"Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." Matt. xxv. 23.

OUR Lord designs by this parable to show us, that we are all the servants of God; that he has given to each of us what he pleases; and we are in duty bound to improve what we have received; whether it be one, two, or five talents; and be satisfied with it. The gifts which God bestows, and the opportunities he affords for our usefulness, are called pounds, Luke xix. 13, or talents: Matt. xxv. 15. And though he gives to some, more than he does to others, yet, all ought faithfully to improve what they receive. He who improved his two talents met with the same kind and honorable approval, “ Well done," as the one who had improved his five. Each was declared to be a "Good and faithful servant." A humble believer may be ready to ask, How can I be good, when I have no good thing belonging to me? Rom. vii. 18: or how can I be a faithful servant, who have proved so unfaithful in everything? and what is it that I have done well? Notwithstanding, the Saviour will say to those who have done good with their goods, "Thou hast been faithful over a few things" which I have entrusted thee with; and though they were but few, now "I will make thee ruler over many things: " Matt. xxiv. 46, 47. And since it is impossible for all thy Lord's joy to enter thee, "Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord:" Rev. i. 5, 6.

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Have you no talent to improve? not one? Have you no work to do? Be assured of it, we have all constant works that demand our close and serious attention. 1st. Works of piety - Such as praying and praising; reading and hearing the word of God; with all other public, private, and social means of grace. 2d. Works of merWe are to instruct the ignorant, admonish the profane, visit the sick, relieve the needy, comfort the distressed, pray for our enemies, do good unto all men, and bless them that curse us. 3d. Works of self-denial : To deny ourselves whatever is sinful, to put off the old man, to mortify the deeds of the body, to crucify the flesh with its affections and lusts; must be our constant employment. We must in all things do well, to meet with a "Well-done."

"Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long. For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off." Prov. xxiii. 17, 18.

ENVY is one of the Devil's brats; and never should be nursed by any child of God. The joy of envy is another's wo; and the man of envy is never half so blest as when he sees a brother fall from wealth to want; from peace to strife; from honor to reproach; from mirth to tears; or when virtue makes a slip: Prov. xiv. 30.

1st. "Let not thine heart envy sinners" who take pleasure in their sins; but rather pity them. For what good things they now have, and for which they barter their all, will shortly be taken from them; and they will find they have made a sad bargain: Matt. xvi. 26. Do not "envy sinners" their prosperity, for that is their only portion: Ps. xvii. 14: and that which they grow fat on now will poison them in the end: Prov. i. 32.

2d. "But be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long." Make it your daily business to "fear the Lord; and while you are thus every day employed, you will have neither time nor disposition to "envy sinners." While blest with a sense of His love, you can have nothing to wish or to fear; but will be thankful for what you have, and willing to want what He is not willing to give; and though you may have a light pocket, that will not keep you from a merry heart: Prov. xv. 15, 16.

3d. "For surely there is an end;" and things will not continue long as they now are. "There is an end" to the prosperity of the wicked: Ps. lxxiii. 18, 19: an end to all their pursuits, profits, pleasures, and enjoyments: 1 Cor. vii. 31. "There is an end" also to the labors, trials, buffetings, afflictions, and spiritual fightings, of them that "fear the Lord: " 2 Cor. iv. 17. Our life will have an end: Gen. iii. 19. Whatever our present condition might be, we cannot continue in it long. "For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off:" Jer. xxix. 11. Whatever God has promised you, shall not only be done, but wonderfully outdone: Rom. xv. 4. Consider the end; make use of the means; and press on to the end: Phil. iii. 1, 14. Contentment with godliness is great gain; it renders its possessor easy; and gives him pleasure in what he has.

"Godliness with contentment is great gain." 1 Tim. vi. 6. SOMETIMES the term, "godliness," more immediately refers to that particular part of religion, which concerns our duty to God; but here, we regard it as including the whole of genuine religion; consisting of doctrines, duties, and privileges. They who make Christianity a trade, will never find themselves to be gainers by it in the end; but all who closely attend to it as a calling, will find it a most beneficial one. Many who are strangers to godliness, hope to make a gain of it; but all who are acquainted with it, know from experience, that "Godliness with contentment is great gain : " Ps. xxxvii. 16. Godliness and contentment are constant companions ; true contentment grows out of real godliness; and that is the Christian's wealth while in this world: Prov. xvi. 16. It is the wisdom of God to give to men, not all alike, but, what seemeth him good; and it is the wisdom of man to be content with what he receives; and it is "godliness," which, itself is gain, that makes a man content in every situation: Phil. iv. 11.

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A holy man has a heart happy in itself; bliss in his bosom; counts enough, wealth; envies none their lot; his wishes are few, and easy to be obtained; his power bounds his will; care he has none; doing well is his treasure; grace is his health; and changes in Providence. make no change in him; for though he stays in the world he lives far above it: Ps. lxxiii. 25. The only true way to gain is, to become a Christian; and the Christian's gain is godliness; which far exceeds all worldly gain; and godliness being accompanied with contentment makes it "great gain:" Phil. iii. 7, 8, Past things can never be recalled; and future things are in the hand of God: let us, therefore, be content with the things we have: Heb. xiii. 5. Consider, 1st. What good things of this life you have. Be they little or much, do you deserve them? Lam. iii. 22. Consider, 2d. What spiritual blessings you have. You have the unchanging love of God fixed upon you: Jer. xxxi. 3. You have the life, death, and intercession of the Son of God, for your righteousness, sanctification, and redemption 1 Cor. i. 30. You have the Holy Spirit of God, for your Guide, Comforter, &c.: John xiv. 16, 26.

CHAPTER III.

PROMISES TO DUTIES BELONGING TO BOTH TABLES.

TO THE MEEK.

"The meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy one of Israel." Isa.

xxix. 19.

He is the greatest conqueror who has subdued himself. And the man who gets and keeps the victory over himself is, by far a greater victor than was Alexander; in as much as he quells an insurrection at home, which is more glorious than to resist an invasion from abroad : Prov. xvi. 32.

The

"The meek," the humble, lowly, and contrite in heart, who tremble at God's word and make it the rule of their life, are the happiest, and most honorable people in the world: Isa. lvii. 15. They have joy to which the world are entire strangers: John xiv. 22, 23. poor in spirit will never be injured by poverty in pocket ; for when affliction comes, they will always be able to accommodate themselves to their affliction : Job ii. 10. The meek can find joy in the Lord, when there is none to be found in the world; and as they are enabled to rejoice in all their tribulations, when deliverance comes they "increase in joy." The best joy the world can give is fading; but a believer's joy in the Lord is increasing Prov. iv. 18. The followers of the meek and lowly Jesus, are, in general, "the poor among men ;" but their poverty shall not deprive them of that joy which is to be had in the Lord: Heb. vi. 17, 18; for it is promised to the patient: Rom. v. 3: the humble: Ps. Ixix. 32 and all such as suffer the will of God: 1 Pet. v. 10. Meekness cannot fail to increase our happiness,

"The ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.' 1 Pet. iii. 4.

FINE feathers make fine birds; but fine clothes can never adorn a naked soul: Rev. iii. 17. Sin stripped the soul stark naked; consequently, the soUL needs covering as much, yea, more than the body; although many, while they spare no pains to decorate the poor perishing body, remain careless and unconcerned about their precious soul! The silly sheep, and poor silk-worm, may furnish our bodies with clothing; but nothing less than the righteousness of Christ can clothe the soul: 1 Cor. i. 30: Phil. iii. 9.

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The soul's best ornaments are the graces of the Spirit of God; and amongst others, that of "a meek and quiet spirit. Humility, Piety, and Prudence, are ornaments that never wax old, or grow out of fashion, like other ornaments; and though many weak minds think lightly of them, they are "in the sight of God," who estimates things according to their true value, "of great price: Ps. cxlix. 4. Men may despise such ornaments, but that in no way lessens their value; neither does it make them to look any the worse on those who wear them Ps. xxxvii. 11. Beauty is but skin-deep; and soon marred. But if you would wish to appear truly beautiful, see to it that you have the hidden man of the heart adorned, which can never fail to attract the eye of God: Ps. xxv. 9. And the heart being rightly clothed, will teach you how to dress the body; and to bear up under all its sufferings: Prov. xix. 11.

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By faith the soul is united to Jesus; abideth in him; and receiveth out of his fulness grace for grace. Faith worketh by love; and love maketh the heart comfortable, and conformable to his laws. By daily fellowship with God our Saviour, we become more and more conformed to his lovely likeness. By constantly conversing with Jesus, love is maintained in the heart; and "a meek and quiet spirit" ever accompanies love. As we love to see our children well-dressed, so doth the Lord greatly rejoice over all his dear children in Christ Jesus; and is highly pleased with their dress, which is the spotless robe of his Son's righteousness; and with their ornaments, the graces of his Spirit.