us that he rejoices, by a deeper repentance, by an increasing ·hatred of sin, by a closer walk with Christ, by earnest e~orts t.o draw the wanderers into the fold of the good. Shepherd, to feed the sheep which the good Shepherd loved. (3) The cause of his joy. These things, the deep spiritual truths of his kingdom, his exceeding great love, his Divine wisdom, bis message of atonement and reconciliation with God, had been hidden. from the wise and prudent, from the Pharisees and rabbis of Capernaum; but they were revealed unt.o babes. Not that Christ rnjoiced over the rejection of the wise and prudent. He wept over them. "Ye will not come to me," he said, " that ye might have life." The relation of the two clauses of the sentence is like that in Rom. v.i. 17. The wise and prudent would not come to Christ; they would. not see the thinas that belonged to their peace; now they were hidden from their eyes. The Lord ;ejoices. beca1J8e, although Goci the Father in his awful justice had now hidden these great. truths from those who wilfully closed their eyes t.o them, he had revealed them unto babes.. There were simple-hearted, humble men, even in Capernaum, who receit'ed the Saviour's. message. To such God had revealed all the blessed truth. They saw it in its beauty and glory. It was h> him that all praise was due. He is ·the Lord of.heaven and earth , sovereign in his dealings with men. He dooth all things according to the counsels of his almighty will. But that wm is not arbitrary; it is the will of an all-holy Beina who is infinitely just and infinitely merciful. We must believe, in simple trustfulnes;:. in his love and mercy. Only let us come to him, as little children coma to a. wise and, good father; then he will reveal to us all those most holy truths which. can. be realized in the heart .only by a rel'elation .from God. God shines into .his .people's ,hearts to. give. the light of the knowledge of the glory of God.in the face of Jesus Christ,, ,He reveals. his Son in all his grace and lov.e to those who seek him. 1. He bad revealed these things., these secret.a of peace and holiness, to the lowly disciples of the Saviour; .be doth. reveal them still t.o all faithful and humble hearts. For this- the fa>rd- Jesus, the, incarnate< Son, praised the eternal Father. For this W1l praise him now. -!I.Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight." Bis will is sovereign; it is holy, just,. ana good;. his, will is best. 2. .T/ia Father's love/or the Son. 'l'he Lord Jesus seemed a man among, men. He was rejected and despised. But, in· truth, he· was- the almighty Son of Godi All things had been given into his band; all power was his. None knew him fully, in all the mystery and glory of his Divine personality, save only God the Father, .. Nor can any know the Father fully, save the Son. But the Lord adds- at once the gracious words, "and he to whomsoe.ver the Son will reveal him." ." No man bath seen, God at, any time;'' he is invisible, he dwelleth in the unapproachable light which no human eye can penetrate ; but the -only begotten Son bath declared him. He reveals to his chosen all that we need to know, all that man can IJ:now, of God and of his relations with mankind. Then the Lord Jesus Christ, who loved us and died for us,is one in. the mystery of his being with the adorable Father. Here is our, hope and joy. .As Man, be is touched with the feeling of our infirmities; as God, ,he is able to save us to the uttermost. II. Tim GRACIOUS INVITATION. 1. He invites aU,. He had. said that no man could. know the Father unleBB the Son wiUeth to reveal him. But God willeth that all men. should be sa:ved. Christ Jesus gave himself a Ransom. for all;, now be invites all H~ knew .that not all would come; not all felt the need of a Saviour,; ·therefore he addressea those that labour and are heavy laden. There is much toil in this life of ours-endless, unsatisfactory toil; the poor toil hard for their daily bread; the rich toil in the life of ambition or literature, or in the pursuit of pleasure. 'l'Lat toil will only end in weari• ness. "Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity." Many, too, ,are heavy, laden, some with the cares of this life, some with pain and sickness, some with the con~· 1eiousness of sin. All such the gracious Saviour calls, 2. lle bide them come to himself, There is need of effort in the spiritual life, Men must not lie still, listless, lukewarm, indifferent. They must come. Cowing implies spiritual effort; there must be thought, meditation, earnest prayer, a diligent use of all the appointed means of grace. • We must rouse up our souls. The prodigal son would never have recovered -his lost home if he had remained in the far country, He said," I will arise, and go." ,And we muMt come to Chriat. He himself is the Centre of his religion. It is not a philosophy, or a code of morals,ora theology, that is to 1ave our souls; it is a Person-the Lord Jesus Christ hiID10lf. He -0an give rest to the weary; he can refresh the toiling, anxioua &0ul; ho 011, xr. 1-30.] TllE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 459
co.n give peace· to the mind distracted by bewildering doubts. None could dare say this but only God; Put the words into the mouth of St. Paul or St. John, or any the very greo.test of saints; for them to say such things would he arrogant, presumptuous in the extremest·degree. ·But from- the lips of the Lord Jesus Christ those great words were only,the simple truth, words of tenderness and lowliness. The very fact that he stood there·in human form, that he uttered those words in human language, that he had sub- mitted to contradiction and rejection, proved his lowliness, his condescension. It would be far otherwise were he-not, whnt we know that he was, the Almighty God. 3. His- yoke and his burden; •But those who would come to him must take up his yoke and his burden. ·:And· his yoke is obedience, and his burden is the cross. The yoke seems irksome at first; but we must learn of him. He himself learned obedience by the things which hinmffered. • And· he is meek and lowly in heart. He will teaoh by his example, by the-voice of'his Spirit speaking in the soul, all who come to him. He will teach them ever deeper lessons of the calm peace of submission of will, the sweetness of holy obedience, The cross seems at first a heavy burden, sharp and hard to bear. But the !Jord Jesue,who himself bore the cross for·us in his blessed Jove, helps, his suffering people. He bears the-cross for them; he lifts it on their shoulders; he supports it by his strength; 'and in time the heavy burden-comes to be light, according to his gracious promise. He bids us take up our cross daily; only thus can we follow him. He goeth before his-people, leading the way to the-everlasting rest.• Those who follow him shall find rest,; ·rest even hero-the restfulness of trusting faith; and at the last1 rest in the 0