which we may fit ourselves, if we will, for an eternal life beyond it. This is life to each of us, and this is our proper business; all the rest that we do, or can do, however splendid, however useful, is, or should be, done only subordinately. We may be thankful to God when he makes our training for eternity consist in the doing great and useful actions, in bringing forth much fruit; but we, each of us, are doing our business as thoroughly, are answering as completely the purposes for which we were sent into the world, if we are laid for years of our life upon a bed of sickness, incapable of any further action than that of glorifying God, and perfecting our own souls, by patient love. The welfare of nations, the improvement of the world on a large scale, are, if I may use such an expression, God's object and God's business; and thankful and happy we may be when, by the particular call of his providence, he chooses us to be his honoured instruments in accomplishing his work. But yet we should rejoice with trembling, lest, while thus engaged in what I have ventured to call God's peculiar work, we may chance to neglect our own; while preaching or ministering to, or enlightening or governing others, we ourselves should be castaways. It is not, therefore, true that our great business or object in the world is to do all the good we can in it: our great business and object is to do God's will, and so to be changed through his Spirit into his image, that we may be fit to live with him for ever. His will is declared to us by the course of his providence, putting us into different situations of life where different duties are required of us; but these duties are duties because they are his will; and if performed without reference to him, if done for worldly objects only, be they ever so extensive and beneficial, if done solely to improve mankind, and not to do the will of our Heavenly Father, then our great business in life is left undone, and the most helpless sufferer who has been bedridden for years, or the child who

for business or for pleasure, but to do them good, is so exceedingly useful. In direct personal intercourse with our neighbours, when this is borne in mind, every day's work is complete in itself, every day secures actions for comfortable memory here, and for a blessed account hereafter. Here, in truth, we may feel that the word is very nigh us, in our mouth and in our heart, that we may do it. It is surprising how much pleasure may thus be given every day, how much suffering relieved, and how much good done. Unlike the more laborious enterprises of human life, where the previous time and exertion is often almost wasted, if we are by any circumstance hindered from completing them, in these daily charities, the seed is no sooner sown than the harvest is gathered, and the fruit stored away in security. In such a course of life, sufficient for the day is the good thereof, no less than the evil.

But now, it may be asked, how can we secure such a life? We are engaged in various worldly occupations, which are undoubtedly our immediate and most particular duties, which take up the greatest portion of our time, and oblige us many times to provide for the future, to live for much more than for the day. I said, in my former sermon, that we cannot, indeed, imitate Christ exactly in this point, but that we must find opportunity to do sometimes what he did always. The opportunities, of course, will vary greatly: and while, in some situations, like that of a clergyman with the care of a parish, Christ's employment may actually be ours, and our main business is just the same as his was, yet in other professions and situations of life it is not so; and the opportunities for following his example must be carefully treasured up whenever they do occur, and multiplied by our own watchfulness. But, in whatever station or employment, we must find them or make them, if we would not deprive ourselves of what may well be called the salt of our daily living. We must, if