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The Parable encourages us to enter heartily on our work, whenever God calls us to it, in the happy assurance that our labour will not be in vain in the Lord. And further, it seems to warn us that, although we may seem to be first, if we are not watchful, we may fall back into the hindmost rank; and also that we should never boast, or consider the battle over, till we have gained the victory, and put off our armour.

So much for the first Lesson which the Parable teaches-"The last shall be first, and the first last."

And now for the other Lesson-Many be called, but few chosen; that is, there are many who are invited into the Lord's service, who are never accepted as His saved people.

The Jews, for instance, were called into God's kingdom. They were called by Moses and the Prophets, and afterwards by Christ Himself. But because they refused to receive Him, and to embrace His gospel, they were in the end rejected.

We too, who belong to the Christian Church, have been all called. We were

called to serve Christ at our Baptism. We were called again at our Confirmation. We are called every time the house of God is open. And has not God sent some of us special calls besides? Alas, it will be found at the great day that many of us have been called, but few chosen. Christ's true people are the few. They always have been the few out of the many, and they are so now. It will be of little use hereafter to be among the "called." It will be but a poor argument to say, "Thou hast taught in our streets. We have heard of Thee every Sabbath. Thy name was familiar to us." It will only add to our condemnation, and make our guilt tenfold greater. The gospel was brought very near to us; but we put it from us-we made light of it.

Such is the main teaching of the Parable. These are the two principal Lessons which, I think, our Lord wished us to learn from it. But there are three or four other things which may be noticed.

For instance, we may gather from the Parable that God has a work for us all to

do; and woe be unto us, if we pass through life without doing it!

Then, observe some of the men in the Parable saying, "No man hath hired us.' Now, there is not one of us who can say that. You and I shall have no such excuse to offer. God has taken us into His service. Nay, have we not pledged ourselves to serve Him faithfully? Oh, if we have neglected our Master's work, let us go back to it. There are only twelve short hours in our working day. Perhaps three, six, or even eleven of those precious hours may be gone for ever. The night is soon coming, when no man can work.

Further, we may observe that some of these Labourers, who were taken early into the Vineyard, murmured because the same kindness was shewn to their brethren who were hired later. Beware of this feeling. Like a fly in the ointment, it will spoil your work. There should be no grudging, no jealousy, among Christ's people. Are any honoured more than we? Be it so. At any rate we have more-far more-than we deserve. "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowli

ness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves."

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Lastly, the Master said to his Labourers, "Whatsoever is right I will give you." And so God says to us. To one He gives health, and strength, and riches to another sickness, trials, and poverty. Be content; He gives what is right. Let us be thankful for what He denies us, as well as for what He grants us. Be assured, whatever comes is the right thing for us. And what matters it, if He withholds from us this or that earthly blessing, so long as He gives us His own dear Son, and salvation through Him?

May God give us thankful and contented hearts, convinced that we deserve nothing at His hands, and feeling that if we reach heaven at last, it will not be because we have earned it, but because God has given it to us of His free love and mercy!

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THE TWO SONS.

MATT. XXI. 28-32.

"But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not; but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not but the publicans and the harlots believed him and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.”

WHEN an Army invades a Country, it has to make its way among enemies, who are most unwilling to receive it. It is sure therefore

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