but we are called to more than this, to take patiently all of suffering and of sorrow that may come upon us, even in the doing of our Heavenly Father's will; and I would not have you think that there is no time of trial before us also, by which the thoughts of our hearts shall be revealed. But let us call to mind, in all time of our temptation, the holy sign upon our forehead ; and even as now we learn endurance under the little trials which every Christian child must meet with daily, we shall be strengthened by God's grace for whatever further trial of our faith and patience may be appointed for us.

On Him to gaze
In rapt amaze,
Is all my heart desireth;
Nor other bliss

On earth, save this,
The saintly soul requireth.

O Virgin, chief

In joy and grief,

The white-rob'd band excelling,
The lowliest found,

With favour crown'd,
God's wondrous grace out-telling!
So taught to cling
To Christ my King,
Upon the cross extended,
I too may stand

At His right hand,
By Christ, the Judge, defended.

His cross my shield,
Through life shall yield

Peace, pardon, and protection;
If low I lie,

A place on high,

And joyful resurrection.

V.

The Blessed Virgin, and the Day of Pentecost.

THEY went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alpheus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.

These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brethren.

(The number of the names together were about an hundred and twenty.)

Acts i. 13th, 14th, and part of the 15th verse. And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utter

ance.

Acts ii. 1st to 5th verse.

CHAPTER V.

The last mention of the blessed Virgin in holy Scripture is in connexion with the eleven apostles, and the other holy women, who, with the rest of the hundred and twenty disciples of our Lord, continued with one accord in prayer and supplication.

Of Mary's part in the gladness of the resurrection of our Lord we have no account

"The gracious Dove that brought from heaven
The earnest of our bliss,
Of many a chosen witness telling,
On many a happy vision dwelling,
Sings not a note of this."

But doubtless often was she gladdened by the visitation of her risen Son and Lord during the forty days of His continuance on earth; and now that the heavens had received Him out of her sight, and she was left in this world as “a widow indeed, and desolate," she might, most truly, be described as trusting in God, and continuing in supplication and prayer night and day; risen, indeed, with Christ in spirit, and seeking those things which are above, where He sitteth on the right hand of God. You must not think, because I speak thus of the blessed Virgin as desolate on earth, that I do not believe her to have been filled with joy unspeakable, and full of glory; a joy not in any thing that this world could either give or take away, but in Him who, having overcome the sharpness of death, had opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. The sorrow and suffering through which she had passed had only made the hymn of praise which, three and thirty years before, told out her trustful joy, a more blessed reality and still the language of her heart was, "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour." And tell me, have you never met with those whose lot in this world has seemed most deso

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