wilderment which the worldly-minded see so distinctly. "Thou shalt not see a fierce people." "Thou shalt not see when heat cometh." "Thou shalt not see evil any more."

Are these unpractical truths? Have they to do with the contemplative side only of the believer's life? Is this seeing "afar off" a state to make dreamy Christians? Not so: see how St. Peter ascribes the lack of any Christian grace to the not seeing afar off;" and if we examine one by one the very practical virtues which the apostle has linked together, we shall find, I think, that most certainly a seeing afar off must be its source and its sustenance. Take, for instance, "godliness," and call to mind his life who endured as seeing Him who is invisible; how pre-eminently a godly life a life of such obedience to the will of God, that he is emphatically called "the man of God;" that, as has been remarked, so faithful was he that it is said of him in Scripture no less than twenty-one times, he did 'as the Lord commanded Moses.'" Take another instance, "virtue," ¿.e., manly steadfastness: was this practical grace ever displayed as by that glorious army of witnesses for God, already referred to, who, embracing the far-off promises, subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, stopped the mouths of lions, out of weakness were made strong?

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Nothing like a look at the things which are not seen steadies and clears our eyes for a right view of things present, in their true proportion, in their bearing on our everlasting interests. Beautifully has the Christian poet written concerning a well-known picture of saints in far-away heavenly vision:

"Yet not for nothing had their spirits flown

To that high region; bringing down from thence
A reconcilement with the mean things here,
And a more earnest longing for what there
Of nobler was by partial glimpses thus
Seen through the crannies of the prison-house."

What is the far-off sight, so powerful to comfort, to sanctify, to shed a true light on the passing things of time?

Scripture sets before us many features of that fair landscape, the resting-place of the believing heart: "Peace, not as the world giveth;" flowing as a river; everlasting hills, whence cometh our help; a great rock, which offers salvation, refuge, strength, and shade; but all these are briefly comprehended in one answer, which from Old and New Testament alike rings clearly out: "The Lord Jesus Christ." "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day." "Thine

eyes shall see the King in His beauty." The Spirit, which reveals what eye hath not seen, testifies of Christ. They who are to be braced by the sight of a glorious goal for the race set before them are to be "looking unto Jesus." Looking unto Jesus"-no words could describe so truly the way of life from its very starting-point,

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From the cross on which He bare our sins in His own body the Lord Jesus speaks to every sinful child of man: "Look unto Me, and be saved;" and he who has found "life for a look at the crucified One" is called to live thenceforth the life that he lives in the flesh by the faith of his ever-living Saviour, and through. all eternity shall behold His glory.

:

Dear fellow-traveller in life's short journey, have you this blessed prospect? Are you looking off unto Jesus? or are: your eyes fixed upon the transitory things of this present world? Oh, ask yourself this solemn question. And if you can only in honesty make answer that your Saviour is nothing to you who pass by, ask yourself, yet again, how will it be with you when" every eye shall see Him," and Him alone when the things of time, yea, time itself, shall be no longer; and nothing shall be left but that "afar off," to which he who in this life had his good things lifted up despairing eyes in hell? And if you would not, in the day of His appearing, know the anguish of beholding Him, "but not nigh," who loved you, and' gave Himself for you, because between Him and you a great gulf is fixed, cry unto Him now, for the Father sent Him to preach recovering of sight to the blind, "Lord, open Thou mine eyes."

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"I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting."- Timothy ii. 8.

WH

HERE rivers meet and mingle,
Where daisies deck the plain,

Where forest trees are waving,
Where roses scent the lane,
Where flows the village fountain,
Where gentle lambkins play,
Where silent rocks are rising,
Lift up the heart, and pray.

Within the smoky smithy,
Upon the gliding deck,
Where harvest cheers the reaper,
Amid the battle's wreck,

Down in the mine's dark working,
Out where the fresh winds stray,

Far on the pathless desert,

Lift up the heart, and pray.

Before the full church altar,
Within the cottage small,
Down in the humblest dwelling,
Up in the highest hall,
Forth where the city darkens,
In where the fettered stay,
Low in the deepest dungeon,
Lift up the heart, and pray.
When morning gilds the lattice,
When noontide fills the plain,
When night and stars and silence
Hang over earth and main,
In health, in strength, in sickness,
In nature's last decay,

To Jesus Christ the Saviour

Lift up the heart, and pray.

Throughout the whole creation
We cannot find a spot,
On land or on the ocean,

Where Thou, O Lord, art not.
The prayer of faith is answered,
Wherever prayer may be;
The earth is one great temple
Where we may worship Thee.

Earth fain would keep thee here,
And, hard as it may be,
Still strive for right-nor fear,
For Jesus calleth thee.

Great drops of bloody sweat

Were wrung from His sad brow;

Art thou a traitor yet?

Denying Him e'en now?

No! bravely fly to Jesus,

And give Him all thine heart;

He only can release us

And heal sin's deadly smart.

He, in thy day of sorrow,
Alone can cheer thy way,
And cause a bright to-morrow
To follow sad to-day.

E. S. P.

T was Christmas-time, and a very cold Christmas-time too. Squire Martin felt it, though he was warmly wrapped up from head to foot, and though he had

had a long ride that morning to and from the next market-town. To be sure, the snow was in some parts deep, and because of this the horse had made slower progress than its master approved; and to be sure, also, the