no answer.

A third time he falls on his knees, and will not let God go without the blessing. The answer comes: "My grace is sufficient for thee." Not the thing he asked. He asked: Take this thorn away. God does not pluck it out of his flesh, does not drive Satan's messenger back to hell. He could have done this, but he does not. He opens his own bosom, and says: Look here. It hath pleased the Father that in me should all fulness dwell; 'My grace is sufficient for thee." Here is the Holy Spirit for every need of thy soul. Oh, what a supply did Paul then see in Christ! What unsearchable riches! He had seen much in the third heaven, but here was something more, an almighty Spirit waiting for the need of poor weak sinners.

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Dear friends, have you found out this remedy of the tempted soul? 1. Have you been driven to your knees by temptation? I said, the week before the communion should be a week of prayer; but if you have had Paul's experience, the week after has been one of prayer also. 2. Oh, tempted soul! be importunate, take no denial. Men ought always to pray, and not to faint. Be like the importunate widow, the Canaanitish woman. If you lie down contented under sin, you may well fear that there is no grace in you. 3. Take Paul's answer. God may not pluck out the thorn. This is the world of thorns. But look into his breast. There is enough in Jesus to keep thy soul. The ocean is full of drops, but Christ's bosom is more full of grace. Oh! pray either that your lusts may be taken away, or that you may believe the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

IV. Paul's determination.-Verses 9, 10.

"Most gladly." When Paul was caught up into paradise he thought he would never again feel his body of sin; but when he was humbled and made to know himself better, and to know the grace that is in Christ, then his glory ever after was, that he had a weak body of sin and death, and that there was power enough in Christ to keep him from falling. From that day he gloried not that he had no sin in him, but that he had an almighty Saviour dwelling in him and upholding him. He took pleasure now in everything that made him feel his weakness; for this drove him to Jesus for strength.

Learn, dear brethren, the true glory of a Christian in this world. The world knows nothing of it. A true Christian has a body of sin. He has every lust and corruption that is in the heart of man or devil. He wants no tendency to sin. If the Lord has given you light, you know and feel this. What is the difference, then, between you and the world? Infinite! You are in the hand of Christ. His Spirit is within you. He is able to keep you from falling. "Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and shout for joy all ye that are upright in heart."

St. Peter's, April 26, 1840

SERMON LXI.

SECOND ADVENT.

"For the Son of Man is a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch."-Mark xiii., 34-37.

The Church on earth is Christ's house: "Who left his house." -Verse 34. This parable represents the Church on earth as Christ's house or dwelling.

1. Because he is the foundation stone of it. Just as every stone of a building rests on the foundation, so does every believer rest on Christ. He is the foundation rock upon which they rest. If it were not for the foundation, the whole house would fall into ruins the floods and winds would sweep it away. If it were not for Christ, all believers would be swept away by God's anger; but they are rooted and built up in him, and so they form his house.

2. Because he is the builder. (1.) Every stone of the building. has been placed there by the hands of Christ; Christ has taken every stone from the quarry. Look unto the rock whence ye were hewn, and the hole of the pit whence ye were digged. A natural person is embedded in the world just as firmly as rock in the quarry, the hands of the almighty Saviour alone can dig out the soul, and loosen it from its natural state. (2.) Christ has carried it, and laid it on the foundation. Even when a stone has been quarried, it cannot lift itself; it needs to be carried, and built upon the foundation. So when a natural soul has been wakened, he cannot build himself on Christ; he must be carried on the shoulder of the great master builder. Every stone of the building has been thus carried by Christ. What a wonderful building! Well may it be called Christ's house, when he builds every stone of it. See that ye be quarried out by Christ; see to it, that ye be carried by him, built on him; then you will be an habitation of God through the Spirit.

3. Because his friends are here. Wherever a man's friends are, that is his home; wherever a man's mother and sisters and brothers dwell, that is his home; this, then, must be Christ's home, for he stretched forth his hand towards his disciples, and said: "Behold my mother and my brethren; for whosoever shall do the will of my father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother." As long as this world has a believer in it, Christ will look upon it as his house. He cannot forget, even in glory, the well of Samaria-the garden of Gethsemane-the hill

of Calvary. Happy for you who know Christ, and who do the will of his Father; wherever you dwell, Christ calls it his house. You may dwell in a poor place, and still be happy; for Christ dwells with you, and calls it his dwelling, he calls you" My brother, sister, mother."

II. Christ is like a man who has gone a far journey.-Verse 34. Although the Church on earth be his house, and although he has such affection for it, yet Christ is not here, he is risen-Christ is risen indeed.

1. He has gone to take possession of heaven in our name. When an elder brother of a family purchases a property for himself and his brothers, he goes a far journey, in order to take possession. So Christ is an elder brother. He lived and died in order to purchase forgiveness and acceptance for sinners. He has gone into heaven to take possession for us. Do you take Christ for your surety? Then you are already possessed of heaven.

Ques. How am I possessed of heaven, when I have never been there?

Ans. Christ your surety has taken possession in your name. If you will realize this, it will give you fulness of joy. A person may possess a property which he has never seen.

Look at your surety in the land that is very far off, calling it all his own, for the sake of his younger brethren: "These things have I spoken unto you, that your joy may be full."

2. He has gone to intercede for us. (1.) He has gone to intercede for unawakened, barren sinners: "Lord, let it alone this year also." Oh, sinner! why is it that you have not died a sudden death? Why have you not gone quite down into the pit? How often the Saviour has prayed for some of you! Shall it be all in vain? (2.) To intercede for his believing people, to procure all blessings for them. Often an elder brother of a family goes into a far country, and sends back rich presents to his younger brethren at home. This is what Christ has done; He has gone far above all heavens, there to appear in the presence of God for us, and to ask the very things we need, and to send us down all the treasures of heaven. Of his fulness have we all received, even grace for grace. "I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another comforter." Oh, Christians! believe in a praying Christ, if you would receive heavenly blessings. Believe just as if you saw him, and open the mouth wide to receive the blessings for which he is praying.

3. He has gone to prepare a place for us. When a family are going to emigrate to a foreign shore, often the elder brother goes before to prepare a place for his younger brethren. This is what Christ has done. He does not intend that we should live here always; he has gone a far journey in order to prepare a place for us: "I go to prepare a place for you; and if I go and prepare a

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place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, there ye may be also." Oh, Christians! believe in Christ preparing a place for you. It will greatly take away the fear of dying. It is an awful thing to die, even for a forgiven and sanctified soul; to enter on a world unknown, unseen, untried. One thing takes away fear; Christ is preparing a place quite suitable for my soul; he knows all the wants and weaknesses of my frame: I know he will make it a pleasant home to me.

III. All Christ's people are servants, and have their work as signed them.-Verse 34.

1. Ministers are servants, and have their work assigned them. Two kinds are here mentioned. (1.) Stewards. These seem to be the servants to whom he gave authority. All ministers should be stewards; rightly dividing the Word of life: giving to every one of the family his portion of meat in due season. Oh! it is a blessed work, to feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood; to give milk to babes, and strong meat to grown men; to give convenient food to every one. Pray for your ministers that they may be made stewards. There are few such. (2.) Porters. He commanded the porter to watch. It is the office of some ministers to stand at the door and invite every sinner, saying; "Enter ye in at the strait gate." Some ministers have not the gift of feeding the Church of God and watering it. Paul planted-Apollos watered. Some are only door-keepers in the house of my God. Learn not to despise any of the true servants of God. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? He has appointed some to stand at the door, and some to break the children's bread-despise neither.

2. All Christians are servants, and have their work assigned them. Some people think that ministers only have to work for Christ but see here: "He gave to every man his work." In a great house, the steward and the porter are not the only servants; there are many more, and all have their work to do. Just so among the people of Christ. Ministers are not the only servants of Christ all that believe on him are his servants.

(1.) Learn to be working Christians. "Be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own souls." It is very striking to see the uselessness of many Christians. Are there none of you who know what it is to be selfish in your Christianity? You have seen a selfish child go into a secret place to enjoy some delicious morsels undisturbed by his companions? So is it with some Christians. They feed upon Christ and forgiveness: but it is alone, and all for themselves. Are there not some of you who can enjoy being a Christian, while your dearest friend is not; and yet you will not speak to him? See, here you have got your work to do. When Christ found you, he said: "Go, work in my vineyard." What were you hired

for, if it was not to work? What were you saved for, if it was not to spread salvation? What blessed for? Oh, my Christian friends! how little you live as if you were servants of Christ !—how much idle time and idle talk you have! This is not like a good servant. How many things you have to do for yourself! how few for Christ and his people! This is not like a servant.

"Let

(2.) Learn to keep to your own work. In a great house every servant has his own peculiar work. One man is the porter to open the door; another is the steward to provide food for the family; a third has to clean the rooms; a fourth has to dress the food; a fifth has to wait upon the guests. Every one has his proper place, and no servant interferes with another. If all were to become porters, and open the door, then what would become of the stewardship? or, if all were to be stewards, who would clean the house? Just so is it with Christians. Every one has his peculiar work assigned him, and should not leave it. every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called." Obadiah had his work appointed him in the court of the wicked Ahab. God placed him as his servant there, saying: "Work here for me." Does any of you belong to a wicked family? Seek not to be removed-Christ has placed you there to be his servant-work for him. The Shunamite had her work. When the prophet asked: "Wilt thou be spoken for to the king?" she said: "I dwell among mine own people." Once a poor demoniac whom Jesus healed. besought Jesus that he might follow after him; howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him: "Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and how he hath had compassion on thee." Learn, my dear friends, to keep to your own work. When the Lord has hung up a lamp in one coruer, is there no presumption in removing it to another? Is not the Lord wiser than man? Every one of you has your work to do for Christ where you are. Are you on a sick bed? Still you have your work to do for Christ there as much as the highest servant of Christ in the world. smallest twinkling star is as much a servant of God as the mid-day sun. Only live for Christ where you are.

The

IV. Christ is coming back again, and we know not when: "Watch ye therefore for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping."Verses 35, 36. Two things are here declared.

1. That Christ is coming back again. The whole Bible bears witness to this. The master of the house has been a long time away on his journey; but he will come back again. When Christ ascended from his disciples, and a cloud received him out of their sight, and they were looking steadfastly into heaven, the angels said, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye