much still to be accounted for. And of this remainder part is due to simple and pure misfortune or incapacity, and part to the guilt of others who are not the sulferers. All this destitution is the proper field for Christian effort. It is the proper object of our genuine compassion, and of our strenuous endeavour toward removal. But to those who 11re culpably destitute wo have to go and say-Your way upward is before you; you must exert yourselves if you would rise. No one can really enrich a human soul but hirnself. 1. Bring a sustained energy to bear on the work in which you are engaged. 2. Guard with a wise watchfulness what you have won. 3. Put out your powers upon that which is worthy of them and that which will repay them.-C. Ver. 10.-God our Refuge. By" the Name of the Lord" we understand the Lord as he has revealed himself to us, the Lord as he has taught 118 to think and to speak of him. He is our strong Tower in the time of trouble. I. OUR NEED OP A REl!'UGE IN THE BATTLE OB' LIFE. There may be much in our life that may lead us to speak of it a.a a song or a tale, or as a march or pilgrimage; but there is much that compels us to consider it a battle or a struggle. Many are the occasions when we have to look about us for a refuge to which we may flee; for we have, at different times and under different circumstances, to confront: 1. OPP7ession. Ill treatment, severity; the injustice, or the inconsiderateness, or the assumption of those who can afflict us. 2. Disaster. The loss of that which is valuable or of those who are precious to us. 3. Difficulty. The uprising of great obstacles which seem to be insurmountable. 4. Temptation. Which may act upon us quietly but continuously, and therefore effectively, or which may come down upon us with almost overwhelming suddenness and force. 'fhen we ask ourselves-What is the refuge, the high tower, to which we shall resort? II. 'fwo RES0UR0ES WBIC.11 ARE GOOD, BUT INSUFFICIENT. 1. Our own f ortitnde. This is tbat to which Stoicism, the noblest form of ancient philosophy, had recourse- ou1· courage and determination as brave men, who are " Strong In will To strive, to seek, to find, e.nd not to yield." 2. The sympathy and succour of our friends. The kind heart and the helping hand of those. who love us, with whom we have walked along the path of life, and who have linked their heart and band with ours. Both of these are good; but, as all history and observation teach us, they do not suffice, We want another heart that comes nearer to us, another power that can do mol'e for us than these. So we thankfully turn to-- III. THE REFUGE WE HAVE IN Goo. We know that with him is: 1. Perfect sympathy. He is "afflicted in all our affliction;" be is " touched with a feeling of Qur infirmity;" he "knows what is in" us-what pain of body, what desolateness of spirit, what wrestlings and agonies of the soul. 2. Boundless wisdom. He knows what to save us from, and what to let us suffer; bow far and in what way he may relieve and restore us; how be can help us so as to bless us truly and permanently. 3 . .Almighty power. Our eyes may well be lifted up unto him, for be can "pluck our feet out of the net." "Our God is a Rock;" all the billows of human rebellion will break in vain upon his power. Into the "strong tower" of his Divine protection we may well "run and be safe." " Who is he that can harm us" there ?-C.
Ver. 12.-(See homily on eh. xvi. 18.)-C, Ver. 14.-The wounded spirit. How much is a mau better than a sheep? By the whole range of his spiritual nature. The joys and sorrows of a man are those of his spirit; yet no inconsiderable proporUon of his experiences come to him through the flesh. The text tells us- I. 'l'HAT THE CONQUERING srIRIT WITHm us TRIUMPHS OVER THE BODILY INFIRMITY. There have been times when, and people by whom, the very worst bodily afflictions have been borne with lofty indifference Or with still loftier and nobler resignation. Such was the Roman whose right hand was consumed in the fire wiLbout a groan; such were the Christian martyrs; such have been and such are they who are condemned to long years of privatiou or of suffering, and who wear the face of a holy coutentment, 'l'llE PRov:mrms. [ OIJ, :Um. 1-24-,
<>f even R beRutiful cheerfulness of spirit. BeneRth the infirmity of the flesh ie the llustnining spirit: but what of the wounded ~irit itseif t 11. 'l'HAT IT IS THE WOUNDED BPIRIT FOR WRICH HELP IS N"EED!lD, There are many wn.ys in which our spirit may be wounded. 1. Thore is the merciful wound from the hand ef Uod. For God does wound; he wounds in part in order that he may heal n.ltoget,her; for the moment, that he may make whole for ever. The weapon (or one weRpon) with which he smites the soul is the human conscience. We have all felt the smart from its righteous blow. We have beforo us the alternative of either blunting the edge of the instrument or learning the lesson and turning away from the sin. To do the former is to tak.e the path which leads to wrong and ruin; to do the latter is to walk in the way of life. 2. The faithful, wound from the hand of man. '!.'here are circumstances under which, and there are relations in which, we nre simply bound to wound one anot!ier's spirit. As Christ wounded the spirit of Peter with a reproachful glance (Luke xxii. 61, ·62); as Paul wounded the Corinthian Christians (2 Cor. ii. 1-10); so will the faithful minister of Christ, the conscientious parent or teacher, the true and loyal friend, now administer rebuke, offer remonstrance, address an nppeal which will fill the heart with ccmpunction and regret. 3. The cruel wound from the hand of man. 'l'his includes (1) the wound of neglect,-o[ten a very deep and sore wound is this, coming from the hand that should sustain and heal; (2) of hasti- ness and rashness; (3) of malice. 4. Spare to wound another's spirit. It is worse to hurt the feelings than to filch the purse; to cause a bad heart-ache than any suffering 0f the nerve. "'l'he spirit of a man can sustain his infirmity; hut a wounded spirit v·lw can. bear , " 5. When your heall't is wounded repair to the One who can heal it. 'l'l,ere is only One who can" heal the broken heart, and bind up its wounds."-C.