Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." (Rom. xiv. 10-12.)

"For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." (Eccles. xii. 14.)

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"But know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment." (Eccles. xi. 9.) Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” (Matt. xii. 36.)

"In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men." (Rom. ii. 16.)

5. But we turn to some of the results of the doctrine in reference to our present circumstances, which we will very briefly enumerate. It does away with the too prevalent idea that if we can just enter heaven it is enough, and that there is no need of any effort for an increase of glory. Many are thus resting in their conversion as their escape from punishment, but are not seeking to be filled with all the fulness of God.

6. It checks self-indulgence and waste of time. Indisposition to work for God, contentedness with an easy and unlaborious life, contrivances to pass through present circumstances with as little annoyance and trouble as may be, reluctance

to make sacrifices, indifference to the employment of time in the most valuable pursuits, taking liberties in conformity to the world, all these things are perfectly natural to us. How can we expect to overcome them if we believe it will make no difference in our coming glory, whether we do so or not? Why should we take the trouble to do so if it really will make no difference? This is, we fear, strange as it may sound, too often the secret reasoning of our souls: and it suits the easy Christian well enough to misrepresent the doctrine of reward as an infringement on the province of grace, because with this view he persuades himself that his easy, selfindulgent course will win the same heaven, in all its circumstances, as that of the self-denying, laborious, suffering saint.

7. It gives a special importance and actual value to every day duty; and to a watchful and jealous control over the whole man in thought, word, and deed. Not merely in posts of extraordinary responsibility, or in works of singular magnitude, but in the detail of the most common employments, and in occupations of the most quiet and unobtrusive character, is this reward to be won. Nor will a fitful consistency on marked occasions serve as the substitute for a steady

and undeviating conformity to the will and law of our God.

8. It enforces, too, sincerity in duty. Not how much is done merely, but how it is done chiefly, will be the object of coming inquiry. Heaps of formal services will dissolve beneath the breath of such an examination, while the offerings of a true heart will abide in their acceptance.

9. It leads us to take advantage of little opportunities, as it leads us also not to despise even least commandments. "Because thou hast been faithful in a very little, be thou ruler over ten cities." "He that is faithful in a little is faithful also in much." A trifle is often enough to test the whole moral character; and what may appear a trifle is often enough to obtain from the Searcher of hearts a full and ample reward.

10. It sustains under all suffering by the conviction that its full fruit will be yielded, and its full results reaped hereafter. Many seem to suffer as if they should be none the gainers, and as if the results will be just the same as in the case of their friends and neighbours who have been exposed to no such trials. Hence they often seem to feel a sort of Christian fatalism, if we may be allowed the expression; "I have no doubt it will be for my good: I am sure I need

it:" and so on, without any intelligent idea in what they are to be the better: when there can be no question that, in an ordinary way, they are gaining much by such trials, and that they will reap much hereafter which they never would have reaped without them. Active labour and patient suffering are thus each working out their blessed fruits in their own way. "Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." (2 Cor. iv. 17.)

11. It sustains under apparent disappointments. We are often bent upon some purpose, which we deem of great value, and likely to issue in most beneficial results. Something occurs to thwart it, and all our labour appears lost. Not, however, that it is really so. It is laid up for us, and much that has not succeeded in realizing our hopes on earth will meet us with a full reward in the glory to come. The faithful minister, for instance, shall not lose his reward, though his testimony faithfully given has been rejected.

12. Once more, it leads, when rightly understood, to the selection of work that will tell most. Though in every lawful calling the reward may be reaped, still some employment will yield much more than others. Hence the value of the ministry, of missionary work, of Scripture

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reading amongst the ignorant, of visiting the sick and poor, of our Sunday-school teaching, done for the Lord, and to save souls. Many of our humblest classes, we believe, will thus come in for the highest rewards, and many of the poorest saints for the brightest crowns in the kingdom.

13. We may add,—It promotes spirituality of mind, for where our treasure is, there will our heart be also.-It delivers us most effectually from sensitiveness to the praise of men, for it leads us to look simply for the praise of God.—It improves our Christian character; for under no circumstances is its improvement greater than under those of diligence, exertion, patience, and endurance. It bears upon our best possible

management of our struggles with temptation, and our conflicts with Satan; for it makes us feel that every victory is gain, if we stand fast; and every defeat loss, if we give way. It influences the use of property, for it teaches us that it may be laid out foolishly, or to the greatest advantage, in the fullest sense of the terms: that is, with merely temporal, or with eternal benefit. And many other things this arrangement of reward secures, which time would fail me to tell, but which you will soon discover, when, through God's grace, you live daily under its conviction and in its power. One more I