did Jesus preach by His actions; and to such preaching by the work of love, the Holy Scriptures continually admonish.

Christian love is sensible, before all things, of the spiritual destitution of others, for from this all other miseries originate or are increased; yet, if it cannot stop the fountain, it will seek, at least, to dry up the streams. Great value also is laid on the expressions of kindness towards those who suffer outward troubles. Concerning this, the Scriptures say, "To do good, and to communicate, forget not; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." And again, "For so is the will of God, that with well-doing, ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men." And, "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." History also records, that in the first ages of Christianity, nothing astonished the heathen so much as the love which Christians manifested towards each other. One of the fathers says that they exclaimed, See how they love 2 I Pet. ii. 15. 3 James. i. 27.

1 Heb. xiii. 16.

one another! Dionysius, a bishop, at the time of a great plague in the third century, writes:

"After we had been able to breathe again for a short time, that pestilence attacked us, which was most fearful and terrible for the heathen, but for us a special exercise and trial of faith. Very many of our brethren, from great love to their neighbours and kindred, spared not themselves, but each caring for others visited the sick without reserve, tended them constantly, joyfully giving up their lives for them. Many who had been the means of restoring others through their attentions, died themselves in their stead. In this way

the best of our brethren departed from this world, presbyters, and deacons, and approved men amongst the laity, so that this kind of death, which was occasioned by deep piety and strong faith, seemed not inferior to martyrdom. And those who closed the mouth and eyes of the dying Christians, who washed them and wrapped them in the linen garments, and carried them away on their shoulders, shortly after experienced their fate. Quite different was it with the heathen. They drove from them those who began to be ill, they avoided those most dear to them, and threw them half dead into the roads; they were terrified at the spread of death, which, notwithstanding all they might do, they could not easily escape."

O Lord Jesus, the indescribable grace of God, of which, through Thee, I am made a partaker, will I embrace through faith, and ever anew embrace, that it may bring forth the fruit of love. Grace has healed the wounds of my sin, and will wipe from my

eyes all the tears which spring from affliction and temporal troubles. Therefore will I go forth in love, and wherever I can, I will heal the wounds of sin, and dry the tears of sorrow. Thy holy example, Lord Jesus, will I imitate; it shall be my pleasure to walk in the abodes of suffering and of sorrow, as it was Thy pleasure. Only make me wholly Thine, then will love flow forth as the stream from the fountain! Bestow that inward blessing which Thou hast obtained for me; which opens the heart, and makes it sympathise with all human misery. A heart which has been melted with grace cannot be closed to human tears. If I would be a branch of Thy vine, I must, though in all weakness, bring forth the fruit which Thou hast brought forth. Oh, that I might forsake every other teacher, and stedfastly look to Thee, my only Master, that I might turn away from the life and conduct of men, and take Thy life as my one abiding pattern.

Oh let it be my daily part,

Thus to examine well my heart;
Does Jesus now within me dwell,
And do I love my Saviour well?
Still do I follow where He guides,
And ever rest where He abides?

And as the branch its strength derives
From the good vine on which it lives,
Thus do I every day and hour,
From Jesus draw new life and power?
Thus do I when oppressed with grief,
Look up to Jesus for relief?

Do I in carelessness delay,
Or idly dream my life away?
Or do I heartily repent

For gifts misused, and hours misspent?

For every error, every sin,

That cries aloud, or lurks within?

Is Jesus now my all in all?

And do no earthly cares enthrall,

And steal upon a sacred hour
With subtle step and secret power?
And is my great endeavour this,
To be my Lord's, and only His?

"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know, even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."

I Cor. xiii.