constraining influence of the loving-kindness of our God. Without it, all is dark and cheerless; with it, joy and peace, like lovely flowers, spring up around our path. What are all the vanities of time, but painted bubbles, when compared with this eternal treasure?-Love, joy, peace, survive the tomb; and form that amaranthine wreath which shall for ever adorn and gladden the soul of the glorified believer.

Like his Divine Master, St. Paul had no certain dwelling-place. He was truly a pilgrim and a stranger upon earth. Wherever he went, bonds and imprisonments awaited him.

We, on the contrary, in these days of the Church's prosperity, can dwell at ease, none making us afraid. The law does not unsheath the sword of persecution, nor kindle the martyr's fire.

Is there not a cause for anxious apprehension, lest, while we profess to love Christ, our hearts should become earthly? Are we not in danger of making a home of this world, and of setting up our rest here, as if this wilderness were the promised Canaan, rather than the road through which we have to pass to it?

As professing Christians, living in the midst of Gospel light and Gospel privileges, we can readily exclaim against the idolatries of the Heathen, while we forget, that whatever draws away the heart from God, is an idol in his sight.

Our domestic ease, our family comforts, too often become our household gods, at whose shrine

we sacrifice the claims of Christian charity, and the spiritual interests of perishing millions. "All seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's."

There is in every man a powerful principle, which God has wisely implanted for the purposes of self-preservation. The second great commandment in the Law appeals to this principle: "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." Jesus refers to it: "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."

But there is a sinful love of self-a spirit of selfishness which is utterly at variance with the law of love. Nothing can extirpate this evil principle but love to Christ. As believers in Jesus, we must daily live in the exalted spirit of his new commandment: "Love one another, as I have loved you." The love of Christ to us is the Gospel pattern of our love to others.

With enlarged heart, the Apostle enforced this disinterested duty on the Philippian Christians: "Let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus."

With thankfulness to Almighty God we must acknowledge, that, of late years much has been done in our favoured island to advance the cause of Christ throughout the earth; as well as to widen the circle of general beneficence: yet much still remains to be done. This is but the seed-time

of the world. Let us then, in the spirit of faith and prayer, cast our bread-corn on the waters, for we shall find it after many days.

If we truly love the Lord Jesus Christ, we shall, and must, rejoice in every thing which advances the interests of his kingdom. A heart warmed with the love of God, cannot rest satisfied with mere verbal expressions of gratitude, for the blessings of redemption. Love is an active principle. Its language is: What can I do, however feebly, to promote the great and good work of evangelizing the world? If contributing of my substance will aid the noble cause, I will gladly cast into the treasury of that which God hath given me. If active exertion be required, I am willing to spend, and be spent in advancing my Saviour's kingdom. If advocating the cause of Christ be needed, I will endeavour to speak, though with a faultering tongue. Such is the language of love. To all this, the servant of Christ will join his fervent prayers, and rejoice, with all his Christian brethren, at the enlargement and prosperity of Zion.

"He which soweth sparingly, shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully, shall reap also bountifully,"-is the Apostle's appeal to our Christian liberality. Do we act agreeably to this practical knowledge? Do the rich professors of Christianity never first consult their family luxuries, their equipages, and decorations, before they dare to answer the Saviour's call: "Sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come, and follow me." Our

loving Saviour, though he does not require his followers to enter upon a state of voluntary poverty, or to deny themselves the innocent enjoyment of his providential bounties; yet, he does demand their chief affection, and a willingness to impart cheerfully of their substance for his sake.

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"As Jesus sat over against the treasury, he beheld how the people cast money into the treasury and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing." Many are willing to make an offering out of their competency, but few, to make a sacrifice of their comforts. Liberality must be estimated, not by quantity, but proportion. A splendid gift from a wealthy person forms only an offering, when no inconvenience is felt by the rich donation;—A small sum given by a poor man is a real sacrifice, when some privation is experienced by this act of generosity. On this account it was, that, looking at the largeness of her heart, and the smallness of her means, our Lord declared: "Verily I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast more in than all they which have cast into the treasury. For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want, did cast in all that she had, even all her living."

As the love of the world is the sin which easily besets us, when sheltering itself under the creditable appellation of prudence, economy, and forethought, our Saviour has given us a double caution against its pernicious influence. "Take heed, and

beware of covetousness.". "Watch, and pray, lest ye enter into temptation."

The Gospel indeed does not condemn a prudent management of our concerns;-it rather enjoins it: for, "a good man will guide his affairs with discretion :"-but, it does condemn that anxious, murmuring, fretful spirit, which disfigures the conduct of many professors.

How quieting are the words of Jesus: "Take no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." How cheering are those of the Apostle: "I would have you without carefulness.-Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have; for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." In this happy spirit did the primitive Christians live. They eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God.

While we feel, and act as stewards of the manifold gifts of God, we shall be preserved from parsimonious cares, and prodigal expenditures.Knowing that we are not our own, being bought with a price, even the precious blood of the Son of God, we shall seek for grace to live to our Redeemer's glory. The world will no longer sway our affections, while we remember how quickly the fashion of it is passing away; and how soon we shall be called to give an account of our stewardship, either for the one, or for the ten, talents which may have been entrusted to his care.

Though all do not become martyrs, yet all