is in Christ Jesus.  This was a hard thing to undertake.  But those good missionaries said they were willing to do it.  And they not only said it, but did it.  They left their homes, and went to the West Indies.  They worked on the plantations as slaves.  And working thus, by the side of the slaves, they got close to their hearts.  The slaves heard them.  Their hearts were touched because these teachers of the gospel had humbled themselves to their condition.  While they were teaching the commands of Christ, they were illustrating and following his example.  How beautiful this was!  How grand!  How glorious!

And yet Christ’s own example was still more glorious.  He laid aside the glory of his Godhead, and came down from heaven to earth, that he might get by our side.  He laid himself beside us that we might feel the throbbings of his bosom and the embrace of his loving arms; and he draws us close to himself, while he whispers in our ears the sweet words, “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

And so, when we think of the example of Christ, we should strive to learn the lesson of humility which he taught.

A third reason why we should learn this lesson of humility is because of the—­COMFORT—­that is found in it.

Just think for a moment what God says on this subject, in Is. lvii:  15.  These are his words:—­“Thus saith the high and mighty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”  Here, the same loving Saviour who gave us the command to learn the lesson of humility promises to give comfort to all who learn this lesson.  And the way in which he secures this comfort to them is by coming and dwelling in their hearts.  And who can tell what a comfort it is for a poor pardoned sinner to have Jesus—­the Lord of heaven and earth—­dwelling in his heart?  It is his presence in heaven which makes those who dwell there feel so happy.  This is what David taught, when he looked up to him, and said—­“In thy presence is fulness of joy.”  Ps. 16:  11.  And when that presence is felt, here on earth, it gives comfort and joy, as certainly as it does in heaven.  It was the presence of Jesus which enabled Paul and Silas to sing at midnight, for very joyfulness, in the prison at Philippi, though their feet were fastened in the stocks, and their backs were torn and bleeding from the cruel scourging which they had suffered.  And it was this presence of Christ in the hearts of his people that good John Newton was speaking of, in one of his sweet hymns, when he said: 

  “While blest with a sense of his love
    A palace a toy would appear;
  And prisons would palaces prove,
    If Jesus would dwell with me there.”