Ver. 7.-Superabundance and scarcity. We have here- I. A FAMILIAR FACT OF OUR PHYSIOA.L NATURE. Those who are well fed become very choice and dainty, while those who "lack bread ",are thankful for the coarsest food. There are thousands of the sons and daughters of luxury whose appetite can hardly be tempted ; for them cookery has to be developed into one of the fine arts, and nothing is palatable to their exquisite taste but delicacies, Living within five minutes' walk of their residence, and sometimes smelling the odours that come from their kitchens, are poor, pinched, struggling men and women, who will devour with great delight the first soiled crust that is offered them. There are thousands in our great cities that weigh long and seriously the question what nice beverage they shall drink at their table; and there are to be found those who would gladly quench their thirst in the :first foul water they can find. Indulgence makes all things tasteless, while want makes all things sweet to us. II. A CORRESPONDING TRUTH IN OUR MORAL NA.TURE. 1. Superabundance tends to selfishness and ingratitude. We are apt to imagine that we have a prescriptive right t-0 that which is continued to us for any til!le; and as soon as it is withdrawn we murmur and rebel. There are no more thankless, no more querulous hearts to be found anywher(l than in the homes of the affluent, than among those who can command all that their hearts desire. 'l'bey :find no pleasure in what they have, and they give God no thanks for it. 2. On the other hand, scarcity is very frequently associated with contentment and piety. When our resources are not so large and full that wo do not stop to ask ourselves whence they come, when some solicitude or even anxiety leads us to look prayerfully to the great " Giver of all," then we recogniz~ the truth that everything we are and everything we have, the cup itself and ~11 that _it holds, all our powers and all our possessions, are of God, and our hearts fill with gratitude to our heavenly Father. And thus it is not exceptionally but representatively and commonly true that- "Some murmur when their sky is clear And wholly bright to view, If one small speck of dark appear In their great heaven of blue. .A.ncl some with thankful love are filled If but one streak of light, One ray of God's good mercy, gild The darkness of their night. "In palaces are hearts that ask, In discontent and pride, Why life is such a. dreary ta.sk, And all good things denied. And hearts, in poorest huts, admire How love has, in their aid- Love that not ever seems to tire- Such rich provision made." (Trench.) OH, XXVII. 1-27.] THE PROVERBS. 531
III. ITB APPLIOATION TO CHRIRTIAN PRIVIT,EGE. Here we have: 1. The peri?, of abundance. We are tempted to become indifferent to that which we can employ and euj~y at any time, and consequently to neglect it. 2. The compensatwn of scarcity. 'l'hat which is often out of reach, of which we can only occasionally avail ourselves, we appreciate at its true worth. Hence, while persecuted Christians have been wi!lin"' to walk many miies to take part in the worship of God, or to give large sums of money for a few pages of Scripture, those who live in the full light of privilege are negli- gent of the sanctuary and the Word of God. This will apply to prayer, to praise, to Christian work, to Christian fellowship.-C. Ver. 8.-(See homily on vers. 23-27.)-C. Ver. 14.-(See homily on eh. xxv. 20.)-C. Ver. 18.-The reward of faithful service. This is a question which very intimately and importantly concerns us; for- I. SERVICE CONSTITUTES THE GREATER PART OF BUMAN LIFE. We have to consider how large a proportion of our race is formally and regularly engaged in service as the occupation of their life. When we have counted domestic servants, agricultural labourers, and all orders of " workmen ; " and when we have included all those who, in the press, or the pulpit, or the legislature, are the avowed and actual servants of the public, we have referred to a very large portion indeed of the whole population. So that "he that waiteth on his master," though he may (in the literal sense of the phrase) be confined to a small section, yet actually stands for the majority of man- kind. Indeed, we must be occupying a very strange position if we are not of those who are engaged in serving in some for111 or other. II. MANY THINGS DEMAND THAT SERVICE SHALL BE FAITHFUL. 1. God is requiring it of us. It is required by him that we who are stewards be found faithful (1 Cor. iv. 2; Col. iii. 22-25). 2. The best and noblest men, whose character and course we admire, were men "faithful in all their house" (see Heh. iii. 6). 3. We can only retain our self-respect by faithfulness. 'l'o do our work slowly or slovenly, in such wise that we should be ashamed to have it inspected by" the m11Ster" (whoever he may be), in such a manner that it will not stnnd the test of time, is to undermine all respect for ourselves, is to sink sadly and pitifully, if not fatally, in our own esteem. 4:. Faith- fulness /ias a large and a sure reward. Careful culture of the fig tree is sure to be rewarded with the eating of its fruit in due time. Faithful service is sure to bring its due recompense. (1) It brings honour. We respect the true and conscientious liibourer in our own hearts, o.nd we do not fail to honour him in the estimation of others. Loynl and valuable service commands no small esteem when it has had time to make an impression on the mind. (2) It brings personal attachment and even affec- tion. Often between those who serve and those who are served there arises a true and deep affection which is very honourable to both, very beautiful in its character, anu lasting as long as life. (3) Due material recompense. 'l'his may be delayed, but it comes in time. (4) Enlargement of capacity. Perhaps the best reward of faithful service is found here-in the enlargement of the faculty of service. Do, nod you will do better; serve to-day, and you will serve more skilfully nnd efliciently to-morrow; put out your one talent in the lowly sphere, and you will soon have two talents (of faculty and aptitude) to put out in a higher one. " I will nsk for no rewe.rd, Except to serve thee still " -and to serve thee better. But if it be said that, after nll, human service is some- times unappreciated and unacknowledged, that the labourer's hire is withheld and not paid that the "master" does not render the honour that is duo to him who has "w~ited on" him long and served him well-as it may sometimes be truly said-thon let us retire to the truth that- III. 'l'HERE IS ONE BERVI0E IN WRI0H THERE IS NO DISAPPOINTMENT. We are the servants of Christ. We delight to call him Master (John xiii.13). We owo him every- thing, and we offer him the subjection of our will, the trust of our hearts, the servico THE PROVERil~. [OH. XXVIII. 1-28.