according to the revelation he has made of himself in his own most precious Word.

The way in which we study this Word is a matter of the deepest moment. The very earliest portion of the day we can command should be devoted to meditation on the Scriptures. Our souls should feed upon the Word. We should read it—not for others, but for ourselves; all the promises, the encouragements, the warnings, the exhortations, the rebukes, should be taken home to our own bosoms. Especially let us remember, not to neglect any portion of the Bible: it should be read regularly through. To read favorite portions of the Scriptures, to the exclusion of other parts, is a habit to be avoided. The whole divine volume is inspired, and by degrees should be read regularly through. But to read the Bible thus is not enough; we must seek to become intimately and experimentally acquainted with Him whom the Scriptures reveal, with the blessed Jesus, who has given himself to die in our room and stead. Oh, what an abiding portion do we possess in him!

But another point here needs especially to be noticed it is that we seek habitually to carry out what we know; to act up to the light that we have received, then more will assuredly be given. But if we fail to do this, our light will be turned into darkness. It is of the deepest moment that we walk with a sincere, honest, upright heart before the Lord. If evil be practiced, or harbored and connived at, the channel of communication between our souls and God (for the time being) will be cut off. It is all-important to remember this. Infirmities and weaknesses will cleave to us as long as we remain in the body; but this is a different thing from willingly allowing evil. I must be able, with a true, honest, upright heart, to look my heavenly Father in the face, to say, "Here I am, blessed Lord; do with me as thou wilt."

Then let us remember that we are God's stewards. Our time, our health, our strength, our talents, our all, are his, and his alone. Let us try to remember this, and carry it out, and then what happy Christians shall we all be! It is a divine principle, "To him that hath shall more be given;" and as assuredly as we seek to make good use of that which is confided to us, more will be imparted. We shall be used of the Lord, and shall become increasingly happy in his own most blessed service. Brethren! we have only one life-one brief life; let us seek, with renewed purpose of heart, to consecrate that one life wholly to the Lord-day by day live for God, and to serve him with our body, soul, and spirit, which are his.

Bristol, England.

GEORGE MILLER.

SINGING IN CHURCH.

A revived church is a singing church.

Converted singers only should lead the service of praise in the house of God.

Pastor and choir should be in perfect harmony and accord, in regard to hymns and tunes to be used in the public service.

Solo singing in religious services should be used only in the sense of teaching and admonishing, and not in the sense of praise or worship.

Praise shall continue through eternity: preaching and praying will cease with time.

IRA D. SANKEY.

DO YOUR very best, every time, on the work that lies nearest you; and leave the future then to take care of itself.

WHITELAW REID.

THOUGHTS FOR SILENT HOURS.

ON CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE.

Every Christian's history, like that of the world, is to be dated to and from the year of the Savior.

Those are not our best prayers with which we feel best satisfied.

There is no such thing as losing our time: it is God's time.

The best evidence of apostolic succession is apostolic

success.

A new kind of trial is the golden key to a new treasure of promises.

It is not enough to say that the Lord sends us our sorrows he brings them to us.

A new truth is older than an old falsehood.

People pride themselves on being honest, when they rob nobody but God.

When God tries us, he intends that we should try him. "Nothing but Christ" is as much as to say, "Nothing but everything."

We might as well build to-day's fire with yesterday's ashes as accomplish to-day's work with yesterday's grace.

The pride of science is bad enough; but what shall be said of the pride of ignorance?

Wit makes a pretty dish, but a poor dinner.

Of all affectation the most unsufferable is the affectation of simplicity.

If you feel unable to do your duty "under present circumstances," do it over them.

Our disappointments are God's appointments.

"Excelsior!" should be written on our banner, and "Humilior!" on our heart.

ON PREACHING.

Preach the gospel, not as a matter of "religion," but as a matter of fact.

Thought and prayer will give ripeness to a new sermon and freshness to an old one.

"The seed is the word of God." Luke 8: 11. Sowing seed gives flowers; sowing flowers gives nothing.

Men sometimes preach "from a text," much as a ship sails from a port.

There is a preaching before the people: a stageplayer can teach that; there is a preaching to the people: a competent professor can teach that; there is a preaching into the people: it takes the Spirit of God to teach that.

Reformed Church, Paris, France.

TH. MONOD.

Always truthful, ever faithful.-S. E. SPINNER. Mayport, Fla.

THERE IS nothing novel in the objections to the Christian doctrine of prayer enunciated in the name of Natural Law. The same difficulties arise, with far greater force, within the domain of Theology itself.

If Theology is able (and she is able) to answer the objections to prayer that are suggested to every thoughtful mind by the Immutability of God, she may be much at her ease about any objections founded on the Immutability of Nature.

LEONARD WOOLSEY BACON.

Park Church, Norwich, Conn.

DO YOUR duty fearlessly, and success will come to you, and will be deserved when reached.

Wooster, Ohio.

MARTIN WELKER.

THE SHIPS THAT NEVER SAILED.

How many wait and watch to see
Their ships come sailing in,
From dreary days and weary ways
Glad haven sure to win!

How many know the tender hope

That holds throughout the years,
That somehow soon a blessed boon
Shall bring them joy for tears!

Each soul that sometime wafted forth
Its argosies so dear,

Has treasures rare beyond compare
Forever sailing near.

There is no need shall not be met,

No want unsatisfied,

When glad'ning gales speed in their sails,
Across the waters wide!

But I-than such more needy yet—
I wait for good to be,

And dare not dream my joy supreme
Will some day come to me.
For though ofttimes beside the bay
Its sailors I have hailed,

I may not wait the doubtful fate
Of ships that never sailed.

Rochester, N. Y.

A. A. HOPKINS.

I HAVE no sympathy with those who are forever singing, "Lord! what a wretched land is this that yields such poor supplies." True, it is sometimes likened to wilderness, but then it is a wilderness in which God has made streams to flow for us from the rock, and manna to fall from the heavens.

3

W. M. TAYLOR.