spirit.

Him some of the evangelists saw, a all were inspired; and, therefore, they account of him to his likeness, and, took their key-note from him, and ma manner and language of their gospels of his manners and his life.

And, if we wanted a fresh proof (as, needs not) that the gospels are true, might find it in this. For when a ma ing a wonderful story out of his own certain to dress it up in fine words, fan reflections of his own, in order to make as he goes on, how wonderful it all is. no books on earth which describe wond true or false, are so sober and sin gospels, which describe the most won events. And this is to me a plain hope it will be to you) that Matthew, and John were not inventing but tel and true story, and dared not alter it and, again, a story so strange and be they dared not try to make it more more beautiful, by any words of their

They had seen a person, to des passed all their powers of thought a

THE TRANSFIGURATION.

29

n St. Paul could only say, that he brightness of his Father's glory, and the mage of his person.'

in which to write of him failed them; for could suffice. But the temper of mind to write of him did not fail them; for, g on the face of the Lord, they had been more or less, into the likeness of his nto that temper of simplicity, sobriety, ess, modesty, which shone forth in him, nes forth still in their immortal words im. God grant that it may shine forth in od grant it truly. May we read their ill their spirit passes into us. May we (as 1 expresses it) looking on the face of the s into a glass, be changed into his likeness, glory to glory. May he who inspired them te, inspire us to think and work, like our soberly, quietly, simply. May God take out all pride and vanity, boasting and forwardand give us the true courage which shews by gentleness; the true wisdom which shews by simplicity; and the true power which s itself by modesty. Amen.

SERMON IV.

A SOLDIER'S TRAINING.

LUKE Vii. 2-9.

And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself; for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard these things he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

THERE
HERE is something

of the centurion's.

puzzling in this speech One must think twice,

and more than twice, to understand clearly what he had in his mind. I, indeed, am not quite sure that I altogether understand it. But I may,

perhaps, help you to understanding it, by telling you what this centurion was.

He was not a Jew. He was a Roman, and a heathen; a man of our race, very likely. And he was a centurion, a captain in the army; and one, mind, who had risen from the ranks, by good conduct, and good service. Before he got his vinestock, which was the mark of his authority over a hundred men, he had, no doubt, marched many a weary mile under a heavy load, and fought, probably, many a bloody battle in foreign parts. That had been his education, his training, namely, discipline, and hard work. And because he had learned to obey, he was fit to rule. He was helping now to keep in order those treacherous, unruly Jews, and their worthless puppet kings, like Herod; much as our soldiers in India are keeping in order the Hindoos, and their worthless puppet-kings.

Whether the Romans had any right to conquer and keep down the Jews as they did, is no concern of ours just now. But we have proof that what this centurion did, he did wisely and kindly. The elders of the Jews said of him, that he loved the Jews, and had built them a synagogue, a church. I suppose that what he had heard from them about a one living God, who had made all things in heaven and earth, and given them a law,

which cannot be broken, so that all things obey

him to this day I suppose, I say, that this pleased him better than the Roman stories of many gods, who were capricious, and fretful, and quarrelled with each other in a fashion which ought to have been shocking to the conscience and reason of a disciplined soldier.

There was a great deal, besides, in the Old Testament, which would, surely, come home to a soldier's heart, when it told him of a God of law and, order, and justice, and might, who defended the right in battle, and inspired the old Jews to conquer the heathen, and to fight for their own liberty. For what was it, which had enabled the Romans to conquer so many great nations? What was it which enabled them to keep them in order, and, on the whole, make them happier, more peaceable, more prosperous, than they had ever been? What was it which had made him, the poor common soldier, an officer, and a wealthy man, governing, by his little garrison of a hundred soldiers, this town of Capernaum, and the country round?

It was this. Discipline; drill; obedience to authority. That Roman army was the most admirably disciplined which the world till then had ever seen. Cindeed, was the whole Roman