and when temptation and trial came, they fell away and
did not follow their Master. But after the Holy Ghost came down, then
they were of one heart and mind, and their souls were inflamed with
zeal, they cared nothing what became of them, so long as they won the
Kingdom of Heaven. "I count all things as dung," said S. Paul, "if so
be I may win Christ."

III. The Holy Ghost is still in the Church, and still His mission is
to impart zeal. He will come to you, if you pray, and will inflame you
with that fire which will make your hearts burn within you, and give
you no rest till you have set about the work appointed you by God. "I
am come," said Christ, "to send fire on the earth: and what will I, if
it be already kindled?" That fire is the fire of zeal; and it is for
that fire we pray in the Whitsuntide hymn,

"Come Holy Ghost, our souls inspire,
And lighten with celestial fire."

LI.

_GRATITUDE._

14th Sunday after Trinity.

S. Luke xvii. 18.

"There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this
stranger."

INTRODUCTION,--There is nothing that the merciful God desires more from
man than thanks, and there is nothing of which He receives less. In
the Gospel for to-day we have an example. Christ performs a notable
miracle. He heals ten lepers, and only one returns to thank Him. The
disease from which He delivered them was disgusting, and it was one
which cut the sufferers off from association with other men. They
might not approach, under penalty of death, a man who was sound. All
at once they are healed. The disgusting disease is removed, and they
are restored to the society of their fellow-men. Yet nine out of the
ten are ungrateful, they do not take the trouble to give thanks to Him
who had healed them.

SUBJECT.--That story is repeated over and over again. We are
incessantly receiving blessings from God, and nine to one, but we do
not thank Him: we take them as a matter of course. However, God
expects thanks. S. Paul exhorts us, "In everything give thanks: for
this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." And again,
"Give thanks always, for all things, unto God and the Father, in the
name of our Lord Jesus Christ." And again, "Whatsoever ye do in word
or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and
the Father by Him."

I. When the children of Israel reached the river Jordan, on their way
into the Promised Land, out of the wi