the old Bishop was very
troubled, and he sat in his room all the rest of the day, waiting for
the Governor to come and make it up with him. But no! the Governor was
fuming with anger and would do no such thing. That evening the
Governor had a party, and as he was sitting at table with the guests, a
little scrap of paper was put on his plate, a servant of the Bishop had
brought it. The Governor took it up and saw, "Dear old Friend--THE SUN
IS SETTING." Then his heart relented, he excused himself to his
guests, and ran to the house of the Bishop, and they fell into one
another's arms and made friends again.

CONCLUSION.--Now remember this story. Whenever you have a quarrel with
another, let not the sun go down on your wrath. Make it up before set
of sun.

XLIV.

THE MEASURE OF SIN.

7th Sunday after Trinity.

S. Mark viii. 2.

"I have compassion on the multitude."

INTRODUCTION.--In to-day's Gospel we see the tender compassion of our
Lord for those who came into the wilderness to hear Him. This is only
one example out of many of His great love and mercy: and indeed "His
mercy is over all His works." "Thou, O Lord," says David, "art full of
compassion and mercy, long-suffering and truth." This is a verity of
which we are so convinced that it is quite possible we may overlook the
other truth, that His mercy, though unlimited in extent, is limited in
its application. His mercy is extended for a definite purpose, and
when it ceases to avail for this purpose, then it ceases to flow. What
that purpose is, S. Paul tells us. "Knowest thou not," he says, "that
the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance." That is, God is
merciful that we may amend, not in order that we may continue in sin.
Now, if men thought that when they had fallen into grievous sin there
was no more a hope of recovery, then they would sink into despair, and
become hard and impenitent. But that this may not be the case, God
assures us of His mercy, but he assures us of His mercy only to insure
our amendment.

SUBJECT.--It seems plain from Holy Scripture that to each man there is
a fixed measure of sin, and that if he fills that measure, after that
there is no place for repentance, and no more pardon. This is a very
terrible truth,--but a truth it is, as I shall show you.

I. There was a nation of Canaan called the Amorites, and God promised
to Abraham that He would give their land to his descendants, but that
He could no