This, however, is but the beginning of warfare work, it is continued through the whole upward struggle. Holiness, the result of faith,-does not enter the heart quietly and gently, though it brings joy and peace; it causes a hard struggle, a fierce warfare, with the old unholy inhabitants of the heart. We may fully trust in earthly friend or father, and there is none to hinder us; we may pour devoted love upon beings like ourselves, and all within the heart is in unison; but we cannot confide in Him who beseeches our confidence, without contesting every inch of the ground with fierce foes from within; we cannot love Him, who is the lover of our souls, without heart rivals starting up to dispute the supremacy. Where is the human heart that has not its besetting sin, its chosen idol ? Where is the renewed heart that is not struggling, or attempting to struggle, in the agonies of its crucifixion? The idol-breaking work in each individual, is as much of a reality, as the iconoclastic work of bygone centuries- the idols that are unseen, are as real as the Juggernauts of India, and the images of Rome. Every time, however, that the Holy Spirit enables us to dethrone the usurper, to bear the suffering, to resist the temptation, to love the Loving One, to trust in the true Friend, we are gaining ground in holiness-the chief end of the new creation-and we are working the work of God. Nor is it alone for Him; it is, also, a work for others-every self-conquest, every progress in

sanctification, is an increase of influence over souls. When the armour is laid aside-when the sword falls from the nerveless arm-when sin is allowed to triumph, and holiness is forgotten, or deferred till the morrow-then words of warning to the sinner, of counsel to the backsliding, of sympathy to the sorrowful, come carelessly and coldly from our lips. It is only when we have put on the whole armour of God -when we are resisting unto blood, striving against sin-when we are mourning over our defeats, and fleeing to the Strong One for strength, that we can minister to the needy, that we can arm the unarmed, that we can shew the way to Him who giveth us the victory through Christ our living Lord.

Besides this inner struggle, there is another which bears more upon the outward life, and may be called a warfare with circumstance. We have said that it is only the renewed heart that is the battleground of the one, but all are more or less engaged in the other. All have a crook in the lot, a skeleton at the feast; all have a conflict to maintain with contending duties and perplexing difficulties, with intricate positions, with cares, strifes, and sorrows. Very different, however, are the ways in which this warfare is waged. Some struggle because they cannot help it, and are like "the dumb driven cattle;" others are so feeble in their grasp, so faltering in their step, that they soon

"By the roadside fall and perish,

Weary with the march of Life."

Others attempt to strew the ground with flowers, to dispel the darkness with ignes fatui-to conceal even from themselves that they have a conflict to maintain; although none know better how the iron of unused weapons enters into the soul, how sharp are the thorns of the rose, how deluding is the light of the meteor. Others are strong in their own strength, and stoically bear the wounds, and handle the weapons, but a time of defeat surely comes, when they are heard to say, "All these things are against us." It is the Christian only, who, going not forth at his own charges, can engage in the Life-battle joyfully and successfully. That victory which secures temporal rest and enjoyment, is of less importance to him than to others, for he knows that all things are working together for his good, and he is sure of a coming time of entire repose; but he struggles against despondency, he conquers difficulties, he rises above sorrows and disappointments, that his Father may be glorified in him to the utmost, and that by so doing he may work a good work of faith and patience.

The encouragements to warfare work are many and great. The Captain of our salvation is pledged for our victory. He is engaged to "cover our heads in the day of battle," and through Him we shall be more than conquerors. Unlike the iron warriors of the earth, His heart bleeds in His soldiers' wounds; He feels the pangs of the cut off arm and the plucked out eye; and He rejoices in His own promise of a

blessed future, when "the warfare shall be accomplished," when the conquered land shall be possessed. We cannot conclude this chapter better than by the following extract from Gurnall's "Christian in complete armour :”—“The Christian armour is made to be worn; no laying down or putting off our armour, till we have done our warfare, and finished our course. Our armour and our garments of flesh go off together; then indeed will be no need of watch and ward, shield or helmet. Those military duties and field graces, (as I may call faith, hope, and the rest,) they shall be honourably discharged. In heaven we shall appear, not in armour, but in robes of glory; but here they are to be worn night and day; we must walk, work, and sleep in them, or clse we are not true soldiers of Christ."

III.

EVERY-DAY WORK.

Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."-1 COR. x. 31.

"We need not bid, for cloister'd cell,
Our neighbour and our work farewell,
Nor strive to wind ourselves too high
For sinful man beneath the sky.
The trivial round, the common task,
Would furnish all we ought to ask,-
Room to deny ourselves,-a road

To bring us daily nearer God."-KEBLE.

"All may of Thee partake,

Nothing can be so mean,

Which with this tincture, FOR THY SAKE,

Will not grow bright and clean;

This is the famous stone

That turneth all to gold,

For that which God doth touch and own,
Cannot for less be told."-HERBERT.

THOSE Who wish to bestow the years

of their life upon God, must also give Him the days, the hours, and the moments. Bickersteth says, "Only think of present duties, the moment's work: our life is given to us in moments, and we shall have joys for each." Everyday work is often looked upon as waste of time, or only fitted for those who have no exalted sensibilities, no heroic purposes, no aspirations after the higher services of God. We strongly suspect, however, that those who can see no true sublimity in the faithful