woes. There are struggles far more arduous, labours far more severe, of a spiritual kind. What thoughtful mind but has had its fierce battles to wage with doubts and anxieties and evil suggestions? Who knows nothing of the conflict between light and darkness in his secret soul? and, alas, what defeats we suffer! And if there are any who are ignorant of such strife, is it not because they yield without resistance to the foe? Jesus therefore, shewed us how to battle against sin. He was forty days "in the wilderness tempted of Satan." "In all points tempted like as we are." He was completely man; and those temptations were as truly such to him as to us, else that encounter would yield us no comfort. He triumphed not

because there was less of the human in Him, but because there was more of the divine. He shewed us that human nature, sustained by God's spirit, may triumph over Satan's strongest assaults. What an encouragement is this to the tempted, that Jesus fought and conquered, that He sympathises with, and will succour us! And what im

portant truths are embodied in that brief record! We are ever tempted to turn our stones into bread, to gratify our appetites unlawfully, and to employ our talents unworthily. Jesus teaches us that we are in God's care, that we live not by bread, but by His word; that it is not necessary we should be kept even from starving, but it is necessary we should abstain from sinning, that the truth of God is our life, and that the only death is-Sin Are we, on the other hand, tempted to let our confidence degenerate into presumption? Jesus teaches us that, while under the immediate protection of God, we are to put forth our own energies, and not tempt Him by acting as if His promises were to supersede our activities. Are we inclined to gratify our ambition by the surrender of truth, to gain any wordly good at the cost of principle? Jesus teaches us that every such act is a virtual homage to the Devil-and that we must worship the Lord God and Him alone.

Thus he lays the foundation of all freedom.

How liable to become a bondsman to his fellow man, is he who has accustomed himself to the tyranny of his own corruptions! To quote the words of Milton-"To be free is the same thing as to be pious, wise, temperate, abstinent; so to be the opposite of all these is the same as to be a slave, and it usually happens that those who cannot govern themselves, and moderate their passions, but crouch under the slavery of their lusts, should be delivered to the sway of those whom they abhor, and made to submit to an involuntary servitude!" Of what avail are constitutional rights, representative governments, free institutions, to a man whose soul is in fetters to sin? He has but the name of a free-man while possessing the heart and wearing the chains of a slave. Whereas by conquering as Jesus did, we possess a freedom of which no despotism can despoil us, and which no dungeon can destroy. All liberty apart from this, leaves us still the vilest of serfs, because voluntarily debased. The word of God is the charter of our emancipation.

Obedience to truth, love, and holiness, which is the same thing as obedience to Himself, alone secures to us the privileges of the free. "It is written," is a sword which can ward off every hostile blow of those who would enslave us. "Lord, what will thou have me to do?" is a prayer which can silence the loudest clamour that selfishness, and worldliness, and sin, can raise. Then, then alone, are men truly free, when they dread no evil but wrong-doing, when they recognise the divine authority as paramount to all other; and when, fearing God supremely, they are delivered from all fear beside.

Jesus goes forth to teach. Listen to some of his precepts. Men are made miserable, and human brotherhood is broken, by unkindness, pride, haughtiness, revenge. Retaliation was commended by the wisest of Philosophers and Moralists. Hear the Man Christ Jesus. "Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are the meek. Blessed are the merciful. Blessed are the peace makers. If a man smite thee on the one cheek turn

to him the other also. Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you, pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you." Love must precede worship-" first go and be reconciled to thy brother, then come and offer thy gift." Forgiveness of injuries must have no limitation. To the inquiry "How often shall my brother trespass against me and I forgive him? seven times?" he replied "I say not unto you seven times, but seventy times seven.'

What sorrows come from ambition! Jesus says, "Learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls." What a world of peace and rest would this be, were all like Jesus, meek and lowly! Observing how men contended for the highest seats he bade his disciples when bidden to a feast, take the lowest place. He washed their feet and told them instead of aiming at pre-eminence, to do as he had done. He set a little child before them and said "Of such is the kingdom of heaven." "Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles,

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