and utterly
defaced and spoiled. The painter was so angry that he refused to go on
with his work till the culprit was found. A watch was set, and then it
was discovered who had done it. When the painter had left the chapel,
a pet ape of Aretino's came in, and having during the day seen the
artist at work, he took up brush and colours, and began, in mischief or
in imitation, to daub over what the painter had executed.

"Whose is this image?" You were made in the image of God, and redeemed
by Christ. Whose is the image? You are expected to grow to the
stature of the fulness of Christ, to be like Christ, but alas! the
Devil, or your evil passions, deface the image, and obliterate the
likeness. Can I see anything like Christ in you? Where are the traces
of the divine image? I know what Christ is. "I am meek and lowly of
heart." Where is your meekness? Some ape has daubed self-conceit over
it, and I see nothing else but his bold colours. "He shall not strive
nor cry, neither shall any man hear his voice in the street." Where is
this quietness and unobtrusiveness in you? Do I not hear angry words
and quarrelling? Some ape has daubed out this feature of the Saviour.
"I am come not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me."
Where is this readiness to submit to the will of God? Do I not see an
eager following of your own wills? Surely also this characteristic of
the Son of God is effaced.

CONCLUSION.--My brethren, one chief reason why we should see ourselves
as we really are is, that we might be able by penitence to wipe out the
ugly smears that deface the divine image, and that we might go on to
perfection, becoming daily more like unto Him who is our pattern, so
that at the Last Day, when we wake up, it will be with the likeness
complete, for "we shall be like Him."

LXI.

_DREAD OF RIDICULE._

24th Sunday after Trinity.

S. Matt. ix. 24.

"And they laughed Him to scorn."

INTRODUCTION.--"All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer
persecution" (2 Tim. iii. 12.) This is what S. Paul says. This is
what everyone of you must make up your mind to, if you intend to live
godly lives, and, moreover, to live in Christ. Do you know what that
meant to the early Christians? It meant that if they were going to be
firm in their faith, live up to their profession, and eschew evil, they
should be dragged before governors, and hung on what was called the
"little horse," and the