shipped Him, they were made by Him, sustained by Him, they loved and obeyed Him with the utmost stretch of their love and obedience. He was over all from the beginning. Yet, for us, not for the angels, for us, us miserable sinners, who lay in darkness and the shadow of death. He gave Himself, I am almost afraid to go on, it seems so very marvellous, that my poor mind stands aghast at it; but I must go on, it is true. Of course I cannot attempt to describe to you the profound wonder that possessed Heaven, when it was intimated that the Son of the Most High was about to give Himself for us mortals, and actually to betake Him to the land of our birth. Some I know would smile, some mortals, could they hear me talking now and thus, smile at my credulity, as they call it; but you are not disposed to smile, are you, brethren? There must have been a time when heaven (to speak after the language and thoughts of men) felt a void; the Eternal Son having declared in its courts, that He would give Himself for us, and the Eternal Father that He was well pleased. What archangels and angels accompanied Him as His retinue, or whether he was alone and unattended, we are not told, suffice for us the fact-He gave Himself for us. God was manifest in the flesh. And now let us visit the place of His birth; let us follow the footsteps of Him as the Son of Man; going up to Him as the two disciples did, let us say,-" Master, where dwellest Thou?" He will be sure to say unto us, as unto them-" Come, and see!" What! here, in this

able! place for beasts of the field; is that He, that ild in the manger? Is that His mother, that lowlyoking woman? How came it thus? Oh! it was a Suality that He was born there, the inn being full the time. Ah! it was type of His lot, porch of His thly home. He had nothing grander all the way rough-He gave Himself for us; He was conceived the Holy Ghost; born of the Virgin Mary; wrapped swaddling clothes; laid in a manger;-it was His own and deed, a voluntary surrender of His regalities. ish! ye great ones of the earth, blush, for very me, when you talk of pride, and pomp of circumnce; here is One greater than you all, who gave mself for us, and gave Himself thus.

Man had sinned, man must suffer. Man had ined death, man must bid him off, and drive him off. n had offended Heaven, man must make reconcilian. Man had fallen, he must lift up himself again, be for ever lost. The resources of divinity met the inge case, and He gave Himself for us, who, though 1, consented to become man, and by the might of divinity accomplished the restoration, the salvaof humanity. You will not wonder so much now, haps, at the strange fortunes of Jesus Christ; you w now that He is our substitute; He is the second m; as in the first Adam all die, even so in Him, second Adam, all shall be made alive. He Himbare our sins and carried our sorrows; by His bes we are healed; the case is met, the world is

F

redeemed, man hath found a Saviour. It became Him to fulfil all righteousness, He fulfilled it. Justice exacted a strict demand, He met it! Law must needs be obeyed, He obeyed it. Death must have his mighty debt paid, He paid it. The grave must be cleansed by pure hands, He cleansed it. And now the new and living way is opened, now the kingdom of heaven is opened to all believers; and why? because the great God and our Saviour gave Himself for us.

The womb of the virgin, the lowly stable, the bloody rite of circumcision, subjection to earthly parents, the discipline of Nazareth, the waters of Jordan, the poor disciples, the desert solitudes, the city crowds, the betrayal of Judas, the mock judgment, the smiting, the spitting on-Oh! I cannot trust myself to go further;

yes, you must, for you are a preacher of the cross.... the agony and bloody sweat, the cross and passion, the death and burial-the resurrection and ascension, and the coming of the Holy Ghost, all testify that He gave Himself for us, and it was not in vain; for, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved!

And now I must try and turn the mighty flood of wonder into the many channels of your individual hearts. I would wish to see the grace of God at work within you; I would do, if I could, as the woman did who took and hid the leaven in the meal till the whole was leavened. I would deposit a small portion of the

ace of Christ in the meal of your nature, and leave to work; but I cannot, there is a great gulf fixed etween human agencies and divine. "Paul may plant, ad Apollos water, but God giveth the increase." Let e, however, bid you isolate yourselves; draw away om the mighty crowd of mankind, and be lonely; rget, for the moment, that you have any fellows; be one with God, as you will be when you die. For know how easy it is to be moved even to tears; how adily we all exclaim at the great love of God; and ch, and wonder, and wish ourselves better, without king the necessary pains; I will take one aside and d him speak-"Yes, wretch that I am! I feel it; e leprosy lies deep within, my soul is palsied; I am sinner; I am as such undone, the law is broken, › is forfeited, and even when I would do good, evil present with me; I kneel to pray, and am scared evil thoughts, and the spirit of vanity; I try to rk, but the work is marred in my hand; I weep, in vain, tears cannot wash out the stain of my ; I am undone, utterly undone." This is the soliuy of a sinner. Hear him again-" Blessed be Thy ne, Thou art my Saviour; Thou didst give Thyself me; I repent, I believe, I have forgiveness, I am doned, I am accepted in the beloved; I thank my I through Jesus Christ our Lord; my soul is at rest, ause He loved me and gave Himself for me; I wait ope, I work in faith, I rest in love; He who gave self for me hath graciously said, "I will come

Let not the

Let not the

Dear brethren, think, think again. marvels of redemption pass by unheeded. Saviour of sinners die in vain, as far as you are concerned. Let not the gospel of the grace of God be a dead letter. Draw the natural conclusion from the fact that He gave Himself for us; even this—then we give ourselves to Him! Poor offering! yet accepted by Him.

"I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto Him; it is your reasonable service."

"Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were an off'ring far too small;

Love so amazing, so divine,

Demands my soul, my life, my all.”