truths in which we declare our belief, and the affections and attitudes of our minds, there is a sa<l disproportion; that whilst we say," Lord, I believe," we have need of the addition," Help our unbelief; add to us faith"? 2. Reflect again, how constantly we are reminded that the words of Ohrist are "too <ieep, too high," for us. Even when we follow him as our Master, how dim are our apprehensions of his truth I Perhaps this was the immediate reason of the apostles' prayer. They had been listenin<Y to wonder- ful teaching-e.g. the cycle of parables in the fourteenth and fifteenth ch~ptors-o.nd aft.er hearing all, how poor was the vision of the realities with which the sayings were charged! And the demand made on them in respect of forgiveness, how could they 1:'!eet such a demand in a world like this? "0 Lord, thy thoughts are very deep, thy commandment is exceeding broad; add faith I" Can we not sympathize? Do we not often feel that Christ's doctrine is pitched on a note far above the level of our mind? We think that it will not do to interpret it too literally, that we must take only broad and general views. The teaching as to conduct seems too fine, too pure and other- worldly for the state of things about us. How can we realize it? " Lard, add to us faith." 3. Reflect, once more-when we look around, what is one of the chief wants of the time~ Is it not faith? How much of the instruction given in Christian churches is baiting and confused !-the sceptic too evidently looking over the shoulder I Religion is a thing talked about rather than lived in. And when we scrutinize the counte- nances of the "anonymous many-sided" force which we call society, what furrows appear in it! what lines betokening the absence of trust-man in man, having its root in the absence of trust; man in the living God I Is not this signified in the conflict of interests-labour and capital, class against class. To bridge the yawning social chasms, 0:1 for a new spirit of faith! We need a chasm-bridging Church-a Church presenting, with a new force, the ideal of Christian brotherhood. "Lord, add to those who call on thy Name the faith by which the just live, through which' they work victories, obtain promises, stop the mouths of lions'!" It is because of the lack of an heroic trust in the living God and his government that so few sycamine trees are plucked up by the root, so few mountains of sin and pride are cast into the sea. "Lord, bid us stretch forth onr palsied hand, that we may take the fulness of thy grace I Add to us faith!" ll. So much for the want which the prayer supposes. Consider THE BCOPE AND IMPORT OF THE PRAYER ITSELF. First, it suggests the way of the addition; secondly, it reminds us of the conditions on which the increase sought is realized. 1. The way of the addition. "The apostles said unto the Lord." It is the only example of a common appeal, the only instance of the apostles, as distinct from the disciples, having a special concerted supplication. Sometimes there was a. holy restraint on them, and they durst not ask him. But this is a matter on which they could speak ; it came out of the sense of their relation to him that they should go, with their great weakness, direct to his presence. Sometimes, when the hard saying was uttered, they reasoned one with another. But this is not a matter for conference. Only the band of the Lord opened wide can supply the needed addition. For so it is. In pressing with the little we have to the Lord himself, we get the addition, we have the faith. Any faith, any trust whatsoever in the eternal love and righteousness, is a gift of God, a hold which God has on you, and which, if you only go whither it would lead, will bear you to a confidence more complete and unreserved. The one thing is, do not stop, mourning over what you have not; use what you have; it is enough to lead you to the Lord. Little-faith, at least thou canst cry. Cry the more, the more that the noisy world within or without bids thee hold thy peace. Cry the more, the lees thou dost seem to have. "To them that have no might, he increaseth strength." "This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him." 2. Further, connecting the apostles' prayer with the Lord's reply, we see the condition on which the increase sought is reali~e~. The reply is given in vers. 8-10. There is a twofold type, with a twofold promise. (1) The mw;tard seed, smallest of all seeds, which yet grows into the tallest of trees. Let there be faith, even of the dimensions of this seed, any measure whatsoever, then be sure of a Divine power co-operating, which is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that can be asked. As the seed is the promise of the tree, so is this your small faith the promise of a greater and ever greater. "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hoats.'' (2) Nay, says the Lord, pointing to some mul• on.xvn. 1-37.] 'l'HE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE.
berry tree at hand, "does that seem strong? Strength which ma.y be compared tr> that of tearing the tree up by the roots and co.sting it into the sea is, through Di vine co-operation in that grain-like faith. It can tear up by the roots and cast into the se11 the selfishness against which the commandment of love has struck." But now follows the condition. What I take the words from ver. 7 to mean is, "If you would have that faith, if you would have more faith, you must cease from all self-trust, you must renounce a.II self-complacency, you must be as nothing before God. The highest pos• eible excellence is only the fulfilment of an obligation. You are only unprofitable servants. Your life is a. bright life only when, instead of thinking of what you are to get from God, or of thanks from God for service, you take the servant's place, and are only and wholly God's. Do not aim at accomplishing great things. Let your one point be a.n unwearied continuance. Work now, and rest afterwards when all is done. 'l'he less there is of self and self-feeling, the more you are busied with him as his servants and sons, the purer, larger, and more victorious will be your faith. All true faith has the certainty of addition; and this addition will be in the measure in which the faith leaves the heart alone with God, worshipping and obeying his holy will. "So in the darkness I may leam To tremble and adore, To sound my own vile nothingneBI, And thus to love thee more. "To love thee, and yet not to think That I can love so much, To have thee with me, Lord, all day, Yet not to feel thy touch."