THE RAIL-ROAD STATION.

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This man is but a picture of what I should be." Oh that I had humility and godly integrity enough in my heart to go straight on with my work! "greasing the wheels," if needs be! patiently and cheerfully occupying the lowest station assigned me by duty, until it should be said unto me, "Friend, go up higher," Luke xiv. 10.

NOTHING AND SOMETHING.

LISTEN to an old man who, among the multiplicity of his words, may drop a few not undeserving your attention. Listen to an old man. There is no way of passing through this world in safety, without having the word of God before our eyes, and the grace of God in our hearts. If this be true, and undoubtedly it is, then the word of God and the grace of God ought to be our daily delight.

Now, the word of God and the grace of God both instruct us, that we value many things very highly here below, which are of no value and estimation at all in His eyes, who trieth the hearts and the reins of the children of men. Many things which we consider as SOMETHING, are with Him as

NOTHING.

Among men, it is considered a great and glorious thing to lay up riches, and to increase in treasures abundantly; but the word of God says, "Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that

NOTHING AND SOMETHING.

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which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven,” Prov. xxiii. 4, 5. "What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Matt. xvi. 26. It appears, then, that though riches are SOMETHING among men, they are NOTHING before God

Among men, it is considered especially desirable to get the friendship of the world; but the word of God says, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him," 1 John ii. 15. "Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God," Jas. iv. 4. The friendships of the world, then, valuable as they may appear, though they are SOMETHING among men, are NOTHING with God.

Among men, it is considered commendable to be thoughtful for the future, and to manifest anxiety to provide for themselves and those who shall come after them; but the word of God forbids all undue desire and anxiety about these things : "Take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?-for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek

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NOTHING AND SOMETHING.

ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you," Matt. vi. 31-33. Among men, these things are SOMETHING, but they are NOTHING with God.

It is thought to be an excellent thing among men, to sit in the first places of the synagogue, to make long prayers, and to give money to feed the poor; but the word of God points to the heart, to the motive of the mind, and considers these things of no avail, unless accompanied with sincere charity. "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.-Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing," 1 Cor. xiii. 1. These things, then, though something among men, are NOTHING before God.

Living, as we do, in a world of sin and sorrow, with temptations without, and a heart of unbelief within us, we are continually underrating what is of great value, and attaching an importance to what is worthless; and it would be almost impossible to point out in how many instances we consider things SOMETHING, which, alas! are

NOTHING.

But if riches, and the friendship of the world, and worldly wisdom, and formal prayers, and os

NOTHING AND SOMETHING.

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tentatious almsgiving, are as nothing with God; it becomes us to consider what are those things that will be considered SOMETHING in his sight.

An humble heart, fervent charity, submission to the will of God, reverence for his holy word, dependence on his precious promises, and an unreserved confidence in our Lord and Saviour for life and salvation: these things let us seek, in His name that is above every name; for though they may be accounted as NOTHING before men, they are SOMETHING before God, and will be proved to be so when every thing worldly shall become "less than NOTHING, and vanity."

D