take bis motives and arguments directly from Christ and ·the ctoss. "Yo know the grace of our Lord." Dut consider what you know, thll.t it may influence your dis- position and conduct; for nothing is more common than to bold known truth so lroscly and carelessly in the mind that it is as though it had never been known or were quite forgotten. I. THE SA'VIOUR'e WEALTH. Of the riches of his pre-exjstent glory wl10 can adequ:itely speak? Who can tell tho wealth of Divine power and dignity and lovo in the \,ord which was with God and was God-all the. angels of God bis servants, nil the works of God full of his praise? Dut this Is not a subject on which to dilate. It is above the reach of our comments and illustrations. Read John i.; Col. i.; Heb. i. II. Tm: SAVIOUR'S IMPOVERISHMENT. (Comp. Phil. ii. 6-11.) Our Lord's partici- pation of the Divine essence was not, could not, be surrendered. But the form of God could be and was laid aside. The form cannot be without. the being and nature ; but the being and nature may dispense with the form. So the Son of God in his grace toward us assumed the form of a man, and that in low estate-the form of a servant. He accepted a lowly human rank, with no attendants on his person but such as followed him in love, anti no house of his o,vn wherein to lay his head at night. In wisdom, indeed, and all that constitutes moral wealth and dignity, Jesus of Nazareth was rich; but in earthly station and treasure he was poor, and poor by .choice. See him in youth in the carpenter's house, eating the bread of the working mali: witb cheerfulness. In the little town there must have been many ·a piece of furni'tilre, ancl on the farms and ,ineyards around many a tool, which had been und~f the human hands of the Son of God. See him on foot on the rough roads of Pale~tine~ while others rode past on horses and mules. See him in the days of his' ministry \dependrnt on any who pleased to minister to bis necessities; at last deserted by his friends .and insulted by his foes-despised and rejected of men. 'l'ruly he became poor. • • III. THE SA VIOtra's GRACE. "For yonr sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be enriched." In tbi(sbort statement the whole work of substitution and redemption is implied. You are enriched through his poverty, blessed because of his suffering, accepted by reason of his rejection, reconciled through his death. , It is evident that the riches thns secured to those that believe are not treasures of this wotld, but of the same order with the riches which the Saviour laid aside for a season. They receive the privilege of sonship with God, and therefore also the heirsbip of all things with Christ Jesus. The Son of God became man, and a poor man, that they, being men, and poor men, might be owned as sons of· God. Dwell upon the riches in redemption, regeneration, forgiveness, justification, adoption, sanctification, comfort, patience, the earnest of the inheritance now, and the inheritance itself at. his ,coming. And all because be became poor for your sakes. You get sweetness out of sorrow, glory out of shame, strength from weakness, wealth through poverty, and life through death. IV. THE '.PRACTICAL INFLUENCE OF CONSIDERING THE SAVIOUB'B GRACE. 1. Not to raise a foolish admiration of poverty for its own sake. At one time this text was cited in support of lazy beggary. The mendicant friars quoted it, insisting that the Lord himself was a mendicant, and that this must be the most holy and Christ-like· state. Great scboolmen debated this, and papal bulls dealt with this notion .. Such questions we can no longer discuss with seriousness. Property is not to be abandoned· by Chril!'- tians, but wisely administered. The rich and the poor are to continue together in the Church, each condition having its own duties and its own attendant temptatioilll_; 2. To set our hearts on the true riches-faith and good works, a calm conscience, and affections set on things above. He is rich who has a patient spirit, .a pure· h('.art, a heavenly mind, and a hope of glory. 3. To live and give that others may be blessed. .Be generous in service and gifts to the Church e.nd the poor. Be willing to co1I1D1uni9ate, ready to distribute. Otherwise do not allege that you have 'th.e grace of our· Lord Jesus Christ. You have not felt the constraint of his love or the beauty of hie example.-F. ' • ••
Ver. 12.-.ReadUIUB acapf,f,d, It is characteristic of St. Paul that, wbetl dealing with specific queetions of duty, he laid down principles of much wider application. Thw, while the immediate topic was e. collection for the relief of poor saints, and Ill! err, vm. 1-i4,J l'HE SECOND RPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. 213