home which no one else can do as well as ourselves; for if we have nothing real to "show" at home, depend upon it we have nothing real to show abroad.

We are further taught, by the history of the Gadarene, the way in which this home mission work is to be carried on. It is chiefly by our life; by what we are. When the Lord has done great things for a man's spirit, the things done will reveal themselves in the power and eloquence of a good life. The life within, of peace with God, and a desire to serve Him, will necessarily express itself by fitting word, look, and temper; by silence and by speech; by what is done, and by the way of doing it; by what is left undone; by those signs, in short, of moral health which are perceived and felt by all who come into contact with the missionary. The light within our dwelling emanating from us may be dim, as if struggling through the mists of morning; but it is light nevertheless, and not the old darkness. The life may be weak, but it is real. There will ever be that almost indescribable something in the whole bearing of the true man, who is in sympathy with God,-whether

at the festive board, in a scene of sorrow, or in times of family difficulty and bereavement, as well as in the ordinary ongoings of every-day life,which will impress the hearts of others with the conviction that this man sees some person who to them is invisible; that he leans upon, to them, an unknown arm; that he enjoys a strength and a peace the world never gave; and that he has an actual possession of what is a practical power, able to mould his life and actions. And this kind of "showing" what great things the Lord hath done— this kind of preaching in the family and among friends-is not the less influential, but the more so, from its unconsciousness and the absence of all effort or plan, and as being the natural expression of what is real and habitual.

And this influence of a good life does not exclude a more direct showing, by spoken word, of what the Lord has done for ourselves, and what He is willing and able to do for all. Innumerable opportunities will be given thus to make Christ known as the Saviour of sinners to those who know Him not. It may be to a young man as he is about to journey to a foreign land; or during a walk with a companion in a summer evening; or when visiting

a dying friend at midnight, when all the house is still; or when amidst the afflictions and desolation of a bereaved family;-in these and many similar instances, he who has experienced the patience, forbearance, and goodness of the Lord, can speak to others the fitting word in sympathy and gentleness, which will deliver their feet from falling and their minds from going down to the pit, and bring to them life, liberty, and peace. If we only desire to "do good unto all, as we have opportunity," depend upon it, God will give opportunity. If we only realised that it is indeed " more blessed to give than to receive," we should have more to give and a deeper blessing to receive.

Now, these opportunities of showing the compassion of our Lord to ourselves are really given to every member of the household. The Christian servant in the kitchen, the Christian nurse among the children or beside the sick-bed, the Christian old man in the arm-chair beside the fire, each and all, if themselves good, cannot choose but bestow lasting good, in some form, by their unselfish life, their humility, gentleness, faith, and love. By simply doing their duty as Christians, they may be ministers of Christ, and epistles written

by the finger of the Spirit, which all can read. In prescribing this home mission work, we cannot say to the feeblest member of the body, we have no need for thee. That decrepit or infirm one, who has been confined to a sick-bed for years, who has never known one day's health since she was received into her mother's arms, and pressed to her bosom with that special tenderness which the weak draw forth from a mother's yearning heart; or that sick one to whom the glories of the midnight sky, the beauty of the summer field, are unknown, may, nevertheless, be the greatest gifts of God to the house in which they live or die, and most eloquent and influential missionaries. For the peaceful and submissive spirit of the sufferer, the cheerful smile, the words of meekness and acts of considerate love, all show day and night what the Lord has done. Such a missionary is like the beauteous rainbow that rests upon the bosom of the sky, unbroken by the strong wind and stormy tempest, appearing indeed more bright from the darkness with which it is surrounded, reflecting the light of heaven through misty tears, and bending over our earthly home as the sign of a holy covenant of peace. Ah, my friends, realise as

above all price-above all gifts of rank, of talent, and fortune—the gift of one person in your family who has experienced, and can show forth, what great things the Lord hath done for him or

her.

Such is the mission of the members of the Christian Church. It originates in the renewed heart, and it works in the house. But it need not be circumscribed within such narrow limits. There, indeed, it first bestows its riches; but by giving, these are increased. It pours forth its streams of charity there, but these only make the charity more abundant; and accordingly, when the fitting time comes, God will give to the homemissionary other poor and needy ones on which to lavish his affections; other thirsty and parched deserts which he can refresh and gladden. For it may happen to him at home as it did to the Gadarene Demoniac, who, after showing in his own house "what the Lord" had "done for him," at last proclaimed the glad tidings to "the whole city.” He who thus uses his one talent for the good of his family, may receive from the Lord ten talents more to use for the good of his country and of the world.