exactly with another. No one should distress himself because his history has not exactly conformed to another's. There is no such thing as a standard series of states of mind, through which all must pass. In general, it would be probably found that of two persons, both of whom God had "brought out of darkness into His marvellous light," very little corresponded in the experience, excepting the state out of which, and that into which, both had been conducted. One has vividly imprinted on his memory all the circumstances of a great spiritual crisis, a stormy turning-point of his destiny. Another has been led by imperceptible degrees to sensibility and obedience. Their autobiographies would have in common only this statement, "Whereas I was blind, now I see."

God's variety of dealing with human minds may be beautifully illustrated by the prophet's words (Isa. xxviii 27-29).—— "For the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin; but the fitches are beaten out with a staff, and the cummin with a rod. Bread corn is bruised; because he will not ever be threshing it, nor break it with the wheel of his cart, nor bruise it with his horsemen. This also cometh forth from the Lord of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working."

Wise parents will in this respect imitate the conduct of gracious Fatherly Providence, will study the different characters of their children, and not subject them all to one uniform system of training and discipline. The teacher who has not been impelled by variety of disposition and ability in his pupils to a corresponding variation of method, has yet to learn the rudiments of his art. The Christian minister, made wise by experience, well knows the necessity of adapting his exposition of the truth and his enforcement of duty to the general character and individual diversities of his audience. He has continually to remember, not only the general characteristics which diversify his congregation from others, but also the particular respects wherein his hearers are diversified among themselves. They have not all received

the same intellectual training, they occupy different positions, they sustain various relations to each other and to society. New circumstances are continually arising to modify their feelings and subject them to new trials. As a skilful physician studies the constitution of each of his patients, so will a wise physician of souls; and not think it to be more rational to use the same course of treatment for every conscience than for every corporal condition.

We are informed by the Evangelist, that after the actions before described, the Lord Jesus, "looking up to heaven, sighed." A most beautiful, affecting and characteristic incident, so circumstantially and graphically related, as to suggest that the account must have originally been given by one who was present, was attentively watching the scene, and received from it a vivid and lasting impression.

The sigh was probably wrung from Christ's priestly heart, not only by compassion for the individual before Him, but by looking at this individual as a representative of the innumerable and manifold sufferers belonging to the general humanity with which Christ had allied Himself, and with which He sympathized. Then would press on Him the mournful thought of the sin which was the cause of all this sorrow; the sin and the sorrow both being the wretched work of the devil's malice, whose works He had undertaken to destroy. Would that all the sin could be removed as He was now healing this man's infirmities! Would that the ears of all could be opened to God's word, and their tongues loosed for His praise !

"And looking up to heaven, he sighed." Our Lord saw far more deeply than we into the abyss of evil. That spectacle saddened His earthly life, and made Him “a man of sorrows." He could endure it better than we. It is, perhaps, well for us that our views of evil are so superficial, and our knowledge so bounded; for if we could search far we should always find enough of wickedness and wretchedness to render further composure impossible in our merely human minds, enough to madden us with horror and despair.

But

mercy has drawn a veil over our eyes, that we may not see all. Christ, however, did see all.

Let us not, however, prove insensible to what we may see, to what we do see, of our own sins and wretchedness, or of those of our brethren. Let the sighs of Jesus quicken us to penitence. Let us, in our measure, imitate His priestly compassion. Let us be aroused to do what we can to ameliorate the evils of humanity.

The sighs of Jesus are precious and powerful with God. If He accepts the sacrifice of a troubled spirit, and “despiseth not the sighing of a contrite heart, nor the desires of such as be sorrowful," though the sacrifice and desires of sinners, much more will He regard the sacred sighs of Him, of whom he said, "Thou art my beloved Son. In thee I am wellpleased." The prayers of Jesus were always heard; the sighs of Jesus were omnipotent-from the time when first He felt the load of human evil, to that overwhelming hour when He bowed His head and died. The sighs of Jesus had an intercessory meaning and virtue, and brought down heavenly mercy on the earth, and on His brethren. Still in His glory, these sighs are remembered; the memorial of His death is there. With such an Advocate, let us approach with courage our Father's footstool.

The sighs of Jesus reveal God's disposition towards us So complete is His agreement and union with the Father, that He is a visible manifestation of the Invisible God. Every word, every action, every sigh, reveals the Godhead. We learn much of God in nature, we may infer much for our encouragement from His past gentle care and watchfulness over us-but in Christ we come into immediate contact with Him. "He that hath seen me," said He, to Philip, "hath seen the Father." Here, then, in this sigh which broke forth from the God-man, we have an indication of God's mind towards us-of His willingness to save. The old words thus receive the most direct and forcible illustration :-"Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God; and not that he should return from his ways and live?"

The sorrow of Jesus is neither mere sentimont, nor is it the fruitless sympathy of one who would-but cannot-help. It results in the mighty creative word, Ephphatha, be opened. "And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain." Christ's gifts are not conferred with ease. The efficacious word is spoken,

not joyfully, but in a sigh. So is it with all that He bestows on sinners. It is first purchased with the price of His own suffering.

"There's ne'er a gift His hand bestows

But cost His heart a groan."

And I think you will find that in this world of sorrow and sin, our great benefactors do not work deliverances mirthfully, but in sadness. It is thus that great things are done. Then when success is achieved the joy follows. "He that now goeth on his way weeping, and beareth forth good seed, shall doubtless come again with joy, and bring his sheaves with him."

It is a consoling thought, brethren, that our sufferings are not according to God's wish, that they are inflicted for the sake of discipline, and that He would have pleasure in removing them. It is a solemn thought, that our sin is still more contrary to His will, that, as long as we refuse to give it up, we are fighting against Him, we are cherishing that which wrung groans from Christ, which prostrated Him on the ground of Gethsemane, and then lifted Him up on the Let us come to Him for deliverance from them, praying Him to remove the dulness of our perception, and our insensibility to His mercy. Ever and anon we relapse into narrowness and bondage, the avenues to our souls are obstructed, the free action of our noblest powers is impeded by fetters. We need the Ephphatha to be spoken over us, not once, but often. We need it now. Utter it, merciful Lord?

cross.

Let us understand Thy word, and when Thou hast opened our lips, our mouth shall show forth Thy praise, and we will say to one another, "He hath done all things well. maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak."

He

The Preacher's Finger-Post.

EVERLASTING REMEMBRANCE