Mr. Hill most cordially for his kindness Mr. Fletcher added, "Alas! sir, D will not suit me: there is too much money, and too little labour." "Few clergymen make such objections," said Mr. Hill; "it is a pity to decline such a living, as I do not know that I can find you another. What shall we do? Would you like Madely?" "That sir, would be the very place for me." "My object, Mr. Fletcher," rejoined Mr. Hill, "is to make you comfortable in your own way. you prefer Madely, I shall find no difficulty in persuading the present vicar to exchange it for D more than twice as much." If which is worth In this way he became vicar of Madely, with which he was so perfectly satisfied that he never afterwards sought honour or preferment. Perhaps it is right, in one sense, to term religion a life of self-denial; still it is a life of great gain. We know that an unconverted man would call it a loss to part with friends, money, influence, and the pleasures of this world; and meet with the contempt and scorn of many besides. But such is absolutely necessary, if we would rise from the mean and grovelling condition of the ungodly, whose hopes all belong to this world. For we must not hide from ourselves the fact that, He who denied himself mostbeyond anything that can be expected of us- -was that Master whose cross we have professedly taken. He made Himself of no reputation; and said, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself." But did He mean during the period of labour and toil here below we should be with Him? No, for He has also said, "And where I am there also shall My servant be." Blessed thought! The scenes of endurance, in this life will speedily close; and then will begin the fruit of all our toil; and we shall forget, as Joseph did, the hardships of the past, which were like the harvest seed-time. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy." XIV. By Patience. "LET the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us and establish Thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish Thou it."-PSALM XC. 17. "But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."— JAMES i. 4. GIVE Faith a lark-like strain, still warbling higher, Let Patience have her lute; for wandering still, FOURTEENTH DAY. BLADES LADES of wheat are very little things, and may be blighted before they reach perfection, but still the husbandman's eyes are gladdened at the sight of them. In his eyes they are the pledgetoken of the ear, and then the full corn in the ear, of an abundant harvest. James says, "Behold the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain." Every workman therefore in the Lord's vineyard should be a man of patience. But no man can learn patience, except he go forth into the midst of the busy world, and take life just as he finds it. It cannot be learned from precepts and promises, but must be prayerfully studied in the practice of daily, and sometimes heavy endurances. Patience must weather the storm-as the sailors say with her poor barque often drifting before a hurricaneblast, and tossed, seemingly, at the very mercy of the rudest waves. The proofs of our patience will be found in the confidence we place in the Lord, in His dealings towards us. We must rely upon His wisdom, and trust Him for help in every time of need.. We must confide in His strength, commit our souls into His hands, take Him at His word, and entrust to Him all our concerns, if we expect a Father's blessing. "Let patience have her perfect work." This will be further exemplified in our entire submission to all Jehovah's mysterious providences. Are we satisfied of His matchless power and ample resources? Do we fall in with all His wise plans and purposes? And are we so perfectly sure of His love to us always, that we at once resign the dealing with every event into His blessed hands? This is necessary in order to show that we have the grace of patience, that, in some mea |