each strive to save one; be not backward to do a little because you cannot do much. Think of the honour of receiving Christ the Lord; and that the saving of one little child from the snares of the tempter will obtain for you this blessedness. And how great is the condescension and grace of the Son of God! nothing is so insignificant as to be overlooked by him, nothing unworthy of his everlasting love! the least and poorest among us is an object of his salvation, to whom he would give eternal life. "It is not the will of your

Father which is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish." Oh, then, you who are true children of your heavenly Father, see that you do his will in this respect. Use your best endeavours to guard the little ones that you have around you, and take them out of the path of sin and misery, and bring them to God. Particularly each of you look to the one or two who are in any respect brought near to you. Parents, more especially, look to your own children; godfathers and godmothers look to those for whom you have promised at baptism; each strive to save that little child which is an object of his own care in his family, or in the place where he lives, or in the circumstances which God has ordered. That one little child, or more, it may be, being "bred up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord,"

shall bear a glorious testimony to your obedience to Christ's command at the last great day.

"Whoso receiveth one such little child in my name"—or, as is said elsewhere," as my disciples, because ye belong to Christ." Think it not enough to be kind and gentle towards these little ones (alas! that is often more than they experience even from those who are tied to them by the tenderest bonds): it is not the exercise of natural affection, or neighbourly friendship, the giving them useful instruction, and setting them forward in the world; this is not receiving them, or caring for them, " in Christ's name." It is the "bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord," in the fear and love of God and their Saviour, training them as his disciples; teaching them the doctrines which he taught, and the duties which he enjoined; teaching all upon Christian principles: this it is to care for them in Christ's name. To bring them to him for cleansing in baptism; to have the blessing then bestowed confirmed to them by the laying on of hands; to train them for communion with him at his table; to teach them to love the ordinances of his house, and study his word, and apply to him continually in prayer, and, above all, to seek to have his Spirit dwelling in their hearts as their Guide and Comforter; and strive to bring forth

all “the fruits of the Spirit,” to love God with the whole heart, to "follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:" all this, and much more than we can here set down, all that is comprehended in Christian faith and practice, is required of those who would show themselves to be Christ's disciples by their care of these little ones whom he so careth for. Think of him in his infancy and childhood, all purity and innocence, having the grace of God abundantly shed upon him; in his riper years doing the will of his Father, and as his "beloved Son;" doing good, teaching the ignorant, blessing his enemies, loving his friends with holy, tender affection; bearing with scorn and reproach, suffering patiently under the hand of God, and at last devoutly commending his spirit into the hands of his Father; think of the Son of God walking upon earth as one of us, and doing all that we may do, and then you will see what these little ones should be taught " to be in all holy conversation and godliness." And while we are earnest for the spiritual training of little children, let us not forget what is needful for ourselves. "Whosoever shall humble himself as this little child, the same shall be great in the kingdom of heaven." Let the infant Jesus be to us that little child, the most perfect pattern of meekness and docility, gentle

ness of spirit, and lowliness of mind, all that the Father is well pleased to look upon, and that ought to be lovely in our eyes. So may we. through God's great goodness, recover the blessing and honour bestowed upon us in infancy, and angels rejoice over us, becoming such as they, and enabled to behold the face of our Father in heaven.

SERMON XVII.

THE NEW YEAR A SIGN OF NEWNESS OF LIFE.

PROV. iii. 6. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.

THE wise king of Israel repeats the lesson which his pious father had taught him, and with him all future generations: "Thou, Solomon, my son, know thou the God of thy father.* So in Psalms xxxvii. and cxix., which partakes much of the character of a book of proverbs: "Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass." Or, in the language of prayer, “Order my steps in thy word; and so shall no wickedness have dominion over me." The sentiment is, of course, enlarged and improved under Gospel teaching, and applied to the sure trust which the servants of Christ are exhorted to place in him, their Shepherd and King; who rules them by his law, and guides and keeps them by his Spirit. Several passages in the psalms, expressive of the devout committing of himself to God, appear to be spoken prophetically

* 1 Chron. xxviii. 9.