15. Never resolve in your own strength. Resolutions are of no avail simply as such. A child looking to Christ is stronger than a strong man armed. Be resolute in looking to Him alone for strength. This is all the resolution you need to make-for 16. "Without me ye can do nothing." Let this be the settled conviction of your soul, for without this all else is unavailing, and all effort to grow in grace will be as useless as to build a house upon the shifting sand. Finally. Do not be discouraged if you fail greatly in everything. If you were perfect, what need would you have of a Saviour? 66 Ask and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh, receiveth," and so forth. "If ye then being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?" The Visitor's Note Book. TWO STRINGS TO THE BOW. 66 "WELL, Hodge," said a smart-looking Londoner to a plain cottager, who was on his way home from church, so you are trudging home, after taking the benefit of the fine balmy breezes in the country this morning." 66 Sir," said the man, "I have not been strolling about this sacred morning, wasting my time in idleness and neglect of religion; but I have been to the house of God, to worship Him, and hear His words preached." 66 Ah, what then, are you one of those simpletons that in these country places are weak enough to believe the Bible? Believe me, my man, that book is nothing but a pack of nonsense, and none but weak and ignorant people now think it is true." "Well, Mr. Stranger, but do you know, weak and ignorant as we country people are, we like to have two strings to our bow ?" "Two strings to your bow; what do you mean by that?" 66 Why, sir, I mean, to believe the Bible, and to act up to it, is like having two strings to one's bow; for if it is not true, I shall be the better man for living according to it, and so it will be for my good in this life,—that is one string; and if it should be true, it will be the better for me in the next life, that is another string, and a pretty strong one it is. But, sir, if you disbelieve the Bible, and on that account do not live as it requires, you have not even one string to your bow. And oh, sir, if its tremendous threats prove true, as I believe them, what will become of you who deny them!" This plain appeal silenced the coxcomb, and made him feel, it is hoped, that he was not quite so wise as he had supposed. SAVONAROLA, THE ITALIAN REFORMER. LIKE Luther, Savonarola fled to a monastery, that he might forsake the world. His letter to his father, on forsaking his home, is a touching proof of his sincerity. He was now twenty-two years of age, and about this time wrote the lyric commencing, "Heart! no more delaying: From love divine thus straying! Let not the false world lure thee; The Lord is he betraying." This After being ordained priest, great was his disappointment at finding he could not interest the people in his preaching. He said afterwards himself, "I had neither voice, lungs, nor style. I could not have moved as much as a chicken." was the man who was afterwards followed by such crowds of people, that no church could contain them; under whose eloquence, like that of Wesley and Whitfield, immense audiences burst out into loud weeping. He applied himself more earnestly to the Bible. He sought a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit. When he went forth again to proclaim the gospel, the cathedral of Florence was soon too small for his enraptured listeners. One says, "The new light of Gospel truth surrounded his brow with a glory like the aureola of saints." He was soon charged with heresy, then offered the red hat of a cardinal if he would support the doctrines of the Church. He exclaimed in one of his sermons:-" No other red hat will I have than that of martyrdom, coloured with my own blood." Challenged to the fire-ordeal-persecuted, tortured-he died in the flames at the age of forty-six, in the year 1498, the morning star of the reformation in Italy, as Wickliffe was in England. "NOBODY SPOKE TO ME." AN intelligent lady, relating her Christian experience to the Church, said: "I was deeply convinced of my sinfulness, and went mourning many days. My soul thirsted for the waters of life, and I earnestly wished that some person would address me on the subject of religion; but nobody spoke to me. I sought the society of Church members, but they talked of other things, and said nothing to me about my soul. I went to the house of the Rev. Mr. H- in hope that he would converse with me, but he made no allusion to the subject, and I returned home sadly disappointed. I do not relate this to reproach any one, but to suggest that Christians should seek opportunities to speak with the unconverted about their spiritual welfare; and I believe they will find persons whom they may benefit, and who will thank them for their faithfulness." A prominent member of the Church said, "This is like my own experience. When I was thirteen years old I felt myself a sinner, and tried to pray in secret, and wished that some Christian would talk with me, and tell me how I might be saved. I might thus have been preserved from the life of sin and folly that I afterwards lived." There is little doubt that many persons are prevented by diffidence from revealing their feelings, who, by the influence of kind friends, might find the light, and become decided Christians; but, being neglected, their feelings wear away, and they again become indifferent, some of them remaining a long time in darkness. "ROCK OF AGES." Yes, ah, yes; that cleansing blood In the shadow of Thy wing I can safely, sweetly sing, Anchored safe from doubt and fear, Blessed Lamb of Calvary. "A HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO YOU." CHRISTMAS, that is coming while we write, when you read will have nearly come! All around the world this festival is gladly kept. There are saint-days and holidays; there are new years and anniversary dates. Each nation has its own, and every sect has its calendar. Christmas belongs to no sect or nation, but to all mankind- -as does that Divine Person whose advent it celebrates. This day unites the whole Christian race. The year is belted with days, and Christmas is the golden buckle that holds all around the Church. What a long path shines around the zone when Christmas households keep Christmas eve. What myriad homes glow, what minstrelsy in Churches, what merriment in dwellings; lights at the windows; what pouring out of sparks from chimneys, whose bottoms hold roaring fires; what boisterous mirth among the rude; what refined greetings and tempered sport among the cultured! The stars, that go lonely on other nights, have company on Christmas eve and Christmas night, and as they move silently through their courses across land and sea, are never out of sight of joy and jollity. The Puritans turned out Christmas, but it was only because bad company had damaged its morals. It was not disowned, only put on probation. Its clothes smelt less of heavenly spices than of earthly revelry. It was allowed to walk awhile out of doors to air itself. But it is now coming back. We do not trouble ourselves about the date that marks Christ's birth in the past. That day on which all Christians unite to praise God in the highest, and show good-will toward men on earth-on that day Christ is born, to them at least. Put Christmas on any date of the round year, and if rightly kept, that is the very date of the Lord's birth. To all Christian men and women, in all Churches under the whole heaven, we send a warm and honest greeting. May divisions cease, and ill-will, and rivalries, and fierce accusations. May the heart grow rich in love, and may love work purity and unity. May all-high and low, rich and poor, of all nations, of every faith-have part in every blessing which the angels chanted and the Saviour brought. A HOLY life is made up of a number of small things. Little words, not eloquent speeches or sermons; little deeds, not miracles, nor battles, nor one great heroic act, or mighty martyrdom, make up the true Christian life. THE AGED PROCRASTINATOR. THERE was in my congregation, when I became its pastor, a brave handsome man-a soldier-far advanced in life, in whom I became deeply interested. When I first saw him he had passed his four-score years, and although exceedingly feeble, his large frame and his flashing eye bore abundant testimony to what he once was. Although in private life a most amiable and inoffensive man, he indulged too freely in strong drink, and was utterly careless as to his future state. In my occasional interviews with him, I found him always ready to converse on topics pertaining to politics, but upon religious topics he was utterly silent, save in assenting or dissenting by a yes or "no to my questions. 66 Hearing that he was very ill, and rapidly approaching the close of his long life, I hastened to see him. It was on a cold day in early winter. I found him bolstered up in a large arm-. chair, covered with warm clothing, and sitting in front of a fire, towards which he was a little inclined, sustaining himself with a staff which he grasped with his tremulous hands. A morc striking illustration of the utter feebleness to which age may reduce the strongest frame, I never saw. The suns of almost ninety years had now rolled over him; and although utterly helpless as to his body, his mind was clear and collected. I sat by his side, and as kindly and tenderly, but yet as pointedly as I could, I spoke to him of sin, and of death, and of judgment, and of salvation through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. He assented to all I said. I told him that the sands of his glass were almost run- -that the grave must soon be made his house-and I sought to impress upon him the infinite need there was of employing the last and rapidly waning hour of life in securing the salvation of his soul. I told him of Manasseh, who in old age lifted up his bloody hands for mercy to heaven, and found it. I told him of the dying thief, who, in the agonies of death, implored mercy from a Saviour, and received it. Hoping from his appearance that I had excited a little emotion, I asked him directly, "Do you feel that you are a sinner?" "Oh, yes," he replied. "Do you think that you can go to heaven without faith in Jesus Christ ?" I again asked him. He hesitated a moment, but emphatically replied, "No." Feeling that I had now a ground upon which I could strongly press home immediate duty, I again asked him, "Why not commit your sinful soul this moment into the hands of Jesus Christ, who says to you, as well as to all men, Him that cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out?'" He hesitated for a few moments. I |