SERMON XX.

THE PILGRIM'S ABIDING FRIEND.

LUKE XXIV, 29.

But they constrained Him, saying, Abide with us; for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.

IF there be something which is deeply affecting in the Evangelists' brief account of the several interviews which took place between our Lord and His disciples, after that He was risen from the dead, and before He ascended to the right hand of the Father, there is something no less humiliating in the want of faith, and slowness of heart, exhibited by those, who for a long season had had such abundant proofs that He was indeed the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Yet, amid all their weakness, the tokens were not doubtful of their loyalty, their honest sincerity, and true affection; and if the resurrection of their Lord was an event altogether beyond the reach of their most sanguine hopes, their deep sorrow at His loss, and the expression of their trust, shaken indeed, yet scarcely overthrown, that it was He who should have redeemed Israel, may nevertheless be taken as an evidence, that their errors, and infirmities, and prejudices, were in great measure those of their times, their country, and condition in life, while their virtues, were altogether their own.

The incident recorded by S. Luke, and to which I am about to invite your attention, is an illustration of my meaning.

On the day of the Resurrection, two of the disciples were on their way to Emmaus, a village some short distance from Jerusalem. In what frame of mind they journeyed, we can be at no loss to discover, for when our Blessed Lord appeared to them, we are told they were engaged in communing and reasoning together, of all

the things which had happened so recently at Jerusalem, and that His first question to them (for as yet their eyes were holden that they should not know Him,) was in these words, "What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?"

Their answer showed their doubts and their suspense. Their minds were full of Him, whom they acknowledged as "mighty in word and deed, before God, and all the people," yet nevertheless they could not bring themselves to speak of Him, as more than "a prophet;" they manifest their astonishment at the tale of the reported resurrection, yet never seem to call to mind the many predictions which had been uttered on the subject.

No sooner, however, does the Saviour begin to expound to them the Scriptures concerning Himself, than their hearts burn within them, they listen with the deep interest of men whose thoughts are all centered in one absorbing subject; who honestly seek for more light and know

ledge, who desire to be convinced, and to be led into the way of truth. Their hearts revive as they listen to the teaching of their unknown companion; they feel that it is good to be in his company; and when he seems disposed to part from them, they constrain him to continue with them; "Abide with us; for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent."

Now, for your present instruction, my brethren, perhaps I may be permitted to apply these words in a spiritual, rather than in a literal sense, and to draw from them, some encouragements which may support you along the dim, uncertain path of the unknown future, and direct you to that One Abiding Friend, that one unfailing and unvarying source of Godly hope and consolation, which, amid all the changes and chances of this mortal life, will never fail us at our need, or disappoint us of its succour, as "a very present help in time of trouble."

It may be affirmed, then, that our own condition in this our state of earthly trial, is not wholly unlike that of the disciples