daylight fills the sky, arts to God on high, Iwe do or say,

free from harm to-day. in our tongues from strife, m anger's din our life, th watchful care our eyes bsorbing vanities. most hearts be pure, s of folly kept secure; inful flesh subdued, ng use of daily food. is day's work is o'er, night return once more, al safely trod, glory to our God.

S; WHEN TO MAKE THEM, O KEEP THEM. By J. nett. Elliot Stock.

for some time past, met cellent little book on the stian vows than this, nor or the use of Sabbath, or indeed of any who rintend to devote, themDivine service. The reand obligations which those who labour for and heavy, and they uently be approached d prayerfully: "Be not mouth; neither let thine to utter anything before contribution, therefore, to weigh well the nature solutions, and rightly to glorious result to be their true performance, welcome. Mr. Posnett's these aids to Christian the manner in which he s subject calls for our ation. To bespeak our n, we give two extracts the first is introductory; es to the moral conseviolation of vows.

ot an ordinary promise, made to God of doing g in the future. The xing vows is of great prevailed extensively

auspices and by her direction, discovered a gold mine. In the first flush of gratitude he vowed to her a golden ram. This however he presently exchanged for a silver one, and again that for a very small brass one, and that for nothing at all. So the proverb runs, The river past and God forgotten.' The Berleburger Bible says:-' Many persons, when they are in need or desire aught from God, precipitate themselves into certain vows, and promise more than they have afterwards any desire to fulfil, when avarice comes in and incites them not to perform that to which they have solemnly engaged themselves. In the hour of need many promise to God golden mountains; how thankful they will be; how they will improve themselves if they should only become again free and healthy. But, alas! how soon does the deceitful heart forget all that when it is out of the strait." 'Vows made in pain how soon will ease recant.' One thing, however, is certain-Almighty God does not forget, never. Bible history shows that in ancient times a special curse sometimes fell upon those who had offended by a violation of vows. And it is still true, there is that withholdeth more than is meet, and it tendeth to poverty.' We have read of a merchant who, after having amassed a large fortune, experienced a reverse. He then vowed that, should prosperity return, he would devote a certain proportion of his gains to the Christian cause. This he did, whilst he was the possessor of a few hundreds ; but his resolution broken when he became wealthy. The tide of prosperity then turned, and all was lost once more. Again he vowed, whatever his property, he would give a tithe to the cause of God. Again he prospered. But when his property came to thousands, he failed to keep his vows. He was ruined, and died in a workhouse. Even though the consequence of infidelity to vows should not appear in this life, it assuredly will in the world to come. 'Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he reap.' When should our Vows be performed? Now. 'I will pay my vows unto the Lord now,' says

was

the psalmist. 'When thou vowest a vow, defer not to pay it' (Eccles. v. 4.) Don't calculate on to-morrow.

'To-morrow is not yours; to-morrow's in another world.'

The history of many lost souls is a history of broken vows. Be prompt then. Imitate the tradesman who obtains discount by prompt payment. Let those too, who have broken their vows, and perhaps forgotten them, consider that the hour will come when the chambers of memory will be unlocked. The past will be required; and the recollection of broken Vows will be one of the bitterest ingredients in the cup of future and endless misery."

INDEX TO THE FOUR GOSPELS. By T. Bishop. Book Society.

An index to the four gospels, suitable for the scholars of our sabbath classes, is a want which has been much felt. We do not as a rule advocate the use of indices by young people; we would rather see the books for which they are intended well thumbed and bearing marks of much handling,-the Bible especially-without the pupil having recourse to such adjuncts. There are cases, however, where they may be judiciously employed; and hence a necessity for good and cheap works of the sort is sometimes felt. The present index is creditably compiled, considering the compass (8 pp.), and the type selected for it by the printers is very distinct; but we think some regret will be expressed at the absence of cover or wrapper, were it only of paper. Books wanting this protection in the hands of children soon become a disjointed bundle of tattered leaves.

THE HIDING PLACE AND ROOM IN IT FOR You. Book Society.

"On the eve of one of the dreadful battles fought during the Crimean war, a pious soldier was reading the 32nd Psalm to some of his comrades. He stopped at these words in the 7th verse,

Thou art my Hiding Place,' and be gan to speak to them of the fearful

danger to which every sinner is exposed, and of the safety and blessedness of those who are in Christ Jesus. 'Those,' said he, 'who are living in sin have no security whatever. The storm of battle may soon burst, and in a moment they may be summoned to the bar of Divine justice. There, with no faith in Christ and no love to God, their condemnation is sure, and will be everlasting. But "there is no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. viii. 1). Jesus has taken the sinner's nature, and stood in his room, and borne the punishment due to his sins. Those who have fled to Him are therefore perfectly secure. No evil can come nigh them in Him as their Hiding Place. Should they fall in the battle, Jesus will receive them to dwell with Himself in glory everlasting.' With many earnest and affectionate words he urged his comrades to flee to the Hiding Place. He then read to

GLORY TO GOD ALONE.

POETIC

0 LOVED! but not enough, though dearer far

Than self and its most loved enjoyments

are;

None duly loves Thee but who, nobly free From sensual objects, finds his ALL in Thee.

Glory of God! thou stranger here below, Whom man nor knows nor feels a wish to know,

Our faith and reason are both shocked to find

Man in the post of honour, thee behind.

My soul, rest happy in thy low estate, Nor hope, nor wish, to be esteemed or great.

To take the impression of a Will Divine, Be that thy glory, and those riches thine. Confess Him righteous in His just decrees,

Love what He loves, and let His pleasures please;

DIE DAILY; from the touch of sin recede;

Then thou hast crowned Him, and He reigns indeed.

them that beautiful hymn, beginning 'How loving is Jesus, who came from the sky. In the battle on the following day, this good man was struck by a ball on the chest, and fell mortally wounded. A comrade raised him to carry him to the surgeon; but it was too late-life was fast ebbing away. 'It is all right, dear Robert,' he said; 'I'm in the Hiding Place we were speaking about; I'm safe and happy in Jesus; and soon I'll be with Him for ever. Oh, make Him your Hiding Place, and by-and-by I'll welcome you into His heavenly kingdom."

In this way does this excellent little book open; and its earnest words, if well pondered and acted upon, cannot fail to produce good results for time and eternity. Published at a penny, and having a pretty ornamental cover, it ought to have a large circulation among Sunday-school classes.

rock at the bottom of the sea. not seem to take any food; bu weeks he grew larger, and got Then, coming forth, he crep along at the bottom of the o scratching up the sand with for worms, or surprising other led a luxurious life."

"Lobster life seems very ple a lobster," said Harry.

"Yes; though not one fi danger. At times they are ( fenceless, and must seek safet ing as at first. Our lobster c to grow till his shell was too sm had found plenty of food, a strong and vigorous; but when came he knew his danger; and a safe retreat, for a while he la and motionless. Then he thre self upon his back, tremblin striking his claws together, and till his shell parted and he Feeble and timid, he was fortu escape the dog-fish and cod, who have considered him a dainty but in two days his skin grew n hard as before, his appetite re and he could venture forth again

"But about this little claw, m asked Nellie.

"Clothed in his hard case, t ster is a terror to others, and from all but those of his own ki some seasons of the year, it is sa they never meet without a contes to lose a leg, or even a claw, is n calamity; for while the victor upon his spoils, the other has retreat till a new claw can grow. this is small and tender, he is up good behaviour; but in three we is nearly as large and strong as t one."

"What a beautiful red colo has!" said Nellie.

Now that he has been boiled when alive he was of a greeni brownish black. Truly this is a derful creature!"-Child's Own M zine.