esire to say a word
or two to-day.

Amidst all the threatening and discouraging symptoms of the national
life, Isaiah turned to the bright vision of those servants of God whose
faith should never fail, and in whom there should be no variableness, and
no wavering. "Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters." Sow your seed
of good influence, he seems to say to them, in good times, in bad times;
sow it in this place, and in every place, sow it in the wastes of the
moral wilderness, sow it in the face of every enemy, sow it in faith and
hope and without fear. It is on them he depends to prepare for that
happier season when the wilderness of the spiritual life around him
should become as a planted field; and with prophetic insight he perceives
that it is on such as these that the Divine blessing always rests.
"Blessed are they that sow beside all waters." It is a text to be taken
with us whenever any change comes over the circumstances of our life. If
we are changing from a life of rule or discipline to a life of free
choice, from school to home, from boyhood to manhood, this blessing
declares that there should be no change in the attitude and purpose and
aim of life.

It is another way of saying that the laws which should guide our conduct,
and the principles which should inspire and direct us, are of universal
application; that they know no difference of time or place, and that if
they bind you here they should bind you everywhere. And simple and
obvious as this may seem, it is not altogether an easy truth to carry
into practice. "Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters." Your seed
field is not here or there only; it lies on every side of you, and in all
places; it spreads into the future farther than your eye can travel, and
it will extend itself before you as you go; and the reality and vigour of
good purpose in you will be determined by your recognition of this truth.

Let us consider it with reference to our own case at such a time as
this.

There are always growing up here in every generation those who feel a
pride in their school, and in the spirit of it, who strive honestly and
earnestly to sow in their society the seeds of manliness, and
truthfulness, and good tone, and purity. It would soon go very ill with
this or any other society if it were not so. And those who grow up in
this way are continually leaving us in their turn, and they will remember
with affection the place of their high purposes a