many, nay, even the greatest part of mankind, resist His early call, He still continues to call in every stage of life afterwards, even to their last moment. Some He entices to His service by the hopes of reward, saying, " I will give you what is just." He rebukes others for their slothfulness: "Why stand you here all the day idle?" Examine if you have not been hitherto very idle in the service of God.
III. A part of this great vineyard consists of those whom God has placed under your charge, but particularly your own soul. Examine the present state of this part of the vineyard. See if it be not in the condition described by the author of Proverbs: " Behold it was all filled with nettles, and thorns had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall was broken down." (Prov. xxiv. 31.) Remember that you are sent into a vineyard, and not into a garden of pleasure; to labor, not to enjoy yourself and live at your ease. Encourage yourself to labor hard in this vineyard, for your reward will be very great. "The soul of them that work shall be made fat." (Prov. xiii. 4.)
TUESDAY
The Laborers in the Vineyard.— II.
I. " When evening was come, the Lord of the vineyard said to His steward: Call the laborers and pay them their hire, beginning from the last even to the first." (Matt. xx. 8.) This steward is Christ our Lord, to whom the Father " hath given authority to execute judgment." (John v. 27.) The evening of our life is death, for the whole of our life is but one day. "A thousand years," says holy David, addressing his Lord, " in Thy sight are
