Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.-1. Sam. vii. 12. God is faithful: and he hath written out his faithfulness in our experience in very legible characters. He promised to help us, and though we have passed through fire and through water, though our journey has been long, our road rough, our foes many, our sins great, and our faith feeble, he has ever been to us a very present help in trouble. He has helped us in darkness and light, in summer and winter, in soul and in body. Let us to-night record his mercies, let us lift up the Ebenezer, let us bear witness to his faithfulness; and from the past let us draw encouragement for the future, ke who hath helped us in time past, will help us now, will help us in all time to come. He says, "I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of." Let us rejoice and be glad, singing with the Psalmist, "Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth." And as he hath said, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." Let us boldly say, "the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man can do unto me.' Remember, whatever may change, whoever may change, thy God is in one mind, and none can turn him; therefore trust in him, and he will help you out of every trial. Thus far his arm hath led us on;

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Thus far we make his mercy known;
And, while we tread this desert land,
New mercies shall new songs demand.

The place which is called Calvary.-Lu. xxiii. 33.

We visited Gethsemane this morning, let us visit Calvary to-night. There Jesus suffered immediately from the hand of a holy God, here he suffers by the hands of wicked men. He is led as a lamb to the slaughter. See him passing through the gates of Jerusalem, weary, weak, and faint; his cross laid on his shoulders. He ascends the eminence, the common place of execution—the cross is laid on the ground-he is stretched upon it-his arms and legs are strained—and the nails are driven through his hands and feet-it is raised up and thrust into its socket with a violent jerk-all his bones are out of joint-and he hangs a spectacle of misery and woe. See his attenuated frame, his pale cheeks, his sunken eye, his thorn-crowned brow, his death-stricken countenance, and hear him cry, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Was ever sorrow like unto his sorrow! He is accursed, he is made sin for us; he suffers, the innocent for the guiltyhe dies, the just for the unjust. It is the Shepherd, dying for his sheep; the Bridegroom redeeming his bride; and the Head ransoming his body. He died for us, in our stead, that we might never die. Often let us visit Calvary, and muse upon its tragic scene; the scene of suffering love. When the dread scene of death, the last Important hour draws nigh,

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Then, with my dying eyes, I'll cast
A look on Calvary.

God hath highly exalted him.-Phil. ii. 9.

No one ever sunk so low as Jesus, no one is, or ever will be raised so high. He was considered as unfit to live, he was treated as a despicable worm, he was put to death in the flesh; but God hath highly exalted him. He is gone into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of God, he wears a name which is above every name, he possesses all authority in heaven and on earth, thrones, and dominions, and principalities, and powers are made subject unto him. His crown glitters with sparkling gems brighter than the morning sun, his sceptre extends over all creation, his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endureth throughout all generations. He is the object of angelic admiration and adoration, the subject of every song. His exaltation is the reward of his humiliation, sufferings, and death; but it is a sweet thought, that he is exalted for his people's good, for his people's glory. Exalted to give them repentance and remission of sins, to sanctify their sorrows, supply their wants, secure their safe arrival around his throne, and glorify them with himself for ever. Immortal Saviour! may I know the power of thy resurrection, glorify thy grace, be raised up, and be made to sit together with thee in thy glory!

To him whom men despise and slight,
To him be glory given;

The crown is his, and his by right,
The highest place in heaven.

Draw me.-Sol. Song. i. 4.

Sweet and precious is the invitation of Jesus, which we considered this morning; but we feel that something more than the invitation is necessary. There is often a want of inclination, the soul is sluggish, the heart is heavy, a host of things interpose to keep us from his fulness. His invitation is a full and sufficient warrant, we may go to him, we may go with confidence, we may go when we will, and for all we need ; his heart is kind, his resources are thrown open, his word is true; but we need the drawings of the Holy Spirit. Our weakness, our reluctance, the difficulties we meet with, make us cry, "Draw me;" he has drawn us, else we had never approached him; for he has said, "No man can come unto me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him." This drawing is the effect and proof of eternal love, hence we read, "I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee." The Lord's drawings are so sweet that we yield before we are aware, "I drew them with cords of love;" they are so natural, that they always prevail, "I drew them as with the bands of a man.' ,, May Jesus draw us from the world, from sin, and from self to-night; may he draw us to his footstool, and to his throne. O lead me to thy mercy-seat,

Attract me nearer still;
Draw me, like Mary to thy feet,
To sit and learn thy will.

Good tidings of great joy.-Luke ii. 10.

There is everything in our hearts to cast us down, and fill us with dejection; and we daily meet with things in the world, or the family, or the church, to make us sorrowful: but the gospel brings us glad tidings of great joy. before us a Saviour, and such a Saviour. One It sets who is God and can deliver us, one who is man and will sympathise with us. One who knows by experience what our trials mean, and who brings all the resources of God to meet our case; so that we may well ask, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul?" In his blood, there is a full, a certain pardon for all sin; in his obedience, a righteousness, to justify us freely and for ever before God; in his fulness, an endless variety of blessings, to supply our needs; and in his promises, comfort to cheer us in our most gloomy hours. He is a Saviour for sinners; all he did, he did for sinners; just such sinners as we daily feel ourselves to be. For such he obeyed the law, for such he made atonement, for such he now pleads before his Father; it is just such sinners that he invites to his bosom, and for such he is preparing mansions in heaven. Whatever is necessary to constitute any tidings good, is in the gospel; and all that is requisite to fill us with great joy, is there too. This love exceeds our highest thought;

Its length and breadth in vain are sought:
No tongue can tell its depth and height,
The love of God is infinite.