we turn to the New Testament, over and over again He asserts, I and My Father are one," John x. 30. The man who does not believe that Christ is God, is a greater infidel than the devil, for he said, We know who Thou art, the Holy One of God. But if you were to ask me to prove that Christ is God, I should turn to none of these passages, but to such as these, "Where two or three are gathered together, there am I in the midst." Who could say those words but God? Again, "Come unto Me, and I will give you rest?" Where is the man on earth who could say such words? "I have power to lay down My life, and I have power to take it again." "I give unto My sheep eternal life." I am sure I am right when I say the indirect evidences of Christ's Divinity are stronger than the direct ones. He is David's Lord for He is God; He is David's son, for He is man. And then the prophecy, Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, not a young woman, otherwise it had been no.miracle at all in a young woman bearing a son. Again in Gal. iv. 4, we read, " When the fulness of time was come, God sent forth His Son made of a woman." Thus we have shewn you two things. We have shown you how David's Lord is also David's son, therefore He is God and man. And now, "What think ye of Christ ?" The Pharisees said He is David's son, they did not think much of Him. So far, so true, but they left out the larger portion of truth. It matters little to us what the Pharisees thought or said. They are long gone to their resting-place, and they are silent for ever. It matters a great deal what you and I think of Christ. Men have different opinions. I will name five.

1. One great opinion of Christ is very current. Christ is an example-well, and He is an example, we admit it. A noble example of purity, courage, self-sacrifice, and holiness, for He could say as none other, "Which of you convinceth Me of sin." He is more than an example. We cannot imitate Him unless we are washed in His blood. We turn from this opinion, for it is not sufficient.

2. Another will tell us, Christ is a teacher. They give the same answer as Nicodemus gave, "We know Thou art a Teacher come from God." Like Plato, Socrates, Moses. Yes, He is a Teacher too. He told men higher, better truths. He taught them about God as He was never known before-He did not shrink from telling them that "Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries," etc. He taught them about Salvation, the Son of Man coming to seek and to save that which was lost. He taught them about Heaven. "In My Father's house are many mansions." He taught them too about "The worm that

never dieth, and the fire that is never quenched. He taught men authoritatively. Even His enemies said, "Never man spake like this man." Plato guessed at truth, and his guesses were beautiful, but Christ spoke with authority.

3. We turn to a third class. What think ye of Christ? He was a Martyr. He was a witness for God, for the truth. When He stood before Pilate He said, For this cause came I into the

world." When He died He died a Martyr to the truth of His own Divinity, because He said He was Son of God. He was a Martyr, but Oh my Brethren, He was something more. Some say He is an Example, I tell you He is more. Some say He is a Teacher, I tell you He is more. Some say He is a Martyr, I tell you He is

more.

4. And there is one more class to whom we will appeal. The largest class, methinks of all. We think this of Him, we must do the best we can, and Christ will do the rest. If we do our part, Christ will do His part, if we are baptized, if we are confirmed, if we take the Sacrament we are sure to be taken into His presence when we die. This is the worst class of all, for such cannot be saved. "Thou shalt call His Name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins." He tells us He will do it all. He will pluck us out of the dust where sin has laid us, and He will set us on His throne and will make us happy for ever. If He does not save us completely, we shall never be saved so long as the sun and moon endureth.

5. What think ye of Christ? Another large class says, We do not think about Him at all. Our thoughts are upon our farm or our shop, or our business, or our books, or friends, and we have no thought for Christ. As there was no room in the inn, so there is no room for Christ in our hearts and in our homes. You may have a beautiful picture painted by one of the great masters, if you turn that picture to the wall, what will you see? Nothing. Christ's life is more beautiful than the most beautiful picture artist ever drew. Think of His Holy Incarnation. Think of the words of peace which fell from His lips. Think of His bitter Cross. Think of His vicarious death. Think of His glorious resurrection. Think of His ascension to Heaven. Think of His sitting in Heaven, pleading before the Eternal Throne. Think of these things, and yet if the picture is turned to the wall, what good is that picture to you or to me. The truth is we do not think, and what is more, we do not care.

Thus we have discussed five different parties, found everywhere. The first party say, He is an Example, and so He is; but He is more, He is a Teacher, so He is; but He is more, He is a Martyr.

I tell you He is more. He is no part Saviour, for He will either save altogether or not at all. And now there is another party, What think ye of Christ? They are Christians who have been converted to God, who can fall on their knees and say, the working man's prayer, no less true because spoken by a working man, Father, we know the reality of Jesus Christ. When I think of the selfishness, and of the worldliness of many who profess Christianity, did I not know something of its truth and power in my own heart, I should think it was a sham from first to last. Speak to the true children of God, and ask them, "What think ye of Christ?" and they will tell you Christ is "All in All to me."

He is the Bread on which I feed. He is the well from whence I draw living water. He is my Sun which makes all things bright. He is the foundation upon which I build for eternity.

Thou O Christ art all I want,
More than all in Thee I find.

I want Christ's voice. I want Christ's hand. I want Christ's face. I want Christ's arm. O Christ, take my heartstrings and bind them round Thyself, and then take Thine own heartstrings and bind them round me, and make us one for ever. If you ask

me,

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What think you of Christ ?" I say it as if I were never to utter another word from this pulpit, "Christ is All." None but Jesus can do helpless sinners good." Your Christmas joy will not be less if you will let this simple question, "What think ye of Christ ?" enter your thoughts and hearts now, and God grant some of you may be able to say, "He is all my salvation and all my desire." Then you will join the angel's song of praise and say, "Glory to God in the Highest-peace on earth and goodwill

to men."

THE LATE COLONEL COTTON.

YE copy the following from "The Shanklin Weekly News." It is with feelings of extreme regret we have to announce the death, at his residence, Mornington Villa, Clarendon Road, Shanklin, of the late Col. Cotton, on the evening of Thursday, the 13th inst., at the patriarchal age of 83 years. The late Colonel resided in Shanklin about seven years, coming here from Reading

for the benefit of his health. He took an active part in several matters of local interest, and it would not, perhaps, be a breach of confidence were we here to divulge the secret that the suggestion which appeared in these columns, in an anonymous communication, to the effect that a suspension bridge should be carried across the mouth of Shanklin Chine, thus continuing the road along the summit of the cliffs and giving the visitor and resident one of the most lovely spectacles in Europe, originated with Col. Cotton, whose experience stamped him as a judge of no ordinary character in matters pertaining to practical engineering. The late Colonel also took a personal interest in the establishment and working of the Dorking Coffee Tavern, which was originated primarily by his much respected daughter, Miss Cotton. The son of Mr. Henry Calveley Cotton, of Woodcot, Oxon., and grandson of Sir Lynch Salisbury Cotton, the late Colonel was educated at Addiscombe, near Croydon, and, after passing his examination in 1815, was appointed to the Madras Engineers, and employed on the irrigation works in Southern India for twenty years, retiring from the service in 1841, after which he received the appointment of Surveyor General of Tasmania and conducted the trigonometrical survey of that colony. At the opening of the Dorking Coffee Tavern a few months ago he gave an interesting account of some of his travels in that part of the world, and of his experience as a teetotaler, a report of which we published the following week. His work in Tasmania being finished and the office abolished, he returned to India in 1859, and accepted the Chief Engineership of the Madras Irrigation and Canal Company, from which he retired in April, 1865, his health having been sorely tried by the sad affliction he sustained in the death of his wife. The funeral obsequies of the deceased gentleman took place on Monday last, the chief mourners being Sir Arthur Cotton (his younger brother), Capt. Goldsmith (his son-in-law), and Master Calveley Cotton (his grandson), Admiral Cotton and General Cotton, two other brothers of the deceased, were unable to be present, the journey being too great to enable them to accomplish it at their age with safety. The funeral cortege proceeded first to St. Paul's Church, which the deceased gentleman was in the habit of attending regularly. Here they were received by the Vicar, the Rev. W. Pettitt. As the solemn procession filed in, the choir sang with peculiar solemnity the hymn,

After the usual service, the Rev. W. Pettitt gave a very solemn and appropriate address, urging those present to follow the example of the departed, who was a most exemplary Christian, and who, although through the infirmity of almost total deafness, could not hear a word of the service, was, nevertheless, most regular in his attendance on the means of grace. The Rev. gentleman concluded with a very eloquent address to those present, as dying men and women, to prepare to meet their God. After the address the choir sang the hymn,

"Brother, thou art gone before us,

And thy saintly soul is flown
Where tears are wiped from every eye
And sorrow is unknown.

From the burden of the flesh,

And from care and fear released,

Where the wicked cease from troubling,
And the weary are at rest."

Mr. B. G. Richardson, who presided at the organ, then played the "Dead March," in Saul, to the solemn strains of which the procession passed out of the church. At the grave the choir sang the hymn,

"Give me the wings of faith, to rise
Within the veil, and see

The saints above, how great their joys,

How bright their glories be."

A considerable number of the inhabitants showed their respect for the deceased by their attendance.

THE HOLY BIBLE: WHAT IT IS.

E are apt to look upon the Bible as if it were one book, written at one time; whereas it is sixty-six separate books, written at very different times, and gathered into one volume. The latest book of the Bible was written nearly 1800 years ago, and the most ancient about 3400 years since. Moses was the first, John the last writer. The books of Moses and Job are the oldest in the world. Moses wrote about 1500 years before the birth of Christ, and John nearly 100 years after. David wrote about 500 years after Moses; Daniel about 500 after David; John