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upon the mind the broad blaze of day, and causes his glory to be seen as it never was before. Thus, as the apostle has expressed it, "when the Lord comes to build up Zion, he appears in his glory." To this, then, we are to have supreme regard. We are to pray with Daniel, "O Lord, forgive; hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God!" The matter involves the deepest interest of the eternal throne, as to its relations to our apostate world. No other enterprise engrossed such a portion of the Divine regard, or has involved such an expenditure of treasure, as the enterprise of redeeming mercy. To create the world cost but a word; to redeem it cost the life of God's only Son! And in nothing else is the benevolence of the heart that has yearned over a dying race so gratified as in beholding the results of this enterprise-the trophies of his recovering grace returning in companies to Zion, with “ everlasting joy upon their heads."

"songs and

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BREAKING UP THE FALLOW GROUND.

FIGURES derived from the art of hus-
bandry, or the practice of agriculture,
are frequent in the Scriptures. Thus:
"The vineyard of the Lord of hosts is
the house of Israel." And Paul tells
Christians they are "God's husbandry."
The field is the world." In this field
there are various labourers, with vari-
ous gifts. Some plant, others water,
but God alone gives the increase. The
prophet Hosea, a plain-spoken, tho-
rough reformer, thus speaks in the
name of God: "Israel is an empty
vine; he bringeth forth fruit unto him-
self." "Sow to yourselves in righteous-
ness, reap in mercy; break up your
fallow ground, for it is time to seek the
Lord, till he come and rain righteous-
ness upon you." Fallow ground is that
which has remained for some time un-
cultivated. It may have been culti
vated, and once brought forth fruit,
but now lies waste-overgrown with
grass, weeds, and thistles. The fallow
ground is the church, and the church
is as the hearts of its members.
here is work for us:

Now

1. Let us plough up all the weeds of self-indulgence.

These have grown thick and rank, while the church has slept and slumbered. A wise man in his wanderings "went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding, and lo, it was all grown over with thorns; nettles covered the face thereof. * * Then I saw; I considered well; I looked upon it; I received instruction." And what was the instruction? Why, that self-indulgence leads to spiritual ruin. If an angel, under a commission from the court of heaven, were now passing through the churches to inspect them thoroughly, would he not see many, many lamentable things? But the Lord of angels is scrutinizing the whole field: "All the churches shall know that I am he who searches the reins and hearts, and I will give unto every one of you according to your works." Solemn declaration! How few heed it! Where, in this busy age, is that leading trait of Christianity-the

spirit of self-denial ? Of what assemblage of professors can it be said, "None of us liveth to himself?"

You can thus

sow not among thorns."
expect little fruit. Thorns may also
symbolize the state of that heart which

2. The stumps of indifference must be is so oppressed with the cares of the removed from the fallow ground.

The deep and wide-spreading roots of trees that have been levelled, present solid obstacles to the farmer. He may plough over them and around them, but still they are there. Ordinary culture does not reach them. They must be eradicated by a violent effort of a powerful machine. Now, what is more fatal than the indifference of professors? Indifference on such a theme! when heaven, earth, and hell are awake to its tremendous importance! Yet how has the church now become "rooted and grounded"-not in faith and love-but in stupidity. Can you wonder that sinners are indifferentthat the broad road is so crowded with passengers, rushing with infatuated haste to the ruin that yawns before them?

3. The thorns and tares of needless controversy must be pulled out.

world that the word is choked, the good seed is smothered, and he who thus receives the seed among thorns becomes unfruitful; while he that receives it into a kindly heart brings forth fruit many fold. Like the iniquities of the Amorites, our sins will still "dwell in the land;" and if, as God told Israel, we will not drive them out, 66 those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell."

4. In breaking up a fallow soil, the prolific and hurtful thistles must be removed.

These, indeed, are light, nor do they lacerate like thorns, but they fly about and scatter their minute seeds in every direction. So there are many light matters against which the Christian must guard. The besetting levities of the times are among the most dangerous influences operating against the church. Not only should the speech of Christians be "always with grace, seasoned with salt," but their whole con

It is impossible to cultivate the soil of a heart in which there is any "root of bitterness." Differences of opinion may be entertained without injury, but differences of feeling ought to be avoid-versation, especially in these times of ed. Love is the golden chain which should be thrown around us all; peace the heavenly bond which should grow strong under the unity of the Spirit: "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another." If any have aught against any, go and settle it without delay. Let nothing rankle in that bosom which should ever be a fit temple for the Holy Spirit. "If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the Lord, return unto me." Then comes the command to "break up the fallow ground: tions.

declension and worldliness, should be as becometh the gospel of Christ. Satan continues to make a great onset on the church, tempting her members, especially in cities, and in large towns that are ambitious to catch the spirit and reflect the fashions of cities, to hover about that disputed boundary which separates the church from the world; which, in fact, is with many only an imaginary line," drawn to suit their own perverted inclina

66

5. We should take away all the little PERPLEXITIES OF PARENTAL

stones of stumbling.

LOVE.

IN ancient times a father fell at the feet of a tyrant to pray for the life of two sons who had been condemned to

These, though not so firmly fixed in the earth as larger obstacles, are very troublesome, and should be ejected from the field. Little matters sometimes die. The tyrant was deaf to the praygive offence that might just as well beers of parental love, and the suppliant dispensed with. In things not essential tried the power of gold. He converted either to the principles of rectitude, or all that he had into money, and offered to our individual happiness, it is a good it as a ransom for his boys. The avarule to yield the point, and sacrifice ricious king determined to accept it, our partialities. Paul acted on this but thought he would extort more by noble principle, 1 Cor. viii. 13. A prac- taking what was now brought as the tice may be in itself lawful, while the price of one son, and, therefore, told the highest Christian expediency and pro- father that he would give him one of priety demand abstinence. But if un- his children, and he might take his lawful, then expedience is changed for choice between the two. The father imperative obligation. now tried to make up his mind which

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6. We must remove the great rock of of them he would redeem, as he could unbelief. not have them both. He went to the cell in which they were confined, and each fell into his arms beseeching him to save the other. Now the eldest, his first-born, was the dearest, and he must deliver him. Then the love of the younger would prevail, and he must save the precious child. He went home undecided, and there he tried to think which he would bring back to cheer him in his old age. The more he thought of it the more difficult did he find it to make a choice. It was impos

Nothing can be sown, or, if sown, nothing can be expected to grow, among rocks. Unbelief chills the heart, takes from motives their life and power, ties up the hands, grieves the Spirit, excludes from heaven: "They could not enter in because of unbelief." Strongly does the Saviour state the truth: "They on the rock are they who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who for awhile believe, and in time of temptation fall away." Unbelief is a cold, dead, heart-sible for him to come to a decision, and less thing. It is as closely connected with disobedience as faith is with obedience. As in the time of Christ, so now; it is a capital difficulty in the way of the gospel: "He could not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief." Thou omnipotent Spirit! remove it from the church and from the world! Amen. D.

while he was in this agonizing suspense both of them were put to death!

Parents have been placed in similar circumstances when their children have been exposed to death by fire or by drowning, and it becomes necessary to decide which of them they will leave to perish. At such times it seems easier to lose all, than to save one at the expense of the rest.

In a time of a dreadful famine in Germany, a poor family, consisting of

a father, mother, and four children, were reduced to such deep distress for want of food, that it was at last proposed, as the only means of saving the lives of the rest, that one of the children should be sold. The father made the proposal, and when they were on the point of being starved to death, the mother gave her reluctant consent. Then came the great question, which of them should be parted with. They began with the oldest, their first-born, and there were ties around their hearts and his that made it altogether useless to think of selling him. It was not to be done. The second was next considered, but he was so much like his father, the mother would not think for a moment of parting with him. A blooming girl was the third, the very picture of her mother, and the father could not sell her-not he; he would starve first. And then came the last, and they folded little Benjamin to their bosoms, and said they would die together rather than part with him, or any one of their precious children.

Such is the feeling of the parental heart when such a dreadful alternative is presented. Yet there are many families in which it is easy to see that some children are treated with more leniency and apparent kindness than others. The parents may not be willing to own the fact when mentioned to them. Perhaps they are not conscious of any partiality, but their conduct betrays it, and the quick sensibility of the petted one, and the quicker sensibilities of the neglected ones, soon detect it.

In most cases that have come under my observation parents are particularly fond of their youngest children, especially if these children are given to

them when they are somewhat advanced in life. It is the fact of partiality in families that I am speaking of, and the examples I have cited ought to be imitated by those who are not called to part with any of their children. Parents ought to treat all their children in such a manner that no one of them will ever be able to imagine that one of them is loved more than another. Some of the evils of parental partiality it would be easy to mention, were they not so obvious as to make it needless.

1. It excites envy in the breasts of the other children. They are singularly alive to the voice and manner of their parents. If you speak to one of them harshly, and rebuke another gently for the same fault; if you call one of them "dear," and the other by his name with no epithet of affection, and this becomes with you habitual, they will perceive it, and it will produce its natural effect upon their natural hearts. The envy of Joseph's brethren will be remembered, not only as a warning to children against the indulgence of such a temper, but as a warning to parents against giving occasion for the exercise of such feelings. The neglected ones will look with an evil eye upon the favoured. This will show itself in a thousand little things, and it will give rise to the expression of jealousy and displeasure upon slight occasions. These feelings will grow with the growth of the children and strengthen with their strength, and in riper years, perhaps in manhood and old age, the power of it may be felt; especially if the petted child should not be as successful in business as the others. And who can estimate the mischief that may flow from thus

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awakening or implanting in the breasts making remarks about them in the of children a passion so bitter, impla-presence of their parents, they will lay cable, and lasting, as that of envy?

them up in their hearts, and bring 2. It injures the favoured one even forth fruit in after days. Parents more than those that are neglected. should treat their children so that no Perhaps the object of this partial in-one of them will ever suspect that he dulgence is a little daughter. Suffered is not as dear as any of the number; to have her own way in little things, and to preserve this equality of treatshe soon learns to command in every-ment, it will be necessary to be watchthing. Her faults being unpunished, ful of words and looks and actions. she comes to regard her faults as vir- When we are making presents to our tues, or to think that she may do with children we are careful to please them impunity what is to be blamed in all alike; but we are forgetful of this others. Pride, vanity, disdain, and a duty when we suddenly speak to them host of evil passions that lurk in the or look at them. heart, are nourished, and we soon have a specimen of what is not very rare in our days, "a spoiled child." As the other children are governed with more strictness, though with less affection, it is very likely that their manners are more lovely, and their morals more worthy of Divine approbation, than those of the child who was permitted to walk in the way she pleased to go. In this view, it may be difficult to decide which of the children suffer most, the petted or neglected.

3. It leads the children to despise their parents. There is no doubt of it. They know the common principles of propriety, and when they see these principles invaded, and the same thing permitted in one child which is condemned in another; when they see that smiles are awarded to one, when the other gets only frowns, they will learn to regard their parents as unjust, and then they will despise them.

It is a mistaken notion of many parents that children do not take notice of such things. Children have sharp eyes, and they not only notice, they feel these things; and though their timidity may restrain them from

I should not be surprised if some parents read this who are ready to declare that they know no difference among their children, while the neighbours or friends make it a matter of conversation that they are notoriously partial. So blind are we to our own faults, so keen to see the errors of others.

MEMORIAL OF MRS. HORRABIN. FROM the instructions of her parents, especially of her mother, the mind of Mrs. H. became early imbued with those simple moral principles which were the means of preserving her amidst the snares and temptations to which youth are especially exposed. In addition to the advantage of maternal admonition, she became while young associated with some pious families, which tended to exert upon her a salutary influence, and to prepare her heart for receiving the "incorruptible seed of the kingdom." During her last illness, and only the day before her departure, while embracing her husband with great tenderness, she referred to him as having been the instrument

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