them, and to lead us to the possession of God in our hearts by faith.

The terms used by St. Paul-“ dead,” “risen with Christ," "your life hid with Christ in God" -seem to us at first to be extraordinary and mysterious, if not incomprehensible; for we are not dead, nor have we risen from the dead. But there is a spiritual death and a spiritual resurrection, which all true believers have gone through-the death is to the life of sin; the resurrection is to a new life in Christ.

In the third chapter of the gospel of St. John, our Saviour speaks to Nicodemus of a "new birth"; an expression which appears almost more incomprehensible than those of St. Paul. This "new birth," the Lord speaks of as of such importance, that without it we cannot see the kingdom of God. It is therefore a matter of the greatest moment to us how this new birth is to be obtained. It is only by "dying" first; the "old man "—the evil heart with which we were

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born-must die within us, and we must be born again unto righteousness; in other words, this "new birth," is conversion-not merely that change of opinion which leads a person to change from one outward church to another, or from leading a careless, sinful life, to reform and become outwardly virtuous—it must be such an entire transformation that he must be, as it were, alive to things to which before he was dead, and dead to things to which before he was alive.

This change begins by repentance, and hatred of sin, and such a sense of misery under its burden, that we are driven to Christ to lay it down at His feet, and pray for pardon that pardon which is never refused. "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." When, resting in full faith on that gracious promise, we feel that God has, in very deed, for Christ's sake, forgiven us, our hearts are overwhelmed with love and gratitude, and

filled with ardent aspirations for holiness of thought and life. If we doubt whether this change has taken place within us, we may find out by asking ourselves what we love most,whether it is God, our Father, and heaven, our home-or the passing things of earth?

St. Paul tells us (Rom. viii, 13) that if we "live after the flesh we shall die." This "life after the flesh" is the worship of ourselves—the worst idolatry-the most absolute Deism! To seek our own pleasure in all things is the selfish impulse of the "life after the flesh," and it is to this life we are called upon to die. When our hearts are truly changed, it is impossible to us to lead the old self-seeking life; new thoughts and wishes arise, like the birth of a new life within us.

I cannot think of a better simile to explain my meaning, than to suppose a blind man who can hear, suddenly to become deaf, and at the same time to receive his sight. How different

would the world appear to him! He would enter upon an entirely new set of ideas; that which was formerly plain to him would become unintelligible, and that which was dark would become light. Such a change is conversion-so complete, that old things pass away, and all things become new.

Dear friends, can I talk of this important change, a change on which depends your eternity, without making a personal application to yourselves-without asking you if you have experienced it? Are you born again? Let me beseech you not to deceive yourselves—to put away all illusion as to your state, and not to rest till you can answer this question satisfactorily.

It was to such as had been converted that St. Paul speaks in the verses which form the text. There are certain christian works which those who are Christians only in name may do. They may be charitable to the poor, considerate

and amiable to those around them; but there are other things required by the religion of Christ, which only a true Christian can accomplish. A true Christian only will set his affections on things above, a true Christian only can have his "life hidden with Christ in God." By this "hidden life" is not intended a life hidden away in a desert, withdrawn from the world, lost in the contemplation of God. This would be neglecting the duties of the station in which God has placed him. No, the Christian must work, must earnestly strive to make himself useful in his family, in the city, in the world. What would become of the world, if all who have the divine life within them were to separate themselves, and, instead of letting their "light shine before men," "hide it under a bushel," and let it consume away in solitude.

Yet though mixing in the things of this life, we, who by the grace of God are Christians in heart as well as name, must not allow ourselves