me, does speak to us, does command us, far more clearly than he did Abraham. We know the mystery of Christ, which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke to the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken to us by his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, and told us our duty, and the reward which doing our duty will surely bring, far more clearly than ever he did to Abraham.

Do we say with

But do we listen to him? Abraham, 'Oh, my people, I am clear of all these 'things which rise and set, which are born and die, 'which begin and end in time, and turn my face to 'him that made heaven and earth!' If so, how is it that we see people everywhere worshipping not idols of wood and stone, but other things, all manner of things beside God, and saying, 'These are 'my Elohim. These are the high and mighty ones 'whom I must obey. These are the strong things 'on which depend my fortune and my happiness. 'I must obey them first, and let plain doing right and avoiding wrong come after as it can.'

One worships the laws of trade, and says, 'I 'know this and that is hardly right: but it is in 'the way of business, and therefore I must do it.'

One worships public opinion, and follows after

the multitude to do evil, doing what he knows is wrong, simply because others do it, and it is the way of the world.

One worships the interest of his party, whether in religion or in politics; and does for their sake mean and false, cruel and unjust things, which he would not do for his own private interest.

Too many, even in a free country, worship great people, and put their trust in princes, saying, 'I 'am sorry to have to do this. I know it is rather 'mean; but I must, or I shall lose such and such 'a great man's interest and favour.' Or, I know 'I cannot afford this expense; but if I do not I 'shall not get into good society, and this person ' and that will not ask me to his house.'

All, meanwhile, except a few, rich or poor, worship money; and believe more or less, in spite of the Lord's solemn warning to the contrary, that a man's life does consist in the abundance of the things which he possesses.

These are the Elohim of this world, the high and mighty things to which men turn for help instead of to the living God, who was before all things, and will be after them; and behold they vanish away, and where then are those that have put their trust in them?

But blessed is he whose trust is in God the Almighty, and whose hope is in the Lord Jehovah,

the eternal I Am. Blessed is he who, like faithful Abraham, says to his family, 'My people, I am 'clear of all these things. I turn my face from 'them to him who hath made earth and heaven. 'I go through this world, like Abraham, not 'knowing whither I go; but, like Abraham, I fear 'not, for I go whither God sends me. I rest on 'God; he is my defence, and my exceeding great 'reward. To have known him, loved him, obeyed 'him, is reward enough, even if I do not, as the 'world would say, succeed in life. Therefore I 'long not for power and honour, riches and plea'sure. I am content to do my duty faithfully in that station of life to which God has called me, 'and to be forgiven for all my failings and shortcomings for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord, and 'that is enough for me; for I believe in my Father in 'heaven, and believe that he knows best for me and 'for my children. He has not promised me, as he 'promised Abraham, to make of me a great nation; 'but he has promised that the righteous man shall 'never be deserted, or his children beg their bread. 'He has promised to keep his covenant and mercy 'to a thousand generations with those who keep his commandments and do them; and that is enough 'for me. In God have I put my trust, and I will 'not fear what man, or earth, or heaven, or any 'created thing, can do unto me.'

Blessed is that man, whether he inherit honourably great estates from his ancestors, or whether he make honourably great wealth and station for himself; whether he spend his life quietly and honestly in the country farm or in the village shop, or whether he simply earn his bread from week to week by plough and spade. Blessed is he, and blessed are his children after him. For he is a son of Abraham; and of him God hath said, as of Abraham, I know him that he will command his 'children and household after him, and they shall 'keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment, that the Lord may bring on him the blessing which he has spoken.'

6

Yes; blessed is that man. He has chosen his share of Abraham's faith; and he, and his children after him, shall have their share of Abraham's blessing.

SERMON VI.

JACOB AND ESAU.

(Second Sunday in Lent.)

GENESIS XXV. 29—34.

And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field and he was faint. And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die : and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

HAVE been telling you of late that the Bible

is the revelation of God. But how does the story of Jacob and Esau reveal God to us? What further lesson concerning God do we learn therefrom?

I think that, if we will take the story simply as it stands, we shall see easily enough. For it is all simple and natural enough. Jacob and Esau, we shall see, were men of like passions wit