stable of Bethlehem lies a feeble infant, in all the weakness and feebleness of infancy, but this is the King of righteousness, whose kingdom is now set up on earth. For thirty years he lived in retirement and poverty, yet in him dwelt all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And when put to death by his enemies, he himself had foretold the result, comparing himself to a grain of wheat," If it die, it bringeth forth much fruit," and he gave a commission to his disciples to preach the gospel to every creature. What! can those poor Galileans, with their ignorance and despised way of speaking, convert the Roman empire, which then governed the world, by preaching repentance and faith in Jesus, a crucified Jew, showing that he was risen to life, and that there was no salvation in any other? Yes; they carried the name of their Master to the greatest cities of the world, in a time when these were famous for their knowledge and skill, and also for a spirit of questioning and investigation. And those observers did not fail to attack and persecute the faith of the apostles. Who, after such difficulties being overcome, can despair of the progress of the kingdom of heaven among men? The seed became a tree, and spread its branches far and wide. The same may be said of the knowledge of the truth in later times. The Moravian brethren who send missionaries to the poor negroes in the West Indies and the half-frozen Greenlanders, and have so many settlements in different parts of the world, trace up their connexion with the followers of that faithful martyr John Huss. The Bible was read by another solitary man in the cloisters of Erfurt, and he became the instrument chosen by God for the reformation of Europe. During the last fifty years, the day of small things has often been blessed. A few friends in London, who knew the value of the Scriptures, and were engaged already in one good work-that of The Religious Tract Society-became the founders of a society which has sent the word of God to all parts of the earth. Thus sinners are turned from darkness to light through Him who willeth not the death of a sinner, but that all should come to repentance. Wherever a single ray of gospel light shines, where a single truth is lodged in the heart of man, there a seed is sown which may spring up and become a great tree. Let not unbelief or impatience trample on or destroy it; let it be watched in faith and prayer, and God will give it increase.

The power of God is clearly seen, in the instances already noticed, as far exceeding anything that man could do. Thus

the kingdom of heaven resembles the growth of a noble tree from a small despised seed. The comparison that follows points out the complete renewal of the inner man, the passing from death unto life, from earth to heaven.

This second parable brings forward three important lessons. What is the work which the Saviour compares to leaven? Why do men need this complete, thorough change? And why is this comparison applied to the work of God, not of man? It must be remembered that all men are corrupt and sinful, and need to be completely renewed. They have burst the bonds of human restraint, and cannot return to the right way till the Holy Spirit imparts a new life, and Christ is formed within. This gives a feeling to the soul which cannot be kept to itself; there is a sense of love, which brings to man fresh motives and fresh strength. When this work begins, it is often in secret and unobserved, but it comes from God, and tends to him again. The ways of the Almighty are wonderful, and past finding out, and are often rather felt by the affections than discovered by the understanding. is a moment when the prodigal son comes to himself, and says, "I will arise, and go to my father," and this thought is the leaven, which is hid within the mass till the whole is leavened.

There

Religious impressions received in childhood may slumber long in the memory, till the word of God awakes them again to life; then the name of the Saviour, early learned, but long rejected, opens the way to a reconciled Father, and offers peace and forgiveness of sins. When the work has proceeded thus far, it will not cease. Those who have once lived to themselves now become alive to God; the darkness of error is changed to the light of true wisdom, because Jesus is found to be the way, the truth, and the life, by whom we may draw nigh to God.

The grace of God spreads, as leaven goes through the lump till the whole is leavened. Those weak, fearful souls, seem scarcely to know that the Lord is with them; they have not long felt as they now do! All the works of God, both natural and spiritual, are gradual, if they are lasting. The blossom soon opens, and it quickly perishes; but the oak, which remains for centuries, is years before it arrives at its full stature. From the heart are the issues of life, and when this fountain is cleansed the streams from it will be purified also. The ways of God are manifold in the conversion of the souls of men. Mortals see but the outward life, while God looks at the heart. The new cloth on an old garment will

make the rent worse, and thus it is with mere outward changes, while the least spark of life within renews the heart and produces much good fruit. Thus the parable of the leaven shows that there may be a real inward change, while the outward forms, which men regard, remain the same, for these do not affect the work that is going on in the heart. It is the same whether men are rich or poor, learned or unlearned, busy or at ease. Outward circumstances differ, and the grace of God does not change, though it sanctifies them. The warmth of Peter and Luther, the tenderness of Melancthon or John, the talents of one man and the amiable character of another, all may be used to the glory of God. Endless varieties in undisturbed harmony. This is the true description of the effect of religion-doing all to the glory of God.

Here, then, is a caution to men against judging or condemning one another. One rule only is given, to be applied to ourselves, Except a man be born again, he cannot enter the kingdom of God; that kingdom which is compared to leaven. Lay hold, then, reader, on eternal life; seek that it may be yours-that the work may be begun or carried on in your soul; and avoid whatever would tend to destroy it. May God hasten the time when this change will be perfected in us, and our hearts be thoroughly cleansed from the guilt and pollutions of sin.

HELP ONE ANOTHER.

S.

JOHN and Henry Perkins went for the first time to visit their uncle Edward in the country, and pleased enough they were. "Now, boys," said he, "enjoy yourselves, but, whatever you do, mind that you help one another."

Uncle Edward, in his time, had seen that young people, and old people too, get a great deal by helping each other, and lose a great deal by hindering one another: it was, therefore, a favourite saying with him, "Help one another; you will get more in a week by helping than you will in a fortnight by hindering."

The very day that the two brothers arrived at the farm, uncle Edward took them out with him, when they soon fell in with two dogs coupled together. The white dog wanted to go one way, while the black dog seemed determined to go the other, and so they went on pulling and almost throttling one another, but neither of them getting his own way. "See, boys," said uncle Edward," how little you are likely to get by hindering one another."

Soon after this they came to a loaded wagon, with four horses, belonging to uncle Edward, when he told the driver to unhook two of the horses, and hook them on to the tail of the wagon. This was done, and the whip applied to the horses, but as two of them pulled one way and two another, with all their pulling the wagon did not move one yard from the spot.

There are many people who, judging hastily, would think that uncle Edward was not acting over wisely in this matter, for that he was losing time, and doing no good; but uncle Edward knew very well what he was about-he knew that it was worth something to fix a good lesson in the minds of his nephews. "They will never forget," said he to himself, "this affair of the wagon and horses."

"Well, boys," said he to John and Henry," you have seen how much these cattle get by hindering one another; now you shall see whether they will mend the matter by helping one another." The horses were then unhooked from the tail of the wagon, and again placed where they were before. At the smack of the whip all four horses pulled together, making the traces rattle with the sudden jerk, and away went the loaded wagon without any difficulty.

As uncle Edward sat in the house at night, he took up a book of fables. "Listen, boys," said he, " to the fable of the lion, the bear, and the fox; I will give it you in my own words. The lion and the bear went a-hunting together, and caught a young fawn, but no sooner had they caught it than they began to quarrel and fight about it, when a sly fox, who saw how busily they were engaged, ran off with the fawn, without their perceiving him. Thus you see, boys, the bear and the lion gained a fawn by helping one another, and lost it again by hindering one another."

"Now I have the book in my hand," said uncle Edward, "I may as well give you another fable. It shall be that of the lion and the mouse. I will tell this in my own way, to answer my own purpose. While the lion was asleep, a company of scrambling mice ran over him in their play, and awoke him, when he laid hold of one, and was about to hinder him in his sport, but thinking better of the matter, he set him at liberty. Soon after this, the lion being caught in a net laid for him by the hunters, roared out loudly. The mouse hearing him, went to help him to get out of the net, and this he did in so clever a way, by gnawing asunder the knots with his sharp little teeth, that the lordly lion was soon at liberty. boys," said uncle Edward, "that we ought never to

You

see,

think that we cannot help one another, when a mighty lion may be helped by so mean a thing as a mouse."

The next day, when uncle Edward was in the garden with his nephews, he told John to fetch him the bucket of water that he himself had filled ready for the occasion. John went for the bucket, but no sooner did he attempt to carry it than it struck against his legs, and the water splashed into his shoes, so he cried out that he could not bring it. "If that is the case," said uncle Edward to Henry," you had better go and help him." Away ran Henry, and in a few minutes the two boys, each holding the handle, brought the bucket of water, without spilling a single drop. Nothing can be plainer," said uncle Edward," than that it is a good thing to help one another."

66

In ten minutes after this uncle Edward asked Henry to run down the middle walk, and to bring up the iron roller that was standing by the summer arbour. Henry had a famous scamper along the gravel walk, but when he attempted to pull or to push the roller along, he found it to be too heavy for him. He tried again and again, but it was all of no use, so uncle Edward, who well knew his difficulty, spoke thus to John, "See, yonder is your brother pulling away at the roller like a horse when the wheels of a cart are set fast in a hole; he helped you with the bucket of water, see if you can help him with the roller."

Off went John like an arrow along the walk, and took hold of one side of the handle of the iron roller, while his brother pulled at the other. The roller was a weighty one, and crushed the small stones beneath it into the gravel as it moved along, but John and Henry pulled together, laughing all the time, and soon brought it to their uncle. "I hope," said uncle Edward, "that we all of us now have been helping one another. You, Henry, have helped John with the bucket of water, and he has helped you with the roller, and, if I am not much mistaken, I have helped you both to a good lesson, which you will never forget; it is this, that much is to be gained by helping, and a great deal to be lost by hindering one another."

When John and Henry returned home, you may be sure that they told their parents all about the two dogs, and the loaded wagon, and the fables, and the bucket of water, and the iron roller, ending their account with the favourite saying of their uncle Edward, "Help one another, for much is to be gained by helping, and a great deal to be lost by hindering one another."