III. GoD's GLORY MOST rERFECTLY REVEALED IN CrrmsT, What is dimly seen in creation and in mnn awakens the desire for moro light and a fuller knowledae of God. This yearning is met and satisfied in Jesus Christ. He is perfect God a;d perfect Man. ,ve might conceive of a man simply, so enlightened and swayed by God as that he should in all things be in harmony with God. In so far he might perfectly express God's mind and will. But there is far more in Christ. He is perfect Man and perfect God. He is the true Immanuel-God with us (John xiv. 9, 10). Open ye heavens, and let us see the Lord as Isaiah did (Is!\. vi. 1-3) ! Purge our eyes O Spirit of love and holiness, and let us behold Christ Jesus ns Stephen did! and then 'we shall cry, with wonder, love, and praise," It is the same Lord,' my Lord and my God!'" Having such a faith, there is no bound to our hopes, What Christ did, he did for us; what Christ does, he does for us. We died with him and rose with him, and with him ,ve shall be glorified (Eph. i. 17-23).-W. F. Ver. 2 (cf. Matt. xxi. 16).-Godglorified in little children. Two pictures: David on the housetop; Christ Jesus, David's Son and Lord, in the temple. With the hosannas of the people blended sweetly the voices of children. The Pharisees were offended, but our Lord was pleased, 'l'he words of the old psalm find a new fulfil- ment. The question for us is-How God is glorified in little children. I. IN TilE PLACE WHICH HE H.AS GIVEN THEM IN CREATION. They form a part of the great whole. Necessary. Take them away, how different things would be! But they have their place. They are weak, but out of their weakness comes strength, They are helpless, but from their helplessness come endless benefits. II. IN 'l'HEffi CAPABILITY OF RECEIVING CHRISTIAN NURTURE, Children show from the first their powers of growth. Their bodies, their minds, their souls, are constantly developing. By proper care they are capable, under God, of growing up unto Christ., as true and living members of his Church. Christ himself, and not fallen men like Augustine, or Luther, or Bunyan, is the true type and pattern of what children should be (Luke ii. 40). Ilf. IN THEm FITNESS TO SERVE AND PRAISE GoD. There is not only simple wonder in children, but also intelligence. Their moral sense is very keen. 'l'heir delight in tbo beautiful and the good is not the result of education, but the instinct of their innocent and pure hearts. How often has God used little children to do his will and show forth his praise! So in the sanctuary, so in life. Remember the infant Moses (Exod. ii. G), remember David's child (2 Sam. iv. 23), remember the young Josiah (1 Kings xiii. 2) ; above all, remember the Child of Bethlehem-the Babe in the manger (Luke ii. 10, 11). JV. As THE OBJECTS oF ms TENDER CABE. In manifold ways God has shown how clearlv be loves little children. It is he who has established the paternal relationship. It is he who has provided for the holy upbringing of the young, by law and sacrnmcnt. It is he who has manifested by his dear Son, in what he taught and did when he wns in the world, his tender affection and care for the young (Mark x. 16; Matt. xviii. 2-10). V. IN TAKING so llANY OF TIIEM TO IJIMSELF. The heathen had a saying," Whom the gods love, die young." And in this there is a hidden truth. Death is al ways a strange and terrible thing; but in the very young it is almost deprivc_d of its terrors. '!'hen it is but a sleep. It is the Lord calling Lis loved ones early to himself. Happy arc we when we can say with unfeigned faith and lively hope, "'!'he Lord gave, and the Lord bath taken away." If our little ones were left to grow up in this world of sin an<l sorrow, we know not what their future would be; but we know and arc sure that when Obrist takes them to himself, it is" far better." They are away from our sight, but not from our hearts. "Love never faileth." They have been token from our care, but it is to be under better teachers and to receive a nobler education. They have hc·en parted from us, but it is only for a little while; for Christ is gathering his own to him8elf, and when he cometh, he will bring them all with him. In that day many a 6tricken heart shall be mnde glad, "Mother, behold thy son!" "Son, behold thy mother l" Have we the mind of Christ? Are we carrying ont worthily the high trust committed to us, of caring for the young? Will our dear children, whom wo ba,·e bst a wbUe, meet us with joy and welcome in the heavenly worl<l? .PS. VIlI.1-!l.] ·THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 55
"0 thou whose infant feet were found Within thy Fnther's shrine, Whose yenr~, with chnngeless virtue crowned, Were nll nliko Divine. " Dependent on thy bounteous breath, Wo seek thy grace nlonc, In cliildhood, manhood, ago, and death, 'fo ktCp us still thine own." (KeUe.) W. F. Ver. !>.-Tlie greatness of God in redemption. "0 Lord our Lorcl, how excellent ls thy Name in all the earth l" '!'his may be npplied to redemption- !. IN CHOOSING EARTH AS THE SCF:NE OF REDEMPTION. '!'here are millions of other worlds, which we may reasonably believe have their intelligent inhabitants. Out uf these the earth was chosen for the highest honours. II. IN MAKING MAN THE SUBJECT OF REDEMPTION. We cannot tell if sin extends to other worlds, but we know that other beings besides man have fallen from their first estate. 'l'hc angels sinned, but God was pleased to pass them by, and to show his exceeding kindness and love to man in Christ Jesus (Heb. ii. 16). III. IN EMPLOYING CHRIST AS TIIE AUTHOR OF REDEMPTION. It was not an angel, but his eternal Son, whom God fent to be our Saviour (Gal. iv. 4, 5). And when he came, it was not in the fulness of his glory, but in fashion as a man, born of a woman, made under the Law, obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Phil. iL 6-10). IV. IN PROCLAIMING BY THE GOSPEL THE COMPLETENESS OF REDEMPTION. All men as sinners needed salvation, and the salvation of Christ is suitable nnd sufficient for all. He is the Propitiation for tho sins of the whole world, and if the whole world should bow in penitence before God, their sins would tqat moment be all put away. V. lN REVEALING THE ETERNAL GLORIES OF REDEMPTION TIIROUGH HIS SPIRIT Already great things have been done. Dut we look for greater (Rev. xxi. 1-7).-W. F