e will be of
touchy self-assertion, the less likelihood of the misuse of the
powers that we have. If we are to do much for God, if we are to keep
what we have already attained, if we are to make our own lives sweet
and beautiful, if we are to be invested with any increase of
capacity, or led to any higher heights of nobleness and
Christlikeness, we must copy, and make a conscious effort to copy,
these two things, which marked the Apostle's estimate of himself--a
distinct recognition that we are only reservoirs and nothing
more--'What hast thou that thou hast not received? Why then dost thou
glory as if thou hadst not received it?'--and a humble waiving aside
of the attempt to determine what it is that we are. For however
clearly a man may know his own powers and achievements, it is hard
for him to estimate the relations of these to his whole character.

So, dear brethren, although it is a very homely piece of advice, and
may seem to be beneath the so-called dignity of the pulpit, let me
venture just to remind you that self-conceit is no disease peculiar
to the ten-talented people, but is quite as rife, if not a good deal
rifer, among those with one talent. They are very humble when it
comes to work, and are quite contented to wrap the one talent up in a
napkin then; but when it comes to self-assertion, or what they expect
to receive of recognition from others, they need to be reminded quite
as much as their betters in endowment--'By the grace of God I am what
I am.'

III. And so, lastly, one word about the responsibility for our
co-operation with the grace, in order to the accomplishment of its
results.

'The grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain,' says Paul.
'Not I, but the grace of God which was with me, and so I laboured
more abundantly than they all.' That is to say, God in His giving
love; Christ with His ever out-flowing Spirit, move round our hearts,
and desire to enter. But the grace, the love, the gifts of the love
may all be put away by our unfaithfulness, by our non-receptivity, by
our misuse, and by our negligence. Paul yielded himself to the grace
that was brought to work upon him. Have you yielded yourselves?

Paul said, 'By the grace of God I am what I am.' He could not have
said that, could he, if he had known that the most part of what he
was was dead against God's will and purpose? Has God anything to do
with making you what you are, or has it been the devil that has had
the greater sh