repulsion; in a condition of being which might have made our salvation impossible. I would not, if I could, rise superior to the infirmities of my feeble nature. I would not be careless of food and raiment, and house and home, and all the blessings and comforts of my earthly state. I would not leave caring for the body and this life. I would not lose the opportunity I find in all my changes, of coming boldly to the throne of grace; of fellowship with him who bore all my infirmities. I would not separate myself from the busy haunts of men; be freed from perplexity and care, and distraction, and temptation, and hope, and fear, and mingled prosperity and adversity, and choose to myself a retreat for piety:-but amidst my opportunity would I stay all the days of my appointed time,

-there would I accept the Spirit's help to my infirmities, and thence send up my daily prayer, to be presented in the intercession of my prepared High Priest, until I shall be fitted for "the glorious liberty of the children of God."

The following version is introduced in this place, as presenting the argument of the entire passage from v. 21, according to the author's view, explanatory of the past discourses, and fairly introducing the closing REBUKE.

Their wealth and wisdom, when they 're blessed, And grieve, despairing as the night,

Because with earthly woes oppressed.

But ye who send the word abroad,
And call all nations to believe,
Behold on earth, a present God!
In weal or wo His aid receive.
Seek first his kingdom, trust his grace,
Believe his word and do his will;
Your earthly path-way he will bless
And with all gifts your bosom fill.
To-morrow! do not vainly boast
Its good; nor faithless dread its frown.
To-day - Faith meets its evil first,
By daily conquests wins the crown."

SERMON VI.

THE REBUKE OF UNBELIEF AMIDST
EARTHLY THINGS.

LUKE 12: 28, 29.

Will he not much more clothe you- Oh ye of little faith? And seek not ye, what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God.

THE warrant to faith given by the fowls of the air and the lilies of the field is indeed beside the common path of life. At the junctures of our earthly blessings where we are tempted to the vain-hearted boast; "I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods: And I will say to my soul: Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink and be merry;" at the juncture of our earthly need, when we are tempted to ask, "What shall we eat, and what shall we drink, and wherewithal shall we be clothed?" there are we met by the warrant of the fowls of the air and the lilies of the field, calling us to that faith on earth, whose end shall be the salvation of our souls. Blessed condition of humanity! Blessed subjection to vanity and frailty, that amidst the tossings of this

mortal life, hope may anchor within the vail! As we walk abroad amidst the herbs and flowers and birds of summer, where are we, but in the open temple of the Lord, glowing, and sounding loud with the warrant to faith in God, "whose eyes are open unto the supplications of all his servants, to hearken unto them in all that they call upon him for? that amidst necessities and blessings of our mortal state we may "bethink ourselves, and repent, and make supplication, and say we have sinned, and return unto God with all our heart and soul." In this open temple, urged by our own infirmities, we are called to enter into the holiest of all, by the blood of Jesus, through the vail — the flesh of our High Priest over the house of God, -— who is "touched with the feelings of our infirmities," that we may "come boldly to the throne of grace." On these low grounds of earth, occupied with its business, perplexed with its cares, oppressed with its burdens, wearied with its toils, anxious and disheartened amidst its pains and fears, lured by its promises, where are we but in the open temple of the Lord; at the holy place; near the mercy-seat and the blood of sprinkling; in presence of our High Priest and Intercessor, who is able "to save unto the uttermost? Here meet us the fowls of the air and the lilies of the field, not only to give the warrant to our faith, but to utter their sharp rebuke of our unbelief.

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1. Our Lord's rebuke is urged by his own example along the paths of life. Who is this, we may ask, who rebukes us while he gives the warrant to our faith?