mnn's lot is cnst nmong unconJ:(enial society, he is driven in upon himself, on the silent salisfoctions of his own soul. Like the Master, he" has meat to eat which the worl,l J; nows not of." Many a tender spirit has felt thus isolated in the midst of those most fondly lover!. An atmosphere of natuml affection and all natural endenrments of lifo surround thorn, but in the deepest reality of their being they dwell nlone. 2. He is nol open, on the side of liis religious thought and life, to the ho.stile criticism of any man. How shall others "judge" that with which they have nothing in comm,m, and the very essential meaning of which they cannot understand? 3. No false influence from man can lead him fatally astray. Who shall unsettle the faith or shake the steadfast- ness of one who is thus bathed in the light and rooted and grouniled in the life of God'.:' Who is he that shall bring again into bondage one whom the " law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus" has thus made free? Here lies the grand condition alike of mental assurance and moral strength.-W. Ver. 2.-T!ie great theme. The apostolic preacher considered what was most neerlful and profitable to his audience, not what would meet their curiosity or please their taste. So be, of deliberate purpose, gave prominence to a theme which the Greeks were disposed to scorn, but which they, in common with all sinners, needed to bear- Christ crucified.· .A modern preacher who would be faithful must keep his soul bracecl to the same determination:" Not anything ... save Jesus Christ." Not Christianity, but Christ; not a system, but the Saviour at the centre of it. "Whom we preach," etc. (Col. i. 28). ".And him crucified." 'l'hat which appeared to men the indelible disgrace of Jesus of Nazareth has proved to be his great power over human conscience and his gi-eat attraction for the human heart. St. Paul had seen illany proofs of this in his public ministry, and had felt the force of this in his own sonl. And the chief theme of the apostle ought to be the chief theme still. .A thousand things have changed in the world, but not the moral and spiritual exigency of man. The preaching of Christ crucified cannot grow obsolete. 'fake the following as reasons for determining to preach Christ and him crucified:- 1. REDEMPTION IS BY CHRIST CRUCIFIED. Whether it be redemption from ":ill iniquity," from " the curse of the Law," or from a "vain manner of life," it is distinctly ascribed in Scripture to tbe blood of Christ or to his death (see Eph. i. 7; 1 Pet. i. 18; Gal. iii: 13; Rev. v. 9). The dignity of his person, the purity of his disposition, and the holiness of his life gave value to his death; but it was by his death that he obtained eternal redemption for us. II. PEACE OF CONSCIEXCE COMES THROUGH CHRIST CRUCIFIED. No study of nature, no study of Scripture apart from the cross of Calvary, can relieve the distress of :i conscience alive to the heinousness of sin and the imminence of judgment. Not eveu the contemplation of Jesus Christ in his spotless example can give any relief. How far are we from full conformity to him! We are more and more conscience-stricken till we behold him suffering for our sins, and then we have "peace by the blood of his cross." III. DEATH TO SIN IS THROUGH CHRIST CRUCIFIED. We are baptized into bis death, and, being buried with him, emerge in newness of life. Through faith we have rcoml identification with our Lord, and, dying to sin, as crucified with him, we live t0 righteousness, because he lives in us. IV. THE SUPREl!E ARGUMENT OF LOVE IS IN CHRIST CRUCIFIED. At the cross God commends his love to us, and Christ proves himself the good Shepherd in giving his life for the sheep. The plea for love among Christians is thus put by St. Paul:" Walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up," etc. (Eph. v. ~). V. 'l.'HE SUPREME EXAMPLE OF PATIENCE IS IN CHRIST CRUCIFIED. (See 1 Pet. ii. 20-24.) Thus it is that many sufferers have learned submission from considering the unmurmuring endurance of the Lamb of God, who, uncler all the pressure of the last sufferings, made no complaint-" opened not bis mouth." VI. ENMITY TO HIS cr:oss JS REPRESE:-:TED AS A FATAL SIN. In Heb. x. 29 contempt of "the blood of the covenant" is referred to as deserving of the sorest punishment. In Phil. iii. 18, 19, St. Paul writes, not without tears, of the destruction which awaits those who are "enemies of the cross of Christ." Men are such enemies when, being self-righteous, they will not put their trust for salvation in Christ crucified; or when, TIIE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE COilINTHIANS. [en. u. 1-lG.
h0ing self-willed and earthly minded, they refnse the sanctifying power of the cross, :rnrl will not have their "old man crncificd with Christ." It is no light matter or Yc•nirll offence to ignore or despise the "one Sacrifice for sins." For nil these reasons, the modern preacher should resolve as St. Paul resolved, and let no passin,g fashion of the time shake his resolution. Great works of God around us have a certain freshne~s :ind immortality. The flow of rinrs, the surging of the sea, the course of the seasons, 1be splendour of the sun, and the bri;!ht order of the stars are the same now as when man first observed them. So also it is with the great work of God in Christ for our snl,ation, finished on the cross. Its wisdom and righteousness and lovo are as worthy of adoring praise to-day as they were in the days when apostles, prophets, and ernngclists went to and fro among wondering cities of the East, determined to know nothing among the people sa,e Jesus Christ and him crucified.-F.