thing,-prayers will be a wasted offering,—unless we be trying ourselves by Scriptural tests, and aiming at holiness according to the Gospel standard. "He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." "He that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself even as Christ is pure. "That which is born of God overcometh the world." "They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." God, who gave His Son to die for sinners, will have Him loved and honoured; and His true followers in every age are "a peculiar people, zealous of good works;" for the Cross is reared not that men may make a new league with sin under its shadow, but that we may fight against sin the more valiantly, because, holding to it, we are safe for ever.

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We might go into much of detail; but, as it is, I hope I have put your thoughts on the right track. God "trieth your hearts," remember, when He multiplies your opportunities of improvement,your means of serving Him and blessing your neighbours, your special and favoured seasons of devotion; and God" trieth your hearts" when He puts difficulties in the way of duty,-makes your common or weekly prayers an offering of some cost,— or connects you closely with some who do not help, but hinder, you in the way of godliness.

God trieth the hearts of the wealthy, many times in a week, when the cry of poverty is heard, or works of public usefulness stand still for lack of

income, or the waste places of the earth, with their millions of souls unfed with the bread of life, reproach the nations of Christendom for their easy luxurious living, their want of brotherly compassion, and their faithlessness to that Name which might conquer now as in ancient days, if apostolic zeal and love were kindled once again.

God trieth the hearts of the poor when He lets them see how money is squandered by some whose charities are hardly heard of, and then makes them feel the burden of scanty fare, or unpitied helplessness, or sickness prolonged for lack of tender nursing. If the afflicted one can say at such times, "Godliness with contentment is great gain; thank God I find it so; I have no craving for the rich man's abundance, if I must have his temptations too;"—then he is a brave man, and has won a hard victory; and his faith is a richer possession than a mansion or a kingdom.

God tries us when we pray. In our times of privacy, there is the searching inquiry for every one of us, "Dost thou indeed long for all thou dost pray for? Dost thou indeed hate all thou dost pray against? Art thou brought so low as thy words imply? Dost thou aspire so high as to be made like thy Lord? Is salvation in Christ Jesus with eternal glory the sum of all thy wants, and dost thou choose and love the way of self-denial and practical holiness as the path that leads to it? Wilt thou be taken at thy word, and have crosses, which bring with them health to the inner man,

rather than life-long prosperity if it shall bring thee to slippery places, or make thee a poor, halting, lukewarm Christian all thy days?" These questions have to be answered, though they be not inscribed on our chamber walls, or whispered audibly into our ears; and according to the reply our prayers will be as fragrant incense rising up before God, acceptable through Him who pleads for us on high, or the “sacrifice of fools,” poor, wasted things that do not please Him and cannot profit us.

Here, in His own holy house, God "trieth our hearts." Is the word listened to as the Word of Life? Do we let it search our hearts, or shut them up lest it should search them too closely? Are our ears really open,-our spirits habitually on the watch, to catch what may reprove and humble us, and send us to our homes with a new petition for the night's use, and for many days that follow, till the evil thing be cast out, or some good habit improved and strengthened? Or is it as a "pleasant song" that we listen to the message of warning,the offers of salvation,-the history of Him who died for sinners, and the law of self-devotion and universal brotherhood which is inscribed upon the Cross? Is the world, which if a man love "the love of the Father is not in him," really loosening its grasp upon us? or courted as eagerly, doted on as fondly,―(though served it may be, with new offerings,)—as when we started, years ago, with our youthful dreams about its brightness and its glory? Is the Gospel to us, in very deed, the “ savour of

life unto life?" for if it be not, remember, it is the "savour of death unto death."

given, but appeal Make the Hall of Let no bribe be

Time permits me not to pursue the subject; and you can pursue it better, far better, for yourselves. Try your own hearts; try them daily; prove them, not by man's rule, but by God's rule; and listen not to the first decision that is from it to a second and a third. Judgment as quiet as you can. taken. Insist, for your own sake, on a fair deliverance, and take it, when it is given, though it be to your own confusion. "Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God;" and O, it is a blessed thing to walk with a good hope, and a firm step, and an open brow towards our Father's house. He, who "trieth our hearts now, will try our works and our faith, one day, of what sort they be. O may our dross be purged away when that time shall come, and our gold, the graces of our Lord's giving, shine out brightly to the glory of His own great name!

SERMON XVIII.

GOD OUR PRESERVER.

ISAIAH XXXviii. 19.

"The living, the living, he shall praise Thee, as I do this day."

(Sunday after Christmas.-Evening.)

SUCH was good King Hezekiah's burst of thankfulness, when God heard his prayer, and gave him fifteen years more of life. While the danger lasted, he was surprised into more of alarm than became his place and character; but now, he was suddenly brought back from the very gate of death; and a message was sent him by the Lord's Prophet, speaking, not only of lengthened days for himself, but of deliverance and quiet for his people.

His song, therefore, is one of pious fervour. Marvellously spared himself, he calls upon the living every where to praise God for His goodness. His case, he feels, was, in fact, theirs, too. All men are spared. All alike live upon God's bounty, and are debtors to His patience. He guards them from evil,-sends them good things without which