April 21

them. Are ye not much better than they? And why take ye thought for raiment? consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet I say unto you, that even Solomon, in all his glory, was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? How simple yet convincing is the inference! God does not love the birds and the flowers as he loves you. He has not bought them with an infinite price. He has not put his Spirit within them. They are not partakers of the divine nature. They are not to endure for ever. Will he take care of the less, and overlook the infinitely greater?

Consider also the lilies as emblems. First, as emblems of Christ. The image indeed comes very far short of his glory, but it will help our conceptions, and serve to remind us a little of his purity, his meekness, his loveliness, and "the savour of his knowledge:" therefore, says he, "I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys." Secondly, as emblems of Christians. In all things he must have the pre-eminence, but his people are held forth in the Scripture by the same resemblances: for there is not only a union but a conformity between them. They have the same mind which was in him. They have the image of the heavenly. And therefore to express their residence in the world, and how he values them above others, he adds, "as the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters."

Let us conclude with the words of the Church: "My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies." Thus he comes into our congregations and families, and takes to himself our dear ornaments and delights. We miss them, and sigh over the loss of pious connexions. The friend who was as my own soul, the child of my bosom, the desire of mine eyes, the guide of my youth, is taken away—and the place that once knew them, knows them no more—But He taketh away, and who can hinder him? The whole garden is his; and he has a right to do what he will with his own. He saw them meet for the change; and they are unspeakable gainers by the removal. Other lilies, when gathered, fade and die; but these shall bloom for ever and ever.

APRIL 21.—"That we may be fellow-helpers to the truth."—3 John 1:8.

Co-OPERATION supposes others engaged already in the same cause. Who these were we learn from the preceding words. They are called "brethren and strangers." Yet they were not private Christians, but preachers, evangelists, missionaries who travelled to spread the savour of the Redeemer's knowledge in every place—"Because for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles." The labourer is worthy of his hire; and God has ordained that they who preach the Gospel shall live of the Gospel: but these men waived their right, as Paul had done while in Corinth, that they might not seem mercenary or prove burdensome. These Gentiles too might have been indisposed to afford them reception and support. Such a readiness to come forward can hardly be expected

from persons before they have heard the word, so as to understand the importance of it. People do not make sacrifices for a thing they do not value; and they are not likely to value what they do not feel they need. We have seen infants at the funeral of a mother, instead of being affected with the scene, amusing themselves with the emblems of mortality; but nothing can be more affecting than this; and we have been ready to exclaim, Ah! ye dear babes, you little know the loss you have sustained, but as you grow up you will learn from experience. Does the maniac ask our pity and help? He scorns them. He sings in his confinement—it is his palace—he deems himself a king. But is he not the more entitled to our compassion on this very account? So here; none are so worthy of our merciful regard as those who are perishing for lack of knowledge, but are unaffected with their condition: and it must be our concern to make them sensible of their want. In the first instance they will not come to us—we must go to them—and we must seek, if we would save, that which is lost. They will not be at the charge of our messengers; others therefore must support them. And on whom are we to call for assistance but on those who have tasted the good work of life, and know by experience that the Gospel is the power of God to salvation. "We ought, therefore," says John, "to receive such, that we might be fellow-helpers to the truth."

And such was Gaius. He was not one of those that went forth to labour among those who could not or would not entertain and supply them: but when these teachers travelled that way he accommodated them in his house; he forwarded them on their journey after a godly sort; he furnished them with what was needful in their work; and encouraged them to apply to him in their exigencies. In this, some may resemble him expressly by attentions and kindness to our evangelists at home: and as to our missionaries at a distance, and to whom we can have no immediate access, all can countenance and aid them by helping those societies which engage them and are responsible for their support. To do this is a duty. When persons are drawn in the militia, if they go not themselves, they must procure substitutes. All cannot go forth among the Gentiles, but we should all contribute to those who do. We should consider them as our agents labouring for us—for the work is ours—and the command is binding upon us, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Nothing is to be done even in the cause of God without pecuniary aid. What an honour is conferred on property that it should be employed in the salvation of souls! Who would waste any of his resources? Who would not deny himself, to be able to become a fellow-helper to the truth that has so helped him, and can so help others? Mordecai told Esther that if she refused to exert herself for the deliverance of her people, enlargement should come from another quarter; but then she would lose the honour and blessedness of the instrumentality; and not only so, but be destroyed herself. God allows us to act in his cause; but let us not mistake the principle: he employs us for our sake, not his own. His resources are infinite: and if we decline the work, the work will not be abandoned: but we shall lose the glory and the happiness of the achievement. And who could endure the thought that in this divine undertaking he had never had any concern?

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