gmce given is gre.ce helping him in the circumstances, So the Christian often knows that he is helped when those around him can see no signs of the helping. God's promise from the olden time Is this, "As thy day so shall thy strength be." In all our relations with human trouble, our attention is directed to the removal of the trouble itself or the change of the circumstances which occasioned the . trouble. We move the pain-wearied sufferer into a position of greater ease. We soften and smoothe the pillow for the &Ching head. We offer temporary help to the man distressed in business. But God does not pro,1IJ.ise any man that he. will alter his circumstances or altogether relieve him from his trouble. The economy of life is arranged, in the Divine wisdom, for the greatest good of the greaj;est number1, and consequently some of those circumstances which brio"' tl'Ouble to Christian hearts cannot be altered without involving injury to other: God. "strengthens with strength in the soul." To him body and circumstance are secondary tp.ings; souls are of the first importance, and bodies and circumstances gain their importance by their influence on souls. Inward strength to bear is a far higher pro- vision than any mere mastery of the ills and troubles of the life. A man is never lost until he he.s lost hElart. But if God supplies inward strength we never shall lose heart, and sp-we never shall be lost. Outwardly a man may be tossed about, worn, wearied, lost, wounded, almost proken, and yet inwa~dly he may be kept in perfect peace ; his mind may be stayed on God;· he may be "strong in the Lord,and in the power of his might." We may say of this '' sufficient grace " that it is- ,.J, ADAPTED, We are to conceive of the grace of God, not e.s a. great mass, a qui,.ntity of which is duly measured out to meet our need. but rather as a treasnry of.various kinds and various colours, from which may be obtained just those threads that will match our circumstances and repair the disasters into which we have fallen.. II. TrnELY. Here we require to distinguish between what we think to be timely and what. God thinks to be . timely, remembering that God never delays, but is never hurried. He waits for the moment of extremity. "'When the tale of bricks is doubled, then comes Moses," And ,it· should also be shown that we may not look for some particular. grace and help to-day, which God knows will only be required to-morrow. The, .very_ charm of •• sufficient grace" is that it is precisely the thing for the occasion." .Those who are looking for kinds of grace for which they have no imme- diaf;e and pressing needs will be in danger of missing the gracious provisions which thei,ir Lord is ~ver JUaking for them. The way between earth and heaven is a ladder- Jacob 'saw it-and ·the angels ea.me up and down it. We cannot reach the top by lookitig up; only by putting our feet up one round afteranother. And God is willing to be ever close beside us, holding us with his hand and strengthening us for each uplifted step. . ·• ; . .· . III. ABUNDANT. That. is assured in the fact that it is the grace of God, who is.able to do exceedingly abundantly for us above all that we ask or think. The man with " sufficient grace" is efficient to all work, whether it be bearing or doing. He is nowhere alone; grace is with him.-R; T .
. Ver. 9.-Glorying in infirmities. In introduction should be given some high and noble instances of triumph over disease, pain, or disability, in doing philanthropic and Christ.ian work; e.g. Baxter, Robert Hall, H. Martyn, C. Pattison, F. W. Robertson, e.k\ Show that, while bodily strength may be consecrated to God's service, it is also tme that physical weakness may serve him, and a man's very frailty glorify his Lord, This may be further opened out by showing how- l. IT BEARS UPON .HUMILITY. The grace which is the necessary completion and final adornment of Christian character. The grace which puts on Christian fruitage all the bloom. Humility is won by the pressure of God's hand upon us. . II. IT NOURISHES DEPENDENCE ON Goo. "When I am weak, then am I strong." This is the Christian paradox. Such dependence is .not easy ; it is one of the things to which experience of failure and frailty alone can bring us. He is fitted for life and for heaven who from his deep heart. says, ".I cannot, but God can." III. IT CULTIVATES OII.ARAOTEB. We know that physical weakness bears directly and continuously upon temper, disposition, and virtue. Afflictions never test us, never bear upon the whole culture of character, as does continuous pain or frailty, "As the outward man perishes, the inward man is renewed day by day," Sl2 THE SECOND ltPIS'l'LE TO 'l'liE COlUN'l'liIANS. [ort. xn. 1-21,
IV. IT KEEPS A MAN OPEN TO God. By its constant reminder of the need of God. 'fhe frail man proves the preciousness of prayer. F. W. Robertson most forcibly sRyt1 of prayer, "The true value of prayer is not this-to bend the eternal will to ours, but this-to bend our wills to it." Frail, ever-sufferin~ Paul laboured "more abundantly than they all," and astonishing still is the soul-work that can be gotten out of feeble men and women-with God's grace.-R. T.