work, trusting in Christ, whom God has set for the light of the world, he works in the night, where God never set or meant him to work; and stumble he will and make a fool of himself sooner or later, because he is walking in the night, and sees nothing plainly, or in a right view. For, as our Lord says, truly, "There is no light in him." No light in him? In one sense there is no light in any one, be he the wisest or holiest man who ever lived. But this is just what three people out of four will not believe. They will not believe that the Spirit of God gives man understanding. They fancy that they have light in themselves. They try, conceitedly and godlessly, to walk by the light of their own eyes—to make their own way plain before their face for themselves. They will not believe old David, a man who worked, and fought, and thought, and saw far more than any one of us will ever do, when he tells them again and again in his Psalms that the Lord is his light-that the Lord must guide a man, and inform him with His eye, and teach him in the way in which he should go. And therefore they will not pray to God for light-therefore they will not look for light in God's Word, and in the writings of godly men; and they are like a man in the broad sunshine, who should choose to shut his eyes close, and say, "I have light enough in my own head to do without the sun;" and therefore they walk on still in darkness, and all the foundations of the earth are out of

course, because men forget the first universal ground rules of common sense, and reason, and love, which God's Spirit teaches. I tell you, all the mistakes that you ever made-that ever were made since Adam fell, came from this, that men will not ask God for light and wisdom; they love darkness rather than light, and therefore, though God's light is ready for every man, shining in the darkness to show every man his way, yet the darkness will not comprehend it-will not take it in, and let God. change its blindness into day.

Now, then, to gather altogether, what better answer could our Lord have given to His disciples' question than this, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If a man walk in the day he does not stumble, because he seeth the light of this world; but if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.”

It was as if He had said, "However short my day of life may be, there are twelve hours in it, of my Father's numbering and measuring, not of mine. My times are in His hand, as long as He pleases I shall live. He has given me work to do, and He will see that I live long enough to do it. Into His hands I commend my spirit, for, living or dying, He is with me. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, He will be with me. He will keep me secretly in His tabernacle from the strife of tongues, and will turn the furiousness of my

enemies to His glory; and as my day my strength will be. And I have no fear of running into danger needlessly. I have prayed to Him daily and nightly for light, for His Spirit-the spirit of wisdom and understanding, of prudence and courage; and His word is pledged to keep me in all my ways, so that I dash not my foot against a stone. Know ye not that I must be about my Father's business? While I am about that I am safe. It is only if I go about my own business-my own pleasure, if I forget to ask Him for His light and guidance, that I shall put myself into the night, and stumble and fall.” ~

Well, my friends, what is there in all this, which we may not say as well as our Lord? In this, as in all things, Christ set Himself up as our pattern. Oh, believe it—believe that your time- your measure of life, is in God's hand. Believe that He is your light, that He will teach and guide you into all truth, and that all your mistakes come from not asking counsel of Him in prayer and thought, and reading of His Holy Bible. Believe His blessed promise that He will give His Holy Spirit to those who ask Him. Believe, too, that He has given you a work to do prepared good works all ready for you to walk in. Be you labourer or gentleman, maid, wife, or widow, God has given you a work to do; there is good to be done lying all round you, ready for you. And the blessed Jesus, who bought you, body and soul, with His own blood, commands you to work

for Him: "Whatsoever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might."

"Work, ye manful, while ye may,
Work for God in this your day;
Night must stop you, rich or poor,
Godly deeds alone endure."

And then, whether you live or die, your Father's smile will be on you, and His everlasting arms beneath you; and at your last hour you shall find that "Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord, for they rest from their labour, and their works do follow them."

19*

SERMON XX.

ASSOCIATION.

"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." -GALATIANS, VI. 2.

IF I were to ask you, my friends, why you were met together here to-day, you would tell me, I suppose, that you were come to church as members of a benefit club; and quite right you are in coming here as such, and God grant that we may meet together here on this same errand many more Whitmondays. But this would be no answer to my question; I wish to know why you come to church today sooner than to any other place? what has the church to do with the benefit club? Now this is a question which I do not think all of you could answer very readily, and therefore I wish to make you, especially the younger members of the club, think a little seriously about the meaning of your coming here to-day. You will be none the less cheerful this evening for having had some deep and godly thoughts in your heads this morning.

Now these benefit clubs are also called provident