Truly Saul forgot that his vineyard was before him. Turning from these sad cases, let us consider some examples worthy of imitation. We have a remarkable one in our Lord Jesus Christ. After a great festival at Jerusalem, He absented Himself from His parents. Returning, they sought Him sorrowing, and, to their astonishment, found Him in the temple with the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions. To their bewildered inquiries, He replied, "How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business ?" But Mary wist not this fact, nor fully comprehended the high commission given to her Son. Thus, as an earnest of His future labours, the Lord Jesus accepted His responsibility. How forcibly this truth is impressed by Paul (1 Tim. iv. 12-16): "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee." Here, indeed, is personal responsibility. Taking it up, Timothy might truly say, "My vineyard, which is mine, is before me." Let us apply this to ourselves. What is your vineyard? Whatever it may be, it is before you. It is not a labour far removed from your reach, but nigh to hand. It is before you. God has given us the vineyard of our own hearts. Capable, through grace, of producing fruit unto eternal life, they are naturally overrun with evil weeds, which require the most assiduous attention. Here is a vineyard, and it is before you. How far have you accepted the responsibility? We have a vineyard in our private family circle. There is no place where a Christian should bear more fruit than at his own fireside. The perfume of our spices should not flow forth in company only, but their greatest fragrance should be perceived in the quiet retirement of our own home. Further, what shall I say of our more public responsibilities. Behold the herald of the cross unfolding the offer of mercy to perishing thousands, and say, Is not his vineyard before him? The Sabbath school teacher in the class, the district visitor at the cottage, the evangelist on the high road, the city missionary, the Christian master, and the humblest follower of the Lord Jesus, all have their vineyard before them. He appoints the bounds hear some one saying, The work of one may be very different from that of another; but all is of God. of our habitation. Do I "My position is a very difficult one. I should assuredly flourish much better under another ministry. Or I could prosper more in a fresh sphere of duty." Let me ask, Are you not under the care of the Chief Husbandman ? Is it not His pleasure to see you flourish like the palm tree? Has He not power to open any door before you? Be still, then, and wait thou upon God, and let your expectation be from Him. Seek grace to say, "My vineyard, which is mine, is before me." There is a singular legend illustrating the blessedness of performing our duty at whatever cost to our own inclination. A beautiful vision of our Saviour is said to have appeared to a monk, and in silent bliss he was gazing upon it. The hour arrived at which it was his duty to feed the poor of the convent. He lingered not in his cell to enjoy the sight, but left it to perform his humble duty. When he returned he found the blessed Vision still waiting for him, and uttering these words, "Hadst thou stayed, I must have fled." Consider, secondly, The division of fruits.-"Thou, O Solomon, must have a thousand, and those that keep the fruits thereof two hundred." We have, first, the Master's portion-a thousand. In the eleventh verse we read, "Every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver." This is not a severe duty: a making brick for the king without straw. It is a light burden, in which the children of God delight. They desire to say— "O for a thousand tongues to sing My dear Redeemer's praise, They would not detract one from the number; but rather give ten thousand times ten thousand. This is well set forth by the Psalmist: "He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust. The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised. There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth. His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed. Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be His glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen, and Amen” (Ps. lxxii. 8-11-15-19). These words, expressly written for David's son, may be condensed thus: "Thou, O Solomon, must have a thousand." The same thought is brought out in Rom. xii. 1, 2: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies"-God's thousand"a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." your Look again at Rom. xiv. 7, 8: "For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's." Compare this beautiful passage with 2 Cor. v. 14, 15: "For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we |