xix. 7-9. Oh, to be looking and waiting for His coming, 1 Thess. i. 10; to be so sure of His love and favour now (John xxi. 17), that we may know Him in the future as the Bridegroom, John iii. 36.

Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity.

"THE DOOR."

Learn, John x. 7-10. Passages to be referred to -Gen. iii. 22-24; Lev. xvi. 1-19; 'John x. 1-9; Eph. ii. 12-22.

THE Bible opens by showing us our need of a door. Man was happy in Paradise in the enjoyment of God's presence and favour, Gen. ii. 8, 9; but when sin entered into the world, Rom. v. 12, man was driven out-the door was closedcherubims and a flaming sword keep the way of the tree of life, Gen. iii. 24.

Here, then, is a great want of the soul. Like the men of Sodom, the sinner in his blindness gropes for the door, Gen. xix. 11; Eph. iv. 17, 18; but there is only access through Jesus, Eph. ii. 18. The flaming sword must pierce the heart of any man who would gain admittance, Deut. iv. 25; Exod. xxxiv. 7. Christ has come, as man, and claimed an entrance, Ps. xxiv. 3-8; Heb. ii. 9, 10, 17. The sword has drunk His life's blood, and the Law is satisfied, Isa. liii. 7-11; Acts xx. 28. This was all for us men, 2 Cor. v. 21; Heb. ii. 16. He acted as the representative man,

I

1 Cor. xv. 22, and now He says to every one of us, "I am the Door." Let us consider,

1. How Christ is the Door. We read in the Bible of other doors, Acts xiv. 27; 1 Cor. xvi. 9; see Acts xvi. 14; but Jesus only is the door or entrance to the Church, Eph. ii. 13-22, the company of God's faithful people; because he has removed the barrier of sin and guilt, Heb. ix. 26; 1 Pet. ii. 24; 1 John ii. 12. As long as that remained, no admittance could be had, Rom. vii. 7-11. But now in Christ Jesus-the sin-bearer -God accepts all who come, Heb. vii. 25. He alone is the Door, John x. 1.

II. How we are to enter through Christ as the Door. We must submit to go through another, John xiv. 6. God will not receive us in ourselves, but only as we plead the Saviour's name, John xvi. 23. We must stoop to enter. Everything of self and the world must be cast away, 2 Kings v. 11, 12; Phil. iii. 7, 8. The burden on the back will always hinder, Matt. xix. 22, 23. We must believe, Heb. xi. 6. We shall never enter if we doubt that the door is wide enough, Heb. iii. 18, 19.

III. How we shall be blest in using Christ as the Door. We "shall be saved." This is the first great blessing that greets us on the threshhold, Isa. xii. 1-3. We "shall go in and out." Liberty is the next great privilege of those who have found an entrance in Christ, John viii. 36; Rom. viii. 15, 21. We shall "find pasture."

Every want shall be supplied, Ps. xxiii. 1; Phil. iv. 19, for God hath blessed His people with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ, Eph. i. 3.

Oh, what a blessing to have this Door wide, open, free! Rev. iii. 8. Have you entered? John v. 40. Twice do we read of the door being shut; once for safety, Gen. vii. 16; once for rejection, Matt. xxv. 10. See that you are safe within, Ps. xxvii. 5.

Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity.

"THE CAPTAIN OF OUR SALVATION."

Learn, Heb. ii. 10-13. Passages to be referred to— Josh. xxiv. 1-25; Isa. lxiii.; Luke iv. 1-13; Heb. ii.

WE are reminded in our collect to-day that the Christian, in passing through this world, is exposed to dangers and temptations of every kind, Ps. cxlii. 3, 4. He needs guidance and protection, 2 Cor. iii. 4, 5. He requires some one to go before, who can fight for him, and show him how to resist the foe, 1 Sam. viii. 20; 1 Pet. ii. 21; and to encourage us, Jesus presents Himself as "the Captain of our Salvation," Heb. ii. 10.

We are in the position of Israel in the wilderness, 1 Cor. x. 11, delivered from the bondage of Egypt, Rom. vi. 17, 18. We are going on to the promised rest, Heb. iv. 1, 9. The wilderness, with all its discouragements, stretches out on every side, Num. xxi. 4. Salvation has been given to us, Titus ii. 11; Heb. ii. 3; but we have still to work it out, Phil. ii. 12; 2 Pet. i. 10, 11. And here we look to Joshua for example and victory, Acts vii. 45.