which is quite indescribable. The effect was immediate. A slight flush of shame crossed the old man’s brow, and he at once resumed his wonted composure. There was something in that smile which had reminded him of the days of their youth—when she was the buxom maiden and he the gallant lover—and he doubtless felt some shame that he should not show himself at least as firm and as youthful as his dame; and so his face naturally took up an expression in quiet harmony with hers, and he became at once himself again. Sir, it was beautiful! I would not have missed observing it for the world. Doubtless, these were mere human feelings intruding themselves into the house of GOD, but I cannot believe they were sinful. It was like a gleam of earthly sunshine streaming through the painted windows of the chancel of a cathedral, glancing upon, and not polluting, the holy pavement of the sanctuary!”—The old man paused as if pleased with his own thoughts, and then proceeded with his recollections of the sermon. “‘You,’ said the preacher, ‘have been my scholars, and sometimes, I confess, my teachers, for many a year; for while you have learned from me the truths of the Gospel, I have often drawn from you—your patience, your cheerfulness, your submission to the will of GOD—a lesson as to the right way of putting the Gospel into practice. Much, too, have I learned from your sins, your negligences, and ignorances. But all combines,—strength and weakness, life and death, the works of GOD and the Word of GOD,—to teach us all the great, the essential doctrine of the text, “GOD is love!” See how He has shown it in our creation and our redemption, in the world around us, and in the world within us—the kingdom of earth, and the kingdom of heaven! How _like_, too, are His bounties and loving-kindnesses in both these kingdoms! It is indeed “the _same_ GOD, that worketh all in all.” Look around you, as I have often before told you to do, on human life, and especially on your own life, and the blessings which each of you possess. GOD is with you in spiritual and temporal things, always turning upon you the same face of love. He has given you an earthly world in which you are to live here below. He gave you breath to begin life, and strength to continue it. He gives you food in health, medicine in sickness, parents and friends to guard and instruct you in youth, companions in middle life, and children to be a comfort in old age. He surrounds you with beauty to cheer your hearts on every side; sunshine and shadow, the fruitful plains and the everlasting hills, the fertilizing streams, and the bright and silent stars. GOD, in short, shows Himself to you in love and beauty, through every stage of your mortal life; and so it is with your spiritual life,—that life which He has given you in His dear SON. Love rules in grace as well as in nature. Love brought down the SAVIOUR to die for you when you were dead—all dead—in trespasses and sins.