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many of whom he has trained from infancy, in his schools and in the service of the Sanctuary; others, perhaps, whom he has rescued from the snares of Satan and the world, gratefully place themselves at his call. And so the work of the LORD goes on and prospers, without that excitement and distraction which too often mars the labours of those who trust to worldly methods and maxims.

I am aware that there may be danger of falling into indolence and inefficiency—in avoiding the peril of too great excitement. But I address myself to you as men going forth in the eagerness and sincerity of youth, to labour in the LORD's vineyard—ready and desirous to devote yourselves faithfully to His service; and I feel that I cannot conclude more suitably than by endeavouring to impress upon you the solemn truth— that the only sure way of accomplishing the task whereunto you are sent, of influencing a worldly and sinful generation for good, and gathering out souls fitted for CHRIST'S Kingdom-the only way of saving yourselves and others is, by "taking heed to thyself," learning to know thy own heart, and control thy own will; cultivating, in short, a habit of personal holiness, and subduing every energy and faculty to the will of your FATHER Which is in heaven.

Much more I might add on these vitally important subjects—but it is time that I commend you to GOD, and the spirit of His Grace; and beseech all present to aid you with their prayers, that God may shed on you abundantly His heavenly benediction, and enable you so entirely to devote yourselves to His service, that you may both save your own souls, and be the blessed instruments of bringing many with you to His everlasting Kingdom. W. G.

SERMON XXIX.

THE CHILDREN'S

BREAD.

Second Sunday in Lent.

ST. MATT. xv. 26-28.

BUT HE ANSWERED AND SAID, IT IS NOT MEET TO TAKE THE CHILDREN'S BREAD, AND TO CAST IT TO DOGS. AND SHE SAID, TRUTH, LORD: YET THE DOGS EAT OF THE CRUMBS WHICH FALL FROM THEIR MASTER'S TABLE. THEN JESUS ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO HER, O WOMAN, GREAT

IS THY FAITH BE IT UNTO THEE EVEN AS THOU WILT.

FOR true religion, that is, for the right service of ALMIGHTY GOD, it is required that we should both greatly fear GOD, and greatly love HIM. Fear makes

us shrink and draw back from coming to HIM, till we are prepared. Love makes us hasten to HIM, and earnestly cleave to HIM; or, rather, I should say, the very knowledge of our need of God's help to save us from ruin will make us draw nigh to HIM, and cling to HIM, and call for His help, as those who will take no denial. This will constrain us never to cease our earnest entreaties for mercy, never let Hiм go until He have compassion upon us, help us, and bless us. Thus it was the Canaanitish woman in the gospel for

to-day would not be discouraged either by our Blessed SAVIOUR'S silence, when "He answered her not a word;" nor by the reproachful language (as it must have seemed) wherewith He yet further exercised her faith, when He did break silence and said "It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs."

For this race, the people of Canaan, were (as is said in the Book of Wisdom) "a cursed seed from the beginning."" Not without good reason were they so regarded; for it was said immediately after the flood, by Noah,

Cursed be Canaan:" and when the children of Israel came into the land, they were strictly commanded utterly to destroy every soul that breathed of that wicked nation. This woman was of the remnant of this race, descended from those who through the indifference and the disobedience of the Israelites escaped God's just vengeance, which His people were so strictly required to inflict; yet even she obtained mercy when the sense of her need drove her to seek it with importunity at the hand of the SAVIOUR of all men with constant, earnest, unwearied entreaties.

Her importunity, her often-repeated supplications, were pleasing to our LORD, for they were tempered— mixed, with humility. She asked indeed for a little of the children's Bread, yet not as accounting herself worthy of it; but, in her extreme need, entreating that, as a dog, she might be allowed to eat of the crumbs which fell from the Master's Table.

It is in this temper of mind we should come to our LORD'S Holy Table. There we verily and indeed (if we be faithful) eat and drink the Body and Blood of CHRIST; the very same Food and Drink whereby the 2 Gen. ix. 25.

1 Wisdom xii. 4.

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chiefest of the Saints, the Holy Apostles themselves, nay, the very Mother of our LORD, was nourished, and strengthened, and preserved unto everlasting life. For we are all, as St. Paul bears witness, partakers of that One Bread.'

And when we are thus to ask at God's hand for the Food of Martyrs and Apostles, of which they partook in deep humility and awe, as the very Body and Blood of the Son of God, we must need tremble at our own unworthiness. Even though God should have given us to have a hunger and thirst after righteous ness, yet what are we, that we should ask to be filled with CHRIST's Righteousness, or, rather, with CHRIST HIMSELF, Our Righteousness.

The Centurion, it is said, did not think himself worthy that CHRIST should enter under his roof, nor that he should come unto CHRIST; but he sent the Jewish elders to entreat for him, and he received a blessing for his faith and humility. But we are not in the same circumstances as that Centurion; we are rather like the blind man whom CHRIST commanded to be called unto HIM, that He might heal him; or like Zacchæus, to whom He said, "To-day I must abide at thy house."

The blind man, it is said, casting away his garments that he might come the quicker, rose and came to JESUS. Zacchæus, again, "made haste, and came down," and received HIM joyfully. He knew his unworthiness but what if his SAVIOUR chose to come unto him, and abide with him, might HE not count him worthy, if He would? So it is with us. Our SAVIOUR calls us unto His near Presence, calls us that He may feed us with the Flesh and Blood which He gave for

1 1 Cor. x. 17.

2 Mark x. 49.

3 Luke xix. 5.

the life of the world, that He may enter in, and dwell in us; in our souls and bodies-that He may knit us into one with HIMSELF. Of all this we are most unworthy; yet He calls, and if we go to HIм, as truly forsaking our sins, and giving up ourselves to His service, HE will accept us-He will supply what is wanting.

A holy man of our own country, two hundred years ago, expressed all this in a kind of dialogue' between himself and his SAVIOUR, in this manner:

Sweetest SAVIOUR, if my soul
Were but worth the having,
Quickly then would I control
Any thoughts of waving;
But when all my care and pains
Cannot give the name of gains
To Thy wretch so full of stains,
What delight or hope remains?

Then the answer is:—

What, child, is the balance thine?
Thine the poise and measure?
If I say, thou shalt be Mine,

Finger not My treasure.
What the gains in having thee

Do amount to, only HE,

Who for man was sold, can see.

Wonderful indeed are the secrets of GoD's pity and love to us sinful men, that the Son of God should lay down His life for us: that He should knit us unto HIMSELF as very members of His Body in Baptism; that He should feed us with His own Flesh and Blood; that He should vouchsafe to dwell in us as an indwelling Fountain of Righteousness and Holiness, and the Seed of everlasting life. Can we think of these things, and not rejoice with trembling?

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