ness he was prepared to seek for the mercy of God in Christ. By faith and repentance he obtained the mercy he sought, and afterwards expressed his gladness that he ever was led to understand the truth and meaning of the apostle's words.

Is not this the view of multitudes who are yet unsaved? Many are led to suppose that because there are certain laws which they think they have not broken, certain sins which they have not committed, that the fact will be a kind of setoff against many other sins of which they admit to themselves they are guilty; and, whilst holding to such vain thoughts, feel not their need of the mercy which the Lord Jesus Christ so freely offers. No man can say, in reference to the Divine commands, "All these have I kept from my youth up." And the Bible declares that all men are sinners. As it is written, "There is none righteous, no, not one." "The Scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe," and therefore these facts, realised in the soul of man, constitute his conscious need of a perfect salvation, through the merits and mercies of the Lord Jesus Christ; and where this is felt, salvation will gladly be sought.

Let any man be fully convinced that he has broken the law of God, and he will surely see that, unless saved by a power superior to his own, the consequences of his guilt will have to be met in his own person. But so long as men cling to the idea that, because they have not been as guilty as some others who they think have broken all the commandments of God, they may draw a conclusion favourable to themselves, they must remain unsaved, because they do not come to Christ as sinners without hope in themselves. The Saviour

said, "They that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick;" and just as long as men think they are spiritually whole, or not so incurable as to be without hope, they will remain in their sinfulness, and live without Christ in the world.

Blessed be God, there is mercy and salvation for every

guilty soul that seeks it by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. What no man could do for himself, Christ has done for every man who believes, and He will place every such one in a state of acceptance with God; so that not only pardon for the past, but grace for the future, renewal of the soul, and adoption into the family of the Most High, are the sure results of simply accepting Christ as Lord and Saviour. What a sad and sorrowful thing it is that whilst a perfect and complete salvation may be obtained by all who believe, there should be so many persons risk and imperil their souls upon the false and vain idea that they can be saved by some plan of their own, or that they are not in the circumstances and position which God, in His holy Word, declares them to be.

Reader, are you the subject of this free and full salvation offered to you by the Son of God? If so, rejoice and be glad; if not, let no vain thought of self-righteousness be allowed to cheat your soul; but at once apply to the Lord Jesus Christ for the blessings He so freely offers, and you will not seek in vain. "Now is the accepted time. Behold, now is the day of salvation." Christ himself has said, "Him that cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out."

4.4

Be Prayerful! Be Honest.

HE only bit of advice I will trouble you with now, Frank, my boy-at least, with regard to your masters and schoolfellows is, 'Be honest.""

Mr. Broughton was reclining in his easy-chair, watching the face of his son as he knelt by his mother's side. It was a cold January evening, The shutters had long since been closed, and the curtains drawn to shut out the wintry wind; but the candles stood unlighted upon the table as yet, for the group around the hearth had nothing to do just then but to think of each other, and the fire-light, suited them

best the glowing, cheery fire-light, with its home-like flicker upon the walls and furniture of the dear old room, which Frank had never loved before as he did at that moment, now that he was about to leave it.

Frank Broughton, was a finely-grown, open faced boy of thirteen, the eldest of a family of four, and to-morrow he was to be launched upon the unknown sea of public-school life. He had long looked forward to it with delight. To be really an Eton boy; to have friends of his own age; to exchange baby games with his little sisters for the glories of cricket and football; to have regular allowance of pocketmoney all these things made him impatiently count, the weeks until the Christmas vacation should have past, and the time should arrive for him to enter on the life which seemed so bright in anticipation. But somehow, now that that time had really come, he did not feel so glad as he had supposed he should be. His home had been a very sunny one, and now that he was going to leave it he suddenly felt in his boyish heart how happy he had been there. He loved his father, and his gentle mother, with all the intensity of his nature; and he felt as he knelt there by his mother's chair, with her dear hand upon his neck, that the separation would come with a bitter wrench, instead of being the unmixed joy he had so looked forward to. silent some little time. Frank's heart, filled his new feelings, which were almost regret. was thinking of the days when her son had first lain upon her knee, a tiny baby, with "tendril rings of hair;" she remembered her prayers and hopes for him then, and she echoed. them now that he was no more a child, but a boy-about to begin a boy's work and to fight a boy's battles. Mr. Broughton spoke at last, and he gave his son the word of advice with which we began this, simple sketch, "Be honest."

They had been with the rush of Mrs. Broughton

The boy looked up with kindling eye. "Father! surely

Mr. Broughton smiled. "I don't suspect you of being a

thief, Frank," he said, "but there are other ways in which we may depart from that truthfulness and aprightness which is the duty and the pleasure of every one of Christ's soldiers."

"I think Frank is truthful to the very core," said the mother fondly, and it might be a little proudly, as she remarked the bright eyes fixed so inquiringly on his father.

"He will never tell a lie, I trust," said Mr. Broughton; "but the temptations and snares which will be spread for him will not be always easy to see and to avoid. Our great enemy, Satan, is far too wise to spread his nets in the sight of any bird, you know, Frank; and it may puzzle you sometimes to discern between good and evil. If ever it is so, my boy, remember my words, 'Be honest.' Choose the single simple action or word, and you will not go far wrong." "You read a verse with me this morning, Frank,” said his mother, "which may help you sometimes." And she repeated softly, "In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and His children shall have a place of refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.""

"I was thinking five minutes ago of one of my own school experiences," said Mr. Broughton, after a pause, during which Frank's lips had touched his mother's hand, as it lay upon his shoulder.

"Tell me about it, father," said the boy. "Was it when you were at Eton ?"

"No, before then. I was sent to what was considered a very good school in those days, kept by a Welshman named Morgan. He himself had little enough to do with us younger ones except the administration of the cane, which he kept in his own hands, and applied vigorously for the slightest fault. The master of our class was a very stern man. He had no idea of explaining our lessons, or of helping us to understand them in any way. The fashion of instruction has altered vastly since my day-luckily for you, my son. So much was marked out for us to learn, and if

we did not know it perfectly our master marched us off to Dr. Morgan, who caned us there and then, without asking any questions.

"The chief lesson on a Sunday was repetition of the Catechism; wearisome work to most of us; but it happened that I knew it pretty well. My dear old Aunt Catherine, the original of that picture over there"-and Mr. Broughton pointed to a portrait which hung on the opposite wall-"my dear old Aunt Catherine had taken great care that I should be early instructed therein. On the first Sunday of my school-days I was creeping away by myself among the evergreens directly after breakfast, feeling rather miserable and lonely, and wishing very much that I could see what they were all doing at home, when I heard my name called loudly by a boy named Hawkins, who was standing among a group of others under the verandah. I approached rather unwillingly, for I was shy, and ill at ease with all my schoolfellows as yet, and especially ill at ease with Hawkins. was a great big, hulking fellow, whose age ought to have entitled him to a place in the first class; but he was idle and stupid at his books, and as a consequence was still among the junior boys in school hours. He domineered over us terribly. He was always head of his class, for the simple. reason that none of the boys dared to 'take him down,' knowing he would pay off 'such impudence' with interest in the play-ground.

666

He

"I say, Broughton,' said he, speaking rapidly and in a low tone as I came up to the verandah-'I say, do you know your Catechism ?'

"Yes, I think I do,' I replied.

"You're a lucky little beggar, then; I wish I did! it would save me a heap of trouble. But I called you to tell you a rule of the school: we never take each other down in saying Catechism. If one doesn't know a question we let it pass on, all the way down. Don't you understand?' he added sharply, seeing my dubious face.

"Don't be afraid, you won't get caned,' said a boy named