every man and teaching every man in all wisdom." Having a distinct and practical aim, he did not deal with men merely in the general, but individualized them, as it were, and dealt with them as each might need.

So must it be with all workers who would effectually glorify the Lord and serve their generation. In seeking the good of others, they must be special alike in aim and in effort, just because each one has his own special responsibilities, trials, and wants. A mere vague love to humanity is a poor, purposeless, and inoperative thing. It dreams and speculates only, but never puts its hand to real work, or goes forth with deliberate design to lift the fallen, guide the erring, and cheer the downcast.

But true Christian workers are not only special in their aim to save; they are equally special in their aim to elevate, and strive, like the apostle, as far as possible, "to present every man perfect in Christ Jesus,"-perfect in relationship, "accepted in the Beloved;" perfect in character, "holy and unblamable in his sight;" perfect in knowledge, "filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;" and perfect in gladness, knowing that "the joy of the Lord is their strength." "Heaven," says one, "begins when faith in Christ drops the seed of eternal life into the soul; increases when the soul quits its earthly tabernacle; and is perfected when, at the Lord's coming, the soul is united to a glorified body.”

The God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever.-HEB. xiii. 20, 21.

That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. -EPH. v. 27.

March 17.

NOT ONE IN TRIBE, YET ONE IN CHRIST.

HERE are great diversities among men,-diversities

THERE

in nationality, in civilization, and religious rite,and these, too, of long standing, and visible to every eye. Nevertheless, when the gospel comes in power through the Spirit of all grace, the strange diversity is lost in a marvellous unity. There is then "neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all." Yes; whatever a man's tribe, or tongue, or outward circumstances, the gospel comes to him, not merely in freest offer, but with such special adaptation and completeness that, when it is embraced, he will feel its quickening and sanctifying power.

From age to age this saving and uniting gospel continues to be the power of God and the wisdom of God to every one that believeth; yea, to the very lowest of the bond, as well as to the free. Some years ago a poor miner, who had almost been given up as a castaway, was mercifully brought to experience the saving power of the gospel. After his conversion he said: "I praised God with all my heart for what he had done for a poor sinner like me. Everything looked new to me, the people, the fields, the cattle, the trees. I was like a man in a new world; and I was so joyous that some said I was a madman: but what they might well mean was that I was a glad-man; and, glory be to God! I have been glad ever since."

Never, perhaps, were two men in the beginning more

widely apart in position, character, and cherished interests than Paul and Onesimus. Onesimus was but a servant, yea, lower still, a slave; yet if he had been one of the nearest and dearest of relatives, Paul could not have pleaded for him with more touching affection or persuasive earnestness: "I beseech thee," he said, “for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:...that thou shouldest receive him; not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?" Such tender and loving words from the lips of a once proud, stern, Gentile-hating Pharisee beautifully illustrates the purifying and ennobling influence of grace. It is only a vital Christianity that can win such triumphs, and unite men in warmest brotherhood in spite of every diversity of tribe and tongue.

There is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.-ROM. x. 12.

By one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.-1 COR. xii. 13.

Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: but the rich, in that he is made low.-JAMES i. 9, 10.

A

March 18.

REPETITIONS MAY BE NEEDFUL.

N unbroken sameness of discourse soon ceases to be

edifying, and therefore, either in matter or form, there must usually be more or less of change. This indispensable characteristic is beautifully seen in the Word

of God. It contains not only all that is necessary to be known and believed in order to salvation, but there is in it such fulness of gracious truth, in such varied and interesting aspects, that in almost every page we meet with something new. In presenting the new, however, it never allows us to forget the old, or to give but a secondary place to the grand essential truths that centre in Christ, and are linked to salvation: hence the apostle's wellknown words, "To write the same things to you, to me is not grievous, but for you it is safe." Plainly, it was not because his range was a narrow one that he did this—for in his writings we find things deep and glorious, as well as simple and practical; food for the strong, as well as milk for the babes-but mainly that he might the better impress upon men the things that belonged to their peace.

Such repetition and reiteration are at times an absolute necessity. What we hear but once we are apt to underestimate as a thing of but little account, and apt also speedily to forget. Why," said one, "do you tell that dull boy the same thing twenty times over?" "Because," replied the mother, "nineteen times would not do. If I told him that but nineteen times, my labour is lost, but the twentieth time secures the object." It is just so with us: we need line upon line, and precept upon precept, to make us permanently remember; and what we need our gracious Lord lovingly bestows.

"Those of us," says Mr. Spurgeon, "who have been preaching for five and twenty years sometimes feel that the same work, the same subject, the same people, and the same pulpit, are together apt to beget a feeling of monotony, and monotony may soon lead to weariness. But then we call to mind another sameness, which becomes

our complete deliverance, there is the same Saviour, and we go to him in the same way as we did at the first, since he is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. Beneath his smile our long-accustomed work grows new, and wears a brighter charm than novelty could have given it. We gather new manna for our people every morning; and as we go to distribute it, we feel an anointing of fresh oil distilling upon us: "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength."

I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance.-2 PETER i. 12, 13.

Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God. --ROM. XV. 15.

THERE

March 19.

ENTRANCE AND CONTINUANCE.

HERE is much in the old saying, "Well begun is half done." Nevertheless, hopeful as is a good beginning, it is never of itself enough, either in temporal or in spiritual matters. In a race, men may be first at the start, and yet be last at the goal, and thus miss the prize so eagerly coveted; in a warfare, an army may be victorious in one campaign, and yet be crushingly defeated in the next; and in ordinary business, men may be very prosperous in their first transactions, and yet come to utter bankruptcy through their last.

It is the same in highest things. Rarely is it safe to build with absolute assuredness on any mere beginnings,