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 Paul's  appeal  that  Satan  should  depart  from  him,  is not  a  proof  that  Paul's  prayer  was  unheard,  for  God knew that  temptations  borne  and  baffled  by  His grace would  win  for  Paul  a  crown  of  glory.

Brethren, the  necessity  of  prayer  and  its  component parts  are  all  exemplified  in  the  Gospel  of  to-day. The man  was  deaf  and  dumb,  but  they,  having studied Christ's  miracles  and  meditated  on  His power and  goodness,  came  and  begged  Him  earnestly, confidently,  perseveringly,  to  lay  His  hand upon him. And Jesus  promptly  answered  them  by healing  the  man's  infirmities,  so  that  they  all  cried out in  a  chorus  of  thanksgiving:  "  He  hath  done  all things  well;  He  hath  made  both  the  deaf  to  hear  and the  dumb  to  speak."

"Master, what  must  I  do  to  possess  eternal  life?" — Luke x.  25.

Ex. : I.  Christ  on  Olivet   II. Leo's teaching. III. Directory to life  eternal.

I. Instruction :  1. Roman Christians. 2. Leo's  sequence. 3. Bible  as  book.

II. Patience and  consolation :  1. Resignation. 2. Virtue in infirmity. 3. The  saints.

III. Glory: 1. Sick member. 2. Christ  present,  3. The saints again.

Per.: 1. Importance as  to— 1. Life eternal. 2. Temporal. 3. Patience  and  consolation.

Brethren, a  few  Sundays  ago,  if  you  remember, we read  in  the  Gospel  how  Christ  wept  over  Jerusa-