Let us be on our guard against this feeling. It is only too near the surface of all our hearts. Let us study to realize that liberal, tolerant spirit which Jesus here recommends, and be thankful for good works wheresoever and by whosoever clone. Let us beware of the slightest inclination to stop and check others, merely because they do not choose to adopt our plans, or work by our side. We may think our fellow Christians mistaken in some points. We may fancy that more would be done for Christ, if they would join us, and if all worked in the same way. We may see many evils arising from religious dissensions and divisions. — But all this must not prevent us rejoicing if the works of the devil are destroyed and souls are saved. Is our neighbor warring against Satan ? Is he really trying to labor for Christ ? This is the grand question. Better a thousand times that the work should be done by other hands than not done at all. Happy is he who knows something of the spirit of Moses, when he said, " Would God that all the Lord's people were prophets ;" — and of Paul, when he says, " If Christ is preached, I rejoice, yea, and will rejoice."* (Num. xi. 29 ; Phil. i. 18.)
* The remarks of Quesnel on this passage are interesting — and doubly so when we remember that the writer was a Roman Catho- lic. He says, " That which John here does, is an example of an in- discreet zeal for the interests of Christ. The most holy persons have sometimes occasion to secure themselves from secret emulations. We very easily mingle our own interests with those of God ; and our vanity uses the glory of His name only as a veil. A preacher some- times imagines that his only desire is, that men should follow Christ, and adhere to His word ; and it is himself whom he desires they should follow, and to whom he is very glad to find them adhere."
" Christ suffers many things in His Church, which are done with- out His mission ; but He makes them contribute to the establishment