Ever since the memorable visit of St. Paul, from which their conversion dated, until he wrote this account of them, during these five years, they had been in affliction. But notwithstanding this difficulty, “in a great trial of affliction," they did something for Christ. It no doubt did good to themselves to extend their sympathy beyond their personal distress. It tended to lighten their burden. The afflicted have often felt it to be so, and they have proved themselves to be the most ready workers for the Lord. Mrs. Sarah Price 66 was an invalid lady resident in Hammersmith, who had been reduced by rheumatism to such helplessness of body, that, in 1814, she was unable to walk, or even to raise herself from her couch." She, however, continued to attend Percy Chapel, where the late excellent Haldane Stewart then ministered, and for three years was absent only one Sabbath, through the illness of a relative. "After being carried into a commodious pew, in a retired corner of the chapel, she would there remain from before the commencement of the morning, until after the close of the evening service." On communion days one of the clergymen took the elements to her pew. Anxious to do something for the Lord, she became acquainted with Mr. Haldane Stewart's tract, "An Appeal to Christians for general and united prayer for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit," and resolved to circulate it. Aided by a friend, Mr. Ross, a pious solicitor, she proposed to send a copy to seventy clergymen next New Year's Day, and to endeavour to induce some to pray for the blessing. Seven hundred were sent. The work grew. Packets were despatched to ministers requesting them to preach upon the subject. Fourteen thousand copies were circulated in less than a fortnight. In three months she circulated, in the same way, 5000 of Mr. Stewart's "Thoughts." In two years she distributed 20,000 "Thoughts," 40,000 " Appeals,"

3000 printed letters to ministers, 500 autograph letters. At one time 1500 parcels lay on the table to be directed, and were sent in one week. How was this done? "All this was done by the instrumentality of two individuals; and nearly the whole of Mrs. Price's share of the work was done in bed, her limbs being for some time so contracted by her complaint that she could not feed herself without great pain, and had only the use of a thumb and finger left, 'just,' as she said with true Christian heroism, 'to enable me to hold my pen.'" Through her instrumentality almost all ministers in the three kingdoms, missionaries abroad, students in colleges, received a message and a tract on the importance of the influence of the Holy Spirit. An invalid, unable to lie down for years, enduring severe pains, found she could do good and be useful in the Lord's work. Let not any then be restrained. Affliction is not a barrier to a heart filled with the love of Christ in a work of faith.

It was a sacrifice. The Macedonian converts were in deep poverty. Few of the rich joined the infant church. Most of those who embraced the cross lost their worldly possessions. But there were some poorer than they. At Jerusalem, amidst the bigoted Jews, the followers of Christ had a hard struggle to subsist. It became the duty of fellow-Christians to aid them. Among the foremost was the church in Macedonia. They gave out of their deep poverty, up to their power, "and beyond their power they were willing of themselves." What they could not well afford they could sacrifice. They could do without it, The cause was dear to them. Brethren were perishing. What they could do, therefore, they did, in order to benefit those who had greater trials than themselves. Usefulness is to be measured by opportunity and ability; and these early converts fully entered into the work, and were able, because they tried. They entered into

the mind of Christ, "who, though he was rich yet for our sakes he became poor, that we through his poverty might be rich."

It requires not splendid talents, great attainments, high position, and a full purse, to enable you to be useful in the Lord's work. "If there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not." That which you have, if consecrated to the Lord in any way agreeable to his will, is as graciously accepted as if its worth in the esteem of the world were enhanced a thousand-fold. The widow's mite was more in the estimate of Christ than the large gifts of the rich. You are not asked to make a sacrifice; but you are required to do something for Christ. What are you giving? Is it too much to suggest that, if you have no ready means of giving, you may sacrifice? One whose life is sketched in the sequel gave up a day's wages that she might do something for Christ. Another-and he was a book-keeper-had such a "passion for souls," that, in addition to his earnest prayers, he "obtained from his employer the use of two half days every week to himself, at a drawback from his salary of more than a hundred dollars (£25). This time he used in visiting from house to house for religious conversation. Of course such a man would leave his mark; and he did. His Sabbath-school class of twenty-five young girls all became hopeful converts. And it was a regular thing at each communion season of the church to which he belonged, to find from one to five applicants for admission brought there through his instrumentality." What a reward for the sacrifice he made

Would to God there were many such likeminded workers in the vineyard. Can the reader not do something?

It was spontaneous. "They were willing of themselves,

praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift." It arose from their liberal motive. It was not suggested nor commanded by the apostle. But this was no hinderance to hearts anxious to have a share in usefulness. They could volunteer their benevolence. It was a privilege they sought. They hailed the opportunity, and entered the door of usefulness with alacrity and zeal. You need not wait for an invitation or for a sphere. Begin where you see need, and willingly offer yourself. Spontaneous missions are likely to be most blessed. Such a dedication to the Lord's work was Vanderkemp's; and how much did he effect! Such was Morrison's and Williams', Brainerd's and Judson's. They were volunteers.

What is wanted is the passion for usefulness, founded upon personal devotedness to the Lord. It requires not a large sphere. It can extend itself. It may be a district of a parish, a circumscribed neighbourhood, a few sick people, a Sabbath class, or a domestic circle; or it may be the shop, the counting-house, the manufactory, the senate, the bar, the church. Using for the Lord the opportunities and abilities given you in any of these, you will be encouraged by the divine blessing, and be useful in your day and generation. If you have but one individual whom you try to bless, to win to Christ, you have a sphere. David Brainerd gave this testimony regarding such work: "My greatest joy and comfort has been to do something for promoting the interests of religion and the souls of particular persons." Make such the subject of special prayer, address by word, or letter. Direct your Christian energy to that one thing, and you perform a work of usefulness. This is a secret of great success. "A lady had a Sabbath class, to teach which she made diligent preparation. Her instructions in the class were necessarily of a somewhat general nature; but shede

sired that each of her scholars should be converted to God. Therefore it was her habit to pray specifically for each scholar, and then to visit each one in her home, for the purpose of special religious conversation. She laboured to save, not her class, but the particular souls in her class. It is worth repeating, that this humble, faithful teacher, had reason to believe that each of her scholars had become a true Christian." In a similar way might every professing Christian do something for the Lord and for souls. Dear reader, might not you? If you have given your very self to the Lord first, this is plainly your duty as you have opportunity. By all means try to save some. What a testimony would it be for Christ! You would be a witness in yourself to the truth of your faith. What a benefit to souls! "He which converteth the sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." What an encouragement to the ministers of Christ! How the apostle must have been gladdened by the eager efforts of his Macedonian converts to be useful in the church! It was ample reward for toil and suffering in his efforts to save them. It stimulated him to labour. The conviction that he did right was much; but the joy of success was more. Let those who labour for you have the comfort of seeing you aiding their work. What a good example to others! It is a lesson of life and action in spheres common to theirs. It shows what can be done. What a happy memorial to leave behind! "The good that men do lives after them;" the influence remains and spreads. You may be forgotten; but your work of faith and labour of love will have their everlasting memorial.