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savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: to the one we are a savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life."-2 Cor. ii. 15. And we are told "that the servant, which knew his Lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes."— Luke xii. 47.

Has the preached word, then, no effect?

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Yes. We have God's own words to assure us, that, "as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater; so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." Isa. lv. 10. Some always falls into "good ground," which is proved good by its fruitfulness. Christ says "Herein is my father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples." John xv. 8. Lydia was a fruitful hearer, "whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptised, and her household, she besought us," says St. Luke, "saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us."-Acts xvi. 14.

You said, in a former part, that persecutions ripen the virtues in a sincere Christian, and are, therefore, blessings from God. I think you can

repeat a striking passage, where the cold north wind of adversity (or conviction of sin), and the south wind of prosperity (or the sweet promises of the Gospel), are invoked to produce the fruit of the Spirit?

Yes. 66 Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into His garden, and eat His pleasant fruits."-Song iv. 16.

I wish you to mark the change in the expression. When Christ's spirit is besought by a Minister for his people, or by an individual, the heart is called my garden: but when the spirit has come with power, it then becomes His garden, and the fruits also.

Will you repeat the next verse, to assure us that such a prayer will be attended to, and graciously answered?

"I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey I have drunk my wine with my milk :eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved."-Song v. 1.

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We have not remarked upon the difference in the amount of fruitfulness. This will employ our attention in the Parable of the Talents. And, in conclusion, let me remind you, that if we would receive a blessing from God, we must not only look into the perfect law of liberty, and continue therein, but that we be not forgetful hearers, but doers of the work.-James i. 25.

We must now end, in our favourite manner, by

a hymn.

HYMN 54.

Almighty God, Thy word is cast
Like seed upon the ground;
O let the dew of Heaven descend,
And shed its influence round.

Let not the foe of Christ and man
This holy seed remove;
May it take root in ev'ry heart,
And grow in faith and love.

Let not this life's deceitful cares,
Nor worldly wealth and joy,
Nor scorching beam, nor stormy blast,
The rising plant destroy.

Where'er the word of life is sown,

A large increase bestow;

That all who hear Thy message, Lord,
Its saving power may know.

THE GOOD SAMARITAN.

LUKE X. 25.

THOUGH We confess ourselves miserable sinners, and that "there is no health in us," still how prone are we to forget our fallen state, and our dependance upon Christ's merits and grace, to make the best of our works acceptable to God! As "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteonsness," 2 Tim.

iii. 16, how properly may we apply it to our own individual case! Now, with what question did this interpreter of the law (for such were called lawyers) come to Christ?

He asked our Saviour (it is said), What shall I do to inherit eternal life?

Did he sincerely wish to know the vation ?

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No. For it is added, he tempted Christ by asking.

When we talk about religion carelessly, or as a matter of dispute, what commandment do we break?

The third; for then we assuredly take God's name in vain.

Did Christ give the lawyer any answer ?

Yes. He referred him to the covenant of works, as he seemed to expect to gain Heaven, upon the ground of his obedience.

What were the requirements of that agreement?

The sum of it was, loving God supremely and entirely, loving nothing but what we love for Him, and loving our neighbour as ourselves. It is written, "Do this, and thou shalt live." Again, "Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant."-Jer. xi. 3. And "whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."-James ii. 10.

Could he stand this judgment?

No. "For in God's sight shall no man living be justified."-Ps. cxliii. 2. "We know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them

who are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God."-Rom. iii. 19.

There are two versicles in the Litany, where we pray that God would not deal with us after our sins, neither reward us after our iniquities." Do you know the meaning of them?

After, means-according to. "If thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?"-Ps. cxxx. 3.

When the lawyer's conscience thus convicted him of sin, what did he do?

He passed by the law, and enquired who was his neighbour.

Now that you understand the occasion for this parable being spoken, to teach this man the Christian lesson of universal charity, will you tell me what you know respecting the Samaritans, and how the Jews stood affected towards them?

They were the inhabitants of Samaria, and the open enemies of the Jews, who hated them to such a degree, that "they had no dealings with them."-John iv. 9.

I will relate, in as few words as possible, the Samaritan's origin, and the cause of this enmity. In the wicked reign of Hoshea, (2 Kings xvii.) the children of Israel grievously sinned, by worshipping idols: God, therefore, gave the ten tribes into the hands of Shalmaneser, who carried them away into Assyria, and brought men from Babylon, and other cities, to dwell in Samaria, instead of the Israelites. Here these Heathens continued

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