with the funds of a benevolent society. Oh, not The poor thief who hung by the side of his Blessed. Saviour was rich in good works. He rebuked sincontended for the fear of God-extolled God's Christ-preached Christ's righteousness when he said, "This Man hath done nothing amiss," and prayed for the companionship of Christ in His kingdom and glory. Our precious Lord Jesus knows every motion and spring of action, and acknowledges every seeming trifle produced in the fear of God, even though it be but two mites cast into God's treasury (Mark xii. 41-44), or a cup of cold water given to one because he belongs to Christ (Mark ix. 41). Before assembled worlds Christ will exhibit and acknowledge the good works of His own which follow them, and of which they know nothing, think nothing, until He surprises them with their enumeration. "When?" say they. Then, says He, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me" (Matt. xxv. 34-40.

II. Attention: "Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it." Here we behold a glorious revelation of the sovereign sway our Jesus exercises over all things for His people. He is the Head of His church, and He is also the Head over all things to His church (Eph. i. 22; v! 23). When He wills, His church is in a low place to test the faith of His own giving; and when He wills, His people are raised up together, and made to sit together with Him in heavenly places, to commune with Him and to glory in the grace that raised them to such a gracious dignity. For His people's good, their growth in grace, and establishment in the truth, He calls, commissions, qualifies, and sends forth His messengers to preach His gospel, publish

His fame, and proclaim the glad tidings of His salvation, succour and solicitude. Ministerial success is wholly in His hands. Arminians and mongrels are ever looking away from Christ to second causes, because second causes are far more to them than Christ. When He calls a man to His work that man has no occasion to advertise himself. Wherever the Lord has need of him there He will send him, and command ravens or poor widows to sustain him, until He has no further need of him there. And here I would record to the glory of my Gracious God, that from the day He first sent me forth to preach His truth, concerning each spot with its multiplied mercies, "I neither thought it, sought it, nor bought it." I have no faith in advertising preachers.

Paul knew well his Master's mind when he wrote to the Corinthian saints," A great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries (1 Cor. xvi. 9). Again, "Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened to me of the Lord (2 Cor. ii. 12). Paul's consciousness that Christ was All in this matter did not produce in him a spirit of indifference; he entreated the Colossian saints to "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving: withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ" (Col. iv. 2-3). When a door of ministerial toil and labour is opened by the Lord to any man, all obstacles, hindrances, and difficulties, must sooner or later in the Lord's own time-flee before Him. The kings of the earth and the rulers of the people may take counsel against the Lord and against His Christ-the heathen may rage and imagine vanity in thinking that they can break the bands of election. and predestination, and cast away the cords of God's

counsels and decrees-while He Who sitteth in the heavens-laughs at them, and holds them in derision. Does Christ set before His servant an open door? He says to that servant, "No man can shut it." Do mountains of difficulty arise? Before our Zerubbabel they become a plain. Does Pharaoh seek to check the increase of Israel? By these very means God multiplied the number of His chosen people in Egypt. Does Herod murder James and seek to apprehend Peter? James is comfortably at home with his Saviour-God-Peter proceeds successfully with his loved employment of preaching Jesus, and praying to Him-Herod is ignominiously eaten of worms. Does hellish malice bind Paul in chains at Rome? The word of God is not bound, and the things that happened at hell's instigation fall out rather to the furtherance of the gospel, so that the power of Christ is felt and enjoyed in Nero's court and in all places named in the counsels of eternal love, while the Word of God has free course and is glorified (Phil. i. 12-13).

The obdurate enmity of the carnal mind of every sinner opposes itself to the onward and evertriumphant progress of gospel truth. Every avenue is closed against the entrance of the Word of Life, while legions of prejudices are marshalled against it. Neither judgments nor mercies move the natural man, while he stands proof against persuasive eloquence and forcible arguments. In the opening of the door of the heart, the logic of Paul, the zeal of Peter, the eloquence of Apollos, all fall pointless; but when our blessed Emmanuel begins to work all opposition is fruitless. He wastes not His time. tapping to be hindered; but where He knocks He removes all hindrances, removes them altogether and discovers to His loved ones a door of hope—a door of faith-a door of utterance. Jesus will be Master.

The key of the house of David is on His shoulder. When He opens none can shut. When He shuts none can open (Isa. xxii. 22). This reminds me of the saying of a godly clergyman as he referred to one seeking the favour of ecclesiastical patrons: "He forgets, if he ever knew, the Patron of all the livings in the kingdom." When He opens a pulpit door for one of His anointed messengers, not all the powers of earth and hell combined can keep him out.

III. Acknowledgment: "For thou hast a little strength." It is blessed to notice the tender solicitude of Jesus for the little things of His kingdom. To His handful among men He says, "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke xii. 32). Each lamb He tenderly carries in His bosom (Isa. xl. 11). He cautions proud oppressors against dealing harshly with His weaklings: "Whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea (Matt. xviii. 6). Of the safety of those who cannot defend themselves Jesus says, "It is not the will of your Father Which is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish" (Matt. xviii. 14). God's elect conies are a feeble folk, but their Dwelling Place is the Rock of Ages (Prov. xxx. 26). Christ's reeds though bruised can never be broken, but strengthened and perfected to eternal glory. His smoking flax can never be quenched, but must glow to a flame of everlasting joy and praise (Isa. xlii. 3). The little cloud rising from the deep sea of eternal love will increase until it drops in showers of heavenly blessing (1 Kings xviii. 44).

Yes. Jesus knows and acknowledges the tiny graces of His feeble folk. Some rise no higher than those who desire to fear the Name of Israel's God

(Neh. i. 11). Others tremble to talk, fearing they might say more than is true; but they fear the LORD, and think upon His Name (Mal. iii. 16). Some dread to be heard in prayer before their fellows, who delight in the Spirit's inward intercession with groanings which cannot be uttered (Rom. viii. 26). Little-Faith receives marvellous attention from Him upon Whom help was laid by the Mighty God of Jacob. He refreshes His drooping plants. He revives the desponding spirit. He strengthens the weak hands. He confirms the feeble knees. He calms the troubled heart. He says to His worm Jacob, Fear not (Isa. xli. 14).

He grows not weary in giving power to the faint, nor in increasing strength to them that have no might (Isa. xl. 28-29). Little-Strength does wondrous things. Before timid Gideon the oppressing Midianites flew like the chaff of the summer threshing floor (Judges vi. 15-16). Giant Goliath was laid low by Little David. "Ye feeble saints, your strength endures because young David's God is yours."

"And hast kept My word." That is wonderful in the face of all the conflict Christ's weaklings endure at the hands of the world, the flesh, and the devil. The counsels of hell are ever ready to supplement, supplant, or stifle the Word sown in the hearts of God's elect. With hypocrites Satan succeeds, but with God's own, never. Listen to Jesus: “I have manifested Thy Name unto the men which Thou gavest Me out of the world. Thine they were, and Thou gavest them Me; and they have kept Thy Word" (John xvii. 6). I have wondered how the eleven felt as these words of gracious acknowledgment fell upon their ears. They were men of like passions with us, and subject to the same fits of forgetfulness. He knew what He was talking about.