This grace, I say, we have received: we had our passport once: what is become of it now? Let us look well after it, for our soul's life depends on our having it.

When people have received a written order entitling them to anything which they value, to see some great sight, for instance; we know how anxiously they try to keep it, how carefully they put it away until it is wanted, how full of thought they are about carrying it safe, how it startles and disquiets them, from time to time, as the fancy comes across them, "what if I should have lost it and be refused admittance"?

Such is people's care about seeing great sights on earth; and shall not Christians be equally careful about that grace, which is their pledge of admittance within the gates of Heaven? What are all the glories of all the kingdoms, all the royal cities under the sun, compared with what is prepared for us to see there? Solomon's court was rich and glorious, and all about it so wisely and beautifully ordered, that when the Queen of Sheba saw it, having come from a far country for the purpose, "there was no breath left in her": she confessed, much as she had heard in her own country of his riches and wisdom, that yet the half of it had not been told her. Yet all was scarce a faint shadow of the glory of the Court of Heaven, of the joy and wonder of those who shall be so happy as to enter therein. Why then are we not more careful of that which alone can secure us a place therethe Grace of CHRIST poured into our hearts at our Baptism, the sign of His saving Cross set upon our foreheads?

We know what it is, which is contrary to that precious grace: we know what is for ever trying to wear out that holy mark. It is sin, wilful sin, sin indulged and consented to. The only way then, to

preserve CHRIST's Grace and His Mark, is to be constantly striving and fighting against sin. It will not do to be anxious and careful occasionally, and then again let matters have their own way for a time. That would be as if a person, having a precious writing to keep, looked only now and then to see if it was there, but in the meanwhile let it take its chance, without any precaution at all. Would any one be surprised, were the writing to be stolen or lost? especially if there were known to be enemies close at hand, ever wakeful and greedy to take it.

Our care, then, of what God gave us in our Baptism, to be effectual, must be continual; and to support and encourage us in it, let us joyfully accept the blessed offer, which the KING of Glory makes to us all at this triumphant season especially. He offers us grace to turn our thoughts towards Heaven. He permits, HE invites, He commands us to meditate on the good and great things, the glorious and happy beings who are there. By the voice of His Church He encourages us to meditate on the Ascension of our LORD, until we also in heart and mind, ascend where HE is, and with HIM continually dwell. That way of thinking, joined with careful obedience, is GOD's token, surer, if we will make it so, every day and every hour, that the baptismal grace is not worn out, that CHRIST yet sees His mark in our foreheads.

We sometimes hear people say, "O that I could have some assurance, O that I could know for certain that I should be saved"! and we all naturally wish and pray with the Psalmist, "LORD, show some token upon us for good." Well, my brethren, here is the assurance you want here is certainty of salvation: here is GOD's undoubted token. I if you so meditate on

say,

SERIES II.

Heaven, as really to master and overcome temptation, this, continued through life, is assurance better than a voice from Heaven.

Again, if you so set your heart and mind upon CHRIST Who is out of sight, as to bear sweetly for His sake both great sorrows and little sadnesses here; as certainly as He is true, you will have your reward in Heaven as certainly as He is there, He will give it you HIMSELF. For this is His word of promise to such: "Ye now have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you."

His daily tokens for good are such as these: when on first waking in the morning we turn our thoughts towards HIM, accepting the new light as a sign of His awful Presence, a ray from the Brightness which is around His Throne: when we turn with fear and loathing from the Devil's suggestions, how pleasant it would be to indulge this or that bad desire: when we restrain the wanton eye, hoping with that same eye to see what is beyond the everlasting door: when we will not let hand or foot offend us, because CHRIST has made them members of HIMSELF, and we hope on those very feet to follow HIM through the gates of Heaven, bearing in those very hands the palms which He will give His chosen in sign of their victory: when we keep our tongues in order: when we are not hasty to pass sentence on others: when we try to feel in every company as those ought to feel, who know more of harm of themselves than of any other person there: when we are truly ashamed and vexed to have wandering thoughts in prayer, and strive perpetually against them, and by little and little get the better of them: when we think much of the Holy Communion, and

are diligently and really preparing ourselves for it: when we are in earnest thankful to be told of our faults when instead of pleasing ourselves with the praise of men, we say in our hearts, "what would people think of us, if they knew all we know of ourselves?' when we try really to welcome afflictions, disappointments, ill usage, for CHRIST's sake, and in the hope to have our punishment, all of it, in time, not in eternity. These, and such as these, are His tokens on us for good: may HE increase and multiply them upon every one of this congregation, now in this holy season of His bounty, now that He especially invites to behold HIM by Faith, opening heaven and giving gifts unto men: that as within the last fortnight He has shown His goodness to our outward and bodily eyes, sending a gracious rain upon His inheritance, and refreshing it when it was more than usually weary; so in this next fortnight, the holy and blessed season of Whitsuntide, HE He may send down the far more precious rain of His Grace even on the unworthiest of us all; turning us away from evil thoughts, confirming us in all that is good and holy; strengthening and instructing the young beginners, and setting them above false shame, that they may not draw back after putting their hands to the plough; and leading on from strength to strength such as are more advanced in the right way: that all who have duly come here to serve HIM, and have reverently entered these humble and lowly doors, may be in His train on that Day, when the gates and everlasting doors shall be lifted up, and may enter in with HIM into the city, having His baptismal seal yet upon their foreheads.

J. K..

SERMON LV.

THE CHRISTIAN'S STEWARDSHIP.

The Sunday after Ascension Day.

1 ST. PETER, Iv. 10.

AS EVERY MAN HATH RECEived the gifT, EVEN SO MINISTER THE SAME ONE TO ANOTHER, AS GOOD STEWARDS MANIFOLD GRACE OF GOD.

OF THE

We have three things set before us in these words of the Apostle ;-a gift, a ministry, and a stewardship ;a gift, which we are to minister one to another, as stewards of GOD.

I. In the first place there is the gift bestowed, and that not upon a few, but upon each one of us; not upon this or that Christian only, but as the Apostle teaches us, upon all: "As every man hath received the gift": for to all, GOD, of His grace and goodness, gives something, by which they may benefit mankind and serve God in their stewardship.

By gifts indeed, in the New Testament, and particularly in the language of St. Paul, are often meant specifically those miraculous endowments, by which the Apostles and others were enabled to preach the Gospel,