This short and simple precept gives ample scope for and so extensive practice; it is also pointed and peculiar ; forcibly are we commanded to "gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost," that it demands our peculiar attention. The command which our Lord here enforces, immediately followed a wonderful exercise of His power, in miraculously feeding five thousand persons; and, notwithstanding the abundance of the provision, yet the fragments are to be gathered, that nothing be lost, or wasted. We greatly lessen the value of the gifts we possess, if we forget the responsibility which devolves upon us, as stewards or distributors of his bounties to others, whereas, by a wise frugality in the use of our enjoyments, and not wantonly abusing them, we shall always have a reserve wherewith to assist others, and relieve them out of the very remains of fragments, which otherwise would be lost or wasted by wanton extravagance, or profuse expenditure. How many wasted fragments would have cheered our poorer brethren? How many wasted words and moments too, which might have been treasured up for the spiritual welfare of others, as well as our own? How many gifts, possessions, talents, that might be laid out to great increase, and well employed, lost by misuse? and upon which our Lord will write the same condemnation, as on the slothful servant, who "hid his talent in the earth;" for if our talents are not consecrated by being employed in God's service, they must return to earth, and prove not only void or useless, but make us fearfully responsible in the sight of the great Giver of all we possess, who evidently views them as his own; if we mark the words which signified his rejection of the hidden talent, "Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming, I should have received mine own with usury," Matt. xxv. 27. Fragments are only a part, the remains of what once constituted a whole; yet these must not be despised, as it is to these very fragments our Lord would turn our attention, by bidding us gather them up; and we need not doubt, that every command to which we yield a ready obedience, brings

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with it an attendant blessing. As we read in 2 Chron. xxxi. 10. "Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the Lord, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty for the Lord hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store." See also Malachi iii. 10. "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." It was remarked by an eminently pious man, (Wilson, late Bishop of Sodor and Man,) that he found by constant experience, " God will be no man's debtor;" this is an observation, adds his biographer, he often repeated, and it is pregnant with important meaning. "That eye to which all things are naked and open,' marks every holy desire, and pious thought which arise. in the mind, and crowns them with a corresponding blessing. No effort is lost in the service of God, but all shall be abundantly recompensed by that beneficent Saviour, who, by His own merits, purchased the reward He so freely bestows. But we must now more particularly consider this precept, as applicable to all classes of men. The rich are concerned in it. "He who uttered it was rich, and for our sakes became poor, had shown Himself rich in power beyond all human wealth; and those whom He blesses with the bounties of His providence, may thankfully receive the gifts bestowed on them, but they are prohibited all waste and extravagance; nothing must be squandered which may benefit and comfort others. The poor too are concerned in it; for there are few who might not be better off, if they had always held in mind, that nothing be lost, nothing wasted by being spent unnecessarily. But we may carry the precept further, than merely as a lesson of frugality: there are other fragments besides those of daily bread for our temporal sustenance, which we are also taught "to gather up and save.' There are fragments of time for which we are responsible, especially keeping in view the end of time, and its important connexion with our

best interests; let us treasure up all our moments, for they have wings, says Bishop Hall, and carry up to heaven a record of their usage, so that

"Each moment which idly or wisely we spend

Shall form an accuser, or plead as a friend."

How many might be rich in this sense, as well as in temporal concerns, if they had carefully husbanded their resources; and multitudes, who are ignorant, might be rich in the most precious knowledge, if they had put to good account the moments they have wasted and misapplied. Content with the vain frivolities of an unsatisfying existence, they have not sought that better portion which Christ set before them, nor even "touched the hem of his garment," by which they would have been made whole. And further, if you profess to be the servants of Christ, gather up all opportunities of showing zeal in his service, be it by talent or influence, or by whatever gifts you possess; some may have much, some little, but all have some fragments of talent and opportunity, if they are careful to "gather them up." How few would remain ignorant, or without instruction, or without warning, if all were careful to make the most of their means of usefulness. Then He, to whom this service is rendered, is not unrighteous to forget your labours of love; He will gather up the smallest fragments of service which you have rendered Him, by thought, word, or deed; none shall fall to the ground; like the words of the Prophet, recorded in 1 Sam. iii. 19, Nor shall anything be lost of obedience to his holy will, for all shall be noted in his book of remembrance. But let us not resemble the disciples of our Lord, to whom the command we are considering was especially addressed, in one particular; they understood not the full scope of his meaning, when He declared Himself to be the bread of life, the living bread which came down from heaven as their twofold sustenance, for "man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word which proceedeth from the mouth of God." Then let our prayer be, "Lord evermore, give us this bread, and by Thy blessing many frag

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ments shall be gathered, whereby we may dispense spiritual food to others also, so that all may eat, and be satisfied everlastingly. Oh! what a gathering up of eternal treasures would there be, if every fragment were rightly disposed of, fragments of all we possess, fragments of time, of talents, of riches, of opportunities, of influence, all gathered up for the great Master's use, redeemed from the vanities of a passing world, to fill the spiritual garner of our Lord! Thus every portion of our gifts and possessions would be held as a sacred trust, good for every purpose assigned to it, not lightly esteemed as ministering only to earthly comfort, but furthering higher and better interests, and promoting the glory of the Giver. Holding also in mind, that the words which Christ spake unto us are spirit and life," we shall do well to consider every precept his word sets before us, as conveying a twofold signification, relating not only to our temporal, but also to our spiritual welfare, and disciplining our hearts, before it can be of saving efficacy in our lives; for this in truth alone constitutes Christianity, and vital religion alone emanates from this source. The "spirit and life," which Christ communicates with his doctrines, unite morality with spiritual affections and Christian graces; these comprehend everything which our state in this lower world requires, and prove also instrumental in bringing us to a higher and better existence, in which both spirit and life shall be perfected in unutterable glory. Thus godliness embraces "the promise of the life which now is, as well as of that which is to come;" and, as during our sojourn upon earth, water and bread are needful for temporal sustenance, so Christ shall supply all our need, and prove the unfailing source of spiritual sustenance also; the heavenly manna sent from heaven, and water springing up unto everlasting life. He furnishes the soul with that strength which shall never fail in time, or eternity, as his own words imply, "He that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." Of this spiritual food, this satisfying portion, these eternal riches, may we ever be reaping, and thus "gathering fruit unto eternal life," John iv. 36. May we humbly hope, that we are laying

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up treasures for eternity, which unlike earthly possessions cannot be scattered; for, blessed be God, the unsearchable riches of Christ can never be lost, they centre in an unchangeable God. A. F. N.

READING.

"I WOULD never," said Dr. Johnson, "desire a young man to neglect his business for the purpose of pursuing his studies, because it is unreasonable; I would only desire him to read at those hours when he would otherwise be unemployed: if he be a lad of any parts, he will certainly make a sensible man."

He used to advise young people never to be without a book in their pocket, to be read at by-times, when they had nothing else to do.

Without carrying a book in the pocket, which may sometimes be inconvenient, much may be done by having a book suitable for taking up at odd moments, in some accessible place.

A LETTER TO BEE-KEEPERS.

My dear Friends,-There are few things that look prettier in a cottage garden than a neat row of bee-hives; and those who keep bees have certainly a great addition to their innocent pleasures, as well as some profit in money at the summer's end. I have heard of a poor widow who used to pay her rent every year with what she got by her bee-hives and if it is but a few shillings that you can get, that is much better than nothing, and comes in very conveniently to buy shoes or coals for the winter. Besides, whatever your bees produce, whether more or less, is all clear gain, and costs you no labour or pains. They are working hard for you without hindering you from working for yourselves; and indeed it is a pleasant and useful lesson to see how these little creatures employ every half-hour of sunshine, and never lose a minute when they can use it.

But I am now going to tell you about a way of managing bees, by which you may get much more profit as well