and this fruit of charity is the richest and most luscious that grows upon the stem of the renewed soul. Seek to test yourselves by this standard. Take the apostle's minute description of charity, in its varied bearings, and ask how it applies unto your own life and feelings. Are you longsuffering and kind, envying not the prosperity of others, puffed not up in your own conceits, not making yourself and your comforts and happiness the centre of your desires; acting not rudely and overbearingly in your relations with your fellows; not easily provoked; thinking not or suspecting not evil; rejoicing not when your enemy falleth, or is overtaken by sin, but rather when he repenteth, and the truth triumpheth in him; bearing all things, believing all things that are good, hoping all things of others till clearly convinced of the contrary, enduring all things, or suffering many hardships rather than resist your wrong? Are you of a truly generous disposition in regard to your fellowmen, ready to hail what is good in them; not trying to impute baser motives where their conduct seems to be more honourable;

not critically wishing to find fault when there appeareth an opening, but large-hearted, kindly affectioned, and gracious? If these things be in you and abound, then you have full evidence of the life of Christ, and the work of the Holy Ghost in your souls; but if you feel your own shortcomings in these most attractive gifts, oh, then seek of God, your gracious and loving Father, in Christ Jesus, that you may more and more be enriched by them, that all harshness and severity of judgment may be banished from your minds; and while sternly maintaining with holy care the principles of Christian truth, that you may in your relations and dealings show that gentleness, and forbearance, and absence of vindictiveness, and charitable construction, which becometh the brethren of the Lord Jesus, whose souls have been renewed by His sovereign grace. Seek to cultivate these better gifts. Not every one that sayeth, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom. No outward profession without a becoming, loving life will stand in account in the day of his appearing. Let us, with all carefulness and watchfulness, seek, God

helping us, to cultivate this gift of charity— the noblest gift from heaven unto man; let us beware of judging, that we may not be judged; let us walk in kindliness and tender affection; let us regard the interests of others, and their character and reputation, as if they were our own; let us welcome what is good in them; let our interest be of that generous kind which wisheth only their welfare, and then we shall possess a virtue which shall shine more brightly through the everlasting ages. True gentleness of spirit is allied unto true bravery, and he who is strengthened of God to walk according to it shall most faithfully maintain the cause of truth, even to the death, in the day of evil.

in our souls the emotion of praise unto Him who hath so wondrously formed them. The sun and the moon and the stars of light, which exhibit unto us the vastness of the creation, and shine forth upon us with such ethereal purity, speak unto us of the omnipotence of God, and reveal to us somewhat of the greatness and perfection of the designs of the divine mind. "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth His handywork." And, day by day, as the light cometh forth anew from the glorious centre of our system, and lighteth up all things with its cheering rays, dispelling the gloomy shadows of night, must it awaken within us the song of heartfelt praise. That other orb which also casts its softened rays over the scenes of night, and gives to all it touches a spectral-like hue and beauty, surely sounds in our ears the praise of Him who has formed it; and all these stars which sparkle with such unearthly and ethereal brilliancy, and speak of the distant portions of God's empire which He hath thus opened up to view, utter forth, in the still hour of midnight, an anthem of praise unto Him who