a blissful union of churches holding the common faith, holding the One Head, and enjoying the quickening and sanctifying grace of the One Holy Spirit. Yes, we believe it is the duty of churches of Christ to exhibit their spiritual oneness, not only by friendly co-operation in every good work, but by actual incorporation, that the church in our dear native land, like a building fitly framed in Christ, may grow into a holy temple in the Lord. Amen.

YET THERE IS ROOM:

OR,

AN EXPOSITION AND OFFER OF THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM

OF GOD.*

"And yet there is room."-Luke xiv. 22.

WHEN the Lord Jesus Christ spoke these words, he was, we are told by the evangelist, in the house of one of the chief Pharisees, eating bread on the Sabbath day.

When there, he healed a dropsical man, and vindicated his

* PREFATORY NOTE.-This is my favourite sermon. I part with it now with most mingled feelings. It goes to the press from a manuscript wet with many tears; but the tears are those of love, in wonder, adoration, and gratitude. They are not the tears of one who has no hope; but they are the expression of a heart moved, and yet at rest, rejoicing in the Lord with a joy unspeakable and full of glory. May it go forth, not only bedewed with my tears, but bedewed with the grace and the anointing of God the Holy Ghost, that others may know the joy of love in tears, as they look unto him whom they have pierced, and mourn for him, while they hear his still small voice saying, "In my Father's house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you. And I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am there ye may be also." Were it my last utterance to my wife, my daughters, and my only son-to all of whom I now dedicate this sermon--it would be, "My beloved wife, with Harriot, Mary, Thomas, and Margaret, my dear children, YET THERE IS ROOM, come with me, let us enter joyfully into the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." GEORGE MACAULAY.

DUNGLASS CASTLE,

OLD KILPATRICK, 16th January, 1872.

action, not only as in keeping with the uses, ends, and design of the Sabbatical law, but also as an illustration of a principle according to which the Jews themselves acted in matters in which their self-interest came to the aid of their hermeneutics, or method and laws of biblical interpretation.

HUMILITY.

Observing how some of the guests chose out "the chief rooms," the Lord, according to his invariable manner, took occasion to address to them, and through them to us, words of gracious counsel and exhortation. 'When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest place; lest a more honourable than thou be bidden; and he that bade thee come and say unto thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room." True humility is not only another name for true politeness; it is also true policy. For it leaves room for promotion, or the possibility of advancement to honour. Therefore, "When thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship (honour) in the presence of those who sit at meat with thee." But not to teach the lessons of social civility and politeness did Jesus become manifest in the flesh. For other and higher ends was the great mystery of godliness revealed. Nevertheless, civilization, with all the urbanity of manners which it implies and produces, is the invariable handmaid, attendant, and shadow of Christianity. Politeness in manners, as in letters, is the reflection of genuine godliness or piety. And there can be no true godliness where there is not a genuine and unfeigned humility. "For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." This is the law in the kingdom of God. It holds in the kingdom of ordinary providence and in the kingdom of grace. Let it go abroad that a man is in haste to be "somebody," or to exalt himself, and every other man will account it both his interest and duty to

thwart the purpose and projects of the too eager ambition. Men will, in such a case, set themselves to abase or bring down the aspiring, the ambitious, and the self-elating. On the other hand, let the impression go forth and spread itself that a man possesses real worth, that he is a man of character and of ability, and at the same time a man modest, unpretentious, and humble, who prefers and esteems others rather than himself; the crowd in this case will open of itself the way or avenue along which it invites the man of modest worth to walk upwards to the place of distinction, and the platform of office and of honour. Self-love is gratified and flattered in bestowing patronage on the deserving poor, on the humbly and modestly able, worthy, and good. But whatever may occur in this strangely complex and seemingly confused region of daily providence, the law operates with undeviating precision and with unvarying regularity in the kingdom of God's grace. "He that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." Humility is the sublimest virtue in the kingdom of God. It is the measure and index of the moral and spiritual build and stature, growth and attainments of the Christian man. Mensura humilitatis est mensura incrementi. By the valley of humiliation we enter into the kingdom; and along that valley, with progressive lowliness of spirit, we walk in holiness and usefulness, till we reach the lofty heights of blessedness and glory, to which we are predestinated in Christ Jesus. "He that humbleth himself shall be exalted;" so spake the Lord, who is the fountain of all honour and exaltation in the kingdom of God. "For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another." (Psalm lxxv.) He that is in his own judgment less than the least of all saints, yea, the chief of sinners, is among the greatest and foremost in service, sufferings, and honour in the kingdom of our God. For except we be converted, and become as little children, we shall in nowise enter into the kingdom of God. "You write to me about academic honours and distinctions," said the missionary Buchanan to the Rev. John Newton; "I would not give a

little brokenness of heart, contrition, and emptiness of spirit before the Lord, in exchange for the highest honours and offices that Cambridge can confer or bestow." As the orator, or master of eloquence, when asked the secret of his art, replied again, and again, and again-"Action!" so it has been well said by Calvin, quoting from Augustine, “if I be asked the secret of the Christian life, I will answer, after the manner of the orator, Humility, humility, humility! and continue answering, Humility!" For as the bird that builds in the lowest place mounts on buoyant and elastic wing to loftiest heights, so the humblest Christian is the most Christ-like and God-like among men. And as the barley, when the grain is ripe and full in the ear, bends its head in graceful modesty, so the Christian, ripe in grace, and laden with the rich fruits of godliness, bends his spirit in unfeigned lowliness before his God. The vesture of humility, which he wears in the view of men, is but the index of that graceful enrobement with which his inner and hidden man of the heart is attired in the presence of that Lord, who, looking into the heart, seeketh there for truth in the inward parts, finding it there also in beautiful league and amity with that "wisdom which, coming from above, is pure, and peaceable, gentle and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy."

HOSPITALITY.

Turning to the master of the feast and head of the house of hospitality, the Lord directs his words to him, and through him to all who would be careful to use hospitality. Among the guests around the table or present at the entertainment there was what nowadays would be called a conspicuous absence. The poor, the perishing, the starving, and the needy were not represented there, except by the man sick of the dropsy whom Jesus had healed. On this Jesus remarked, and on it grounded one of the most instructive and memorable lessons of his kingdom. "Then said he to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy

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