•m1 TO GR~ TOGETBJm SIDE DY sm:s. The good have t.o conrrpnt the evil and keep it in check. The evil is permitted to counterplot the good and to retard.its spread. But we must not speak only in the ahstrn.ct. Rather let us say, good mffl, evil .men. For when we bring human nature, with all it.q powera of willing and combating, 'into the quei,tion, then we can at once see that at least one purpose is gained by this tempQrary co-mingling together, Good men are 1n.-ide better1 sturdier, and braver for having a conflict to endure. And much of the evil is tumea into good through .. the grace of God. Note: Do not let us fall into tho millennarian heresy of suppo;;ing that. the tares are going to increase prodigiously and the wheat to diminish, until µie Lor4 com~ There is not one Scripture-text for that. Scripture only says, both are to get ripttr~th11 good, better; the bad, worse. . . IV. AT THE 'l'IME FOllESEEN BY Goo THIS ·PROCESS wrtr,, ON BOTH &IDBI!, DB OON- BUMMATED. Do we understand .by this that in the spiritual world there comes a time when character cannot pol!llil!Iy advance further either.in goodness or in wickedneOIS? We do not so understand.it. Analogy is not identity, but only resemblance with BOmll ditference. .And because there is all the difference between natural growth and spiri,11&1, we must not expect a resemblance.on every point. But two points are certainly clear, and a third is possible. 1. .A time will come in the dev11lopment of character when all doubt ceases as to what a man is. 2. Then there can be no question whether his destiny is· the garner or the fire. · 3. It. may be that then no suoh thing aa a change of chBraeter is poasible. Eternal punishment will onl;r be in the case of eternal am (M~k iii. 29, Revised Version). v. AT TJlI8 STAGE THB GBEAT BBA.PING-TIMB WILL 001IB. Then the oommlaaion to eonsummat.e all will be fulfilled by the Lord JesUB Cli.rist (Matt. xiii. 41). The &D.gfil4 will be the reaper-band. The result. will be the complete manifestation-the nnal division-the gn1&t decision. The gathering in of the right-eous into the kingdom. The trampling down the gr3pes in eart,h's vineyard in the wine-pre111 of the wrath of God I Dread words I whose detail no pen of man can sketch ; but that towards one end or the other every one is at this moment tending, is one of the most certain of the laws of human nature. . ., VI. Tms J>BBAD VISfON m ~IVBN. 118 FOR HIGD AND HOLY P1JRPOSBB. I. It ■hould relieve th0&0 whose faith and pl!,tience are now being so sorely tried by the grow~ of error. and: sin.. Both are putting on riper forms than ever. Well, the end will come. '' The fire will try every man's work." 2. It should lea\l us all to estimate the value of this life. The end towards which we all are tending is one of ripeness, either in righteousness or sin. 8. It should. lead each one to look solemnly at the fact that, however long it may be before the universal consummation will be, (1) God will act Vim on the very £&me principles on which he worketh no.w. (2) Now there are working in u■ tendencies which shall be developed then. The law of continuity holdf in the Divine procedure. The law of growth in human character. Note: There m:.y be in grace, what can never be in nature, the conversion of tares into wheat. It ~• is to be, it must be before the harveat-®;r, (3) The siekle may out down iwli~ long bef~ Ua &al thrun.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHOR& Vere. 1-S.-I7iif ptrf«I <JhurcA. How well U I.I for us, in forming our estimate. and in regulating our conduct,. to have see before us a true ideal and a faultle■1 etandard I To compare outsel'tea with ourselves, that ii. with men like ourselves, ja, ao St. Paul tells us, not wise. And all experience proves the truth of hill word, The low leTels of ordinary religious life in the present day all result from our practically, not professedly• putting before ourselvea ata.ndarda which are faulty and inferior, instead of those which would be constantly summoning ua to higher and holier attainment. Now, the Word of God is ever furnishing Ill with such perfect standarda. Our Lord again and again bids us turn our gaze heavenwaro., that we may see there how we ought to judge anli what we ought to be. How frequently he speak■ of our Father in heaven, that we may behold in God the true ideal of all fatherhood I And that we may the better undcu1taud and act towards our children, he tells u■ that "in hcavllll thdr angels do 860 TllE. REVELATION O:F ST. JOHN TlIE DIVIN.E. [CH. xrv. 1-20;