again at the third hour, that is, about nine o'clock, and hires more.

In the afternoon he goes again, and still finds several unemployed. These too he sends into his vineyard.

At length, when it only wants an hour of dusk, he makes a last visit to the marketplace. And finding some even then not at work, he sends them to join the others, promising to give them whatever is right.

When the day closed, and evening set in, the Owner called his Steward, or Bailiff, to him, and desired him to pay, the labourers, beginning with those who had come last into the vineyard. To each man the same payment was made. A penny was given to the last, as well as to the first.

Now, this caused great discontentment among those who had been at work all the day. It seemed to them that the Master had not acted fairly towards them, since they had worked longer for him than their brethren. They said, "These have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day."

The Master, in reply, reminds them that he had promised them a certain sum, and that they had received. They had therefore nothing to complain of. And what, if he had given some more than their due? He had a right so to act; for the money was his own, and he had perfect liberty to bestow it as he pleased.

Now, it is rather difficult to see what is the drift of the Parable. But if we bear in mind St. Peter's question which he had asked, and also the remark that our Lord makes at the close of the Parable, we shall, I think, have the key that we want. Having spoken the Parable, Jesus says, just as He had said before, "So the last shall be first, and the first last"; and then He also adds, "For many be called, but few chosen."

The following then are the Lessons which the Parable teaches

First, that men will not be rewarded hereafter merely for the amount of work which they have done for Christ. Neither will their reward depend on length of service. On the contrary, many who have in these respects been "last" will be accounted "first."

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Secondly, that of those who are called into Christ's service, only a few are numbered among His true people now, and only a few will share His kingdom hereafter.

Let us now consider these two Lessons, just as our Lord put them.

The last shall be first, and the first last— this is one Lesson which the Parable teaches.

For instance, the first in worldly rank are often the very poorest according to God's estimate. Many a person who has been honoured here-who has been lifted up by station above the level of his fellow-menor who has obtained a great name for his learning or for his valour-perhaps such an one may hereafter sink down into the lowest place, and even be altogether thrust out of God's kingdom.

Again, the first in privilege and opportunities may not stand so high in God's favour as some who have had much fewer advantages. The man who has lived in a Christian land, for example, with gospel light shining all around him, may be condemned hereafter,

whilst some poor Heathen who has only just heard of the Saviour's name, but has fled to Him as His hope, may be accepted. The one may have professed to be a worker in God's vineyard all his life: the other may have been till very lately shut out from it altogether.

Or, we might take two persons living in the same Christian country. One may have had the advantage of education. He may be the child of pious parents. He may have been long watched over by a faithful Minister. And yet he may not have profited by these great opportunities. Whilst another, with much less light, and much fewer blessings, may have found Christ, and earnestly followed Him.

Again, there are some who are always putting themselves first-anxious to be noticed -desiring to take the lead—who have a good opinion of themselves, and wish others to have a good opinion of them—who, like the Pharisees, sound a trumpet before them. These will one day be thrown back into the shade, and be little esteemed by Him who looks into the heart; whilst, on the other hand, some

meek, humble, lowly one will be exalted. He may be unknown, and even dishonoured now; but he will be acknowledged before the angels of God. He was content to take the lowest seat; but it shall be said to him, "Friend, come up higher."

Once more. Do we not occasionally see persons, who have begun early to serve God, fairly outstripped by others who were brought later into the Lord's service? Like the Labourers in the Parable, they entered the vineyard at the third hour; but perhaps they have grown dull and weary. Their faith has flagged; their love has cooled; and they are put to shame by some newly-awakened Christian whose heart burns with a holier zeal. Of such it may be truly said, "The last shall be first, and the first last."

Still there is not one word in the Parable to encourage delay-not one word that would lead us to suppose that it matters little when we enter upon the Lord's service. The whole of Scripture teaches us far otherwise. Do we not again and again find a blessing resting on early piety? And are we not exhorted now -at once-to live a Christian life?