THE BIBLE ILLUSTRATED. "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but ho that doeth the will of my Father."-Matthew vii. 21.

"IF ever," said the excellent

"It must be His will: I will have no ifs." To the surprise of many the child recovered, but lived to break his mother's heart, and was

Chinaman! When Andrew Fuller visited the city of Bath to plead the cause of the recently-established mission to the heathen, a

finite mercy, I should arrive in heaven, I shall find three wonders there. The first wonder will be, that I shall miss a great many people whom I expected to find there; the second wonder will be, that I shall meet a great many whom I did not expect to meet; and the last and the greatest wonder of all will be, to find myself

there."

"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."-James v. 16.

IT is related of John Vine Hall that when he had printed a large quantity of his little book, "The Sinner's Friend," he used to throw them into the open doors of shops and labourers' cottages, and numbers he fastened up at the roadside, "but," said he, "I always stuck them up with a prayer." Was not this the secret of the great good accomplished by that little tract?

1

"O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory ?"-1 Corinthians xv. 55.

DR. AYLMER, rector of Much Hadham, Herts, died in 1655, saying with his latest breath, "Let my people know that their pastor died undaunted, and not afraid of death. I bless my God I have no fear, no doubt, no reluctance, but a sure confidence in the sin-overcoming merits of Jesus Christ."

"Submit yourselves therefore to God."-James iv. 7.

A MINISTER praying for a child apparently dying, said, "If it be Thy will, spare this dear boy."

The wretched and distracted mother, interrupting him, cried,

twenty-two.

"O satisfy us early with Thy mercy; that we

may rejoice and be glad all our days."-Psalm xc.

11.

MR. POMFRET, who became an eminent minister of the Gospel, was converted at the age of nineteen; vet the remembrance of so large a portion of his life spent in impeniand he used often to repeat the tence ever after affected his heart, words of Austin, "O Lord, too late have I loved thee."

"Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit."-Proverbs xxvi. 5.

A GAY young man, travelling in a stage-coach, amused himself by ridiculing the Scriptures. He said it was impossible that a youth like David should be able to throw a stone with sufficient force to sink into the giant's forehead, and appealed to one of the company, a member of the Society of Friends,

who sat silent in one corner of the carriage, to confirm his remark, "Indeed, friend,” replied he, "I do “I not think it at all improbable, if the Philistine's head was as soft as thine." This grave rebuke reduced the young man to silence.

"This poor widow hath cast more in than all they which have cast into the treasury."-Muk xii. 43.

Ar the time the Bible Society was engaged in collecting money to send the New Testament to China, a poor and aged widow at Hereford denied herself the use of her usual candle for eight winter evenings, in order to save fourpence, to send the better light of Divine truth to some benighted

at the close of the sermon to give

him a halfpenny, which was literally all her substance. As no one else had contributed anything, Mr. Fuller gravely drew forth his book and wrote down in the accounts. "BATH, 3d." This shamed the bystanders into liberality, and he left the city with a handsome sum.

"He hapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them."-Psalm xxxix. 6.

DR. KING speaks of a miserly gentleman of his acquaintance, who went back a long distance to exchange a bad halfpenny which he had taken from the waiter of a coffee-room. He died worth more

than £200,000; but, not leaving a will, his fortune was divided amongst six day labourers, for whom when living he had not the slightest regard.

"With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible."-Mark x 27.

WHEN Dr. Carey, in a meeting of ministers, urged the importance of attempting the conversion of the heathen, one of his auditors said, "Brother Carey, you might as well think of making a turnpike to the moon." the heathen which have been converted since that time exhibits the folly of thus limiting the power of the Almighty.

The large number of

"More to be desired are they than gold, yes,

than much fine gold."-Psalm xix. 10.

A PIOUS farmer in the reign of Henry VIII. gave a load of hay for one leaf of the Epistle of St. James. What a reproof to many professing Christians of the present day, who neglect their Bibles!

As I entered Mrs. Williams's cottage, she was sitting and sewing by the table, on which lay an open Bible, and near it a tract.

Had she been reading, and was she thinking over what she read, as she worked? So it seemed; but, no! she was acting a lie. A minute before she was laughing and gossiping with a neighbour, and I saw her run in-doors. The Bible was open at a chapter full of hard names, and I did not ask if she had been piously employed, lest she should double the fault by telling the lie.

On my return towards home, Joe was looking idly over the wall, but by the time I opened the gardengate he was hard at work, with his back towards me, and he pretended to start as I came up and trod on the gravel. He was acting a lie.

I have seen a beggar hide his boots, and walk limping down the road to excite pity. I have seen lies acted in the fireside circle. I have seen lies acted in the house of God. I have seen lies acted round

is of the devil, who is the prince of darkness, and the father of lies.

"God is Light, and in him is no darkness at all;" and the child of God strives to be like his Father in heaven. He does not deceive himself by saying that he has no sin, but he confesses it to God, believing that he is faithful and just to forgive him his sin, and to cleanse him from all unrighteousness. When he has wronged his neighbour, he confesses it to him also, and asks forgiveness. This is the true Christian spirit, which should guide the children of the Light and of the Day.

But there are those whose whole life is an acted lie. Like the wolf in sheep's clothing, they are all fair in outside show; but look closer, and here and there the signs of the hidden evil will peep out. Rid them of the fear of man, and of the restraint of the laws, and then the dark spirit of anger, revenge, lust, envy, appears; the appetites are unbridled, and all the man is given up to their indulgence.

This is a gloomy picture, but see St. Paul's account of the Corinthians (1 Cor. vi. 9, 10). After the black list, he adds, "Such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."

But, one inay say, since that time the world has grown more refined and civilised. That is true. One grand effect of the Gospel of Christ has been to improve the laws that rule society; but it has not improved the original heart of man. We need still, and will need as long as the world lasts, the spiritual washing in the name of the Lord Jesus, which is the work of the Spirit of our God. Yes, since Christ has come, there has been

light in the world; but how many love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil!

Reader, how is it with you? Is the darkness past, and does the true Light now shine in your heart? This is the proof. If you have cast off the works of darkness, if you walk in the Light as in the day, if you do not fear that all may know and see your deeds.

David puts the question, "Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? " And he returns answer to himself, "He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart."

In the book of the Revelation it is written, "There shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie; but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life."

WOULD

THE PENITENT ENCOURAGED. OULD you, O sinner, desire to be saved? Go to the Saviour. Would you desire to be delivered? Look to that Deliverer. And though you should be so overwhelmed with guilt, and shame, and fear, and horror, that you should be incapable of speaking to him, fall down in this speechless confusion at his feet, and behold him as the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world. Go to him, O sinner, this day, this moment, with all thy sins about thee; go to him just as thou art, and say, "Blessed Jesus, I am one of the most sinful and miserable creatures that ever fell prostrate before thee; nevertheless I come, because I have heard that thou didst once say, 'Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out.""

قدية

HARVEST CUSTOMS.

AT this season of the year the

country presents a picture of cheerfulness and animation. The beauty of the fields and woods, the richness of the crops, the bustle of business, fill every heart with gladness. The farmer rejoices as he surveys his fields teeming with plenty, his labours crowned with success; and his pleasure is imparted to the labourer, who sees in the rapidly filling granaries a bountiful provision for his future wants. While kindly feelings thus prevail between man and man, it is surely fitting that the heart should ascend in praise and thanksgiving to the beneficent Creator, whose gracious promise is that "while the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest shall not cease."

The pleasant and rational custom of holding a village festival, with a thanksgiving service in the house of God, has spread widely of late years. In the course of the service a collection is made to assist the labourers and their families during sickness. The afternoon is spent in athletic sports and other games, followed by a substantial tea, and the day's festivities close with a concert of suitable music.

The season of harvest has been a time of rejoicing and festivity in all ages and amongst all people. The Jews celebrated the feast of harvest, as appears from the twenty-third chapter of Exodus, the sixteenth of Isaiah, and many other striking passages of Scripture. Amongst the heathen, the masters of families, when they had got in their harvest, were wont to feast with their servants, who had laboured for them in tilling the ground.

Our forefathers followed up this kindly practice, and there were many curious customs connected with its observance, which have now almost died out. In the north of Devon the harvest people had a custom of "crying the neck." While the labourers were reaping the last field of wheat, a man went round to the shocks and sheaves, and picked out a little bundle of all the best ears he could find, tying it up very neat and trim, platting and arranging e straws very tastefully. This was called "the neck" of wheat. After the field was cut out, the reapers, binders, and the women stood round in a circle. The person with "the neck" stood in the centre; he then stooped down and held it near the ground, all the men taking off their hats, and stooping and holding them with both hands towards the ground. They then all began at once in a prolonged tone to cry, "The neck!" at the same time slowly raising themselves upright, and elevating their arms and hats above their heads; the person with "the neck" also raising it on high. This was done three times. The cry was then changed to "We yen!" and the same movements were repeated. All then burst out into a loud joyous laugh, and flung up their hats and caps into the air. "The neck' was

afterwards hung up in the farmhouse, where it remained sometimes three or four years. Some accounts say that the object of crying "the neck" was to give the surrounding country notice of the end of harvest, and that by "we yen," they meant "we end."

Of the four seasons, autumn is perhaps more calculated to suggest lessons to the thoughtful mind than any other. When we look on the fields of yellow grain, already white unto harvest, we are filled with wonder and admiration at that care which has preserved the little tender blade, from its first struggling through the clods, exposed to the pelting of the winter's storms, and to the fervent summer's sun, till it now brings forth its fruit in due season, fit to be gathered into the garner. And does not this season bring to mind

HARVEST.

COON as the morning trembles o'er the sky,
And, unperceived, unfolds the spreading
day;

Before the ripened field the reapers stand,
In fair array; each by the lass ho loves,
To bear the rougher part, and mitigate
By nameless gentle offices her toil.
At once they stoop and swell the lusty sheaves,
While through their cheerful band the rural talk,
The rural scandal, and the rural jest,
Fly harmless, to deceive the tedious time,
And steal unfelt the sultry hours away.
Behind the master walks, builds up the shocks,
And, conscious, glancing oft on every side
His sated eye, feels his heart heave with joy.
The gleaners spread around, and here and there,
Spike after spike, their scanty harvest pick.
Be not too narrow, husbandmen! but fling
From the full sheaf, with charitable stealth,
The liberal handful. Think, oh, grateful think,
How good the God of harvest is to you;
Who pours abundance o'er your flowing fields;
While these unhappy partners of your kind
Wide hover round you like the fowls of heaven,
And ask their humble dole,

From Thomson's “Seasons."

that great and general harvest, when the reapers shall be the angels, and the tares shall be gathered from the corn, and the chaff winnowed from the wheat? Surely it behoves each of us diligently to examine our own hearts, and discover to which we belong. Earnestly should we pray the Lord of the harvest, that when he shall come, and all his holy angels with him, we may be found. ready. Nor let us delay, for we know not at what hour he will come: happy will that soul be, who, in the great harvest-day, shall be found prepared for the sickle.

No longer now delay,

Nor vain excuses frame; He bids you come to-day, Though poor and blind and lame: Ye perishing and guilty, come : In Jesus' arms there yet is room.

"A have been better done by the first VERY pretty gown indeed; it couldn't

hand in the town," said Nannie, and as she said it she folded up a neat check printed gown that Annie had just finished for her with infinite trouble and pains.

"Now child, you see what it is to have good teaching," she said again. "If you hadn't been taught how to handle your needle, you'd never have been able to turn out such work as that. I don't think I shall ever have the heart to wear it, for fear of wearing it out-not the work, that's fast enough-but the stuff."

"Oh, granny," said Annie, a pretty, modestlooking girl now, not very strong, apparently, but with no defect of person but a slight limp, "Oh, granny, I can make another when you've done with that, and as many more as you can ever want."

Nannie smiled as she laid the gown up in her drawer. "I wish," she said, and as she spoke the smile turned to a sigh, "I wish poor John could see you, and see what a handy, comfortable girl you are. Ah, if he'd married such a wife as you'd make, child, he'd never have come to such a pass!"

Annie looked sorrowful; she had no strong feeling for her father, but natural affection made her sometimes think of him with regret, and a better principle still filled her with grief when she heard Nannie speak of him, as she generally did, as of one quite lost to hope.

"I wonder what has become of Kate; she must be quite a young woman."

"She's come to no good by what I hear,” said Nannie; "but who's to wonder with such a bringing-up. Why, do you think you'd ever have been able to backstitch, and gather, and cut out a whole gown and make it, read as you do, and learn whole chapters off books, if I'd left you to her?"

Nannie spoke with a strong feeling of anger and contempt.

Poor Kate!" said Annie, "Well, I pity the girl myself, for she has been badly done by," said Nannie.

"I pity them all," said Annie. "I'm not going to pretend to such good,” said Nannie. "I hope with all heart my that woman will come to know herself, and get a good twinge in the learning. She had plenty of chances, but she's downright bad, and I keep my pity for the poor fellow she has ruinated."

She is my mother, granny," said Annie, "More's the pity," said Nannie, sharply. "I'm sure you'd never have known it if you hadn't been told so; it's not the love she's shown that made you find it out."

Annie did not answer, and after a few minutes the good woman, knowing she had done wrong, though she had spoken the truth, in setting a child's heart against her parents, said, in a sort of apologising way, "You know, child, I'm not going to preach that you ought to be undutiful, for I know we must forgive and forget, and all that, and of course, if she's been a bad mother, why that's for her to think upon, not for you to talk about; but of all the unnatural creatures that ever lived here she stopped, for she found

"