September 29

1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.

2 And when he had agreed with the labour-

ers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the market-place.

4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.

5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.

6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?

7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.

8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their kire, beginning from the last unto the first.

9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.

10 But when the first came, they supposed

that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.

11 And when they had received it, they marmed against the goodman of the house.

12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.

13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong; did not thou agree with me for a penny?

14 Take that thine it, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.

15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?

16 So the last shall be first, and the first last; for many be called, but few chosen.

"A lazy Christian shall always want four things, viz.: Comfort, content, confidence and assurance. God hath made a separation between joy and idleness, between assurance and laziness, and therefore it is impossible for thee to bring these together."—T. Brooks.

"A busy man is troubled but with one devil, but the idle man with a thousand."—Anon

"Jacob saw the angels, some ascending, others descending, but none standing still. God hath made Behemoth to play in the water, not so men; they must be doing, that will keep in with God."—John Trapp.

"A good minister, now in heaven, once preached to his congregation a powerful sermon founded upon the words: 'Why stand ye here all the day idle?' The sermon did good to many, among whom was a lady, who went to the minister the next day, and said, 'Doctor, I want a spade.' We should be happy to put spades into the hands of all our idle friends. There are Sunday-school spades, mission-room spades, tract-distribution spades, sick-visitation spades, etc., etc. Who will apply for them?"—Selected.

Closet Promise.—She hath done what she could.—Mark xiv. 8.

He who God's will has borne and done, And his own restless longings filled;

What else he does, or has foregone, His mission he has well fulfilled —From the German.

Cheered by the presence of God, I will do at each moment, without anxiety, according to the strength which He shall give me, the work that His Providence assigns me. I will leave the rest without concern; it is not my affair. I ought to consider the duty to which I am called each day, as the work that God has given me to do, and to apply myself to it in a manner worthy of His glory, that is to say, with exactness and in peace. I must neglect nothing; I must be violent about nothing.—Pénelon.