entreated by earnest prayer. You must approach Him with the most profound humility; for " the servant falling down, besought Him." You are to make a firm resolution of amendment. " Have patience with Me, and I will repay thee all." You must forgive your brother, if you have any uncharitable feeling against him — " Should not thou, then, have had compassion also on thy fellow servant, even as I had compassion on thee? Forgive, and you shall be forgiven." (Luke vi. 37.)
MONDAY
The Laborers in the Vineyard.— I.
I. " The kingdom of heaven is like to a master of a family who went out early in the morning to hire laborers." (Matt. xx. 1.) This "master of a family" is God Himself, who, although He be the Lord of the kingdoms of heaven and earth, nevertheless provides in such a manner for the smallest wants of each individual, that it might seem that He is master only of a small family. His vineyard is the Church, the vines are all the faithful, the workmen are His pastors, and the faithful themselves; for every one must take care of his own soul. What a happiness it is to labor in such a vineyard, under such a master, and in cultivating such precious vines! Let this reflection induce you to labor seriously in performing your task in this vineyard.
II. Consider the solicitude of the master of the family. " He went out early in the morning to hire laborers." From the very commencement of the world, in every age, God calls these workmen. He calls every one to Himself, from the first use of their reason. Although
