few additional subscribers,-half a dozen from each of our congregations,a number which it would not surely be difficult to procure, would greatly augment our resources for the spirited conduct of the Magazine, and its capacity for general usefulness.

We have now competitors for public favour of a very formidable kind, in the shape of several popular so-called religious periodicals, attached to no particular Church, and at least not all of them holding definite doctrinal views of their own. It were much to be desired that the extent of our space would, consistently with our general plan, admit of a greater variety of articles adapted for Sabbath reading. At present this can scarcely be, without sacrificing other material which a large class of our subscribers desire and expect. With regard to all such papers, however, of a strictly religious kind, as do find a place in the United Presbyterian Magazine, we can confidently affirm that they give no uncertain sound on any of the distinguishing doctrines of the word of God.

THE

UNITED PRESBYTERIAN MAGAZINE.

JANUARY 1868.

Miscellaneous Communications.

DOING WITH THY MIGHT.'

A NEW YEAR'S SERMON.

'Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.'-ECCLES. ix. 10.

THE Commencement of a new year is a season for devout meditation on the nature and perfections of God, and the special relation in which He stands to us. It is also a fit season for meditation on ourselves, more especially, on our duty to God, and our fellow-men. And these two things go together. Instead of being incompatible, the one with the other, they should ever be found in company. While we think of God as the Creator, the Preserver, and Saviour of men, we should not fail to realize our obligations to Him, and the divine help that is promised in the faithful performance of duty. And thus it is, that heaven and earth meet together. Thus it is, that the Creator and the creature are linked in holy union; and when they thus come together, there is no duty too arduous for the Christian to undertake, and no trial too heavy for him to bear.

In this spirit of devout faith in God, and dependence on Him, let us consider, in the first place, the work to which we are called during the year on which we have entered: 'Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it.' This whatsoever may at first sight appear very wide, and general in its application; but we must limit it to what is in itself lawful on the one hand, and what is required of us on the other. We exclude from this whatsoever, everything that is sinful. However we may be tempted to do what is forbidden by the divine law, however we may be inclined to do it, we are not to yield to any such temptation or desire. And then we exclude from this whatsoever that which is not required of us by God. There are many things which are lawful and good in themselves, but they may not be required of us in the circumstances in which we are placed. These, then, are the limitations that we are to recognise in this divine call. The whatsoever must be in itself that which is lawful, and what God in his providence is requiring of us.

With this explanation, we are warranted to say, that the whatsoever in our text includes the salvation of the soul. That is a lawful thing, and it is required of every human being. Of all things laid to our hand, that is

NO. I. VOL. XII. NEW SERIES.-JANUARY 1868.

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the most important and necessary. By nature these souls of ours are lost. They are dead in trespasses and sins. By the offence of one, judgment has come on all men to condemnation. And there is a way by which the soul may be saved-even a divine way; and in that work of salvation you have something to do. You are to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved. You are to receive Christ'as made unto you of God, wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.' You are not to make atonement for your sins; that has been done by Him who is the second Adam. You are not to provide the remedy for your disease; but you are to submit to that remedy. You are not called upon to open up a way to the Father; but you are invited to return by the new and living way' that Jesus Christ has opened up. You are not called on to dig the wells, or to fill them with water; but you are earnestly entreated to draw joyfully from these wells, and to drink thereof, without money and without price. That is your work as sinners. That is what your hand should find to do-'to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.'

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This whatsoever includes all the relative duties that are laid on you as Christians, as husbands and wives, as parents and children, as masters and servants, and as rulers and subjects. As husbands, you are called on 'to provide things honest for your household, to rule well your own house, and to love your wives as Christ also loved the church.' As wives, you are to be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may, without the word, be won by the conversation of the wives; while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning, let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.' As parents, you are to bring up your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.' You are to set before them a Christian and consistent example, and pray with and for them. Like Abraham of old, you are to command your children and household; and your children, like Isaac, will be ready to lay themselves on the altar a living sacrifice unto God. As children, you are to 'honour your father and mother, for this is the first commandment with promise.' As servants, you are 'to be obedient to your masters according to the flesh, not with eye-service, but as the servants of Christ.' And as masters, you are to 'give unto your servants that which is just and equal, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.' As rulers, see that you rule in the fear of the Lord;' and as subjects, 'be obedient unto them that are over you'-giving tribute to whom tribute is due, honour to whom honour;' rendering unto Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's, and unto God the things that are God's. Let us ever remember that there is something far wrong when Christianity does not improve our conduct in all the relations of life; when it does not oil the wheels, and make them move most sweetly; when the Christian husband is not the best husband, and the Christian wife is not the best wife; when the Christian parent is not the best parent, and the Christian child is not the best child; when the Christian servant is not the best servant, and the Christian master is not the best master; when the Christian ruler is not the best ruler, and the Christian subject is not the best subject.

Once more, the whatsoever in the text includes your duty to the unbelieving, and the ungodly around you. In the account that we have of the

creation of the fruit-tree, it is added, whose fruit is in itself.' God made provision for the continuance of these fruit-trees in the earth; and so is it also with his church. There is provision made for its maintenance and extension. The duty to maintain and extend the church devolves, in a special sense, on the office-bearers that are appointed by Christ. Ministers and elders are set apart to this work; but the work does not devolve on them exclusively. The fighting in an army is not left to the officers alone. No doubt they are to plan the attack, and lead on the army; but every soldier is to draw his sword, and do his part in defeating the enemy: and so, while it lies with the office-bearers of the church to organize plans of usefulness and to take the lead, it is incumbent on each member to do his part and her part in the campaign. Some may do more in this warfare, and others may do less. Some may undertake one thing, and some another. Some may have the five talents, and others the two, and others may have only the one talent; but whatever is laid to your hand, that you are to do. God's requirement is most just and reasonable: Not according to what a man hath not, but according to what he hath.' When Andrew accepted Christ as his Saviour, the first thing he did was to find his brother Simon, and to say to him, 'We have found the Messias, which is being interpreted the Christ.' The woman of Samaria had no great learning, no particular influence, and yet the first thing she did after her conversion, was to run to the city, and say to her countrymen, 'Come, see a man who hath told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?' The little maid in the household of Naaman, when she saw the leprosy of her master, could not help saying, 'Would that my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria, and he would heal him of his leprosy.' The mother and the grandmother of Timothy had the faith of Christ dwelling in them, and they were successful in instructing Timothy in the Scriptures. In each of these instances the parties felt that a work was laid to their hands, and they did it; and so, if you have found Jesus for yourselves, you are to seek to bring your kindred to Him, as in the case of Andrew, or your townsmen, as in the case of the woman of Samaria, or your master or mistress according to the flesh, or the little ones of your household, as in the case of Lois and Eunice. In our times there are many opportunities, not only of getting good, but of doing good. In the Sabbath school and the Bible class, in the Christian instruction society and the prayer meeting, and in Bible and missionary societies, you find the whatsoever laid to your hand. And let no one say that he can do nothing. Has God made you in vain? Has He converted you, and brought you into the vineyard, and left you standing there idle? The only excuse for doing nothing is, that you have received nothing. The condition on which we receive anything, is that we give: 'Freely you have received, freely give.' The condition on which we receive much, is, that we give much in return: To whom much is given, of them also shall much be required.'

Let us consider, in the second place, the spirit in which this work is to be done during the year: With thy might.' 'It is good to be zealously affected in a good thing. If you feel anything laid on you as a duty, let it not be done with a slack hand. Whether the business of the present life, or the life to come, let it be done with thy might. Taken in connection with what follows, there are two things included in this phrase-namely, promptitude and energy.

The phrase, 'thy might,' includes promptitude in doing what is laid to your

hand. This applies in a special sense to the work of personal salvation. Procrastination here is most dangerous, and may be fatal. What a warning against delay in this work have we in the fate of the foolish virgins! They had no oil in their vessels with their lamps, and when they went to buy, the Bridegroom came, and they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage, and the door was shut. Their importunity afterwards was of no avail. The only answer to their earnest cry, Lord, Lord, open to us,' was this: 'Verily, I say unto you, I know you not.' What a warning of the danger of procrastination have we in the conduct of Felix! 'Go thy way,' he said, 'for this time; when I have a convenient season I will send for thee.' Have we not reason to conclude that in his case the convenient season never came? The convenient season is the present one. To-day, not to-morrow, is the day of salvation. What a warning against procrastination in the language of Scripture: To-day, if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts!' Like the road which has been often trodden on, every instance of procrastination hardens the heart, and makes your conversion less probable.

In

The danger of delay holds good in regard to every work included in the whatsoever; whether relative duties, or the claims of the unconverted. The impulse to do good, we know is of God; but the temptation to put this off till a convenient season is of the devil; and therefore, whatsoever good thing you feel prompted to undertake, do it now. Your opportunity of doing good to those around you will soon pass away, never to be recalled. In a Narrative of Missionary Enterprises in the South Sea Islands, by John Williams, of the London Missionary Society, the following affecting incident is recorded. After giving an account of the proceedings at a school examination at which the king presided, Mr. Williams adds: 'While this was proceeding, the appearance of the parents was most affecting. The eyes of some were gleaming with delight, as the father said to the mother, or the mother to the father, "What a mercy it is that we spared our dear girl!" Others with saddened countenances, and faltering voices, lamented in bitterness that they had not saved theirs; and the silent tear, as it stole down the cheeks of many, told the painful tale that all their children were destroyed. the midst of our proceedings, a venerable chieftain, grey with age, arose, and with impassioned look and manner, exclaimed, "Let me speak; I must speak." On obtaining permission, he thus proceeded: "Oh that I had known that these blessings were in store for us! Then I should have saved my children, and they would have been among this happy group, repeating these precious truths; but alas, I destroyed them all, I have not one left!"* Turning to the chairman, who was also a relative, he stretched out his arm and exclaimed, "You, my brother, saw me kill child after child; but you never stayed this murderous hand, and said, 'Stay, brother, God is about to bless us; the gospel of salvation is coming to our shores!""' In Dr. King's admirable work on the Eldership, a case is given in which the danger of delay in dealing with backsliders is painfully illustrated. A highly respected member of a congregation was suspected of indulging in the use of intoxicating drinks. From time to time rumours to that effect were spread; but such was the respectability of the party that no one ventured to remonstrate with him. At length these excesses became so decided, that the session took up the case, and the elder (who was Dr. King's informant) was appointed, along with another, to wait on Mr. to converse with him on the fama affecting his reputation, and summon him to their next meeting. He *This chief was an arioi of the highest rank, and the laws of his class required the destruction of all his children.