synagogue at Nazareth to instruct the people, "There was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised'."

In order to show in what way the Gospel in its full meaning and blessing belongs to the poor, we will consider its particular suitableness to their state, hopes and condition.

"The poor have the Gospel preached unto them." The word "poor" has more meanings in scripture than one. And first, in its more usual acceptation, it signifies the needy and necessitous; those who have but a small and scanty supply of the things belonging to this life. A large majority of such there shall always be in the world, to the end of time. "The poor ye have always with you," said our Lord. They form a large class, springing out of the very nature of things, the condition of mankind, and the state of society. But as these relative states and conditions owe their existence to Almighty God, we must suppose that it is a

strictly divine appointment that some should be rich and others poor. It is not more true, therefore, that "the poor shall never cease out of the land," than that "the poor have the Gospel preached to them." It is peculiarly, and by a peculiar appointment, a special adaptation, the poor's. Had not, however, the Gospel of good tidings of great joy been more immediately designed for the poor in the above sense, it were easy to show that it is full of comfort, and that of a kind particularly suited to their condition. The question with them is, not in what way the Gospel shall make them rich in a worldly sense, but how their condition may be rendered as supportable and comfortable as possible under wants and privations. And this the Gospel does for them. It confers not riches, but it teaches patience, it gives contentment under the pressure of poverty. And "godliness with contentment is great gain," says the Apostle; and he adds, as the best possible reason why the poor should be contented as well as the rich humble and charitable, those striking words, namely, for we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. So that though the Gospel of Christ may not alter our condition, yet if it teaches us to be content therewith, and to bring our mind to that condition, it is great gain. You

have learned a lesson which the rich have too often to learn; for the tendency of riches unsanctified to the possessor, is to render him rather anxious after more, than contented with what he hath; and so to multiply wants rather than to satisfy them. And he that is always wanting something, rich though he be, is, as to unsatisfied desires, always poor.

The Gospel is also preached and full of comfort to the poor, inasmuch as they are more at liberty, for the above reason, to receive and embrace it in all its truth and simplicity. They lose none of its comfort by mixing it with, and so in fact lessening it by, the pleasures and temptations of the world. They have no interest at stake of a nature and sufficiency to keep from their view the momentous concerns of the soul and eternity. As sense is opposed to faith, and sensual pleasures and present delights,. to those which are purely spiritual and future; their views are necessarily more exclusively directed to the latter. The rich would "serve two masters, God and Mammon." The poor are free from this temptation. Having no portion in the things of this life, they have a greater interest in that Gospel which offers them a life of immortal happiness, and durable riches by Jesus Christ. The rich "have received their consolation :" that of the

poor is to come, is in reversion.

The Gospel contains their title thereto; the scriptures of truth are their title-deeds, and will be prized and valued accordingly.

There is also another important respect wherein the Gospel is more especially preached to the poor, viz: that they have not the same prejudices against its humbling doctrines as the rich too often entertain. Riches are apt to engender pride and a worldly spirit; both of which are enemies to the right reception of the Gospel. Lifted up with high notions of their own worth and sufficiency, the rich come not to Christ in that simplicity of heart and entire dependence upon what He has done and suffered for them, which the poor are inclined to do. "Lord help me!" "I am poor and in misery, but the Lord careth for me," is the cry of the poor dependent destitute. On this account we find the Apostle observing to the Corinthians. "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and those which are despised, hath God chosen,

yea, and things that are not, to bring to nought things that are; that no flesh should glory in his presence." And St. James, "Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He hath promised to them that love Him?"

We have seen that the Gospel belongs and is preached to the indigent and necessitous as regards the things of this world, and is especially suited to their condition.

But secondly, by the poor in the text are meant the spiritually poor; "the poor in spirit;” they who, as sinners against the law of God, feel their utter inability to help themselves, or to atone for their sins; and who therefore fly to the cross of Christ, to the hope set before them in the gospel, for pardon and salvation. To all such the Gospel is preached. To you, my brethren, who are thus spiritually poor and helpless, we, the Ministers and Ambassadors of Christ address ourselves. We hail you in the words of our Lord to his disciples, with "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for yours is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye that mourn for your sins, for ye shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek and lowly of heart, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are ye which do hunger