admonition of her brothers, who have left her in charge of the vineyard. It is her duty to protect the precious plants and fruits from the incursions of enemies, even of those which seem the most unworthy of notice. It bas been usual to regard these "little foxes " as emblematic of evil powers which perhaps insidiously threaten the wolfaro of the spiritual vineyard. I. THE CHURCH OF CHRIST rs THE SPIRITUAL VINEYARD WHICH ·GOD HAB PLANTED IN THE llARREN soIL OF THE WORLD. As in the Old Testament Israel is often com- pared to a vine (Ps. lxxx.) or to a vineyard (Isa. v.), so in the New Testament the spiritual society which the Son of God has founded is exhibited under the same similitude. II. THE CHURCH OF CHRIST EXISTS FOB THE SAKE OF SPIRITUAL FRUIT. The vineyard may be beautiful to behold; it may be a charming addition to the landscape; its gracefulness and verdure may afford pleasure to the passer-by: yet it exists for the so.kc of fruit. So with the Church, which is indeed an element of interest in history, an important factor in the state, an admirable illustration of the higher capacities of man's being; but which yet exists for the sake of that holy life, those deeds of justice, mercy, and devotion, which arc the true fruits of the Spirit, the very vintacre of God. Ill. 'l'HE CHURCH OF CHRIST IS OFTEN ASSAILED BY MISCHIEVOUS ~NFLUENCES. Like the enemies of the vineyard, evil powers enter in, and damage the spiritual blossom and threaten to destroy the spiritual vintage. False doctrines, heresies, and schisms, delusions, human ambitions, selfish habits, gross corruptions, sins of worldliness and unspirituality,-such are some of these influences which portend disaster to the work which has been undertaken for God upon earth. lV. THOUGH APPARENTLY TRIFLING, THESE MISCHIEVOUS INFLUENCES MAY DO GREAT HARM. Like the " little foxes," the power of harmful influences must not be measured by appearances, by magnitude. Deflections from truth or from virtue may appear at first slight and insignificant; but the entrance of evil into Christ's Church is like the letting in of water; what is at :first a leak becomes a flood. To change the :figure, the disease may in its first approach appear unimportant, yet it may grow until it threatens not only health, but life itself. The vineyard, if left open to the incursions of vermin, will soon give evidence of ravages most serious, if not disastrous. Let no one concerned for the safety and welfare of Christ's Church be indifferent to the insidious commence- ment of harm. No one can say whereunto the thing may grow. V. THESE EVIL INFLUENCES SHOULD, THEREFORE, BE VIGOROUSLY ATTACKED AND SPEEDILY EXTIRPATED. "Take us the little foxes;" wage war against even apparently insignificant foes. Not by way of force or of fraud, but by the presentation of truth, by admonition and exhortation, openly, feelingly, and prayerfully. It is a duty which at some time or other, and in some way or other, every Christian is called upon to fulfil. The ministers of Christ's Church are especially bound to be upon their guard against the introduction of false doctrine, and of lax and sinful practice; they are set "for the defence aud confirmation of the gospel," and it is their office to withstand every foe that threatens the security and the vitality of the Divine society on earth.-T. Ver. 16.-Mutual :possession. One-sided affection is incomplete, unsatisfying, and unhappy; it may be disastrous. Real friendship and true marriage imply mutual love, reciprocal kindnesses. So is it in those personal relations between Christ and the Christian soul, which are the foundations of the spiritual life of mankind. It is only well when the friend of the Saviour can truly say, "My Beloved is mine, and I am his.'' l. THE CLA[)I[ JUDE BY THE CHRISTIAN TO A SPIRITUAL PBOPEBTY IN CHRIST 1. Our Lord and Saviour is ours, to exercise in our favour hie mediatorial offices, as our Prophet, Priest, and King. 2. He is ours, to reveal hie intimatu affection to our heart. "The opening heavens around me shine With bee.ms of heavenly bliss, While Jel!118 says that he is mine, Afid whispers I am his! " a. He is ours, to impart a value and a charm to all our oth\'r possessions. These, wht>ther material or spiritual, are altogether_ different from what they would otherwise on. m. 1-11.J THE SONG OF SOLOMON.
be; tbey nro irradiated and dignified by the glory which shines upon them from our Divine ]'riend. "All things are ours." II. 'l'HE OLAIM MADE DY CHRIST TO A SPIRITUAL PROPERTY IN THE CHRISTIAN, 1. The Saviour regards hie people with an especial favour e.nd affection. In a sense, nil men are Christ's; he assumed the human nature which is common to us all, and he died for all. But in a peculiar manner they are his who acknowledge bis mission, receive his gospel, confide in his mediation, obey his commandments. Towards such his regard is one of complacency e.nd personal affection. 2. The Saviour regards his people as his to care for, to protect, and to save. Having loved his own, he loves them unto the end. There are no circumstances in which he will not remember them, inter- pose upon their behalf and for their deliverance. 3. The Saviour possesses his people in order to exercise over them a peculiar authority. As the husband is the head of the wife, and as his affection does not destroy his authority, but makes it benign and welcome; so our Divine Lord, who loves his spouse, the Church, which he purchased with his precious blood, directs and governs the object of his tender interest with kindness which is yet authoritative. It is the prerogative and joy of Christ's people to take their Lord's will as the bindin11: law of their individual and social life. APPLIOATION. It is for every Christi:m to remember that in this relation the Lonl Jesus is the superior. "We love him, because he first loved us." This fa.et should infuse gratitude into our affection, and should urge us to responsive consecration and obedience.-T.