is not yet past. Every conversion is a miracle. Have we ever seen a real instance of conversion ? Let us know that we saw in it the hand of Christ. We should have seen nothing really greater, if we had seen our Lord making the dumb to speak, and the lame to walk, when He was on earth.
Would we know what to do, if we desire to he saved ? Do we feel soul-sick and want a cure ? We must just go to Christ by faith and apply to Him for relief. He is not changed. Eighteen hundred years have made no difference in Him. High at the right hand of Grod He is still the great Physician. He still " receiveth sinners." He is still mighty to heal.
In the third place, let us remark the ahundant com- passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. We read that " He called His disciples and said, I have compassion on the multitude." A great crowd of men and women is always a solemn sight. It should stir our hearts to feel that each is a dying sinner, and each has a soul to be saved. None ever seems to have felt so much when he saw a crowd, as Christ.
It is a curious and striking fact that of all the feelings experienced by our Lord when upon earth, there is none so often mentioned as " compassion." His joy. His sorrow, His thankfulness, His anger, His wonder. His zeal, are all occasionally recorded. But none of these feelings are so frequently mentioned as " compassion." The Holy Spirit seems to point out to us, that this was the distinguishing feature of His character, and the predominant feeling of His mind, when He was among men. Nine times over — to say nothing of expressions
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in parables — nine times over the Spirit has caused that ' " word " comiDassion" to be written in the Gospels.
There is something very touching and instructive in this circumstance. Nothing is written by chance, in the word of God. There is a special reason for the se- lection of every single expression. That word ^' com- passion," no doubt, was specially chosen for our profit.
It ought to encourage all who are hesitating about be- ginning to walk in God's ways. Let them remember that their Saviour is full of " com]3assion." He will receive them graciously. He will forgive them freely. He will remember their former iniquities no more. He will supply all their need abundantly. Let them not be afraid. Christ's mercy is a deep well, of which no one ever found the bottom.
It ought to comfort the saints and servants of the Lord when they feel weary. Let them call to mind that Jesus is full of '' compassion.'' He knows what a world it is in which they live. He knows the body of a man and all its frailties. He knows the devices of their enemy, the devil. And the Lord pities His people. Let them not be cast down. They may feel that weakness, failure, and imperfection are stamped on all they do. But let them not forget that word which says, " His compassions fail not." (Jerem. iii. 22.)