precepts must now be reduced to practice, you must now meet what I have forewarned you of, and you must apply what I have taught) for "the prince of this world cometh," and though "he hath nothing in me,' "23 (no guilt of mine to give him power over me,) yet shall he prevail; "I go to lay down my life, and as the Father hath given me commandment, even so I do; arise, let us go hence.'

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We, too, may arise and go hence, some to temptations, some to cares, and all to duties, and may have need, like our Saviour, of devotion to prepare us for whatever we shall meet with. Whatever that may be, here is the great exemplar to whom we are to look; who speaketh to us as he did to his disciples; and with what mild yet awful greatness, with what conciliating tenderness" believe in God, believe also in me;" have faith in me; look to and learn of me; in all your troubles, in all your sorrows, in all your sins, cast your care on me.

If, in the prospect of trial or temptation, our hearts might else be "troubled," or, in the hour

of it, we be likely to fall, here is one who "was in all things tempted like as we are," who still, if "Satan desire to have us and sift us as wheat, will pray that our strength and our faith fail not." If we be exposed to sorrows (and who can be exempt from them) here is one who "talketh with us as a friend," and saith, "I have trod your path before, and will make your burden light in it, your way at last plain before your face I was afflicted-I was smitten-I entered not into glory before I suffered; and your glory may be effected by the same way; but be not

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dismayed, for I am with you; as is your day,

so shall your strength be;' as is your trial, so shall my grace be; 'I will not leave you comfortless, I will come unto you, and take up my abode with you.'"

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And if in all things we are seeking only 66 as the Father hath given us commandment, so to do," here is promised assistance to our weak endeavours; here is one who will give us grace to obtain, if we have but the grace to desire; here is one who for all those that do desire and

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seek him, " yet liveth to make intercession for them," who still beholds them from heaven, who can impart his blessing thence, who says to each, believe only in me, have faith in me; remember my words; continue stedfast unto the end; amidst all "look unto me;" and to every one that doth so, this is my promise, "I am gone to prepare a place for you, but I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am ye may be also."26

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LECTURE III.

THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT.

ST. JOHN xv. 4.

ABIDE IN ME AND I IN YOU. AS THE BRANCH CANNOT BEAR FRUIT OF ITSELF, EXCEPT IT ABIDE IN THE VINE; NO MORE CAN YE, EXCEPT YE ABIDE IN ME.

WHEN mortal connections are dissolved, and they whom we have known or loved are taken away, all knowledge and converse, on our part, ceases; our remembrance of them and our regard for them may remain, (we may, perhaps, be the objects of their care), but we can have no further communication with them; and even to the highest of celestial beings, to saints and angels, we are forbidden to pray.

Our Saviour, on the contrary, although removed from our sight, is the object of our addresses and our prayers. He told his disciples that when he left them, he would still be with

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