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THE GARDENER AND THE TREE. What is that man doing in the gar. den with his spade? The tree round which he digs, seems dead : is he going to take it up and throw it away? not so. He thought to do this, but he changed his mind. The tree had long stood in the garden; he had taken great care of it ; but in spite of all his care, it would not flower, or bear fruit. This led him to say, “why should I have such useless trees in my garden? I will puil it up, and try another in its place." He further said to himself, however, “it is sad that all my pains should be lost; I will try my tree one year more ; and if then it does not blossom, it shall be cut down."

So instead of digging to pull it up, he is digging to loosen the earth, to kill the weeds, and to put in manure about its roots. And he hopes that it will repay all his toil.

Now, dear child, you have long stood in the garden of the Lord. Your parents and friends put you under his care when you were baptized. Your Lord has fenced you in from the rest of the world, who know him not. His sun of mercy has shone upon you; and his rains of grace have come down upon you; so that the Lord may ask, “ what could I have done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it?" Don't you feel this? Are you not taught to read? Are you not taken to God's house? Have you not the blessed Bible? Do not kind friends take pains to tell you what you must do to be saved ? What more then could God do for you? But now, dear child, tell me, what fruit do you bear? Is there the fruit of love to Jesus who has done so much for you, and of love to all around you for his sake? Is there the fruit of holy fear of God; of sorrow for sin ; of a meek, humble temper; of duty to your parents; of respect for the Sabbath ; of a heavenly mind? Ah ! think of the parable of the barren fig-tree. Luke xiii. 6. As no fruit was found thereon, the owner said, “cut it down, why cumbereth it the ground !” For three years he had come seeking fruit, and had found none. And the dresser of the vineyard begged that the master would let it alone one year more, and then if it bare no fruit, he might cut it down. Now you are this fig-tree. And God is your owner. And more than three years he has come to you seeking fruit. What say you? Has he found any? You are just ending a year. How have you spent it? What fruit have you to shew? Oh! if God should now be saying of you, "cut it down why cumbereth it the ground !" And perhaps Jesus is pleading for you, and hold. ing the hand of God's angry justice, and saying, “Let it alone this year.” Oh! pray then to God to pardon all your past lost time; and now begin afresh. Begin the new year as if it were to be your last year of trial. Rouse yourself, and pray for the Holy Spirit to make you fruitful. Then will God spare you; and in his own good time gather you into heaven as a shock of corn fully ripe in its season.

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IT IS I, BE NOT AFRAID.'

Matt. xiv. 27. Many little children are called to suffer in very early life, pain, sickness, trouble. Perhaps such little afflicted child may have these words read to it by a kind mother, or nurse, or brother, or sister : let me ask, who was it, my dear child, that spake these sweet words of comfort, “ It is 1, be not afraid ?" It was that mild and gentle Saviour, who, while he was on earth, said many such words of comfort to his people; and they are left on record in the Bible, to give comfort now, and support and strength to all who believe in, and love his Holy name.--Now, my dear, do you try to think of this blessed Saviour as saying these words to you. If you are in sorrow or suffering, hear him say “ It is I,

be not afraid. Perhaps you are sorry for your sins; and when you think of them, you are afraid ; but think also who it is that says these words; “It is -1, be not afraid.” It is Jesus, who came down from heaven to die for your sins. He stooped to become a little child like you; only he did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth. And when he grew up to be a man, he shed his precious blood upon the cross for your sake, that you might be forgiven : and now he says, “ Though your sins be as scar. let, they shall be white as snow; though red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah i. 18. He does not say, “ do not be sorry for your sins;" but, “ repent and turn unto the Lord your God, and he will receive and forgive you.” Pray, my dear child, to God, that you may have faith to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Go and confess all your sins to him that you may be forgiven; and then, all things shall work together for your good. If called to suffer, it will be but for a little season; and though one wave of trouble rise after another, the waters shall not overflow you ; and though cast into the furnace of affliction, the fire shall not kindle upon you; your Saviour will be with you, and you shall hear him saying, “It is I, be not afraid. It is I who died for you; I who am now

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