club, to our Church, to our political creed, to our country, is infinitely beneath the goal placed of God before us, He wishes us to live to Himself. Let His glory be scattered far and wide among men through our holy and self-sacrificing lives.

III. That A GOOD MAN IN SLAVERY CAN DEVELOP THE HUMANITY OF OTHERS.-"And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him."

More good is found in man than a portion of the religious world of the present day is ready to grant; the reason it is not recognized is, that it is covered by a great deal of rubbish selfishness, bigotry, and sensuality, like dark thick clouds, cover the good qualities of the human heart; it requires a keen eye, enlightened by the light of heaven, to see the real humanity which lies underneath. A Christlike nature, coming in contact with these dormant hidden faculties, is the best means to bring them to light and to assist them in their true and perfect development. Joseph's sterling piety attracted Potiphar's attention, and drew forth, not only his pity, but his admiration and confidence; thus Joseph was the means of developing some of the best qualities of his master's nature. Our Christianity ought to produce like results. That which is required in the present day is a power to rouse

the humanity of the masses. No

power can accomplish this but that of practical piety: we must come with our honesty, humility, chastity, and love, charged with the electric fluid which comes from God's heart, in contact with the careless and the profligate, that they may see the reality of the divine life, and thus have their higher and diviner nature raised from death to newness of life.

IV. That A GOOD MAN IN BONDAGE MAY BE TRUSTED."And he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand."

Joseph went to Egypt without any human recommendation; but his goodness and integrity promoted him, and he gained the good-will and confidence of his master. A servant in whom the master can place the greatest confidence is but seldom met with. So many frauds have been perpetrated, so many deceits have been practised, that the confidence of one man in another has been shaken. A true man, a man filled with the spirit of Christ, can be placed in any position of trust without any misgiving. Christianity, after all, is the best teacher of morality, and the best lever to lift the human race from all that is base and cruel. Secular education is good; some people look upon it as the great remedy for "all the ills flesh

is heir to;" the annals of our prisons and convict settlements, however, prove that the hope of man is in vain from that quarter: many who have been well educated, who have moved in a high and refined society, are now undergoing terms of imprisonment for forgery, theft, embezzlement, etc. Let the Divine regulate a man, it matters not how many and great the temptations may be for him to leave the path of rectitude, he will remain firm and unshaken as the eternal hills.

V. That A GOOD MAN IS A GREAT BLESSING WHEREVER HE MAY BE FOUND.-"And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house and in the field."

This Hebrew slave was the brightest and most valuable jewel the Egyptian had in his house. The little captive maid who served on Naaman's wife was made a great blessing to the family by speaking of the Lord's prophet. The Philippian jailor and his family could ever remember with gratitude the night Paul and Silas were thrust into the inner prison. To be blessed is a great favour, but to be made a blessing to others is

a greater mercy. The words of the Redeemer to the disciples are- "Ye are the light of the world." What would become of this earth were it not for the comparatively few righteous? They are the salt of the earth; they in innumerable instances are the channels through which divine blessings flow to others. The purer we become ourselves, the greater benefit others will derive from our existence; the nearer to God we live, the greater will our heavenly influence be felt by others. It is a glorious honour conferred upon us, to advance in any way the truth which is destined to rule the whole human race. Seek to be made a blessing to others in whatever circumstances God may place

Subject: GRADUATED GUILTINESS IN THE Judgment.

"The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here."-LUKE Xi. 31, 32.

These words were ad. dressed to men who, so far

from being convinced by the wonderful works which Christ had already performed amongst them, required further signs. "We would see a sign from Thee." Such men represent a large class that are found in every agemen who are dissatisfied with the evidence they have, and impiously demand something more. In answer to them Christ proclaims two facts in the text.

I. THAT MEN HAD BEEN CONVINCED WITH FAR LESS EVIDENCE THAN THEY ALREADY

POSSESSED. The Ninevites had been convinced by Jonah, and the queen of the south by Solomon. But what were Jonah or Solomon, compared to Him?

First: Both were imperfect men. He was the Son of God. Their moral characters were very defective, and their knowledge limited and incorrect. He was holy in character, and His knowledge

absolute.

Secondly: Both were strangers to their hearers. He was one of themselves. Jonah knew but little of the men of Nineveh; Solomon not much of the queen of the south; but Christ knew His hearers well. Jonah only preached one discourse to the men of Nineveh, and Solomon had probably but one conversation with the queen; but Christ was with them from day to day, preaching and

healing all manner of dis

eases.

Thirdly: Both were incapable of corroborating their doctrines by miracles,-He did So. It was not given either to Jonah or Solomon to perform a miracle, to illustrate or strike home to the soul of their hearers their doctrines. But the mighty works of Christ were abundant and startling. So that it was a fact that men had believed with a tithe of the evidence and opportunity that they possessed. Their un

belief therefore was inexcusable, and their demand for further evidence extravagant and impious.

II. THOSE WHO BELIEVED WITH LESS EVIDENCE WOULD BE WITNESS AGAINST THEM AT THE

JUDGMENT. "The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment," etc.

Observe, First: There is a retributive era to dawn upon humanity. The conclusions of all thinking men from the facts of nature and the discrepancies of Providence, the instinctive apprehensions of universal conscience, and the frequent declarations of the Holy Word assure us of a coming judgment—a day when "God shall judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath appointed,"

etc.

Observe, Secondly: That in that era the generations of all times and lands shall meet.

As if Christ had said, there is a day of judgment in which you will appear, and the men of Nineveh will appear, and the queen of the south will appear. What a gathering on that day! We shall all appear before the judgmentseat of Christ.

Observe, Thirdly: That in the meeting for this judgment the relative responsibility of each will be felt. What gradations of guiltiness then will appear in the teeming millions! No two alike.

CONCLUSION: My unbelieving contemporary, there is no ground for thy unbelief. Men have believed with far less evidence than has been put in thy possession. Ask not more until thou hast properly used what thou hast. Thou wilt one day have to meet the Hindoo, the Hottentot, the Chinese, who have believed. Keep the judgment-day in

view.

TEMPLE OF GOD. Though the temple in the text points to the building of Jerusalem, the word has a more correct reference to the universe, for "God dwelleth not in temples made with hands." Men practically ignore the fact that the world is a temple. Some regard it as a mere farm, from which they are to get those productions necessary to the sustentation and comfort of life. Some regard it as a mere market, in which they are to exchange its commodities in order to amass wealth. Some regard it as a college, containing an infinite variety of subjects for investigation; and with their laboratories and conservatories, their retorts, microscopes, and telescopes, they endeavour to enrich their mind with scientific information. Some regard it as a divan, a mere scene for animal gratifications and sensual enjoyments. Such views are as unphilosophic as they are irreligious. It is right that the earth should be cultivated, right that its commodities should be commercially exchanged, right that its phenomena should be studied, right that its productions should be enjoyed; but the whole should be done as in a TEMPLE. There should be worship in all, in the farm, in the market, in the school, in all the scenes of recreation and enjoyment. Worship, not as a passing sentiment, not