his character be spiritual also-heavenly, pure, immortal. The formation and development of such a character, is the Divine purpose of man's existence-the purpose for which he was created, and for which he has been redeemed. Character is his chief possession, for it is far more to a man than his intellectual knowledge or material wealth or social position. Nay more, a man's character is his only possession-the one thing which is really his and will be his for ever. It not only determines his moral worth in this world, but it is the only thing he will take with him out of time into eternity. And he must take it-it cannot be left behind. Other things which perhaps he would gladly take with him into the great Hereafter, cannot be taken. They are all earthly in their nature and the earth will retain them. But character is a man's own. He himself formed and developed it, and wherever he goes it will go with him, and determine his destiny. A worldling may well tremble and be afraid as he thinks of this terrible fact, but the Christian has no need to fear. His destiny will be blessed, because his character is Christian and Christlike. It is well with the godly.

N.B.S.

Let all 16

such, carefully cultivate true character. And how is that to be done? It can be done only in one way, namely, by cherishing in the heart the spiritual life of Christian love, and then giving to that love continually, a natural embodiment and manifestation in Christian obedience and service. A genuine love for God and man thus nurtured and exhibited, will not only naturally but also necessarily develop a truly Christian character and fulfil the Divine purpose of existence.

CHAPTER XVII

THE AUTUMN AS A SYMBOL

SPRING is the season of Quickening, Summer the season of Growth and Autumn the season of Fruition-the time for gathering and garnering the precious products of the earth. Autumn therefore is the symbol in Nature, of old age in the sphere of the physical and of a ripe Christian experience in the realm of the spiritual, The growth of corn, is beautifully emblematic of a progressive religious life. The operations of sowing, springing, growing, fruiting, ripening and reaping in the Kingdom of Nature, are all strictly analogous to the spiritual processes carried on by human and Divine agency in the kingdom of grace. The Lord of both kingdoms once and again in His Gospel declared the resemblance of the two (Matt. xiii. I-30).

Look first, at the growth of corn in the natural kingdom. First of all the farmer opens up his land with the plough to all the atmospheric influences of the natural heavens, by which it is softened and sweetened, purified and pulverized, and prepared for the seed which is to be cast into its bosom. Then, in due time, when the weather is suitable the seed is carefully and intelligently sown, and covered with earth by the use of the harrows.

In the course of a few

days, during which it may be fertilizing showers have fallen, let a seed be uncovered and examined and it will be found that already a change has come over it. It is no longer the dry, hard substance which was sown, but is now soft and juicy and has a tender sprout coming out at either end. One of these striking downward. into the earth becomes a root to draw nourishment from the soil for the development of the seed, while the other rising upward into the. air to feed upon the sunshine the dew and the rain appears as a delicate green blade. And as all the other seeds spring up in like manner, the whole field is covered with verdure, and becomes an object of beauty upon which the eyes

may rest with unwearying delight. As the tiny blades lengthen and broaden they gently move under the breath of the wind, and glisten in the golden sunshine after refreshing rain. By and bye, when the corn-blades have developed into tall stalks from which other blades depend, a swelling may be seen near the top of eacha swelling which daily increases and rises higher and higher, until the infant ear bursts its swaddling bands and lifts itself up-empty but hopeful to the fervent rays of the June or July sun. In due time the grains of new corn form, enlarge and consolidate, until they bend the ears by their weight and cause them to assume that attitude of meek humility which genuine worth always manifests. First the blade, then the ear and then the full corn in the ear.' But the corn, is not yet ripe. It requires continued sunshine to harden and mature it, and brisk autumnal breezes to loosen its roots and prepare it for the sickle. These the God of the seasons does not fail to send, and then the fields are ready unto harvest. Work, faith and patient obedience to Divine law have all been rewarded, and in the mellow radiance of the advancing year