and wrestled with him through the hours, and at last Jacob conquered, and the angel said, "Thy name shall be no more Jacob, but Israel, for as a prince thou hast power with God and with man, and hast prevailed." And this new man, with a new name, became glorious in history. God wants to give you a new name to-night; the old name, that has been identified with sin and rebellion against God, is to be purged out, and the new name, which binds you to heaven and Christ, is to take its place.

There has recently died in Samoa a young girl of whom, in connection with the brilliant novelist, Robert Louis Stevenson, a delightful story is told. She was born on the 29th of February, and was grieving that she could not have a birthday as often as other little girls. Thereupon the kind storywriter agreed to give her his own birthday, and had a deed drawn up in full legal form, making the transfer. What was only a playful make-believe with the gentle-hearted story-teller is more than accomplished when Jesus Christ gives us the "new name" of kinship with himself.

Now all these glorious promises which Christ gives us are on the condition that we shall overcome our sins; and he offers to do that for us if we surrender ourselves to him; and he is able to make good his offer.

One night, in Chicago, a minister was making his way home when he saw a man leaning against

a lamp-post. Stepping up to him and placing his hand on his shoulder, he inquired, "Are you a Christian?"

The man flew into a rage, doubled up his fist, and the preacher thought he was going to knock him into the gutter.

The minister said: "I am very sorry if I have offended you; but I thought I was asking a proper question."

"Mind your own business," he roared.

"That is my business," was the answer.

About three months later, on a bitter cold morning, about daybreak, some one knocked at the parsonage door.

"Who is there?" was asked.

A stranger answered, and the minister said, "What do you want?"

"I want to become a Christian," was the reply. There isn't a parsonage door in the land that will not open at that cry; but the minister was astonished to see there the man who had cursed him for talking to him as he leaned against the lamp-post.

He said: "I am very sorry. I haven't had any peace since that night. Your words have haunted and troubled me. I could not sleep last night, and I thought I would come and get you to pray for me." That man accepted Christ, and went away with the white stone and the new name written on it, and ever afterward fed on the hidden manna.

Now it all depends on you, whether you or the devil get the victory. Some of you who are here tonight were here last Sunday night. The Holy Spirit called to your conscience then. But you let the devil get the victory. You might have been feeding on hidden manna all this week, if you had not given way to the evil one and rejected Christ. Some of you have stayed away all the week because you were afraid that if you came to the weeknight meetings you would be converted. How strange that a man should be afraid of getting rid of his sins, of finding forgiveness and peace and heaven! But you are here again to-night. God has mercifully granted you this new invitation. Who shall have the victory to-night-you or the devil? It is for you to decide, for if you resist the devil he will flee from you. You may go home with the assurance of victory in your heart; but your victory must come through surrender to Jesus Christ, the rightful Lord of your soul.

XXV.

THE SINNER'S OPEN DOOR.

Behold, I have set before thee a door opened, which none can shut. —Rev. iii. 8 (Revised Version).

EVERY man shall have a fair chance to be saved. The door of mercy is never locked against earnest souls. If you come with an honest heart to find out how to get freedom from your sins, seeking after peace with God, you will find no locks or bolts, but a door wide open. We used to sing an old song entitled "The Gates Ajar." But its teaching was misleading. The suggestion was that a man might barely squeeze through; that somehow God begrudged us the chance of salvation. But Jesus says that he has set before us a door opened, and no enemy of our souls, man, woman, or devil, has the power to shut it. Nothing can do that but our own wicked will.

In George Macdonald's novel, Robert Falconer, after feeding his soul on ashes until he was in despair, went to his box and took out the Bible that his mother had given him before he left home, and said, "Now I must find standing-ground."

He

proceeded to read over the life and words of Jesus, having all the time a little piece of paper by his side and a pencil in his hand, intending to write down the great foundation truths which he found there. These were the three which he wrote down: "First, that a man's business is to do the will of God; second, that God takes upon himself the care of the man; and third, therefore, that a man must never be afraid of anything." I wish you could all learn that lesson to-night. Christ has set before you an open door; if you will go straight through that door in obedience to him, he will take care of your future. And you may look up into his face. and say, “O Lord, I have taken thee at thy word, I have obeyed thee, and I will trust thee and not be afraid."

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Do not be afraid to enter that open door because any consciousness of your own weakness or fear that you would not hold out as a Christian, for all you have to do is to stay inside the door; if you keep yourself in loving touch with Christ, he will grant you all the help you need for this new and divine life. Canon Wilberforce told Dr. Meyer that he once had his likeness painted by the great artist Herkomer, who told him this story. Herkomer was born in the Black Forest, his father being a simple wood-carver. When the artist rose to fame in London and had his luxurious studio, his first thought was to have the old father come and spend the rest of his years with him. He came,