Or we are afraid of the opposition of our fellows, and so we are brought to a halt. We have many such cases described in Scripture. Abraham

lying to preserve his life; Aaron making the golden calf to save himself from being stoned; Saul sinning because he feared the people and obeyed their voice; Herod beheading John the Baptist for his oath's sake and the sake of them that were with him; Peter vacillating at Antioch when he saw those who had come from Jerusalem. And we have been ourselves too often in the same condemnation.

Now see how the Gospel comes to us with its "Fear not " for this ensnaring trepidation. It assures us that God is on our side. It declares that He will never leave us nor forsake us. It does not declare, indeed, that we shall have exemption from suffering, but that we shall be upheld under it, and supported through it, and be at length more than conquerors. To die is oftentimes to conquer. the real victor on Calvary? Was it not He who bowed His head and said, "It is finished"? Who was the conqueror when the proto-marty

"Heeded not reviling tones,

Who was

Nor sold his heart to idle moans, Though cursed and scorned and bruised with stones?"

This "Fear not " does not guarantee immunity from trouble, but it is God's word of reassurance whispered into the ears of His tempted, tried, and sometimes weak and irresolute people; and when it is heard in faith, the timid one becomes courageous, and takes his place among the heroes of humanity. See the efficacy of this sovereign antidote to the fear of men on those valiant youths who stood before the monarch of Babylon (Dan. iii. 16-18). Behold its power in the conduct of the Apostles when they stood before the Council (Acts v. 29). Behold its success in the aged Palissy, when the French monarch said to him in his cell in the Bastile, "Palissy, if you do not recant, I shall be forced to give you up." And he replied, "Forced,

sire; this is not to speak like a king; but they who force you cannot force me. I can die." And what met the need of these great sufferers is surely sufficient to meet ours. Oh, ye timid ones, who are terrified by the men around you, hear a few reassuring words from God (Deut. xx. 3, 4; Neli. i. 8; Isa. xli. 14, 15, and also ver. 10). There are multitudes of promises of this same character, and if we would but keep hold of them, no mortal influence: would ever be able to move us from our purpose, and no storm of temptation would ever drive us from our anchorage. The Lord is on thy side, therefore go forward undauntedly, for He will make rough places smooth, and crooked things straight before thee (Rev. ii. 10).

III. There are fears which spring up in the heart at the thought of the future. We know not what a day may bring forth, and whenever we permit ourselves to think of what may come upon us, except when we do so in the light of the Gospel, we become despondent and afraid. In all there is some anxiety. In some it may have regard to temporal concerns. In others it may respect their spiritual safety. In others it may centre in their children. In others, still, it may relate to the time and manner of their death. In

many more it may be the future of the spirit-world that puts fear into their souls, and the thought of judg ment and eternity may ride like a nightmare over their troubled breasts.

Each has his own dread, but see how, with its consoling "Fear not," the Gospel hushes the heart of each to peace, even as a mother calms her troubled infant into quietness (Matt. vi. 25-34). In so far as the future of this world is concerned Jesus says, "Take no anxious thought for it." Learn a lesson here from the great German reformer, who, in a time of terrible perplexity and with a troubled heart, looked out into the twilight, and saw a bird hop into the shade of a thick tree. It stayed a few minutes on its first perch to sing its even-song, and then leaping upon a higher

branch, it placed its head below its wing and went to sleep. "Happy little bird," said Luther; "he sings his song and goes to sleep, and lets God think for him; and I will do the same." Or is it your spiritual safety that disturbs you? Then hear what Jesus says (John x. 27-29). Or are you anxious for your children? Then the promise is unto you and to your children; and if you will only do your present duty by them, and commit them in earnest prayer to God, all will yet be well with them. Or is it death you fear? Then for that there is a special assurance in these words addressed to the Patmos seer (Rev. i. 18): "Fear not; I am He that liveth, and was dead; and behold I am alive for evermore, and have the keys of Hades and of death." Yes! at the girdle of the Son of man hang the keys of Hades and of death. The door for your departure will not open until He unlock it; and when He opens it, He will be there Himself to greet you. Why then be afraid? (H. E. I. 1634, 1642, 1643). Then as to judgment and eternity, why should we fear for them except for sin ? and has not Jesus appeared already to take away sin by the sacrifice of Himself? So we come back to the great centre of the Gospel, the atoning death of Christ, through faith in which alone we shall have boldness in the day of judgment, and happiness throughout eternity. What has the Christian to fear from a Judge who is at the same time his Redeemer ? And if Christ be with us through eternity, that is all we need.-W. M. Taylor, D.D.

Fear is very prevalent among Christian people, and is productive of very disastrous results. It seems to be the natural temperament of some and the easy habit of others. In the pious soul a more improper mental attitude could scarce be indulged; for of all men the Christian has the least to fear, as no ultimate injury can come to him, even though apparent dangers threaten him. I. THE OCCASIONS OF FEAR.

Sometimes occasioned by

1. The circumstances of the Christian life (Matt. xiv. 30). Fear is often awakened by life's physical necessities, by its secular conditions, by its intellectual anxieties, and by its moral inability to achieve duty in its highest method.

2. The phenomena of the material universe (Mark iv. 40). Man feels his weakness when brought into contact with the unyielding powers of nature; they heed not his cries, they care not for his rebuke. They are destructive. Man trembles before them. He fears lest they should lead him to the grave, or do him bodily harm. Such phenomena ought not to render timid the Christian heart, as the elements of nature are ruled by the Father's hand.

3. The phenomena of the spirit-world. Sometimes men imagine that they see visitants from the other world of being; and these, coming in strange garb, with mysterious tidings and ghastly appearance, inspire the human heart with fear. Such timidity is a folly. Heaven has better missions for the immortal good than to send them to frighten the inhabitants of the earth; and hell takes better care of its unhappy crowd than to allow them a momentary release. Such visitations are imaginary. Only the superstitious are troubled with them.

4. Manifestations of the Divine presence (Luke v. 8; Rev. i. 17). The soul of man is too weak and sinful to bear without fear the near and the immediate approach of God.

II. THE CONSEQUENCES OF FEAR.
It often causes men-

1. To sink into the troubles of life (Matt. xiv. 31). Fear always makes men sink in their own estimation as valorous; in the estimation of others as cowards; and often into sore perplexities of circumstances.

2. To be anxious without true occasion. God's ancient people-the disciples. Fear always makes men over-anxious, and makes them imagine danger when there is none. It makes them timorous in every enterprise, even though they have a refuge in the event of peril.

3. To be unfit for the duties intrusted to them (Rev. i. 19). It is not probable that a timid Christian will be very efficient in the public duties of life.

III. THE CURE OF FEAR.

Fear not? Fear will be cured by1. A thorough reliance on the providence of God.

2. A complete knowledge of Christ (Rev. i. 17, 18). The more we know of Christ in His offices and attributes,

His holy sympathy with men, the less will be our fear.

3. A holy mastery over self, obtained by a consciousness of moral purity. A strong soul, well ruled by the will, will not often be timid, especially if it can fall back upon a pure inner life. Sin is the largest cause of fear.

LESSONS.-1. To trust God. 2. To know Christ. 3. To rule self.-J. S. Exell: The Study, Third Series, p. 576.

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Two persons are spoken of here: I and thee. "I," the person speaking, is Jesus, our God and Saviour; and thee," the person spoken to, means everybody who needs His help and seeks it. In this passage, then, Jesus is presented to our notice as a Helper. We may have many helpers, but Jesus is the best. There are four reasons why Jesus is the best Helper. He is so

I. Because He is always near to help. If we were hungry, it would not help us to know that a hundred miles off there was a nice loaf of bread. If we were travelling in the desert of Arabia, would it help us any to remember that in England there were many cool and sparkling springs of water? God is always near when people are in trouble. He always could help them if He saw it best. But sometimes He sees good reasons for not helping those who are in need. E.g., there are the wicked men nailing Jesus to the cross. He is God's own dear Son. God loves Him as no other father ever loved a son. God is near. He sees all His sufferings. The angels of heaven see them. Multitudes of them would fly in an instant to His relief, if God would let them. But no! And why was this? Ah! there was reason enough for it. If Jesus had not died, none of us would have been saved. And just so in every case; there is always a good reason for it, 68

although we cannot always tell what the reason is.

IL Because He is always able to help. Sometimes there are many helpers, and they are near at hand, but they are not able to help. We read a great deal in the Bible about those whom Jesus has helped. There we find how He helped Abel when he offered an acceptable sacrifice to God. He helped Noah to build the ark which saved himself and his family. He helped Moses to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. He helped David to slay the great giant with nothing in his hand but a sling and a stone. He helped Daniel when he was cast into the lions' den. He helped Daniel's three friends when they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace. He helped Paul to preach the Gospel; and, in the days of cruel persecution, He helped the "noble army of martyrs" to bear with patience the chain and the dungeon; yea, and even to sing for joy when the flames were kindling around them and the fire consuming their bodies. Rich men can help us with their money, wise men with their counsels, and Christians with their prayers; but Jesus can help us in everything. He can help you in studying your lessons and in all your daily duties. He can help kings and governors to rule and subjects to obey. He can help ministers to preach and

and temptations, and failures, requires a courage more deep and real than that of the Jewish warrior.

Our subject is-Courage, its source and necessity.

I. ITS SOURCE.

What a broad sense of the Divine presence and aid in the figure: "I will hold thy right hand!" The grasp of the hand is significant of close and present friendship; and that sense of God's presence-so near that our faith can touch His hand and hear the deep still music of His voice-realised as it may be in Christ, is the source of a courage which nothing can shake. Take the higher forms of courage seen among men, and it will be seen how this belief creates at once that state in which courage rises, and in which it attains its highest power. We may pass by animal courage-the bravery of instinct or temperament-as not proceeding from any principle, and so totally unlike courage of soul. The higher and true form of courage is of two kinds :-

1. The courage of active resistance. Its great element is found in the fixed survey of the means of conquest; fear rises from the contemplation of difficulties-courage from the perception. of the thing to be done. There is always a lion in the path of a man who expects to find one. Intense concentration on the means of action creates the courage that actively resists danger. This is especially true of spiritual courage. It is by the aid of God that we conquer in spiritual battle; and while our gaze is fixed on that, fear vanishes; with the sense of omnipotence grasping and cheering his spirit, a man can defy the world, and death, and hell to make him turn aside from the path of Divine duty (H. E. I. 1911-1919).

2. The courage needful for passive endurance. It is harder of attainment; for while there is anything to be done, we find relief in action; but when we can only be still and endure, then it is supremely difficult to resist the assaults of cowardice. The great feature of

this aspect of spiritual courage is selfsurrender to the highest law of life; but if we could hear God's voice, amid the dismay and darkness, proclaiming 66 All is well," should we not be trustful, courageous, and strong?

II. ITS NECESSITY.

It is essential to Christian life for three reasons:—

1. It requires courage to manifest the Christian character before men (H. E. I. 1042-1046). Regarding the two sides of that character as seen in Christ the strong and the tender, the severely true and the forbearing, sympathising, forgiving-we feel the incompleteness of any other character, and both of these aspects demand courage for their manifestation. What can give us courage to do the right regardless of consequences but the grasp of God's hand and the sound of His voice?

2. It requires courage to maintain steadfast obedience to the will of God. Christian life is more than visible Christ-like character; it means Christlike obedience amid the inner and unseen temptations of the soul. Every man has his own cross to bear.

3. It demands courage to hold fast to our highest aspirations. As Christian men, we are bound to aim at being our highest and best. The revelations of our aspirations must become our practical ideals; if we do not strive to realise them, we shall degenerate. If we would gain the far-off summits, we must keep our eye fixed on the gleaming heights. And can anything give us power and courage to do so but the knowledge that the Everlasting arms are round about us, and the voice of the Eternal cheering us onward? And here, as in all the storm and strife of our earthly pilgrimage, we are simply driven to the man Christ Jesus. He knows our weakness, and left us the legacy of everlasting power when He said, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."—E. L. Hull, B.A.: Sermons, Third Series, pp. 157-167.