weary feet, and toiling hands of those who follow Him who was like a root out of a dry ground, without form or comeliness. But the beauty of the one passes away, and where is it, and what remains ? The struggles and the scars pass away also, and are no more seen for ever; but there remain on earth the beauty and the grace of good deeds, long after their doers have perished,-like the ancient glass, which, destitute of beauty and colour in its youth, shines forth in the decay of its original substance, resplendent in gorgeous hues. Nor is this all; those who have borne the image of the earthly in so much weariness and infirmity, shall also bear the image of the heavenly- those who have been scorned for the lowliness of their work, shall reign as kings and priests, crowned with diadems of immortal beauty.

So far as we have yet gone, we have contemplated the working believer as an individual, in some of his phases of duty towards God, towards himself, and towards his neighbour. There is one aspect of his position however, which we cannot over-look, luminous as it is with love and beauty. The believer is not only a part of Christ,—he is a part of Christ's Church. We hear much of "The Church" in the present day, too much, and yet not enough. We hear of it as connected with the priesthood,-one saying, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos." We hear of it as connected with the walls and the screens, the organs and the surplices.

We hear of it as connected with sharp contentions and unbrotherly divisions, but we hear little of it as the spiritual body of Christ,-as the great company of the redeemed, both in earth and in heaven. And so it comes to pass, that among infidels, the word is a scorn and a scoff, and among believers it is used shrinkingly, and approved doubtingly. Let us not, however, allow the blessed and beautiful title to be monopolized by those who know not its true beauty and value. The Church is not composed of quarrelsome children, who must have all things their own way, and no other, as might often be imagined,-neither is it composed of self-complacent architects of their own barriers, and forgers of their own bolts and bars, but of tried, and tempted, repenting, and pardoned men and women, who have duties to perform for each other, and for God, as members of a spiritual church. Nor is a forced union in external form needful to the proper division and success of this work. It is not needful,-it is not the essence of strength, it is, or would be, the essence of very weakness; for as it has been well said "An intolerant sect, is a sect in fear."* Christ did not die to give His people strength and safety by means of uniformity,-He died to give them the strength of unity,-unity with Him,unity with each other,-unity in their great work. God who knows all the intricacies, and needs, and

*Isaac Taylor's Spiritual Christianity.

varied constitutions of man's spirit, far better than man knows them himself, has not instituted in His Word one form of worship, with secular penalties to guard, and persecution to punish. He has clearly set forth the doctrines to be taught in all Churches,— the blood of the Cross,-the regeneration of the Holy Ghost,—the adoption into the Father's family— the grateful services to be rendered because of these great benefits, and He has left his children free to worship Him in all non-essentials, according to their individual characters and necessities, and their varied views of Scriptural obligation,—giving His Son to save, and His Spirit to sanctify, and His will to be done in and by all Churches,-a blessed fact to which the great company before the throne are at this moment bearing joyful testimony. Besides the individual obligations and responsibility which lie upon each labourer in the Lord's vineyard, he has therefore another equally important charge to keep as a member of the Congregation of the faithful. He has to do with each and all, as they belong or do not belong to the true Church. If as far as man's judgment is of avail in "trying the spirits," he can decide that those who are within the range of his influence, are spiritual “Churchmen,” in deed and in truth, then are they to be cheered, to be cherished, to be visited, even as in so doing, "Ye do it unto ME." If, on the contrary, it appears as if their names were yet wanting to the records of the Church, then is all social, domestic,

prayerful, and special work to be exercised, that these souls may be brought within the spiritual pale.

No circumstances can interfere with this ecclesiastical responsibility. It may be,-to use Mr. Ruskin's* beautiful simile, that the Christian may take some of the sheep of the fold for stones on the far mountain side, but let him draw nearer to them, and he will soon see the true sheeplike form and demeanour. It may be that those whom he believes to be his brethren, may turn away and say, "Stand by; I belong to a church that is holier than thine," and the natural heart may retort and say, "I am more liberal than thou, and I can hold no communion with a bigot." Dream not, oh believer, that thou art thus loosed from thy responsibilities; thy work in watching and convincing that erring but sincere heart, is but laid before thee the clearer.

The present day, with its past warnings and its future perils, is not wanting in special and startling arguments for the urgency of work, and the necessity of warfare. When the spiritual and CATHOLIC CHURCH (we shrink not from the name) is threatened with foes without, and traitors within, and injudicious friends around and about, it is time that she should be seen as an illuminated city set on an hill,—that she should be known as a church engaged in full workwork of all kinds and all degrees, but more especially in the urgent one of plucking souls from the burning, *Notes on the Construction of Sheepfolds.

so much the more as she sees the day approaching. When the signs of the times seem to give forth audible utterances-when it is possible that the fire for the martyr, as well as the dungeon and galley for the confessor, may be near at hand, it is well that the Church should carefully foster and seek to maintain in all hearts bound up within her, the courage of the martyr, and the faith of the confessor. If there never has been a day, however, of such startling calls, and such glorious opportunity, there never has been one of such glaring obstacle. Satan knowing that his time is short, is putting forth all his energies “in great wrath;" he has sown dragon's teeth in the vineyard, and thrown shells of fire into the camp.

Let us glance for a moment at the scene around us. Life is a bivouac*-the world a broad plain of strife, and there is a day approaching, even the battle of the great day of God Almighty. Slowly but surely the hosts of the foe are mustering. You may see the broad flag of Rome, and the less conspicuous ensign of Anglo-catholicism, and the black banner of infidelity, and the puny pennons of false prophets and false Christs. But where are the opposing legions? where is the phalanx of the Lord's people? Alas, there is a division in the camp; brother will not march forward with brother; their eyes are "On the world's broad field of battle,

In the bivouac of life,

Be not like dumb driven cattle,

Be ye heroes in the strife!"-LONGFELLOW.