the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more, those members of the body, which seem to be feeble, are necessary.-That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.”

But, in the second place, the duty of every man is no doubt to do well the offices of that peculiar station in life in which he has been placed,-and, by acting in this manner, he is best promoting also the more general interests of the community to which he belongs. At the same time, Providence has made us all "members of a body," or subjects of one great kingdom,—and, by thus giving us a relation to a common interest, has also pointed out to every man that it is his duty to act, not solely for his own benefit, but for the public welfare; and, consequently, that it is his duty thankfully to avail himself of any opportunities of advancing the more general interests that may be put in his way, even though these should not come under the more confined description of his peculiar duties. In short, every man should readily embrace all opportunities of promoting public plans, or of doing good on a great scale; and the poorest are not forbidden to give their co-operation also, in so far as it can go,

in the promotion of such works. Indeed, it is graceful and good to see even the poorest members of the community, not so entirely absorbed in their private interests, as to be indisposed to look with satisfaction on every improvement that seems to promise a better condition of " the kingdom of God;" —and, perhaps, of all the systems of doctrine that were ever proposed to the understanding of man, Christianity is that which has the most obvious tendency to produce this becoming disposition even in the humblest and least ambitious minds.

For the grand discovery of Christianity is that which relates to the appearance in this world of a being of high dignity among the Sons of God;who, however, sought not his own honour by his descent into our world, but the good of the whole of that family whose nature he thus condescended to assume,—and who, in one of the humblest and most suffering of all conditions, wrought out a great work for the happiness and well-being of all the families and of all the generations of men.

And surely if it be proper, that "the same mind should be in us which was also in Christ Jesus," even the humblest of his followers should consider himself as called to be a fellow-worker with him in every

plan by which the happiness and improvement of mankind, on a great scale, may be promoted.

This is the genius of Christianity in its purest and most expansive form. Christ sought not his own interest, but the good of all,—and though he is "the head of the body," and we are but inferior "members," yet it is consistent with our place and relation as members, that each of us also should act for the good of the whole.

In the last place, the plan of Providence, in so far as we see it, or have reason to conclude respecting its arrangements, is a progressive scheme;— and, in accordance with this, it is the instructive representation of Christianity, that our present stations and trusts in the Divine kingdom are but preparatory to future stations and more important trusts in those greater portions of the same grand plan which are hereafter to be evolved. Hence the relation of an individual to the great interests of the kingdom of God, or his power of advancing it, is not to be estimated solely from a view of the station which he occupies at any particular moment, or from the powers with which, under one form of his nature, he may be endowed, but from the relation of his present place and powers to those future trusts

for which his present labours are preparatory, and with which they have an indissoluble connexion.

Hence, again, another beautiful light is thrown on the benevolent system in which we all hold our place;—and hence the highest encouragement may be derived, even by the humblest minds, from the anticipation of those future trusts to which the faithful employment of their "one talent" in this life is intended to conduct them. "For many," said our Saviour, when speaking of the future allotments in the kingdom of God, "many that are first shall be last, and the last first!" And to those who have used well their one talent, the Master will at last say, "Well done, good and faithful servants, ye have been faithful over a few things, I will make you rulers over many things: enter ye into the joy of your Lord."

This naturally leads us to speak of the trusts committed to individuals in " the kingdom of God," which will, therefore, form the subject of consideration in the ensuing chapter.

III.

TRUST COMMITTED TO INDIVIDUALS IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD ON EARTH.

MATT. XXV. 14, 15. The kingdom of Heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

And unto one he gave five talents, to another two,

and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

PRELIMINARY IDEA, THAT LIFE IS NOT SIMPLY A GIFT, BUT A TRUST.

THERE are two views which we may take of the situation of the various individuals on whom God has seen fit to confer the blessing of existence,and whom he has distinguished by having given