October 6

The root of the righteous gildeth fruit. — PROV. xii. 12.

He that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. — MATT. xiii. 23.

"HEREIN is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit," said Jesus. What a possibility, what an inspiration, that we can enhance the glory of "our Father"? Our hearts leap at the thought. How can this be done? By bearing "leaves," — a profession of love for him? No. By bearing some fruit? No. "That ye bear much fruit." In the abundance of the yield is the joy, the glory, of the husbandman. We should therefore aim to be extraordinary, "hundredfold" Christians, satisfied with none but the largest yield. Our lives should be packed with good deeds. Then at harvest-time we can say, "Father, I have glorified thee on the earth." This fruitfulness depends upon the condition of the heart to receive the seed, the way in which we hear the Word. Combining the three versions of this parable, we find that the characteristics of a good hearer are, -- he understandeth the Word; he receiveth it; he keepeth it. Apprehension of the Word, faith in the Word, obedience to the Word, - these three are indispensable to fruitfulness. "Take heed, therefore, how ye hear." Meditate, believe, obey, "that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

W. B. Jennings.

Then let our hearts obey The gospel's glorious sound; And all its fruits from day to day, Be in us and abound.

J. MONTGOMERY.