and are conscious that we are out of the way, and wish that we could get back in the right way again, but somehow have no relish for that way, and do not really long for it. (e) When we have lost our first love, and we try to pray, and our prayer seems to go like empty echoes into the air, and we try it again and again, and nothing seems to respond. (f) When grief astounds us, and makes sceptics of us, and when, the child being taken, God seems to have been taken with it, and the heart rises up in rebellion, and says, first, "God is not just;" and then, "There is no God." (g) In those impetuous moods when we are swept away by anger, by pride, or by mighty temp tation-in all those times we need Christ. ADAMS, T. The bad leaven, or the contagion of sin. Ser. Works 693. COME. "And the Spirit and the Bride say come."-Rev. xxii. 17. (II.) In what condition is not Christ accessible to us? When may we not go and plead with Him, saying, "Thou art all in all; and Thou hast that in Thyself which is wanted by every possible emergency"? (a) There is a consciousSOME would read this passage as ness in almost every one of the im- though the "come were addressed perfection which attaches to his to Christ. It does not seem so, bebest offices and his best doings; but cause-It is Christ who is speaking we can go to the Lord Jesus Christ-and in the close of the verse let with all such imperfection. (b) him that is athirst, &c. Christ's "They that are whole," said Christ, whole life was an invitation. "need not a physician, but they (I.) The influence of Christ was that are sick." His special mission one of personal attraction. is to the sinner; to the outcast; to the needy; to the poor in spirit; to the consciously defective; to those who are unstable and wavering; to those who charge them selves with making and breaking Vows; to those who want to live purely, but never do so live; to those who need any help. H. W. BEEcher. (a) He tried to win men to Himself that he might lead them to the Father. (b) There are many gospels without this attractive power nowadays. They are not Christ's gospel. (c) It may be necessary to denounce sin-warn men of their danger; if we stop here we come short. (II.) The work our blessed Lord commenced has been taken up and is carried on by the Eternal Spirit of God. (a) Here is a lavish display of love. Surely enough to redeem. God did not feel He had done sufficient in giving His son. (b) He has sent the Spirit to press us to accept! (III.) There are voices that do not say "come." They say "go." (a) Satan. (b) The world. (e) Sinai. (d) Conscience. You may always tell Christ's voice the Spirit's call-it is "come." Is there a voice in your heart saying, guilty as you are, you may come? It is the Spirit. Oh, sons and daughters of men, whatever else you do, listen to that voice! W. H. AITKIN, M.A. grow THE VOICES OF THE STREETS. "Wisdom crieth without, she uttereth her voice in the streets."-Prov. i. 20. ARE there no tufts of truth ing up between these cobble-stones, beaten with the feet of toil and pain and pleasure-the slow tread of age and the quick step of childhood? Aye, there are great harvests to be reaped, and I thrust in the sickle because the harvest is ripe. (I.) The street impresses me with the fact that this life is a scene of toil and struggle. (II.) The street impresses me with the fact that all classes and conditions of society must commingle. (III.) The street impresses me with the fact that it is a very hard thing for a man to keep his heart right and to get to heaven. (IV.) The street impresses me with the fact that life is full of pretension and sham. (V.) The street impresses me with the fact that it is a great field for Christian charity. (a) Let us ministers not be afraid of soiling our black clothes while we go down on that mission. While we are in the study rounding off some period rhetorically, we might be saving a soul from death, and hiding a multitude of sins. (b) Oh, Christian laymen, go out on this work! (c) If you are not willing to go forth yourself, then give o your means. (VI.) And lastly, the street impresses me with the fact that all the people are looking forward. I see expectancy written on almost every face. In this tramp of the multitude on the streets, I hear the tramp of a great host marching and marching for eternity. Beyond the office, the store, the shop, the street, there is a world populous and tremendous. DR. TALMAGE. THE three first gospels used to be called corporeal. This may be called the spiritual gospel. These first eighteen verses enshrine the most sublime views of Christ. This verse epitomizes the whole. Look at Christ's relation to the Father. (I.) He is in the nearest relation to the great Father. (II.) He is in the tenderest affection to the great Father. (III.) He is the most accurate in the knowledge of the great Father. (IV.) He is the most complete in the revelation of the great Father. See also DAVID THOMAS, D.D. HORTON, T., D.D. 100 Ser. N. Test. 132. GUYSE, Dr. Berry-st. Ser. 1, 279. WELLS, C. Divinity of Christ. Disc. 1, 147. IRVING, EDWard. The Incarnation. Ser. 1. BEDE, J. E. Bamp. Lect. 70. ORIGINAL PLANS. REVELATION AND UNBELIEF. 2 Kings vii. 1-3. IN these words we have an illustration of-- (II.) The strange incredulity with which men receive them. Observe (a) Who it was who doubted. (b) What he doubtednot God's ability-but His willinghood. (c) The cause of doubtapparent improbability. (III.) The sad issues to which unbelief leads. (a) It robs us of vent our seeing others partake of the blessings. (b) Does not prethem. (c) Brings swift, sad, irremediable ruin upon the doubter. 66 A GUARD AGAINST SIN. Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I may not sin against thee."-Psa. cxix. 11. (I.) The Psalmist forms a purpose, not to sin against God. (a) How noble such a purpose. (b) And how necessary. (II.) The Psalmist's method of accomplishing this purpose. "Thy word have I hid in my heart." (1.) This will prevent us from sinning, because God's word will reveal sin to its true light. (2.) It prevents us from sinning by keeping before us its awful reward. (3.) It will prevent us from sinning by keeping us in constant thought of God's all-seeing eye. (4.) It restrains us from sinning by showing us the wonderful love of Him against whom we sin. (5.) The word will show us what it cost to make salvation from sin possible, and humble us. (6.) The word, when hid and treasured in the heart, gives a delight which surpasses the delights J. CLARKE, B.A. of sin. See also BURROUGHS, JAMES. Meditation. Disc. 32. (I.) The wonderful things God reveals. Notice (a) their suit; ADAMS, J. Divine origin of the Scripability; (b) variety; (c) abundance (d) vicinity; (e) immediateness, tures. Ser. 75. (II.) The man who has paid the price of your redemption. (III.) Who though you have neglected and despised Him continues to love you. (IV.) Behold the man before whom you will finally stand, and on whom depends your fate for eternity. See also HOPKINS, B. The crucifixion of Christ Ser. 79. HEWLETT, J. The character and conduct of Pilate. Ser. 2, 431. SIMEON, C. Pilate's further attempt to save Jesus. Works 14, 167. THE SAVIOUR'S LOVE AND CARE. (II.) That they are always equally exerted, and exerted with equal suc cess. J. DAWSON KILBURN. See alsoSTIER, R. Words of Jesus 7, 265. COMPARATIVE ANALYSES. us; LITTLENESS OF MAN. "What is man?"-Ps. viii. 4. IN meditating on this psalm let (I.) Interpret it in reference to Christ. (II.) Read it in reference to the distinction between the greatness of God and the littleness of man. (1.) God contains within Himself the principles of His being; He is from eternity, etc. Man exists by a borrowed life, a debt soon to be repaid. (2.) God is almighty; "He calleth things that are not as though they were." How frail man! The least exertion brings "If ye seek me, let these go their way." proportionate fatigue. Hunger, John xviii. 8. HERE we have; (I.) A striking manifestation of Christ's love to His disciples. This is seen (a) In His thoughtfulness concerning them, when He Himself was in such a position. (b) In thirst, sleep, all proofs of infirmity. (3.) God is all-wise; His knowledge is impressed on all His works. In reference to God, all in man is ignorance, blindness, darkness. T. (III.) Derive from it motives of Christian virtue. (1.) God has not forgotten nor forsaken man. (2.) See the necessity of cultivating humility. (3.) The meditation on the disparity between God and man inculcates the duty of mutual benevolence. God forgets the distance between heaven and earth; and shall man remember the distance between himself and a fellowcreature? JOHN ROGERS PITMAN, M.A. Or, man variously considered. (I.) WHAT is man physically? (II.) What is man mentally? (III.) What is man morally? (IV.) What is man spiritually? Or, the greatness of man. THOUGH man is in some senses weak, frail, insignificant, yet in others he is great. Though we are apt to read this question only in the light of man's littleness, yet the psalmist dwells quite as much on his greatness-quite as much on what he is by God's favours and regard as by what he is in himself. Consider man's greatness. (I.) What he has done. (II.) What he is capable of doing and being, even here. (III.) What has been done for him. (IV.) What he may become in eternity. Conclusion. (1.) If man be so great, do not waste your life in ignoble ends. Spend it in a grand purpose. Try to attain your highest greatness. (2.) If man be so great, do all you can to save him. (3.) If man be so great, value men not by their wealth, but by their manhood. VICTORY AND GRATITUDE. "Thanks be unto God, who giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ."-1 Cor. xv, 57. (I.) THE blessing bestowed. "Victory" over Satan, sin, self, in the judgment, etc. (II.) Its conveyance. (a) From God. (b) To us. (c) As a gift. (d) As a gift, but through Christ. (III.) The return made. "Thanks." (a) This is the only return we can make. (b) It is acceptable to God, (c) Let each make this return to the full extent of his power. Or, (I.) THE greatest blessings of life come to us as free gifts. (II.) There is no gift too great for God to give through Christ. (III.) The effect of our blessings ought not to be pride, but gratitude. Or, (I.) THE value and greatness of the blessings received. (II.) The poverty and insignificance of the only returns we can make. See also THOMAS, Bp. The Christian's victory. Ser. 2, 47. BALMER, R., D.D. Victory over death. Lect. 1, 211. CADWORTH, R., D.D. Intel. System 2. In compliance with the wishes of many of our correspondents, arrangements are being made for topics, themes, etc., on the Gospels and Epistles. ELLIOT STOCK, 62, PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON, E.Ç, |