enters into our thoughts, reads our wants, feels for our weaknesses. Such is the effect of reading the words of Him who knew what was in man, who was tempted like as we are, who lays his finger on each infirmity of our suffering souls. It is glad tidings of great joy to be told that goodness, patience, justice, purity, are not idle dreams, - that they are within our reach, that not in any one country or place, but everywhere, God may be served and man may be loved. Such is the effect of reading the words of Him who went about proclaiming that "the time was fulfilled," that "the kingdom of God was come,"

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repent and believe the Gospel." It is the Gospel of Peace to bear witness that there is something higher for our guidance than worldly maxims, and heathen morality, and Jewish forms, and excited feelings. Such is the witness borne by the calm, simple, comprehensive words of Him who is the Way, the Truth, the Life, the Light of the world.

In Him are fulfilled in their highest sense the words of the Prophet as first written"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of Him that bringeth good tidings, that pub

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lisheth peace, that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth." Thy God reigneth. This is the highest happiness to which any of us can look backward or forward. That God does reign in Heaven, that He guides all the joys, sorrows, troubles, difficulties of this world, to a good issue at last — this is our comfort always. That He did reign in earth, and that His kingdom was established among men, in the person of Jesus Christ His Son, in justice, mercy, and truth,—was the glad tidings announced in a special sense by Christ Himself and His Apostles. That through His Spirit He may continue more and more to reign in our own hearts,-that His grace may prevail over all ignorance, hardness of heart, contempt of His word and commandments,— that His kingdom may come, and His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven,- this is the highest Gospel privilege; this is the highest Christian hope; this was the constant theme of the WORDS, no less than of the works, of Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Isa. lii. 7.

SERMON II.

THE WORDS OF CHRIST.

PREACHED ON THE SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT, 1856.

LUKE XXI. 33.

Heaven and earth shall pass away,

pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

In a few words is here given a description of one main characteristic of our Lord's teaching, its universal and eternal endurance. Let us endeavour to trace what is involved in this description. It might have been so ordered that Christ's words should have lasted for ever, and yet that the causes of their continuance should not have been known to us. But neither here nor elsewhere is this the law of God's Providence. He not only grants His gifts to mankind, but He graciously permits us to see and to profit by their adap

tation to the end for which they were designed. In thus considering the words of Christ, we shall learn several important truths.

I. Whatever explains this peculiarity of His teaching, will in some degree apply to the teaching of the Scriptures generally. They too are the Word of God, though not in the same absolute and divine sense as that in which He was the WORD of God. They are inspired throughout by the Spirit of God, although not in the same entire and boundless sense as He was, to whom "the Spirit was given without measure."1 Other books, almost of necessity, pass away with their own generation, -works of amusement, works of edification, how few there are which live from one age to another! They serve their turn, they are laid by, and are succeeded by others, which are laid by in like manner. But the Bible still lives on. Now, by studying the cause why His words do not pass away, we shall see why it is that the words of other Scriptures do not pass away; we shall arrive at one point at least which may explain to us what is meant

1 John iii. 34.

by "Inspiration." And we may also learn something for ourselves. He, as I said last Sunday, was the type and highest example of all teachers. By studying the causes, humanly speaking, of the lasting effect of His words, we may learn, perhaps, how to seek greater force and greater effect for our own words. We all have, if not to teach, yet to speak, and talk, and learn. Thousands, no doubt, and tens of thousands, of our words will pass away and be never heard of again. Yet it is not too much for the humblest amongst us to hope that we may say some one thing at least which may do good,-which may last beyond the present hour which may even be remembered when we are dead and gone.

II. "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but Christ's words have not passed away, and shall not pass away." They are still read they are still revered; they will be read and revered hundreds of years hence, as they are now; let us trust, more than they are now, more than they ever have been. What are the causes of this undoubted fact? - what are the causes of this hope that is in

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