quarter, awaken us from our selfish slothfulness, and fire our souls with holy zeal? Are we really believers, or do we deceive ourselves? Can we calmly look around and see multitudes on "the broad road that leadeth to destruction," and never put forth a hand to arrest them; never utter a word of affectionate entreaty or remonstrance? Have we no bowels of compassion? no heart to pity the perishing? Verily, we are not clear of blood-guiltiness in this matter. Our inconsistency is awful! Whilst Rome was burning Nero was fiddling; but we, whilst we behold numbers around us going down to eternal damnation, may I not say, with more guilty heartlessness, are amusing ourselves with some trifle-it may be innocent in itself, but having no connection with the eternal interests of others.

Oh! let us humble ourselves before the Lord, as with our faces in the dust. Let us cry to Him for mercy for our sins of omission. Let the time past suffice. Henceforth let us be men of one purpose, one idea. Let us cast aside every stumbling-block, and go forth in the name of the Lord, seeking by prayer, as did the men of faith in other days, to bring the omnipotence of God to bear upon those who are "dead in trespasses and sins."

The first thing every day, let us look to the Lord for guidance and strength to do something for Him-something for perishing sinners. And let us NEVER lose a fitting opportunity of speaking for JESUS. How often has a word spoken in fear and trembling, but with the tenderness and earnestness of love, been blessed to the salvation of a soul !

Reader! may many such be your crown of rejoicing in the day of the Lord Jesus. Unknown.

The Word of God affords us two valuable rules for all our actions, and if we could set them always before our eyes, I believe we should seldom be at a loss as to the conduct we ought to pursue: "Whether, therefore, ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do ALL to the GLORY OF GOD. And whatso

ever ye do, in word or deed, do ALL in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” Let us then always ask ourselves, before we set about any study, or employment, or enter into any company, "Am I doing this to the glory of God? Is it my sole, or at least my principal motive? Can I do it in the name of the Lord Jesus?' Can I boldly say it is such an action as He would approve of? And can I look up, all the time I am doing it, for His sanction and blessing?" If you can answer this question satisfactorily, the action, whatever it be, must be right, and there can be no danger respecting the performance of it. If, on the contrary, your mind recoils from even asking such a question, be assured that there is something wrong in it, and that you would do well to give it up. It is a hard lesson to our carnal hearts, but one which the love of Jesus can make easy to us; that, from the moment we take refuge at the Cross of Jesus, and are "washed from our sins in his blood "-from that happy moment we are no longer our own, and must make it our one business to "glorify God in our body and spirit, which are God's."

Thus far, I think, it must be right to go into worldly company, in the discharge of relative duties not plainly inconsistent with the Word of God; or to avail ourselves of any providential opportunities for Christian usefulness. Let us, however, be careful, that our own spiritual state is not affected by it, for we can never be required to enter into anything to the hurt of our own souls. But, on the other hand, I think, if we really love Christ, this occasional mixing with worldly company will be rather a sacrifice than a pleasure to us.

I am sure you would not choose that your Lord should come for you, while engaged in worldly amusements, nor would you feel that He found you watching; nor would you be ready to "open immediately;" but would rather seek time to collect your scattered thoughts, and trim your wasted lamp.

M. J. Graham.

Pardon bewrays itself. It must out. Each fresh sense of it seeks some outlet in praise. All that comes down from the throne betrays the God-like stamp it bears. That unbroken calm which holds between Jehovah and your soul, will spread itself. That infinite distance-spanned in one sense, though left in another sense, between your God and you,—down which no anger can ever pass again,—across which no thunder of wrath can roll, nor threatening even faintly echo,-peace with God, built up, finished, eternal, CANNOT be enjoyed alone. "Worthy is the Lamb!" is not adequate praise, uttered in the closet in the ear of God. To sit still, and praise Him only in a world like this, is to be unlike the Lord Jesus. You must go nowhere without sending forth the savour of His name. You must go to. His house, to minister there before Him. Christ is there to heal. The people should come, not to listen to you, but to transact with your Master. The bonds that oppress the dead among them are cold, heavy, hard, like chains of ice. HE shines, and they vanish-melt-are not.

"The Soul-Gatherer."

CHRISTIAN LIFE.

We

Let us bear in mind that every holy service of unostentatious love exercises a hallowed influence on those around us. may not be conscious of such. But, if Christians indeed, the sphere in which we move will, like the Bethany home, be redolent with the ointment perfume. A holy life is a silent witness for Jesus-an incense-cloud from the heart-altar, breathing odours and sweet spices, of which the world cannot fail to take knowledge. Yes! were we to seek for a beautiful allegorical representation of pure and undefiled religion, we should find it in this loveliest of inspired pictures. Mary-all silent and submissive at the feet of her Lord-only permitting her love to be disclosed by the holy perfume which, unknown to herself, revealed to others. the reality and intensity of her love. True religion is quiet, unobtrusive, seeking the shade— its ever-befitting attitude at the feet of Jesus-looking to Him

as all in all Yet, though retiring, it must and will manifes its living and influential power. The heart broken at the Cross, like Mary's broken box, begins from that hour to give forth the hallowed perfume of faith, and love, and obedience, and every kindred grace. Not a fitful and vacillating love and service, but ever emitting the fragrance of holiness, till the little world of home influence around us is filled with the odour of the ointment. Macduff.

Who can tell where the influence of a holy, prayerful life may end? When we have turned to dust, and the place that knew us once knows us no more, our "works follow us," and we may live in the lives of thousands! Christian, you never know how your life may tell when you have passed away. Oh! let it speak for God! let it be written on generations to come. "Live so as to be missed." Live for God, and that life can never die ! It will tell, you know not how, throughout eternity. F. Whitfield.

If we have, indeed, been made to "sit in heavenly places," with a risen Saviour, and taught to "set our affections on things above," we shall inquire, not "How far may I conform to the world," but "How far may I be separate from it without neglecting the social work which God has given me to do?" It is a dangerous thing to speculate how nearly one may approach to the edge of a precipice without peril of destruction. We cannot take fire into our bosoms and expect not to be burned. We cannot approach pollution without having our garments sullied. Besides, if our ears have been open to distinguish, however faintly, the echoes of the song they sing in glory, we shall care little for other music. It is not so much that we dare not mingle with the world, as that we would not. We love the narrow way, strait and painful though it be, better than the broad, with all its offered charms. We have lost our relish for such pleasures. We are satisfied with the joys which Jesus gives, and we need no other. What have we to do with

anything which would obscure our sight of the "hope set before us," on which we desire that our hearts should be entirely fixed? Are we not strangers and pilgrims? Do we not profess to seek a "better country, that is, a heavenly?" And why should we entangle ourselves with that which will only hinder us in our progress? Why should we suffer a weight on our wheels? Rather let this be our answer to all who would persuade us to loiter by the way, "I cannot tarry, for I am journeying." "Life: its Duties and Discipline."

Oh! that it may be evident that you have all taken up your position "among those that are sanctified." I know it will involve a cross, and a heavy one; but strength will be given: it will need a firm, resolute, abiding, both in watchfulness and prayer but God will be at hand: and if the burden at times be great, the contest sharp, the pathway rugged,—there need be no fear. The Lord will go before, and be the rereward too. He who with the drawn sword went before His people in the ancient days is the self-same. His word, His power, His love the same. And them that honour Him, He will honour. Forget not then; we are called to be saints: such is our high standing in Christ our Holiness. We are called to be saints; and the lives which pertain to saintship we are called upon to lead. So will our God be glorified, and day by day, from glory to glory, He will lead us onward, being meet for the inheritance, to the height of glory which awaits us in the co-heirship of His Son whom he has made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. J. G. Gregory.

THE CHRISTIAN TRAINING.

Before I was afflicted, I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statues.

Psa. cxix. 69.

Psa. cxix. 71.