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[Thy soul shall be required.] The Greek words so translated would be literally rendered, "They shall require thy soul." It is an example of the indefinite use of "they," as already observed on verse 11.

Let it be noted, that this expression is one of those which shew the separate existence of the soul when the body is dead.

[Whose shall those things be.] The argument here appears to be much the same as that in Eccles. v. 15. and Psalm xxxix. 6. A man cannot possess his property a moment after he is dead. Grace is the only lasting possession.

21.-[Layeth up treasure for himself.] This describes all who labour only for themselves, and the life that now is.

[Is not rich toward God.] This is the character of him who gives nothing to God's glory,-neither money, affection, thought, time, nor interest. There are thousands of this character. They are rich toward every thing but God. They have plenty to give to the world, but nothing to give to God. Ask them to help a worldly scheme, and they can find money, time, and attention. Ask them to do something for God, and they have no money, or no time! Those are the truly rich who have property which will be recognized at the day of judgment. Many owners of millions of pounds are paupers before God. They are not rich either in grace, or faith, or good works.

LUKE XII. 22-31.

22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.

23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.

24 Consider the ravens for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?

25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?

26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?

27 Consider the lilies how they

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We have in these verses a collection of striking arguments against over-anxiety about the things of this world.

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At first sight they may seem to some minds simple and common place. But the more they are pondered, the more weighty will they appear. An abiding recollection of them would save many Christians an immense amount of trouble.

Christ bids us consider the ravens. "They neither sow nor reap. They have neither storehouse nor barn. But God feedeth them." Now if the Maker of all things provides for the wants of birds, and orders things so that they have a daily supply of food, we ought surely not to fear that He will let his spiritual children starve.

Christ bids us look at the lilies. "They toil not, they spin not. Yet Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." Now if God every year provides these flowers with a fresh supply of living leaves and blossoms, we surely ought not to doubt His power and willingness to furnish His believing servants with all needful clothing.

Christ bids us remember that a Christian man should be ashamed of being as anxious as a heathen. The "nations of the world" may well be careful about food, and raiment, and the like. They are sunk in deep ignorance, and know nothing of the real nature of God. But the man who can say of God, "He is my Father," and of Christ, "He is my Saviour," ought surely to be above such anxieties and cares.

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of heaven and earth. He can relieve those wants, whenever He sees fit. He will relieve them, whenever it is good for our souls.

Let the four arguments now adduced sink deep into our hearts, and bear fruit in our lives. Nothing is more common than a careful and troubled spirit, and nothing so mars a believer's usefulness, and minishes his inward peace. Nothing, on the contrary, glorifies God so much as a cheerful spirit in the midst of temporal troubles. It carries a reality with it which even the worldly can understand. It commends our Christianity, and makes it beautiful in the eyes of men. Faith, and faith only, will produce this cheerful spirit. The man who can say boldly, "The Lord is my shepherd," is the man who will be able to add, "I shall not want." (Psa. xxiii. 1.)

We have, secondly, in these verses, a high standard of living commended to all Christians. It is contained in a short and simple injunction, "Seek ye the kingdom of God." We are not to give our principal thoughts to the things of this world. We are not so to live as if we had nothing but a body. We are to live like beings who have immortal souls to be lost or saved,-a death to die,-a God to meet, a judgment to expect, and an eternity in heaven or in hell awaiting us.

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When can we be said to "seek the kingdom of God?" We do so when we make it the chief business of our lives to secure a place in the number of saved people,— to have our sins pardoned, our hearts renewed, and ourselves made meet for the inheritance of the saints in light. We do so when we give a primary place in our minds to the interests of God's kingdom,-when we

labour to increase the number of God's subjects,-when we strive to maintain God's cause, and advance God's glory in the world.

God is the only king-
Happy are they who

The kingdom of God is the only kingdom worth labouring for. All other kingdoms shall, sooner or later, decay and pass away. The statesmen who rear them are like men who build houses of cards, or children, who make palaces of sand on the sea shore. The wealth which constitutes their greatness is as liable to melt away as the snow in spring. The kingdom of dom which shall endure for ever. belong to it, love it, live for it, pray for it, and labour for its increase and prosperity. Their labour shall not be in vain. May we give all diligence to make our calling into this kingdom sure! May it be our constant advice to children, relatives, friends, servants, neighbours, "Seek the kingdom!" Whatever else you seek, "Seek first the kingdom of God!"

We have, lastly, in these verses, a marvellous promise held out to those who seek the kingdom of God. Our Lord Jesus declares, "All these things shall be added unto you."

We must take heed that we do not misunderstand the meaning of this passage. We have no right to expect that the Christian tradesman, who neglects his business under pretence of zeal for God's kingdom, will find his trade prosper, and his affairs do well. To place such a sense upon the promise would be nothing less than fanaticism and enthusiasm. It would encourage slothfulness in business, and give occasion to the enemies of God to blaspheme.

The man to whom the promise before us belongs, is the Christian who gives to the things of God their right order and their right place. He does not neglect the worldly duties of his station, but he regards them as of infinitely less importance than the requirements of God. He does not omit due attention to his temporal affairs, but he looks on them as of far less moment than the affairs of his soul. In short, he aims in all his daily life to put God first and the world second,-to give the second place to the things of his body, and the first place to the things of his soul. This is the man to whom Jesus "All these things shall be added unto thee."

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But how is the promise fulfilled? The answer is short and simple. The man who seeks first God's kingdom shall never lack anything that is for his good. He may not have so much health as some. He may not have so much wealth as others. He may not have a richly

But he shall always have

spread table, or royal dainties. enough. "Bread shall be given him. His water shall be sure." (Isaiah xxxiii. 16.) "All things shall work together for good to them that love God." (Rom. viii. 28.) "No good thing will the Lord withhold from them that walk uprightly." (Psalm lxxxiv. 11.) "I have been young," said David, "and now am old, yet never have I seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging their bread." (Psalm xxxvii. 25.)

NOTES. LUKE XII. 22-31.

22.-[He said unto His disciples.] Let it be noted that our Lord in this passage addresses Himself especially to His disciples. He turns to them from the man for whom he had refused to be a judge and a divider, and from the mixed multitude to whom he had spoken the parable of the rich fool. He knew the readiness of

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