e? Have I any pleasure in the death of him
that dieth, saith the Lord, and not rather that he should turn from his
wickedness and live?" "Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy
laden and I will give you rest."

_National Sermons_.

This is the message of the blessed sacrament of the body and blood of
Christ, which tells you that in spite of all your daily sins and
failings, you can still look up to God as your Father; to the Lord Jesus
as your life; to the Holy Spirit as your guide and your inspirer; that
though you be a prodigal son, your Father's house is still open to you;
your Father's eternal love ready to meet you afar off the moment that you
cry from your heart--"Father, I have sinned, and am no more worthy to be
called Thy child;" and that you must be converted and turn back to God
your Father not merely once for all, but weekly, daily, hourly, as often
as you forget and disobey Him. This is the message of the blessed
sacrament--that though you cannot come to it trusting in your own
righteousness, you can come trusting in His manifold and great mercies;
that though you are not worthy to gather up the crumbs under His table,
yet He is the same Lord whose property is ever to have mercy, and He will
grant that your souls shall be washed in Christ's most precious blood,
that you may dwell in Him, and He in you, for ever.

_National Sermons_.

Members of Christ, children of God, heirs of the kingdom of heaven, heirs
of a Hope undying, pure, that will never fade away, you have a right
given you by the promise and oath of Almighty God Himself, to hope for
yourselves, for your neighbours, for this poor distracted world for ever
and ever: a right to believe that there is an everlasting day of justice,
and peace, and happiness in store for the whole world, and that you, if
you will, may have your share in that glorious sunrise which shall never
set again. Go to the Scriptures, and there read the promises of God, the
grounds of your just hope, for all heaven and earth. "Behold the Lamb of
God, who takes away the sin of the world." How dare we, who call
ourselves Christians, who have been baptized into His name, who have
tasted of His mercy, who have the might of His love, the converting and
renewing power of His Spirit--how dare we doubt that He will take away
the sins of the world? Ay, step by step, nation by nation, year by year,
the Lord shall conquer; for He must reign till He has put all enemies
under