spoken, but I know that Jesus, who suffered cold and
hunger for our sakes, made that servant girl strong to sacrifice
herself. During the night one of the children died, but in the
morning, when the first light came, the little girls were still alive.
Then, when her work was done, the freezing limbs of the brave girl
relaxed their hold, a deadly sleep fell on her, and she dropped
silently into the rushing river below. Presently a steamer came in
sight, and the two children, for whom she had died, were safe.

Only quite lately there was a great fire in London. In the burning
house were a husband and wife, their children, and a servant maid. The
parents perished in the flames, but the servant appeared to the sight
of the crowd below, framed, as it were, in fire, at a blazing window.
Loudly shouted the excited crowd, bidding the girl to save herself.
But she was thinking of others. Throwing a bed from the window, she
signalled to those below to stretch it out. Then, darting into the
burning room, she brought one of the children of her employers, and
dropped it safely on to the bed. Fiercer grew the flames, but again
this humble heroine faced the fire, and saved the other children. Then
the spectators, loudly cheering, begged her to save herself. But her
strength was exhausted, she faltered in her jump, and was so injured
that death soon came to her. My brothers, no one will raise a grand
monument to Emma Willoughby, and Alice Ayres, who passed, the one
through water, the other through fire, for Christ's dear sake. But
surely in God's great Home of many mansions their names are written in
letters of gold.

Lastly, brethren, be strong in _fighting the battle_. You know that
life is a great battle-field. And you know, too, that as Christians
yours is the _good_ fight. Put on, then, the whole armour of God. Do
not trust to any newly-invented weapons. Take the same armour in which
S. Paul, and many another veteran soldier of Christ, fought and
conquered. "We wrestle not against flesh and blood." No, our battle
is with Satan and his hosts. One of old says that we must strip if we
would wrestle with the devil. We must cast aside every weight, strip
us of all the hinderances, and worldly cares, which weigh us down; and
be clad in the spiritual armour of God. Hold fast to the old armour,
the shield of faith, the breastplate of righteousness, the sword of the
Spirit. Be strong in the strength of the Holy Ghos