strong, and enabled them to go through the world as men who had " made their calling and election sure."

Look at St. Paul saying, "But I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all long-suffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe." Did he not mean that all, who should believe like him, might rejoice as he rejoiced? He would not shut out one from that blessed source of joy to his own soul-the power of saying," But I have obtained mercy."

Again, did not the early Christian Believers speak in language of the greatest confidence, and say, "We are of God""We are fellow-citizens of the saints and of the household of God"-once darkness: now light in the Lord?" And may not we speak with the same holy humble confidence? May not we take to ourselves the comfort that we are actually and really adopted into God's family?

Yes, we may. And it is moreover the duty and the privilege of every Believer

among us diligently and prayerfully to seek for this assurance of faith-this sealing of the Spirit. It is not an imaginary blessing: it is a real one, and it may be ours. Be not satisfied with a dim hope; or rest content with a past experience. Apply for a present pardon, a present sense of acceptance, a present salvation, a present Christ to rejoice in, and to live upon.

SERMON XIII.

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE, A DAILY PROGRESS.

EPHESIANS IV. 13-15.-" Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lay in weight to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ."

In the earlier part of this chapter the apostle speaks of the Christian Church. In the 4th, 5th, and 6th verses, he describes its oneness" There is one body, and one

spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." In the following verses he shews how abundantly Christ has provided for the growth and strength of His Church-" Unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers." And all this, that our spiritual growth might be as sure and gradual, as the growth of our bodies"For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man (or a fullgrown man), unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ."

If you watch a Child, you will see how

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from year to year his stature gradually increases, till he attains to the perfection of a fulll-grown man. But if he remains stationary-if year after year his limbs gather no strength-if there is no growth-then the conclusion you come to is that something is wrong. There is clearly something wanting, or something which interferes with the usual course of nature.

So is it with the Christian. When there is no advance, no growth in grace, no spiritual progress, something must be wrong. It is not God's will that it should be so. He would not have us always to be mere babes in Christ-always children; but He desires. to see us increasing in our spiritual stature, and advancing to spiritual manhood.

Now it is against this stuntedness in the Christian growth that the apostle goes on to warn us in our text- "that we henceforth be no more children."

The expression "children," or babes, is sometimes used in a good sense, and sometimes in a bad sense. Truly it is a