ally proYing His Church at the present day. No doubt it would be easy for Him to convert the Chinese or Hindoos in a moment^ and to call grace into being with a word, as He created light on the first day of this world's exis- tence. — ^But He does not do so. He is pleased to work by means. He condescends to use the agency of mis- sionaries, and the foolishness of man's preaching, in order to spread His Gospel. And by so doing, He is continually proving the faith and zeal of the churches. He lets Christians be feUow workers with Him, that He may prove who has a will to " minister " and who has none. He lets the spread of the Gospel be carried on by sub- scriptions, contributions, and religious Societies, that He may prove who are the covetous and unbelieving, and who are the truly "rich towards God." In short, the visible Church of Christ may be divided into two great parties, those who " minister " to Christ, and those who do not.
May we all remember this great truth and prove our own selves ! While we live we are all upon our trial. Our lives are continually showing whose we are and whom we serve, whether we love Christ or whether we love the world. Happy are they who know something of "minis- tering to Christ of their substance ! " It is a thing which can still be done, though we do not see Him with our eyes. Those words which describe the proceedings of the judgment day are very solemn, " I was an hungered and ye gave me no meat, I was thirsty and ye gave me no drink." (Matt. xxv. 42.)
Notes. Luke VIII. 1—3. [L. — He went throughout.'] , The word so translated is only used in