"_va_rie_gat_e,1" or'.' many-coloured" grace; and exhorts to variety of service based upon d1ss1milar1ty ~f gifts. It cannot but be that the fulness of God passing into the limits o~ ~reated mmds should. n!anifest itself in _an infinite variety. The light flashed at ~1tlerent an_gles ~rom a million dewdrops twmkles and glitters from their tiny spheres m all d1_ff~nng tmts. of ~reen and purple and g:,ld. 'l'he unlimited variety of innumer- able rec1p1ents _grow1?g m the m~sur~ of their possession~ through eternity is the only adequate m11mfestat10n of the mfimte God. Such vanety is essential too to tke ei.:istence of a community. "If the whole were an eye, where were the b~dy?" The home!! proverb says, "It takes all sorts to make a world." With diversity comes room tor mutual help and mutual tolerance. Every man ha.~ some gift , no man has all •. '.l'herefore they are. ~ound toget~er by reciprocal wants and suppiies, and con- vex1t1es here and concavities there fit m to one another and make a solid whole. The same life works, but variously, in the different organs of the one body, so that there should be no schism in the body. This variety constitutes an imperative call to sMvice. Each man has something which some of his brethren want. "The least flower with a brimming cup may stand, .And share its dewdrop wit.h another near." The concert will not be complete, though the roll of the great ocean of praise that 6urges round the throne be as the noise of many waters, without the tinkle of the little rill of my praise. And some poor soul, which God meant to go shares with me, will have to starve if I do not part my portion among the needy. It constitutes, too, an authoritative prescription of the manner of service. "As every one bath received, so minister the same." Do not minister anything else, but that very thing which you have received. God shows you what he intends you to do by what he gives you. Do not copy other people; do not try to be anybody else. Be true to yourself. If your gifts impel you to a special mode of service, follow them. Find out what you are fit for, and do it in your own fashion. 'l'ake your directions at first hand from God, and don't spoil your own little gift by trying to bend it into the shape of somebody else's. Flutes cannot be made to sound like drums. Be content to give out your own note, and leave the care of the harmony to God. And, on the other hand, beware of interfering with your brother's equal liberty. Do not hastily condemn modes of action because they are not yours. A Salvation Army captain and a philosophical theologian may not understand each other's dialect; but there is room for them both, and they should not hinder each other. There are many vessels of different materials and shapes for different uses in Uhrist's great house. The widest tolerance of the diver- sities of operation is the truest recognition of the one Spirit which worketh all in al!. III. 'l'HE RESPONSIBILITY OF GIFTS. "As good stewards." Peter is probably here repeating tbe thought which he had learned from his Master's parables. The thought of stewardship is no doubt a natural one, even apart from the reminiscence of our Lord's teaching; but we can scarcely suppose that Christ's words did not suggest it here. All gifts a.re trusts, Peter thinks; that is to say, no Christian gets his natural endowments, nor his material possessions, and still less his spiritual graces, for himself alone. We all admit that in theory about the two former, and in some degree about the latter. But Christian men do not sufficiently consider that God gives them even salvation for the sake of others as well as for their owe. No creature is so small but that its well-being is a worthy end for God's gifts and care. No being is so great that its well-being is worthy to be an exclusive end of God's gifts and care. We are saved "that we may sLow forth the praises of him who has called us out of darkness into his marvellous light." '!'he joy of forgiveness, the peace of conscience, the blessed assur- ,mce of the Father's love, the hopes of an immortal heaven,-these are not given us for 6e!f-absorbed and solitary enjoyment, but that, saved, we may glorify and proclaim the Saviour, and bring to others the unspeakable gift. So with all the lesser gifts which flow from that greatest-all spiritual endowments, natural capacities heightened by the Spirit's indwelliag, or outward endowments and possessioqs-they are our Lord's goods put into our hands to administer for him. 'fhey were his before they became ours. They are his while they are called ours. They are ours that we may have the joy of bringing him somewhat, and may not only know the blessedness of receiving, ])11t the greater blessedness of giving, even though we have to say, while we bring our (lli. 1v. 1-19.J Tllm FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETER. 185
gifts, "Of thine own have we given thee." If Christian men really believed what they say they do, that they are Btewards, not owners, trustees and not possessor8, the whole face of Christianity would be altered. 'fhere would be men and money fur all noble service, ail(l the world would be bright with unHe]fish and various ministries, worthily representing "the manifold grace of God."-A. M.