almost due to this alone. The grape-clusters themselves are all the more pleasant to the eye, and more attractive to the gatherer, because they are draped and garlanded in living green.

There are some Christians who are much inclined to boast themselves because they are not in the habit of "making a profession" of religion. Some of them will tone it down a little, and deprecate the making "much" profession. I have no doubt

that this is often a very clever and a very mischievous delusion of the devil. It is quite possible that the absence of the external in religion may be a token of the limp, flaccid and all but lifeless condition of the branch. It is incumbent on every Christian to let his light so shine that men may be attracted to the Saviour whose reflection it is, and of whose beauty and grace it is the sure token and sign.

A true Christian should aim at having Christly manners as well as a Christly mind. His very deportment and behaviour, while at the utmost possible remove from the sanctimoniousness and Pharisaic seeming which so often brings religion into contempt, should have that about it as a whole which commands respect for the light-holder

as well as for the Light he desires to honour. "His leaf shall be green!" a pleasant fragrance shall subtly tell the presence of the Christ, and at the same time his fruit shall show more mellow and well-pleasing because of the refreshing and attractive setting of behaviour amid which the clusters hang.

Making a profession, as it is called, is no doubt ever to be deprecated, if it is really only a human process of manufacture, intended for ornament and not for use; but the profession which is a loyal confession, and the social bearing which is the outcome of the kindly charities, and the cheery sympathies and feelings of the heart, this is beautiful and every way to be desired.

A Christian with nothing about him to tell or denote that he is a close follower and imitator of the meek, kindly, courteous, gentle and beautifulminded Jesus, who was the fairest among ten thousand and altogether lovely, however he may produce real fruit of worth and service,-is as improper, as unnatural, and as unsightly as a summer vine which is naked of foliage, or ragged and flimsy, with only here and there a leaf on its bald and uninviting boughs.

"Let us with a gladsome mind

Praise the Lord, for He is kind "—

says a sweet singer rightly and truly enough; but the warm glow in the heart that prompts the song should surely bring a bright gleam upon the face, a sort of natural and consequent shimmer of light, like that which plays among the sun-kissed vineleaves while the breeze is stirring. There is a possibility of making even the truth of God repellent; of doing Christian duty and bearing the Christian profession in so unlovely a fashion, as to act like the negative end of a magnet on those who come within its influence. It is possible to make even tendereyed charity to wear a frown, and to rob kindness and sympathy of its heavenly bloom by ways and manners foreign to its nature.

Let us seek to wear the bright credentials of those who are at peace with God, with themselves, and their fellowmen. Let us forbear to libel our religion and our Master by moroseness, sternness, sullenness, or gloom; but let us cultivate and wear the sunny countenance, the cheerful spirit, the pleasant aspect, the kindly tone; and in all and through all and upon all let the light of piety rest like the evident smile and benediction of our God. Bear much fruit,

O Christian! but do not forget the leaves!

Bright the stars in heaven are shining, Bright the sky with summer blue, Bright the clouds in sun's declining, Bright the crystal drops of dew.

Springtide brightly tells its story, Summer shines with brightest flowers, Autumn dons a golden glory,

Bright the frost makes wintry hours.

Nature all her gifts enhances

By the garlands which she weaves;
And her fruit in worth advances
By its coronal of leaves.

So the soul's glad new creation
Out of sin to glorious life,
Greater brightness should occasion
With all joy and gladness rife.

For we are Christ's and not another's,
And He, the Living Vine, I ween.
Let every living branch, my brothers,
Still be dressed in living green.

The faithful followers of the Saviour,
Branches of the Living Vine,

Show by beauty of behaviour,

Fruit, life, foliage—all Divine.

VII.

EXPANSION.

THE branches of the vine begin almost with their youngest life to be the centres of new departures. Ever themselves extending and expanding, they nevertheless are the means and medium by which fresh branches are added to draw life from the parent stem. Spurring out in this direction and dividing again in that, they become an instrumentality by which the whole number of boughs is materially increased. Thus the growth of the branch and its multiplying power proceed together, are largely dependent on each other, and suggest a lesson of profound importance to the Christian with regard to another vital feature of his life in Christ.

As branches of the living Vine we are to be the instruments and agencies by which still other branches may be grafted into Christ. By a constant spiritual propagation we are ever to increase and

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