it his influence only that encouraged us? was it his example that served us for a pattern? was it his countenance that made us not fear nor care for the rebukes or the opposition of the majority? If he were all this to you, thank God for his goodness in having given you such a friend; but do not shame all that he has done for you by showing that it has taken no root in your own hearts; that you were safe only while he was by. Much more, do not so wrong the power and the love of Christ as not to know that he is more than the dearest earthly friend; that his influence, his example, his praise, are far more than those of man, and can never be taken away from you. And consider whether, if you have yourselves derived so much help from those who were before you in Christ Jesus, there may not be others who would fain derive the same help from you whether there may not be some. who are now, what you were a little while ago, just in suspense between good and evil; with serious thoughts awakened in them, but not matured; with a desire to do good, but with too little strength and steadiness of character, if left to themselves, to carry their desire into practice. Here, then, is a way opened before you, in which you can most

fitly show your gratitude to those earthly friends to whom you owe so much, and to your Lord and Saviour, from whose loving care they, and every other good thing which you receive, are alike ministered to you. Let your influence and example be to those who are younger than you what your friends' influence and example were once to yourselves; that so the succession of God's servants may never be broken off, but continue, and if it may be, with a larger increase, from generation to generation.

I think that, in all probability, some who hear me have understood to what and to whom this is particularly applicable. It will be, and I know not that we ought always to try to avoid it, that particular circumstances will be before our minds even when our language is general; and if it were not so, our pictures could hardly escape being vague and unlike any reality. But if in speaking of those who have left us, the particular allusion could not be mistaken, yet what I have said of those who are left behind, is, I hope and believe, equally applicable to many. I should be very sorry to think that there were only one or two individuals amongst us who were desirous to serve Christ heartily. But yet we find that

differences of taste and even circumstances that may seem purely accidental, do hinder even good men from having entire sympathy with each other; so that although there may be many engaged really in the same service, yet few only may be able to enjoy fully the sense and consciousness of their union. This indeed is a great evil, and one of the most humiliating things connected with humanity; that Christ's servants should not all acknowledge and feel their brotherhood. Even the very apostles did not; for Paul and Barnabas had so hot a contention together that they parted from each other, and went on their work each alone. But how blessed to them will be that hour, when they who, from the infirmity of their human passions, could not here work together, will rest together for evermore in perfect union, with that Lord whom they both loved!

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SERMON XXVIII.

CHRISTIAN PATIENCE.

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GALATIANS VI. 9.

Let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

It would be a long and not an uninteresting inquiry, to trace out the various ways in which the feeling of impatience shows itself in the human mind. By impatience, I do not mean hastiness of temper, but the sense of the imperfections of our condition, whether in body, mind, or spirit; and a restless desire to see them removed. Where St. Paul says that "the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now," he means to express the universal extent of this feeling, this consciousness of the inevitable want of rest so long as we are here on earth. Its development, of course, as of all the simple feelings of the mind, has been infinitely com

plicated, and has led to actions apparently the most opposite to one another; for it has sometimes urged men to suicide, and at other times it has driven them to endure a long life of self-inflicted pains and deprivations. So, again, in the understanding; it has led, in some instances, to the wildest scepticism; in others, to the most blind superstition. Different tempers seek different means of relief, but almost all feel the same grievance; they desire rest and satisfaction to their minds, and they do not find it.

This lot of all mankind falls to Christians as well as other men. Even we," says St. Paul, "who have received the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body." There remaineth a rest for the people of God, but they are not yet entered into it. And in them the feeling of longing for that rest, if watched and hindered from enfeebling their practice, is in itself not blamable. Our Lord himself expressed it so far as it may be lawfully entertained, when he said, "O faithless and perverse generation! how long shall I be with you, how long shall I suffer you?" But he showed also that he did not