But CHRIST, our pattern, said not merely “I must work the works of GOD,” but I must do them “while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” We know what that meant in His case. He had taken human nature in its weakness, and He had to bring it to its full strength, to fit it for glory and exaltation to the throne of GOD. He had in His life to speak the word of GOD to many people, and in many places, and each opportunity must be seized, or others would be forfeited. He had to relieve present sufferings, and to supply present wants; to meet necessities while they were pressing. Soon the time would come for Him to go to the Father: then He must be perfect; then He would have no more opportunity in the flesh for benefitting man and glorifying GOD; then He could make no more preparation for the setting up of His Church. The words have a similar meaning with regard to us; but in our cases the necessity is more urgent, the delay more awful, because we have no fixed time allotted us—“to-day, and to-morrow, and the third day I must be perfected.” Our life is to be taken from us without our consent, and may be taken at any moment; we have not power to lay it down when we will, and power to keep it as long as we will. And, besides, we have not been using each year, each day, each hour, to the best advantage. We have left undone much which we ought to have done, we have done much which we ought not to have done. We have all this to correct, and yet to give full attention to the works yet remaining. Look we in at ourselves, brethren, and see what requires to be done in us before we are fit for heaven. Listen to the cries of spiritual distress, and consider what has to be supplied. Think of the souls that are dying, and will soon be dead, if we do not revive them. Remember we what frail, short-continuing, dying creatures we are; how soon at the latest, how suddenly, it may be abruptly, without a moment’s warning, we may be called to present ourselves, to be dealt with according to our fitness, to give account of our works for GOD. Let the arrival of a new year set us reviewing the past year, with its catalogue of offences, of neglects, of things to be wiped out, debts to be paid, progress to be quickened. Let us heed well its injunction and its warning, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might, for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest.” Let us look up for the opening clouds and listen for the Advent voice, “Behold, I come quickly, and My reward is with Me to give to every man according as his works shall be;” and let us instantly resolve and instantly begin to perform our resolution and persevere in it, nor dare to forget it: “I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” SERMON IX. CHRIST’S TRUEST MANIFESTATION. ST. JOHN, XIV., 22.