his own with usury: nay, rather, adopted among his children, He asks them not so much to be workers for Him as to be workers with Him. He calls them indeed to a life of active energy, but it is in association with their Father's business.

Now, suppose we endeavour to realize this idea more, and to act upon it? What do you say to this proposal, dear reader? Don't you think that if we were to make it our "business " to be useful to others, there would soon be a manifest difference observable in the results of Christian enterprise? Well, what hints can we gather from the experience of others that will help us in our effort of self-improvement?

Thus far had I written, dear reader, when there came into my possession a letter from an elderly and respectable tradesman in the country, which contained the following message to a young nephew in town:"Tell Harry that I hope he is trying to acquire good business habits; and if he asks what these are, give him from me this answer, in four words -Promptitude-Punctuality-Prudence-Perseverance. I owe my success in worldly matters, under God's blessing, to an early and intimate acquaintance with this old-fashioned quartette."

Now

But who is Harry? and what did he say to these remarks?

Dear reader, be not over curious. I am not about to give you either Harry's biography, or his uncle's, just now. I have merely copied an extract from the friendly epistle of the latter, because I thought that the counsel which it offers fits in very nicely with my recent observations. If the tradesman wants business habits for the right discharge of his duties, the Christian certainly requires them for the fulfilment of his responsibilities.

Now, perhaps these four words hardly embody all the necessary qualifications for an earnest and success

ful labourer in Christ's vineyard; but they will furnish quite as many topics as we can consider in the present number-for our respected Editor does not approve of very long articles-and they will also, I am inclined to imagine, point out to us quite as many businesslike habits as we shall be either wishful or able to cultivate immediately. First on our list, then, there is,

I. Promptitude. Look into that shop over the way. Watch that young man behind the counter. How dull he seems in comprehending the orders of the customer; how slowly he fetches the goods for inspection, as if he scarcely knew what he was about, and didn't care whether they were sold or not. He looks half asleep; at all events his thoughts have wandered elsewhere, and he can't get them back again when they are wanted. Now, don't imitate him; don't go about your work in that fashion. Be awake, wide awake; have all your senses and your energies about you. There is a great deal to be done, and but a short time to do it in. You must be quick and active, full of readiness and alacrity. Your department is not talking, nor dreaming, nor wishing, but working; remember that.

When Dr. Chalmers was executing his plan of establishing parochial schools in connexion with St. John's parish, in Glasgow, a site which belonged to the College was selected for the first school to be erected. Dr. Chalmers called on Dr. Taylor, the head of the College, in order to purchase this site, and expressed his hope of obtaining it on reasonable terms, in consequence of the novelty and importance of the undertaking.

"The undertaking," replied Dr. Taylor, "is an important one; but it is not a new one. We have been talking for this twenty years of establishing parochial schools in Glasgow."

"Yes," said Dr. Chalmers, "but we are going to do the thing, and not to talk about it; so you must let

the price be as moderate as possible, seeing that we shall take the labour of talking and projecting entirely off your hands." In six months the school was finished and opened.

Now when we see that a thing ought to be done, let there be no hesitation nor delay, but let us set about it at once; never neglecting, through indolence or carelessness, any means through which we can influence others for their good. "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might."

And this promptness of character will not only render us expeditious in our undertakings, but it will keep us on the look-out for opportunities. Great success in temporal affairs is often attributable to this watchfulness. And Christians should be men of enterprise; instant in season and out of season, always abounding in the work of the Lord.

The excellent Dr. W-, when travelling through M- once called at a farmhouse to ask for a glass of water. A young lady very courteously handed one to him, and as he rose to leave, he said, " Permit me to ask you before I leave you, whether you have yet given your heart to the Saviour?" She told him frankly that she had not. He conversed with her very kindly for a few minutes, and then departed. Some years afterwards, as he was addressed by name on a steam-packet, in a distant part of the country, a gentleman came up and asked him whether he was the Dr. W- who was once travelling through MThe stranger then informed him that a lady requested him, if he ever met with Dr. W- to say that she was the individual who once gave him a glass of water, and that his faithful conversation on that occasion had been blessed to her conversion. She wished him to accept her thanks for a word spoken in season.

Or listen to another illustration. A theological student was once spending an evening of devotional services at a friend's house. During the evening he

noticed a little girl who was present, and as he was leaving the family, he laid his hand upon her head, and gently, yet earnestly, inquired, "Do you mean to follow Christ?" These simple words made an impression on that tender heart, never to be effaced.

Dear reader," as we have opportunity let us do good unto all men.' But we shall inevitably lose many of our brightest opportunities for usefulness unless, in conjunction with promptitude, we are resolved to gain the habit of,

II. Punctuality. For life is full of duties and activities. Only it is not so much the multiplicity of employments, as the want of system in them, which leaves them either half-finished, or badly done, or not done at all. Dr. Adam Clarke says, that the old proverb about having "too many irons in the fire," is an injurious falsehood. "Have all in," he adds, "shovel, and tongs, and poker; only keep them going." But then to do this you must study good arrangement, and you must be punctual in the observance of it. One duty must not be allowed to clash with another. One benevolent undertaking must not encroach upon the rights of its neighbour; you must not be late at the Sunday-school, because you were giving away tracts in the street; nor keep a meeting waiting for your services, while you are visiting a sick person. "Let all things be done decently, and in order." John Wesley was perhaps one of the most striking examples of punctuality the world has ever seen. His engagements were numerous and urgent; he travelled about five thousand miles in a year, preached about three times a-day, and his published works amount to about two hundred volumes; but by a wise distribution of his time, and inflexible adherence to his arrangements, he was enabled with comparative ease to discharge the duties of a most active and laborious life. "I am always in haste," he used to say, "but never in a hurry."

And take care of your moments. The tradesman reckons his lost time as so much lost money. How much of our "Father's business" is lost for ever, because of our idle waste of minutes! It was said of Henry Martyn, when he was at Cambridge, "That's the man that never lost an hour." Could that be said of you, dear reader? The Rev. Henry Jesse, who lived in the seventeenth century, placed over his studydoor some Latin lines, of which the following is a translation:

"Whatever friend comes hither,
Dispatch in brief: or go:
Or help me, busied too."

III. Prudence. Prudence is the result of judgment. It is wisdom applied to practice. And Christians are to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Their zeal for the truth, and for the welfare of others, “should be regulated by a sound discretion with respect both to the measures adopted for those ends, and to the times and circumstances in which those measures shall be employed." A poor man, in very distressed circumstances, once went to the door of a rich citizen to ask for something to eat. The lady of the house, who was a noted member of charitable associations, gave him a tract. The man went away cursing her, all who professed religion, all tracts, and religion itself. This was a decided case of ill-judged effort for the promotion of a man's spiritual good. The tract was given at a most unseasonable time, and the man was probably driven by it further from the kingdom of heaven than he was before.

It is to be feared that we often fail of success in our efforts, because those efforts are not rightly directed. We must guard against a rash and indiscriminate mode of action. While we are "prompt," we must be "prudent." The Apostle Jude inculcates this principle, when, in reference to our efforts to save men