the fourth class, because we would fain say a few words to open their eyes to see, and their ears to hear something of all that their Master is doing, and speaking, and requiring from them.

Of course, we do not refer to those who turn away from work when it is before them, because they do not like it, and listlessly dream away their lives in imagining work that they would do if they had it— work that would suit their natural temperaments, or in other words, their natural selfishness. No; but we speak to a class much more numerous than is generally supposed-those who are ready and willing to work for God-more than willing-tremulously anxious to do something for Him who has done so much for them, but who, from nervous, easily-discouraged temperaments, and a false understanding of the nature of work, oftentimes imagine that they have neither niche in the temple, nor place in the vineyard. Such Christians look with a feeling akin to envy upon those who are engaged in special and visible work,-in teaching the ignorant, clothing the naked, visiting the prisoner, ministering to the sick, winning souls to Jesus. Are you, dear friend, whom we now address, prevented from doing this by peculiar causes known only to yourself? It may be delicacy of health, difficulty of position, many incompatible duties, dependence on the will of others, want of pecuniary means, or all of these combined. The cause or causes, though quite apparent and necessarily con

straining to yourself, may not be equally visible to the world; and the fear of being looked upon by those who do not understand your position, as one whose faith, being without works, is dead, and thus dishonouring to the cause of your Master, is perhaps adding a deeper shade to your discouragement-a sharper sting to your sorrow. Is it so? Then we would attempt to impress the blessed fact upon your mind, that you are now in a working position, if you have a working spirit. In the routine of your everyday life, you have work given you to do, although you do not recognise it—it is waiting at your side, although you are looking away in search of something which your Master has not seen fit to give.

One great and general mistake evidently arises from a separation between the different parts of the Christian's duty. A young believer was one day mourning over the quantity of world's work which she had to do. "Do not call it world's work," said a farther advanced friend; "there is no world's work to the believer; it is all the Lord's work." In short, the Christian's whole life is a work for God; when he becomes the Lord's, he ceases to be his own. He is bought with a price; and from the time when he feels the first rush of grateful love, there need never be an hour or a moment in which he is not accomplishing the primary part of "man's chief end"--the glorifying of God. He may rise up in the bright morning prime, and go forth to the various duties

and intricacies of the day with the blessed assurance that the eye of his benign Master is smiling upon him the while, and that He is accepting and treasuring the smallest services, if done for His sake, and washed in the blood that is required to purify all; and when, returning to his home, he enjoys the rest and relaxation of the sweet dewy evening, he may rejoice in the thought that this also is not wasted time, but that, in fitting and refreshing him for the morrow's work, it is in itself also service for God.

II.

WARFARE WORK.

"Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye beieve on him whom he hath sent."-JOHN vi. 28, 29.

Every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon."-NEH. iv. 17.

"Fight the fight, Christian,

Jesus is o'er thee;

Run the race, Christian,

Heaven's before thee.

Thee from the love of Christ,

Nothing can sever;

Mount, when thy work is done,

Praise Him for ever."

WE have placed this species of work first, although it is not an outer, but an inner service. The results of the struggle are, however, apparent to all, and the work that has been begun in the hidden temple, will manifest itself in the external vineyard. In fact, without the warfare there can be no successful work; without the weapon in the one hand, there is little use of the trowel in the other. Till the soul has worked out its own salvation with fear and trembling, the hand will not be confident, nor the step unfaltering in the service of God.

There is no danger of any Christian being without

work in abundance, for sufficient is here laid before him for a long life-time. It is not easy to believe; nay, it is very difficult truly and simply to believe in Jesus Christ; and yet, in the passage quoted above, He himself speaks of it as the work, of all others, which is to be worked for God. When our hearts are crusted over by carnal reason, and doubt, and difficulty, it is no easy matter to take again the heart of a little child, and simply believe our Father's true word; yet this is a needful work for His children. When self-righteousness, strong and throbbing, whispers that it is long enough for a couch, and broad enough for a covering, then it is difficult indeed to cast off its "rags," and to put on a spotless robe which we have had no share in weaving; yet, this too is one of the works of God. When all within us is dark and dreary; when a thick, heavy veil seems to hang between us and all that was once clear and bright to our vision; when we know, but do not feel, that we are sinners, and Jesus Christ a Saviour, then there is nothing in the whole world so difficult as to look up and say "My Lord, and My God." But, every time that we take the sword of the Spirit and cleave asunder the veil, and mount up, up, far beyond the mists, to the light-surrounded throne, and see there, and love there, the Lamb as it had been slain, we are working a work more honouring to God than any other. Look up then, desponding, and self-righteous, and doubting believer, look up-believe and live-believe and work.