"Come unto me ... I nm meek and lowly;"" Abide in me, and I [will abide] in you;" "Behold, I stnnd nt the door, and knock," etc. 2. .A note of con81deratrnes8. "Come Into a desert pince, nnd rest awhile;" 11 I have many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now;" 11 'l'be spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." 3. A to11,ch of tenderneu. "I will not lenve you comfortless;" "Because I have said these ihings unto you, sorrow bath filled your heart." 1. It is perilous to abuse the grnce of Christ. There is such a. thmg as "the wrath of the Lamb." 2. It is perfectly BBfe to trust in hie grace. He means everything he 88YB; the worst may obtain his mercy, the most diffident may co11fide in his redemption of his word.-O. Vera. 32, 37.-Fame and power. " Hie word was with power;" "The fame of him went out." Fe.me nnd power are the objects of eager and arduous pursuit; they are supposed to be deserving of the expenditure of our strength, and to reward us for all our anxieties and to~!s. What is their worth, intrinsic and relative? What were they to our Lord ? and what should they be to us ? L THE WORTHLESSNESS OF FAME. 1. The fame of Jesus Christ, as a man, is remarkable indeed. Born in a little Judrean village, of humble pa.rents, receiving a very scanty education, enjoying no patronage, teaching truths too deep to be under- stood by the multitude and too broad to be appreciated by the orthodox of his time, arousing the hatred of the powerful, and dying while yet a young man a. death of utmost ignominy,-his name has become known, his doctrine has been received, he himself has been honoured and even worshipped by countless millions of mankind under every sky. This is fame of the first magnitude; there a.re very few names "under heaven given among men" that can aspire to stand in the same rank, on the ground of human fame. 2. Jesus Christ shunned rather than sought fame. "Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it" (Matt. ix. 30; viii. 4; xii. 16 ; xvii. 9). "Great multitudes came together to bear and to be healed . . . and he withdrew himself into the wilderness" ( eh. v. 15, 16; see also vers. 42, 43). 3. He appears to have been embarrassed by his fame rather than gratified, and his work seems to have been hindered rather than helped by it (see John vi. 15). And it is obvious that, as bis great and high purpose was one which was far removed from the superficial and worldly hopes of the people, popularity or fame would not further but rather retard the work he had in hand. It is worth no man's while to be seriously concerned about his fame. To seek for and strive after an honourable reputation is what every man owes to himself, to his family, to his Church, to his Master. But no man need concern himself greatly about the acquisition of fame. (1) lt is obvious that only a very small minority of mankind can attain it; therefore any extensive endeavour after it must end in disappointment. (2) It is of very slight intrinsic worth; for it is possessed and enjoyed by the bad as well as by the good, by the notorious as well as by the celebrated. (3) It does not usually crown its hero until he has gone where it will no longer affect him ; useless to the martyred patriot himself, however valuable to his country, is the costly tomb, or the splendid monument, or the elaborate elegy contributed to his memory. (4) Its effect on living men is exceedingly doubtful; it may gladden and stimulate, but it may elate and injure. II. THE EXCELLENCY OF POWER. "Power beloogcth unto God" (Ps. lxii. 12). And power belonged to the Son of God. "Jesus returned in the power of the S[-!irit" (ver. 14). 1. Christ possessed and exerted power-the power of the prophet, speaking truth; "his word was with power" (ver. 32; Matt. vii. 28, 29); the power of the Son of God, working miracles; the power of holiness and innocency (John vii. 30; xviii. 6); the power of love and sympathy, attaching disciples, men and women, to himself with bonds of affection that no dangers or sufferings could break. 2. He aspired after other and still higher power than any he exercised-the power which could only be gained by a sacrificial death. "I, if I be lifted up, wiil draw all men unto me." That pure and holy aspiration bas been and shall be gloriously fulfilled. It is well worth our while to seek after a true, living, spiritual power. (1) It is attainable by us all; it is within the reach of these who seek it in the fellowship and the service of Christ, and who ask it of the Spi1 it of God. (?.) It is of real intrinsic worth; it is B Divine, a Christ-like, an angelic thing; it is a source of benefit I\Dd 106 TTTE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. [on. 1v. 1-44,
bll'ssim: to mRnki~d. _(3) IL will enlarge our heritage both here and hereafter; lbr to ev<'ry 1mrn God will give sacred and blessed opportunity of service "according to hia several ability."-C.