From this case some queries come up. Was the Doctor right or wrong in allowing this breach of the rules? If it was right for his sister to partake, why exclude any Christian? Is not that reasoning fallacious which forces a Christian minister into such a perplexing dilemma? Is it duty to do violence to the purest and noblest impulses of the human heart and of Christian love, at the behest of a logic which, at best, rests on mere inference ?"

66

THE WAY SHE CURED HIM.

"WHAT brings you here, Mary ?" said Truesdall to his wife, as she entered the liquor-shop.

"It is very lonesome at home, and your business seldom allows you to be there," replied the meek but resolute wife. "To me there is no company like yours, and as you cannot come to me, I must come to you. I have a right to share your pleasures as well as your sorrows."

"But to come to such a place as this!" expostulated Tom. "No place can be improper where my husband is," said poor Mary. Whom God hath joined together, let no man put

She took up the glass of spirits which the shopkeeper had just poured out for her husband.

66

Surely you are not going to drink that ?" said Tom, in huge astonishment.

66

Why not? You say that you drink to forget sorrow, and surely I have sorrows to forget."

"Woman! woman! you are not going to give that stuff to the children!" cried Tom, as she was passing the glass of liquor to them.

66

'Why not? Can children have a better example than their father's? Is not what is good for him good for them also? It will put them to sleep, and they will forget they are cold and hungry. Drink, my children; this is fire, and bed, and food, and clothing. Drink; you see how much good it does your father."

With seeming reluctance, Mary suffered her husband to lead her home; and that night he prayed long and fervently that God would help him to break an evil habit, and keep a newlyformed but firm resolution.

His reformation was thorough, and Mrs. Truesdall is now one of the happiest of women, and remembers with a melancholy pleasure her first and last visit to the dram-shop.

HOLINESS AND USEFULNESS.

PERFECT holiness will help to qualify us for the highest usefulness. Is there any such hindrance to our being a blessing to others as remaining sin? They are weighty words penned by William Edward Miller, that singularly beautiful and consistent example of Christian perfection: "We are doing something here. I have fresh tokens of my being in my right place. But I begin to see more fully into the Lord's design, and I perceive the wisdom and goodness of God in His dealings. I have not been willing to be nothing-willing to be quite a fool for Christ; but I now see [that] to be useful, pride must be fully subdued." Would that every labourer in God's vineyard seriously pondered the fact, that so long as this and other characteristics of the carnal mind exist, it would not be safe for ourselves, nor consistent with God's supreme glory, for us to witness extensive fruit of our toil. Being lifted up with pride we shall fall into the condemnation of the devil. His glory God will not give to another.

In striving to promote the salvation of others, we are but instruments in the Master's hand. Undoubtedly, the efficiency of the instrument mainly depends upon him who uses it. Here, "the excellency of the power is of God and not of us.” But has not the adaptation of the instrument something to do with the result? The clearness and elegance of the writing in part depend upon the pen used. Even the touch of genius could not transform the marble into a thing of beauty without proper tools. M'Cheyne wrote to a brother minister: "How diligently the cavalry officer keeps his sabre clean and sharp; every stain he rubs off with the greatest care. Remember, you are God's sword. A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hands of God. It is not great talents that God blesses so much as great likeness to Jesus."

We are witnesses of the truth. And when we fully embrace it and yield to it; when we realise all its transforming and sanctifying power; when our perceptions of it are not vague and shadowy, but clear and full; then do we speak of it with the demonstration of the Spirit and with power. What a difference between "the mechanical, lifeless declaration by parrot lips of unfelt truth," and the "burning words which utter all the soul," when that soul is baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire! It is these latter that we want, from parents in the nursery and by the fireside, from teachers and leaders in the

class-room, from Christians in the busy haunts of life, from ministers in the pulpit.

We are intercessors for others. But it is the princes of God, Israelites indeed, that have power with Him. It is not with a shrivelled arm that you can take hold of His strength; not on a feeble, broken pinion that you can rise to the throne above. Remaining sin must diminish the prevalence of our pleadings for the salvation of men. The heart which is not yet wholly sanctified may be aroused into concern for others, as, ex gr., by the dangerous illness of an unconverted relative. Then it would fain pray with power, with "the effectual fervent prayer that availeth much." How is this almost rendered impossible by the general feebleness of its tone, and by the unbelief which so often blinds and paralyses!

Besides, it is only eminent and consistent piety which will impel us to constant efforts for the salvation of others. What is easy, showy, public in Christian work, may, it is true, be done even when religion is at a low ebb. But even this will be in a careless and ineffectual manner; and it will form the sum of our endeavours to be useful. A mother may take her children with her to the house of God; but unless she richly experiences the vitality and blessedness of religion, she will seldom or never speak to them of their soul's welfare, or pray with them alone. A youthful disciple may be regular as a Sunday-school teacher; but if he is not constrained by the love of Christ, he will content himself with mechanical routine, and fail to beseech and urge his class to bear the yoke in their youth. To deal closely and faithfully with those that are without, we must be sustained by steady, pure, and lofty principle; their souls must be loved as with a passion.

Would you, dear Christian reader, be a power among men for their good? You must yourself be first endued with power from on high. Would you persuasively speak for God? The live coal from off the altar must touch your lips, your iniquity be taken away, and your sin purged. Would you be the means of adding much people unto the Lord? You must become, like Barnabas, "a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith." Would you win souls to Jesus? Follow holiness. Many and many a time has it been seen that those who have entered into the enjoyment of perfect love have from that day run a career of especial usefulness. Take the following example: A young business man of variable religious experience was led, while some who evidently walked in an atmosphere of Christian love and victory over the world to

66

which he was a stranger, to feel his need of full salvation. One evening, after an address on the soul's union with Christ, he was asked, "Do you need such a life?" His prompt reply was, 'I do, indeed." "And are you ready to trust Christ for a full sanctification ?" "I feel that I am." Then came the searching question, "When ?" By the help of divine grace, he answered, "Now." The Spirit of the Lord came upon him from that time forward in glorious power. Work for God was

undertaken, and wondrous results followed. He was like a flame, lighting every circle he touched. And though up to that period he rather needed to be himself helped and stimulated, thenceforward he became a blessing to others.

Oh if all God's people were thus purified from self and sin, filled with compassion for those out of the way, on fire with heavenly love, and wholly consecrated to God, what mighty influence would they exert! With great power would they give witness for their Master. Their intercessions on behalf of the ungodly would prevail with heaven. Immortal souls would, by their instrumentality, be rescued from ruin. And the Church would be multiplied beyond the stars of heaven.

Dear fellow-traveller to Zion! it is indeed a goodly and blessed land towards which we are beckoned. Like the Delectable Mountains shown to the Pilgrims, it is "a most pleasant mountainous country, beautiful with woods, vineyards, fruits of all sorts, flowers also, with springs and fountains, very delectable to behold." There "the sun shineth night and day." There the beloved of the Lord dwell in safety by Him." And it is the promised land; our inheritance as sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty; our covenant right; common to and for all the pilgrims.' So we rejoice to believe with the immortal dreamer. But unlike him, we do not regard it as a far-off land, never reached till the close of our earthly sojourn, and lying on the verge of the river of death. It is nigh unto us. Why therefore should we rest another day without entering this Canaan of perfect love? "LET US GO UP AT ONCE AND POSSESS IT; FOR WE ARE WELL ABLE TO OVERCOME IT."

66

HAPPINESS is like manna; it is to be gathered in grains and enjoyed every day. It will not keep, it cannot be accumulated; nor have we to go out of ourselves or into remote places to gather it, since it has rained down from heaven, at our very doors, or rather within-side them.

SOMEBODY says that politeness is like an air-cushion; there may be nothing in it, but it eases our jolts wonderfully.

THE PATCH-WORK QUILT.

A LADY recently applied to the Bible Committee for a grant of Scriptures for an Hospital in Yorkshire, and stated that a dozen Scripture-quilts had been presented to the Institution in question, and it was hoped that very shortly every bed would be furnished in a similar way. The suggestion may not be without its use to some who may read these lines :—

"In one of the boxes sent to us by the American Sanitary Commission was a Patch-work Quilt of unusual softness and lightness. When we opened it, we found a note pinned to it. I read as follows:

"I have made this Scripture-quilt for one of the Hospital beds, for I thought that whilst it would be a comfort to the poor body, it might speak a word of good to the precious soul; the words are so beautiful and blessed, and full of balm and healing! May it be blessed to the dear boys in the army, amongst whom I have a son!' It was made of square blocks of calico and white cotton intermingled, and on every white block was written a verse from the Bible or a couplet from one of our best hymns. On the central block, in letters so large as to catch the careless eye, was that faithful saying, in which is our hope and strength-CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS.' And below it, the prayer of all prayers, GoD BE MERCIFUL TO ME A SINNER.' The head border, which would be nearest the sick man's eye, and oftenest read, had the sweetest texts of promise, and love, and comfort. Amongst them I read, God so loved the world, that He gave His onlybegotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish.' 'Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavyladen, and I will give you rest.' 'Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters!' I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.' 'Oh,' we said, 'oh that all our beds had such quilts! God will surely speak through these texts to the sick and wounded men! They will read them when they will read nothing else. Who knows how much good they will do!' It was not long before a man, sick with pneumonia, was brought in, and we put our new quilt on his bed. He noticed nothing at first, he was too sick; but when he grew better, I saw him intent on the texts. Handy to have 'em here!' he said, pointing to them as I stood near him. You know how to value them, then,' I said. 'I do,' he answered, with heartiness. After that I saw many studying the quilt-almost all who lay beneath it. One poor fellow, who