as domestic servants and wives, and the percentage who have reflected discredit on their training is unusually small. The "hundred-pounders," as the girls who succeed in obtaining the marriage portion are generally termed, almost without exception make good wives and mothers, seldom failing to profit by the lessons of economy and industry taught them in the Asylum. As to the wisdom of the charity there may exist differences of opinion, but there can be none as to the social and industrial character of the education imparted. Whatever may be the ultimate fate of this singular charity, it cannot be denied that it has been instrumental in effecting much good in its time, and that its existence and influence have not interfered with the formation of those habits of self-reli ance, thrift, and perseverance, which so many of our charitable endowments seem destined to be continually destroying.

GIVING.

We were conversing lately with a wise and experienced Christian friend on this subject, and it is one which engages the anxious thoughts of those who wish to be right before God. The question is, what ought we dedicate of our worldly goods, that is, of our money, to His service and His people? Ought we to give a proportion, and, if so, what should that proportion be?

Many persons do not think closely on this subject, and they are not, therefore, alive to their responsibilities. Others are content with disbursing when they are asked for alms, and with whom the matter then rests. There are likewise, alas! people of whom we think well, who give "grudgingly and of necessity," and who calculate the smallest coin which will suffice for each special occasion. Another class openly profess that they cannot afford to give away money, being poor themselves.

But there are many who, being tremblingly alive to the necessity of keeping the conscience clear in this matter, and of remaining upright in heart before a searching God, are in considerable perplexity. They have family claims to meet-personal necessities to provide-ties of relationship to observe-calls of citizenship, philanthropic desires, and numberless smaller but constant inroads upon their purse to fulfil; and so the question presses itself forwards with mighty force how the substance is to be divided, and what proportion of it should be set apart.

We have no hesitation in asserting that, as a whole, Christians act herein most unworthily. There are noble exceptions, but we

must deal with the matter at large; and we have many indications that it is the few in the midst of the many who are found willingly dedicating themselves, as well as their substance, to the Lord.

Turn over the produce of our collections for Christ's cause, and let the multitude of fourpenny and threepenny pieces tell a sad tale. It is painful to notice from whom those tiniest of silver pieces come. Generally speaking it is not from the poorer classes, not from the hard-working artizan, the household servant, nor from the apprentice. These often shame our tardy and grudging alms and bounties. From their comparative poverty they frequently give far, FAR more in proportion than do others around. Those unworthy contributions to which we have alluded are given by well-dressed and apparently fashionable persons. Probably it is as much as at that time they feel they can afford, possibly it is difficult sometimes to spare even those small coins-perhaps they bring themselves to think they are doing all that they could be called to do. But a fallacy deep and fatal lies at the root of this reasoning; it is selfdeception, and it arises in great measure from the hollow and unsatisfactory state of our social relations. Every class and every individual, with the before-named honourable exceptions, are living to the very extreme verge of their income, whatever that may be. This is one source of the evil, and there is likewise a lamentable want of that strict and stern self-examination before God which brings up to a sense of duty as in His sight. It ought not to be a vague notion that something is due from each of us to our redeeming Lord in His people and in His cause on earth, because He says, “Inasmuch as ye have done it to the least of these, My brethren, ye have done it unto Me;" but there should be a determination to know what that something is, and a deep, fervent cry, "Lord, what wouldst Thou have ME to do?"

Let us then inquire how such true-hearted and earnest souls are to arrive at a satisfactory solution of a difficulty so apparent, and to answer rightly a question so momentous.

First. There should be a deep sense of personal obligation. When we feel how much we ourselves owe we shall be better prepared to investigate what we ought to do, and to give, not as a price or acknowledgment, but as a tribute of gratitude and love.

This true-hearted feeling is the work of God's holy Spirit, and must be obtained at the mercy-seat. It is surprising when the heart is opened how the hands are opened too; and when the cord of grateful love is touched how the response breaks forth—

"God of comforts, let me show

To Thy poor how much I owe!"

Second. There should be deep concern for the honour of God. Hearken to His Word concerning the matter: "Harden not thine

heart against thy poor brother." (Deut. xv. 9.) "Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself and shall not be heard." (Prov. xxi. 13.) "He that hideth his eyes from the cry of the poor shall have many a curse." (Prov. xxviii. 27.) Listen also to what Jehovah saith of His regard for them: "He saveth the poor from the sword and from the hand of the mighty, so that the poor hath hope." (Job v. 15, 16.) "Thou, O God, hast prepared of Thy goodness for the poor." (Psalm lxviii. 10.) "The Lord will maintain the right of the poor." These are but a few of the passages which might be adduced, but they are sufficient to show that if we are jealous for the honour of our God we shall love, relieve, and speak comfortably to His poor ones.

(Psalm cxl. 12.)

Third. We should search diligently and prayerfully for direct instructions in the matter. Shut up alone with, seeking for the light of His Spirit, and asking Him for a single eye, we should turn over the Sacred Volume to receive intimation of God's will, and having it we should obey. Take the following among others:"The righteous showeth mercy and giveth." (Psalm xxxvii. 21.) "Honour the Lord with thy substance." (Prov. iii. 9.) "The liberal soul shall be made fat." (Prov. xi. 21.) "He that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he." (Prov. xiv. 21.) "He that giveth to the poor shall not lack." (Prov. xxxviii. 27.) "If thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul, then shall thy light rise in obscurity and thy darkness be as the noon-day." (Isaiah lviii. 10.) "He that hath given his bread to the hungry and hath covered the naked with a garment, he shall surely live, saith the Lord." (Ezek. xviii. 7 and 9.)

And in the New Testament Jesus said, "Give to the poor," and He reiterates it again and again and again. (See Mark x. 28; Luke iii. 11, vi. 38, xi. 41, xiv. 13, and xvi. 9.) Similar weighty exhortations are given in Acts xx. 35, Eph. iv. 38, 1 Tim. vi. 17—19, Heb. xiii. 16, Rom. xii. 8-13, Gal. vi. 10.

Who that loves the Lord that bought them can read these on their knees in their closets without deep emotion and strong consciousness that duty has not yet been done in this behalf?

Fourth. There should follow much heart-searching upon the above considerations. "What is my income?" should be asked. "What portion have I given, and is that a right proportion? Do I lay up' when Christ's cause calls for support and His brethren are in necessity? As my means have increased have my gifts been in the same relative proportion? In a word, am I clear in God's sight in this matter? It is a solemn question between myself and Him-He the Master and Lord of All, I His child and steward, using this talent entrusted to me."

Fifth.-Putting aside, therefore, by grace, all considerations both of man's teaching on the one hand and of mere expediency on the other, we must turn to the New Testament for principles to meet our present need. From these there is no escape; by them we shall be judged at the Lord's return, and they belong to us individually, and directly affect the point at issue. The words shall stand in their own simplicity and power, without comment :

1. "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store as God hath prospered him." (1 Cor. xvi. 2.)

2. "He that giveth let him do it with simplicity." (Rom. xii. 8.) 3. "For if there be first a willing mind it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not." (2 Cor. viii. 12.)

4. "Working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth." (Eph. iv. 28.)

5. "This I say: He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly, and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully." (2 Cor. ix. 6.)

6. "Every man according as he hath purposed in his heart, so let him give, not grudgingly or of necessity, for God loveth a cheerful giver." (2 Cor. ix. 7.)

7. "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matt. v. 16.) Sixth. It is clear, therefore, that the Christian must give. His Lord requires it. It is no option-it must be done, and cheerfully, ungrudgingly, liberally, and constantly. This is a direct command, and from it there is no escape. And, moreover, it must be done according to ability, each one severally. The poorer cannot shelter himself behind the richer. If we do not this thing with conscience before God, enlightened by the Holy Ghost, His Word will find us out, and we shall stand condemned before Him.

Seventh. The sum of the matter, therefore, appears to be that, as a child of God, I must acknowledge and receive the obligationthat it must be a privilege to me--and that it should be exercised systematically, not spasmodically. It must be done in faith and with prayer, that I must not shelter myself under poverty and difficulty. The money I have is lent to me, and the proportion conscience directs must be returned to the children of my Father's family who want such help. Self must be denied that God may be glorified.

And it appears to me that we had all better begin AT ONCEeach who reads must feel more or less condemned in heart; and as the day draws near and the reckoning is at hand, may we so act both in this and in all matters of talents and of conscience as not to be ashamed before Him at His coming.

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A PINCH OF SALT.

FAR away in Eastern Europe the traveller comes upon a long, low range of hills stretching from east to west, which enclose with their soft outlines and well-wooded slopes a lovely valley, dotted here and there with smaller hills and little knolls. A cluster of low but wellkept houses lies towards the opening from which he approaches the plain, and the eye wanders freely beyond them into distant lowlands. It is a busy scene to which he comes, and men are moving briskly about through the narrow streets and the countless paths that lead over the common. They wear a strange costume of sombre black, and have thick leather aprons tied on behind instead of in front; but they look cheerful and happy, and many a merry song and sweet carol is heard far and near. The traveller engages one of these men, who all greet him with a pious wish for his soul's welfare, to show him the way into the mysterious world below, of which he has heard much; and soon he finds himself arrayed in a white blouse and black velvet cap, such as are kept ready for visitors, at the mouth of a shaft which seems to lead down to the very bowels of the earth. When his eye has become somewhat better accustomed to the dim light of the candle stuck in his hat, he notices that wooden rails are laid all the way down the gently-inclined plane; and he is invited to mount a wooden contrivance, wondrously like the hobby-horse of our happy childhood. The miner sits down before him; the horse-a sausage it is called in local parlancestarts with alarming swiftness on the smooth, oiled rails, and his right hand, armed with a stout, leathern gauntlet, grasps frantically the rope that runs along the wall to check the painful velocity. At last the two horsemen are stopped by reaching a piece of level ground, and the traveller finds himself in a vast, subterranean corridor cut out of the live salt. Huge blocks of the precious material are lying about, some colourless, some shining in beautiful though subdued blue; the roof rises high above him, and looks grey and grim in the dim light, and on his right the vaulted ceiling rests on gigantic pillars, in which each tiny grain shines brightly and sparkles as the light falls npon it; and yet they all hold so firmly to each other that there is no danger of their ever giving way and proving faithless to their trust. A little farther on the miners are hard at work; they attack the mountain-side by cutting out immense blocks in the shape of huge casks; then water is poured down the furrows, and allowed to remain standing there a few days, so as to soften the rock; at the proper time wedges are driven in, which soon swell in the water and blast out, as it were, without further help from human