SERMON IV.

ON PATIENCE.

JAMES i. 4.

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

THE apostle James began the letter which he wrote to the twelve tribes by urging them to patience in their troubles: their troubles were very great and many, for unbelieving Jews and idolatrous Gentiles persecuted them because they believed in Jesus, and they needed the exhortation, "Let patience have her perfect work."

Children, you need this exhortation, though your troubles are not so great as theirs. Whenever you are out of humour with work or with play, with heat or with cold, with rain or with

sunshine, with foes or with friends, with great troubles or with small troubles; whenever you are peevish, fretful, and complaining, then do you disobey the command, and need that some one should say in your ear, "let patience have her perfect work." Whenever your parents forbid your doing what you wish to do; whenever they refuse you what you desire to have; whenever your little plays perplex or trouble you; whenever your brothers or sisters or other playmates will not let you have your own way; whenever you cannot find the lost thing for which you have been long looking; whenever you cannot accomplish that which you are attempting in work, study, or play; whenever you have to bear any perplexity, or disappointment, or pain,-then beware, lest you disobey the command, "Let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."

Patience is a quiet and satisfied state of mind in the midst of perplexity and trouble. You may have a quiet and satisfied state of mind when every thing around you is just as you would have it, but that is not patience. Patience

will calm the mind when things are as you would not have them.

The troubles and perplexities which require patience are not always great. Little troubles often disturb and ruffle the impatient mind. Even very little troubles sometimes blow like a tempest on the soul, and make it like a troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

The perfect work of patience would be at all times, and in all places, in all perplexities and troubles, whether small or great, never to indulge one discontented, peevish, unkind, or angry feeling, and constantly to maintain a quiet, satisfied, and contented mind.

Do you desire that the perfect work of patience may be fulfilled in you?, Then,

1. Consider always, that God orders all things, and that he orders all things well. Then will you perceive that if you are impatient with `any trial, be it great or small, you are impatient with the doings of God; impatient with those very things which He does, who can make no mistake, and can do no wrong. Let your mind be calm and serene amidst perplexity and

trouble, reposing in Him who is without mea> sure and without change, wise and good.

2. Never allow yourselves for one moment to think impatience right. Never attempt to excuse or justify it. Never say, or even think, "I cannot help it." If you think it right, if you excuse it, if you say I cannot help it, then do you prepare yourself to be impatient without restraint. The fault and the wrong will be in the person or thing which troubles you; and your blameless heart will be agitated from day to day, and from hour to hour, by blameworthy people, and by blameworthy events, aye, and even by blameworthy things, and you will find fault with what you lose for being lost, with stones when you stumble over them, and posts when you run against them.

3. Never vent in words your impatient feelings. If you do, you will find that as you speak them out they will increase. But if you forbid yourself to speak out your impatient feelings, you will the more easily and surely subdue them. The smothered fire will die.

4. Check the first impatient feeling. If you allow yourself to be impatient for a minute, you will not be likely to forbid yourself for an hour

or day nay, you will be more and more forgiving and lenient with yourself, less anxious and less able to stop the, feeling or to change the habit; but if you check the first impatient feeling, you will drive it from your bosom.

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5. Begin now, whatever may have been your former character or habit. Be not dismayed, you see that you have to repair and restore the havoc made in your soul by habits of im patience, many years allowed and cherished. The next direction will help you through the greatest difficulty.

6. Make every effort with prayer to God. Be afraid to attempt the work alone. God is willing to help you. The verse following the text says, "If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." Whenever any trouble or perplexity tempts you to impatience, seek immediately the help of God. If you are in the midst of the family, you need not speak aloud; He will hear your unspoken prayer. But if you can, go you can, go rather away alone, and ask, and ask again, for the meek and quiet spirit of a Christian child; pray that you may be like the meek and quiet Saviour, who for