1 90 REFLECTIONS. 



all the cultivators of the fields that they may- 

 be white to the harvest, and free from the de- 

 fects engendered by such causes as those we 

 have described. They are willing to try every 

 species of corrective, and to apply every pos- 

 sible remedy. But let us recollect that there 

 is such a thing as a spiritual harvest, and that 

 we 8xe suffering it to become infected by negli- 

 gence of that which has been so mercifully pro- 

 vided for its beauty while growing, and purity 

 when gathered into the Lord's garner, into 

 which the wheat is to be taken, while the chaff 

 is to be burned up with unquenchable fire. Men 

 having possessions are stewards for God, and 

 are as much responsible for their moral efforts 

 amongst those who labour in these possessions, 

 as the employed are for their diligence in the 

 tasks meted out to their hands. Suppose a man 

 to whom the seed for a large farm was entrusted, 

 had omitted to dress it, and, in the time of 

 reaping, the ears were found, to a great extent, 

 destroyed by the nauseous fungus which re- 

 places the flour. "Whose would the responsibi- 

 lity be? Will not a Uke solemn day of account 

 come for those who have influence over men of 

 low estate, and neglect to regard the culture of 

 their minds, and to sow amongst them, in all 



