brance of the Redeemer's words "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit."

:

But there should be variety in the usefulness of a Christian life, corresponding with its graces. It is not well for a Christian man or woman to decide very readily as to the qualifications for usefulness which he or she may possess. Some are found teaching in our Sunday Schools who are content with this "one thing," while God has qualified them to proclaim his salvation in neglected villages and towns; and in addition they may be fitted to visit the sick and troubled in life's ways. Some are doing the work for which they are the least qualified, and others are doing the right thing, but not all they might do. It is only by prayerful self-examination and exercise that we can decide what walks of usefulness we should pursue. But we should not be too slow in forming the estimate. Many have been members of churches for a number of years who have not yet discovered what kind of service they should perform for Christ. It will not be too much for us to expect that when the right spot in the vineyard is found, there will be an ample crop of "choice fruit." We have often seen a tree bearing just two or three apples; and there are those in our churches who are satisfied if they can do one or two things in a year:panting after the exertion of one good action and taking half the year to gain their breath. Very few, perhaps, have the five talents of which our Lord has spoken in the parable; but the judgment of Jesus will not be on the original number-to have but one talent is no blame of ours-still it will be our fault if we fail to make one into two. The man with two talents was commended by his judge that he had multiplied them by two, and the possessor of one was an unjust servant because he allowed it to be idle. It is to be feared that not many thus think of doubling their usefulness. It is too often thought, if not said: "I discharge certain duties, and do more work than many of my fellow Christians. I think I am doing as much as should be asked of me." We can only reason thus when we are forgetful of our Lord's amazing devotion to our cause. never said "When I have been to The Mount' and taught the people, my day's work is done; or when I have visited Lazarus and his sisters at Bethany, or have been to the Synagogue to unfold the roll of ancient truth, I have done as much as should be expected of me." At daybreak he would leave his couch to be "early in the temple;" the meridian sun saw him bearing "the heat of the day"; and "the same day in the evening" he would be found unflagging in his devotion to our race. Let us only remember this, and our baskets of fruit will be more honourable to us. Observe

He

III. That maturity of fruitfulness should be anticipated. "A basket of summer fruit." Christian graces and usefulness are to be ripened. This consummation is fully expected. Take the illustration furnished in the case of the apostle Peter. There was fruit in the earliest days of Peter's religious life; but it was not mature-sound, but not ripe. At the outset he could speak for his Lord, but he often spoke too readily. He could act for his Lord, but now and then most rashly; there was a want of prudent thought and disciplined judgment. But see him in later days -the "early rain" of conversion had fallen on him; behold him now the

“latter rain" of a second conversion and a blessed Pentecost had enriched his soul. That sermon on the day of promised power-so resistless in logic, so rich in truth, so pointed in its rebuke; and those epistles, so unassuming, yet dignified; touching in their pathos, precious in their experience, wise in their warning. What maturity! "His last days, best days," ripe and ready for the Chief Shepherd's crown of life and glory.

It may be that active young Christians are liable to underrate the value of older and less stirring brethren. Still it is worth while to remember that one thoroughly ripe fruit is worth ten that are green and immature; and one word spoken by "an old disciple" is more weighty than a whole oration which is more remarkable for the crudity than the wisdom of its counsel. Let young and ardent Christians bear this in mind. No one will dispute the statement of Dr. Watts :

"A flower when offered in the bud

Is no mean sacrifice:'

but how much more acceptable when the blossom has fallen and the fruit has the bloom of maturity on its cheek! May such a prospect encourage many young people to offer the bud and the flower! An earlier ripening may be expected as the consequence.

And now let us be reminded of the season in which maturity is produced "Summer fruit"! This suggests to us thoughts of warmth and heat. We have, this year, panted in the heat of an unusually warm summer; yet an earlier harvest has succeeded. Thus too is the perfection of Christian life and service wrought out. The labourers in the vineyard worked different lengths of time; but those who had only toiled " one hour" were ripened for the reward. Just as in nature, some fruits are matured earlier than others, so in the Church of Christ some persons are early prepared for heaven. We have read of those who have basked in the genial warmth of favoured circumstances from which cold and heat were alike absent; but we have read of those who, like Job, were ripened in Divinely-sent affliction, or, like Luther, Cranmer, and Latimer, were matured in the heat of persecution. We have to depend on the will and the wisdom of God as to the kind of season which shall ripen the fruits of the earth-whether moderate sunshine or burning heat; and thus too is it ordained in reference to the ripening of the Christian character. This we know, there will be spring and summer, and that the latter will be promotive of maturity.

We shall find this as true of service as of character. The day will come when the younger members of our churches will see it; when they will look back on imperfect efforts to serve Christ, with wonder and humility that they should have been at all accepted of God. But this will be our view when we have "borne the burden and heat of the day."

Lastly, it is our joy to know that the ripe summer fruit of godly character and service will be accepted and treasured up. The saints of God, matured by religious influences, shall be accepted and gathered into the garner. Enoch walked with God; sunning himself in the smiles of Heaven; and when he was ripe "he was not, for God took

him: ""a basket of summer fruit." When Daniel was old, and almost ready for the repose that remained for him, God said, "Go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days." Good old Simeon had stayed in the sun of Divine favour until he saw the promised Messiah, and then with ripened enthusiasm said, "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word." And the great Apostle of the Gentiles could say, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day."

May we be thus matured for the skies! From the Sun of Righteousness and Grace the ripening influence must be sent. “From me is thy fruit found." Let it be our prayer, as it was that of good George

Herbert:

Halifax.

"My stock lies dead, and no increase

Doth my dull husbandrie improve:
O let thy graces without cease,

Drop from above.
"If still the Sunne should hide his face,
Thy house would but a dungeon prove;
Thy works night's captives; O let grace
Drop from above."

CHRISTIAN STEADFASTNESS.

WE are told that at a critical moment in the battle of Waterloo, a courier dashed into the presence of the Duke of Wellington, stating that unless the troops at an important point could be reinforced, they must soon yield. The Duke sent back the words, "Štand firm!" "But we shall all perish," said the officer. "Stand firm!" again thundered out the Iron Duke. "You will find us there," said the officer, as he galloped away; and the result proved the truth of the remark, for nearly every man of that brigade fell bravely at his post..

It is thus that in every temptation, however severe, Jesus says, from his lofty seat in the heavens, Stand firm!" In seasons when perils thicken around us, and appalling dangers make men's hearts quake, he says, "Stand firm!" When the present is dark, and the future seems still darker; when we walk in gloom, unbroken by a single

star of hope, he says, "Stand firm!' And soon we shall not only conquer, but be more than conquerors. We shall triumph gloriously, as our last enemy lies vanquished on the field.

Sometimes when army meets army in fierce and bloody conflict, the battle is not decisive, and both parties claim the victory; in which case the impartial historian will call that party the conqueror who kept the field. The Christian warrior must never for a moment give up the field, nor flee from the path of duty, Wherever his Captain has placed him, however hard the conflict rages, and however dangerous the post, he must "stand steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord."

When Mount Vesuvius was pouring down its torrents of destruction upon the city of Pompeii, there was a sentinel whose post of duty was the chief entrance to the city. When in