were drawn to Him-to Jesus of Nazareth; for of all men who ever lived Jesus was the most holy, the most benevolent, the most unselfish, the most heavenly; and a vast multitude were then made so religious, and so unselfish, that their religion is described thus: "All that believed were together, and had all things common: and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread" (i. e., celebrating the Holy Eucharist) from house to house (that is, at their private houses), for the temple was in the hands of the enemies of Jesus, "did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God."

Observe how in all this it was manifest that they were drawn to Jesus. Above three thousand souls, some of whom had, perhaps, once taken up stones to stone Him, began from this day to celebrate all through the city which had rejected Him the memorials of the love of Jesus; for this breaking of bread had no meaning unless it betokened that they did it in remembrance of Him, and was the means by which they so fed on His body that He dwelt in them, and they in Him. In being drawn to Jesus, too, they were so drawn to Him in spirit, that their spirits were assimilated to His; so that as He had made Himself poor for their sakes, so they made themselves poor for the sake of their brethren.

In being drawn to Jesus, too, they were drawn to God His Father; so that their daily haunt was the temple: "They continued daily with one accord in the temple."

Such was the first fulfilment of this promise of Christ: "I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto Me." He was lifted up in utter scorn and contempt: He was lifted up far above all heavens to be the magnet of attraction to all souls and as the loadstone, the moment it touches the iron that it is able to attract, imparts to it of its hidden power of attraction, so that that becomes a magnet in its turn, so with the Son of Man. By His attracting them, He imparted to them of His Spirit, so that they who were drawn to Him at once began to share His Spirit, to have His mind, His will, His love in them.

So, brethren, was the Son of man lifted up. Eighteen hundred years ago was He lifted up, and ever since then has this "drawing" been going on. Ever since then has there been a secret power above the world drawing men towards heaven. Ever since then has there been a power above the world, which has gone on steadily and unceasingly, acting as a magnet upon those who have anything of God in them.

For three hundred years did it make men live as strangers and pilgrims, as if they had no home but somewhere far away in the presence of Jesus. Such was the power of this

drawing, that multitudes upon multitudes have embraced tortures and death rather than deny His name.

Such is the power of this drawing, that multitudes have in all ages preferred poverty to wealth; a life of poverty, in which they may serve Christ without fear that the world should overpower their love to Christ, to a life of wealth and ease, in which there was every danger lest the world should deprive Him of their hearts.

Such is the power of this drawing, that in all ages men and women have made it their one object to do good to others for the sake of this Jesus.

Such has been the power of this drawing, that men have made it their chief business to cleanse their souls, and keep their souls pure and clean, so that there might be nothing to hinder them loving this secret King of souls with all their hearts; so that there might be nothing to hinder this King of their souls ever ruling in their hearts. And what wonder that it should be so! If He who was thus lifted up was in very deed God's only Son, and if He was found in fashion as a man, in order that as a man He might humble Himself to taste the penalty of sin-even death; and death in its worst form, in its lowest form— surely it seems only reasonable that He should draw all men to Himself. It seems natural

that He, who had stooped so low to ask for our poor hearts, should have power given Him to subdue what hearts He pleases to the obedience of such love.

And now this seems to be the place to approach the great difficulty of this plain statement of Christ's, for the plainest statements of Christ are often the most difficult. Christ here says, "I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto Me." He has been lifted up, both on the cross and into the highest heaven, and all men are not drawn to Him, for multitudes who hear the sound of the Gospel cannot be said to love Him. And how can He draw those to Him who have no love for Him? Not only have they no gratitude, no affectionate remembrance of His sufferings and death, but in no sense is that word of Christ fulfilled in them, "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me." So that whether we test love to Christ by warm feelings of gratitude, or whether we test it by diligent endeavours to do His blessed will, it is all the same, they are wanting.

How, then, is this, seeing that He says, "I will draw all men unto Me?" How is it that all are not drawn?

It cannot be owing to want of love, as displayed in the death of the cross. "Greater love," He says, "hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Again,

He died not for friends only, but for rebels and enemies. "God," the Apostle says, "commendeth His love towards us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son."

66

How full of love are the sufferings of the cross! How full of love are the words uttered by Him on the cross: "Father, forgive them." Woman, behold thy son." "This day shalt thou be with me in paradise." "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" How full of love to us are the Divine results of His Sufferings! The blotting out of sin by the Blood then and there shed. Free forgiveness. Justification, not by works, but by His Blood. Justification by faith, in order that it may be of grace. His Body broken, and His Blood shed, and given in perpetual Eucharist to be our spiritual food and sustenance, so that eating the flesh of the Son of man, and drinking His blood, we may dwell in Him, and He in us.

So that if we are not drawn, it is surely through no lack of love exhibited on Christ's part.

Neither is it through lack of power on Christ's part to draw us. For He has received the Holy Ghost in order that, through the operation of that Almighty Spirit, He may subdue the hearts of men. What greater miracle of power over the heart can be con