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SERMON XXIV.

SHE HATH DONE WHAT SHE COULD.

"Of all the good things whatsoe're we do

God is the APXH, and the TEAOΣ too."

Herrick.

"God hath imposed a law of perfection, but He exacts it according to the possibilities of imperfect persons.”—Jer. Taylor.

"The commanding us to do all that we can, and that always, though less be exacted, does invite our greatest endeavours; it entertains the faculties and labours of the best, and yet despises not the meanest; for they can endeavour too, and they can do their best; and it serves the end of many graces besides, and the honour of some of the divine attributes."—Ibid.

"It is now as it was under the law; many were then righteous and blameless; David, Josiah, Joshua, Caleb, Zachary, and Elizabeth; Saul before his conversion, according to the accounts of the law; and so are many now, according to the holy and merciful measures of the Gospel; not by the force of nature, but by the help of grace; not always, but at some time; not absolutely, but in a limited measure, that is, not innocent, but penitent; not perfect absolutely, but excellently contending, and perfect in their desires; not at their journey's end, but on their way thither; free from great sins; but speckled with lesser spots, ever striving against sin, though sometimes failing. This is the precept of perfection, as it can consist with the measures and infirmities of a man."-Ibid.

"The whole Gospel is nothing else but that glad tidings which Christ brought to all mankind, that the covenant of works or exact measures, should not now be exacted, but men should be saved by second thoughts, that is, by repentance and amendment of life, through faith in the Lord Jesus.”—Ibid.

Deus propitius esto mihi peccatorí !

MARK xiv. 8.

"She hath done what she could."

"CAN a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself? Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him that thou makest thy ways perfect 1?” So spake Eliphaz the Temanite unto Job in his affliction. And most true it is, that do what we may, however perfectly and however well, it cannot add to the happiness of Almighty God. The advantage, (such is his mercy to uswards,) is all on our own side. It is we that are bound to God, and not He to us. "When ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which was our duty to do "." Again, in the words of Elihu, "If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he

1 Job xxii. 2, 3.

2 Luke xvii. 10.

of thine hand? Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man," but not God, the Father of the spirits of all flesh. To him, in this sense, it extendeth not. And wise as holy was the exclamation of the Psalmist, "O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not unto thee; but to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight *."

4

Although, then, our God be "great, and marvellous, and worthy to be praised","-neither by word nor deed can we sufficiently praise Him. So to say, and when compared with heavenly things, our words and deeds are "small and of no repute." But what is the teaching of the Church,-that wise and sober instructress of such as are godly, and will understand? She bids us pray to the Almighty God, through Christ our Lord, to "cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of his Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love him, and worthily magnify his Holy Name." She teaches us, that is, that we are not sufficient of ourselves to help ourselves, but that our sufficiency is of God the Holy Ghost which "helpeth our infirmities." And hence, our prayers are heard, and imperfect as they are, our works (done in faith) will follow us; for "The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him: yea, all such as call upon him faithfully. He will fulfil the desire

3 3 Job xxxv. 7, 8.

* Ps. xvi. 2, 3.

5 Ps. cxlv. 3.

of them that fear him, he also will hear their cry, and will help them "."

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And this, Christian brethren, is excellently exemplified in that portion of Holy Writ from which the text is taken, recorded not only by St. Mark, but by St. Matthew and St. John: let me recite it to you at length. "And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard, very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, why was this waste of the ointment made? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her. And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. Verily I say unto you, wheresoever this Gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her "."

Such is this affecting record. And the woman here made mention of, as working a good work on

Ps. cxlv. 18, 19.

'Mark xiv. 3-11; Matt. xxvi. 6: John xii. 3, &c.

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