be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.'

I can fancy some self-righteous one, trusting in his own goodness, priding himself on his outward observances, but with his heart firmly closed against the humbling truths of the gospel-I can fancy such an one living on contented and self-satisfied. Sickness comes upon him; but it makes no impression. Death draws near; but he remains unchanged. I can fancy him taking his place before "the great white throne," still confident, still full of his own deservings. But presently a voice is heard, saying, "How camest thou in hither, not having on the Ah, then he will be wedding garment?" speechless, and his proud heart will sink within him. He has "exalted himself," and he will now be "abased."

I can fancy another, of a meek and lowly character, confessing himself to be "less than the least of all saints," not worthy to be called a servant of Christ-feeling that he deserves nothing at God's hands-bowed down under a sense of sin, and hardly daring to hope that

an one,

Christ would accept such an one as he isgrowing in grace and holiness, but still wishing to be counted nothing but a humble penitent-I can fancy the joy of such one, when the Saviour shall honour him before the assembled world, and "give him a place and a name better than of sons and daughters." Then it will be found that God "raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory." Then too will the truth of these words be seen, “He that humbleth himself shall be exalted."

Look once more at the Parable. "When thou art bidden," says our Lord, "go and sit down in the lowest room."

We are bidden to a feast-to the gospel feast. We are invited to be the friends and guests of Christ. Let us go and take “ the lowest room." Let all our pride be put away. Let us seek to be clothed with humility. A low place is the fittest for a sinner; and the more grace we have in our hearts, the lower we shall stoop, and the more humble will be

our walk with God.

What did Jesus say to

His disciples? "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."

Go, thou contrite sinner-go, thou pardoned believer-go, thou follower of the meek and lowly Saviour-go and take thy proper place" the lowest room."

And let me now give you just a few directions on this subject. I speak to those of you who have found Christ and salvation through Him.

1st. Never forget that you owe all you have, and all you are, to God's grace alone. St. Paul never lost sight of this. He was ever ready to say, "By the grace of God I am what I am."

When we feel that we are sinful and vile, and that we deserve nothing but eternal death, then how wonderful and glorious does the love of God appear in providing salvation for us! Can you feel this? Does your heart go along with me, whilst you are reading these pages? And can you say, He has taught me this.

"Blessed be God

I see it clearly. I

am nothing; and infinite mercy alone has rescued me from what I so richly deserved"?

2dly. It is not enough to consider ourselves nothing; but we should also be willing to be thought nothing of by others. If true grace is at work within, we shall have such a view of the secrets of our own evil hearts, and of the purity and holiness of God, that we shall not wish, to be thought better than we really are. In fact the flattery of our fellow-men will be painful and sickening to us.

And yet how hard it is to keep clear of this snare! How hard to crucify our old nature in this respect! I dare say there are some here who often pray that God may humble them, and lower them, in their own eyes and to do even this requires grace. But how few of us go a step further, and ask God to lower us in the eyes of others! To do this does indeed need much grace.

The day is soon coming, when we shall be taken off the false heights we have been standing on, and be set on our true levelwhen the esteem of others shall vanish and pass away like smoke, and we shall be just

what God finds us to be-neither more nor less.

3dly. We should try and think well of others. St. Paul gives his Christian brethren this advice, "Let each esteem other better than himself"-"in honour preferring one another."

Whenever you see a person who takes every opportunity to cry down his brethren, mark that for a proud and unhumbled person. You may be sure that he does it, in order to exalt himself. But when you see any one anxious to hide his brother's failings-unwilling to expose all his little defects-you will generally find that to be a humble person, who deeply feels the many faults in his own character.

And if it is delightful to see this kind, large-hearted, Christian spirit in our brethren, let us earnestly seek to have it ourselves. Let us ask God to root out every jealous feeling from our hearts, and enable us to take real pleasure in discovering whatever is good in others.