count of thy stewardship," of the good things which
God has given you; your creation, preservation, and all the blessings
of this life; and above all, the redemption of the world by Jesus
Christ our Lord. I knew a man once who said that he was not thankful
to God for having created him. I think that man was wrong. We ought
to thank God for having made us, for if He had not we could never know
the joys of Heaven. This world is full of beauty, full of good things,
and we must give an account of our stewardship of them. God has sent
the sun to warm and cheer us, blue skies and flower-dotted meadows,
seed time and harvest, summer and winter, wind and storm fulfilling His
Word. Too often we take these gifts as a matter of course, and forget
to thank God, who giveth all. God has fed you, and clothed you, and
preserved you all these years; have you been thankful? "Give an
account of thy stewardship." Then think what we owe God for our
redemption, for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. For
each of us Jesus suffered hunger and thirst, the temptation in the
wilderness, the agony in the Garden, the cruel torture of the Cross.
Do we think lightly of our sins? They were heavy enough to drive those
piercing nails through the Hands and Feet of Jesus. Do we _speak_
lightly of our sins? They were heavy enough to force that bitter cry
from Jesus, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" How much do
you owe unto our Lord for these benefits? "Give an account of thy
stewardship."

Then, too, the means of grace--how are we using them? There are the
Sacraments of the Church, do we value them as we ought? Do we
understand the privilege and the blessing of having been baptised into
Christ's Holy Church, and made partakers of the resurrection of Jesus?
Do we appreciate the value of that Holy Sacrament, when we bring our
children to be baptised? Then think of that other Sacrament, the
blessed legacy of our dying Saviour's love, the Holy Food of us
travellers through the wilderness. Why are not all of you who hear me
now Communicants? Why should there be two classes among you; one class
of Church-goers only, the other of Church-goers who are Communicants?
Your Saviour offers you the highest of all blessings in that Sacrament,
He offers you Himself. Are you afraid to look upon God? You _must_
look on Him one day. Are you trying to live without the Precious Food
of the Altar? Man doth not live by bread alone;