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supply from Christ, and it would be sufficient to meet all the

problems in that area.

I sometimes have thought how wonderful it would be to be

able to bless the saints, actually to bless them; to pronounce a

benediction upon them; to call out a blessing! It is Paul’s

desire here that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ should be

with their spirit. It is very short, but how full it is. Who can

measure the fulness that is in the Lord Jesus? There must be

that idea in it. “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ”; who could

measure it? Who could put a limit on it? Who could define it?

Who could say, ‘It starts here, and it stops there’? “The grace

of our Lord Jesus Christ”, he says, let it be with your spirit,

brethren.

Perhaps I might address myself to young brothers who are

preaching. May the Lord bless you in it, but carry in your mind

and thoughts that you might be able, along with the preaching,

to call

out a blessing upon those who hear; learn the words of this

benediction; learn to be a blesser.

Maybe you have gift; maybe you can speak well and

effectively; these things are greatly to be desired, greatly to be

looked for, but in a certain sense you could do nothing greater

than bless the brethren “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be

with your spirit, brethren”. Could you say that? Is that your

attitude? Is that the kind of feeling that runs in your heart? You

look round upon the saints, you see them and are aware to

some degree of their experiences, their sorrows, their feelings,

their anxieties, their problems, all that comes on old and

young.

Can you meet it in some way; can you invoke a blessing?

Have you the ability to call out a blessing upon the Lord’s

people? There is hardly anything greater, dear brethren, that

any of us could essay to do than to seek the blessing of the