There are various marks of ripeness in the Christian character which are well illustrated in the fruits of the field.

One mark is beauty. As the fruit ripens the sun tints it with surpassing loveliness, and the colors deepen till the beauty of the fruit is equal to the beauty of the blossom, and in some respects superior. There is in ripe Christians the "beauty of holiness."

Another mark of ripe fruit is tenderness. The young green fruit is hard and stone-like; but the ripe fruit is soft, yields to the pressure, can almost be molded, retains the mark of the finger. So it is with the mature Christian; he is noted for tenderness of spirit.

Another mark of ripeness is sweetness. The unripe fruit is sour, and perhaps it ought to be, or else we should eat all the fruits while they are yet green. It may, therefore, be in the order of grace a fit thing that in the youthful Christian some sharpness should be formed which will ultimately be removed. As we grow in grace we are sure to grow in sympathy and love; we shall have greater and more intense affection for the person of Him "whom having not seen we love "; we shall have greater delight in the precious things of His gospel; the doctrines which perhaps we did not understand at first will become marrow and fatness to us as we advance in grace. We shall feel that there is honey dropping from the honeycomb in the deep things of our God. We shall, as we ripen in grace, have greater sweetness toward our fellow Christians. Bitter-spirited Christians may know a great deal, but they are immature. Those who are quick to censure may be very acute in judgment, but they are as yet immature in heart. I know we who are young beginners in grace think ourselves qualified to judge everything, but when our virtues become more mature I trust we shall not be more tolerant of evil, but we shall be more tolerant of infirmity, more hopeful for the people of God, and certainly less arrogant in our criticisms.

Another and very sure mark of ripeness is a loose hold of earth. Ripe fruit easily parts from the bough. You shake the tree and the ripe apples fall. If you wish to eat fresh fruit you put out your hand to pluck it, and if it comes off with difficulty you feel you had better leave it alone a little longer; but when it drops into your hand, quite ready to be withdrawn from the branch, you know it to be in a good condition. Selected