e. But, my brothers, the
sweetest spot is where the violet blooms, and it is better to be sweet
than to be grand. Never suppose that you can do nothing because God
has placed you in a quiet corner of the world. God put you there as He
puts a violet in a lonely nook, that you might make your corner
_sweet_. If we could only remember this we should not have so many
prickly tempers, and black looks, and cruel words spoiling our home
life, and making the world a desert. Life would be what God would have
it to be, if each of us would try by gentleness, by good temper, by
unselfish love to make his corner sweet. Make up your minds now; say
to yourselves--I cannot do any great work for God or my fellow man, but
I will try by purity, by cheerfulness, by thought for others, to make
my home sweet. And once more, the flowers teach us to be a comfort to
our neighbours. When the earth is wrapped in snow, and the skies are
grey and cold, and no leaf hangs on the tree, the snowdrop puts forth
its fair, pure blossom to cheer and comfort us. The sight of that
living flower when all the world seems dead, is like a message from the
other world, whispering of coming spring and the resurrection. Well,
there are times when it is winter weather in our heart. When sorrow
and loss have made life desolate as a December day, and blessed, thrice
blessed, are they who come to comfort us, and to whisper of brighter
days in store.

In the highest part of the Peak of Teneriffe, far above the clouds, and
in a dry and burning waste, there grows a plant which, in the spring
time, fills the air with delicious fragrance. There are some of us who
may be condemned to live in a barren and dry land of hard work, and
lonely trouble. But loving natures, and gentle words, can make that
desert blossom as the rose. The beauty of holiness, the sweetness of
sympathy, will make the poorest home lovely and fragrant. May Jesus,
the Rose of Sharon, teach us to learn the lesson of the lilies, and to
make our lives sweet with purity and love.

SERMON LI.

PAST KNOWLEDGE.

(Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity.)

EPHESIANS iii. 19.

"To know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge."

There are some things which no earthly school can teach us, no earthly
science explain. Science can do very much, it has done marvellous
things, and will do still more. Men can work now with ease such wonders
as would have sent them to the fire as wizards three hu