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A wall having become very feeble by age, a portion of it one day fell down. Great consequences followed the Falling of the piece of the old wall.

1. The sun was able to pour more light into the gardens on either side, which the height of the wall had obstructed, so that the flowers looked to greater advantage; and, owing to their having more air and sunshine, became really more beautiful.

2. The perfume was borne across the breach; so that the gardens were the, sweeter. "What a pity that piece of old wall had not fallen down before," said the flowers.

3. The shrubs looked over to one another, and got into friendly talk; and so they said, "What a good thing that piece of old wall fell down; it is a pity it stood so high so long."

4. The flowers and shrubs of each garden discovered that members of their own families had been living on the other side, and therefore really near to each other, though they had had no communion, owing to the wall between.

5. Finally, so many benefits were seen to be the result of the occurrence that, instead of rebuilding the fallen part, the remainder was pulled down to a low level, that air and sunshine might have freer course, and the gardens a free communication. And not a few afterwards acknowledged that a real good and blessing was the consequence to all parties, by the opportunely falling down of that old dividing wall Party spirit is a wall of separation which the coming and the work of Christ was intended to remove. "For He is our peace, who hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us." Let none now seek to divide Christians by building up a wall of party spirit between them; for, "behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity."

(G. Bowden.)

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KJV: But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

WEB: But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you don't consume one another.