of the intercession is to be measured by the object of the prayer. The apostles prayed, not for health, or wealth, for silver, gold, or costly array, though even all these are often within the command of prayer, and always, when according to the will of God, they work together for our good; they prayed for a higher gift, the gift of the Holy Ghost. This should be the great object of prayer, for it is "the one thing needful,”— the one thing needful to perishing sinners. O then let none of us who has access to the throne of grace excuse himself from his brother's blood, by maintaining that he is not his "brother's keeper!" If he that hath this world's goods, and seeth his brother in need, must be considered destitute of the law of God, should he shut up his bowels of compassion from him, God forbid that we should be chargeable with the same heartless indifference in circumstances that plead with more urgent necessity! "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren." "Little children, let us not love in word, nor in tongue, but in deed and in truth." THE GOSPEL. "I am the door: by me if any man enter in he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture."-JOHN x. 9. HE most cursory reader of the Epistles cannot have THE failed to have observed that the mention of any gift or bounty for which we are indebted to God, is con stantly associated with the expression or form of words, -"in Christ Jesus," or "through our Lord Jesus Christ." The passages are so numerous, that a simple reference to some out of many may be sufficient: e.g. Rom. vi. 23; 1 Cor. i. 30; 2 Cor. xi. 14; Eph. xi. 10, &c. Now the obvious intention of these passages is to render it evident to us that the door, or channel, through which the mercy of the Father communicates with us is Christ Jesus; that this is the bed through which the streams of His loving-kindness flow. Blessed are the souls whom a sense of their lost condition and the exceeding sinfulness of sin has convinced of the vanity of every other consideration short of a perfect pardon and reconciliation with an offended God. But, alas! for those souls, were there no means of access to "this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Such a means of communication Christ represents Himself to be. "I am the door of the sheep; by Me if any man enter in he shall be saved." And none of those who will enter by it shall be cast out; for "whosoever will, let him come and take of the water of life freely." "By me if any man enter in he shall be saved." Yes; though the storm rage without and the loud winds howl around, whosoever has crossed this threshold is safe. "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous fleeth into it, and is safe." And the name of "the Lord our righteousness " is a tower which has never disappointed those who have trusted in it. It was a sweet retreat for a creature perishing in the Flood, to find admittance in the door of the ark. It was a sweet relief for the manslayer unawares, as he drew nearer and nearer the city of refuge, at last to find the gates open, and himself by and by safely lodged within them; but sweeter than all it is for the sin-stricken soul to find a refuge in the arms of Jesus, and, feeling perfect security, to compare its situation with the dangers without, as it hears the thunders of the law, and sees the clouds of upbraiding Justice roll impotent at its feet. Again: the sheep are not only saved, but "find pasture." They are not only accommodated, but supported. The means of their support proceed from the same quarter as those of their salvation-Christ Himself. He is made unto us "wisdom and righteousness, sanctification and redemption." "The life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." "This is the true bread which came down from heaven, not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever." Lord, evermore give us this bread. Amen. Amen. Thou art the Way: to Thee alone, And he who would the Father seek, Must seek Him, Lord, through Thee. Thou art the Truth: Thy word alone Thou only canst inform the mind, Thou art the Life: the rending tomb Thou art the Way, the Truth, the Life: Grant us that way to know, That truth to keep, that life to win, Whose joys eternal flow. Trinity Sunday. THE COLLECT. ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hast given unto us Thy servants grace by the confession of a true faith to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of the Divine Majesty to worship the Unity; We beseech Thee, that Thou wouldest keep us stedfast in this faith, and evermore defend us from all adversities, who livest and reignest, one God, world without end. Amen. THE EPISTLE. "And they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come."-REV. iv. 8. T is a mistake to suppose that heaven is a place of IT perfect rest, if the term be understood to mean a complete suspension of our active powers. Hell may be a place of rest in this sense, but heaven is surely |