ave that
in us which with care and culture will grow till it brings us to perfect
likeness to Christ. If we are not growing, if we remain small, puny,
childish while we should be adult and full grown, then there is
something seriously wrong, which calls for anxious enquiry.

But above all let us bear in mind that it is a new birth that is
required; that no care spent on our conduct, no improvement and
refinement of the natural man, suffices. For flying it is not an
improved caterpillar that is needed, it is a butterfly; it is not a
caterpillar of finer colour or more rapid movement or larger
proportions, it is a new creature. We recognise that in this and that
man we meet there is something more than men naturally have; we perceive
in them a taming, chastening, inspiring principle. We rejoice all the
more when we see it, because we know that no man can give it, but only
God. And we mourn its absence because even when a man is dutiful,
affectionate, temperate, honourable, yet if he have not grace, if he
have not that peculiar tone and colour which overspread the whole
character, and show that the man is living in the light of Christ, and
is moved by love to God, we instinctively feel that the defect is
radical, that as yet he has not come into connection with the Eternal,
that there is that awanting for which no natural qualities, however
excellent, can compensate--nay, the more lovely and complete the natural
character is, the more painful and lamentable is the absence of grace,
of Spirit.

VIII.

_THE BRAZEN SERPENT._

"Nicodemus answered and said unto Him, How can these things be?
Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou the teacher of Israel,
and understandest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
We speak that we do know, and bear witness of that we have seen; and
ye receive not our witness. If I told you earthly things, and ye
believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you heavenly things?
And no man hath ascended into heaven, but He that descended out of
heaven, even the Son of man, which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted
up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be
lifted up: that whosoever believeth may in Him have eternal life.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
For God sent not the Son into the world to judge