be the mother of invention. If we caimot find means of keeping up Qiese habits in one way, we must in another. But we must settle it in our minds, that the thing shall be done* The health of our souls is at stake. Let the crowd of difficulties be what it may, we must get through it. If the children of this world take su«h pains about a corruptibte crown, we oi^ht to take far more pains about one that is incorruptible.
Why is it that so many people take no pains in reEgion P How is it that they can never find time for praying, Bible reading, and hearing the Gospel f • What is the secret of their continual string of excuses for neglecting means of grace ? How is it that the very same men who are fall of zeal about money, business, pleasure, or politics, will take no trouble about their souls P — The answer to these questions is short and simple. These men are not in earnest about salvation. They have no sense of spiritual disease. They have no consciousness of requiring a Spiritual Physician. They do not feel that their souls are in danger of dying eternally. They see no use in taking trouble about religion. In darkness like this thousands live and die. Happy indeed are they who have found out their peril, and count all things loss if they may only win Christ, and be found in Him !
Let us mark, secondly, the kindness and compassion of owr Lord Jesus Christ Twice in this passage we see HiV speaking most graciously to the poor sufiPerer who was brought before Him. At first He addresses to him those marvellous and heort-cheeiing words, " Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.'^ Afterwards he adds words, which in point of comfort, must have been second only tu>