lutely waste in idleness would secure the tythe of one or two hundred dollars annually. It is neither judicious nor generous to descend to personalities; but when the world is famishing, we cannot stand silently by and hear the excuses of christians, while we see them wasting what would do much to send the bread of life to the suffering. When such ask, significantly, what they can be expected to do, we feel inclined to suggest, that they save the scraps of time and substance, which they have hitherto wasted by carelessness or indolence; and in one year they will have an answer in their own hands. The several items, of which they have heretofore thought nothing, will constitute an offering, wherewith they may come generously before the Lord.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE DIVINE PROMISES, AS VIEWED BY THE DOER OF THE WORD.

IN prosecuting the work of missions, Paul may plant, and Apollos may water; but God must give the increase. So then, neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth, toward an absolute result. These facts render it important to know what God has said respecting the objects, whose accomplishment we desire. The divine promises respecting the spread of the Gospel, and the conversion of the world, are choice portions of Scripture with all, who aim to be doers of the word. These are the foundation stones of all our hope. Jehovah has given his pledge, and

it shall stand fast. To his Son he has said, "Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance." The Son has taken up the promise and said, Father, I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me, where I am. Neither pray I for these alone; but for all those who shall believe on me through their word; that is, through their preaching, wherever they may go. So the Son has asked that success may be given to the labors of his disciples; and has received answer from the eternal throne, that the heathen shall be gathered. This position, taken by the sponded to by the Son,

Father, and recements all the

grand promises into one broad foundation; places underneath it the everlasting arms; and thus secures an efficiency, against which, the gates of death and hell shall not prevail. Upon this foundation the church shall be mighty through God, to pull down strong holds, until they are all demolished. Let the halting, wavering disciple come fairly up

from his wilderness of doubt, and plant himself upon this rock of ages. Let him shake off his practical infidelity, and survey these promises, until he feels they are firm ground beneath him. Verily, let him fix his eye steadily upon the Sun of Righteousness, as he shines in the Gospel. In this light he will see light shining upon the path of his duty. If he still doubts and stumbles at the divine command, it must be because there is no susceptibility within, to comprehend the light which shines from without.

But these promises, so satisfactory to every faithful doer, are perverted by some, who hear the word and do it not. Because they are given in terms so positive, and the Author of them is immutable, the inference is, often, that the redemption of the world is not only certain, but absolutely unconditional. The promise and the accomplishment are brought so nearly together, that little or no space is left for intermediate instrumentalities. Hence it is, that so many are heard plead

ing with God, and filling their mouths with his promises for arguments, who seem to have no strong impression that, between the promise and the result, there must be human agency, in the forms of selfdenial, and conflict, and suffering. But, if we reason in accordance with the revealed plan, this human agency is as really essential to completion, as are the promises. Indeed these are given for encouragement and support under the fatigues of labor. But when they are so viewed as to inspire hope, while they do not carry the idea of toil as essential to success, the truth of God becomes, in effect, a practical falsehood; and under this perversion, it operates against the gracious designs of its Author.

The promise, we know, is the product of the eternal purpose. So does the same purpose imply essential conditions, without which the promise becomes void. And he, who opens his lips to plead the one, must open his hands to comply with the other; else his prayer will be mock