placed the head of the reigning emperor, which was the object of an idolatrous adoration to the soldiers. Hence we see the propriety of the expression applied by our Lord (Matt. xxiv. 15) to the Roman armies.

The standard of the cavalry was a square piece of cloth, expanded upon a cross in the manner already indicated.

When Constantine had embraced Christianity, the symbol of the cross was introduced into the Roman banner. This was the famous labarum, which is described "as a long pike, intersected by a transverse beam. The silken veil which hung down from the beam was curiously inwrought with the images of the reigning monarch and his children. The summit of the pike supported a crown of gold, which enclosed the mysterious monogram, at once expressive of the figure of the cross, and the initial letters of the name of Christ."

The safety of the labarum was entrusted to fifty guards; and it was soon supposed that as long as they were engaged in their honourable office they were secure even amid the thickest fight.

THE BOOKS.

BY CAROLINE J. YORKE.

"And the books were opened."-REV. xx. 12.

LET us look upon the lives of men as books; and let us ever remember, in our walk and conversation, the day when all these books shall be opened; opened in the presence of the Holy God, the heart-searching Judge; opened before assembled worlds, and in the sight of men and angels.

Let us look upon the lives of men as books. What are we writing there? How carefully we write for time; how carelessly for eternity! how wisely, perchance, on paper; how foolishly on hearts! See, leaf after leaf is filled up with vanity, and turned over without a pang; and yet, Father of mercies, how much depends on every page!

We praise those who write well for time; and men look up to them, and have them in esteem and reverence, and think they would give much to resemble them: these are the sons of fame. We think little of those who write well for eternity their volumes are not published yet, neither do they themselves know the wonderful works they have in hand; but these writers shall be held in everlasting remembrance: these are the sous of glory.

O thou, who didst come into the world to save sinners, whose ways are not our ways, nor whose thoughts our thoughts, what evil have we written on the hearts and minds of many! Lord, remove the evil. Let the injury go no further now. Heal the wounds that we have made blot out the transgressions we have caused. Ó send in thy mercy friends, messengers, and labourers to undo what we have done, and the torrent of evil we might have stemmed had we been thy disciples. O Lord, check it now: thou only canst! Let the fruits of humility and gratitude and love spring up in the neglected and desolate wilderness, where our careless feet have trodden, and cover it with good; overcome the evil we have caused, or helped, or countenanced, with good also.

O thou, in whose sight every creature is manifest, and before whose eyes all things are naked and opened, let thy light shine upon the pages of our life's history, known as yet to none but thee and us, and our bitter enemy the accusing spirit. There let our eyes be turned. Let us retrace our steps in sorrow, and in gratitude, and in deep selfabasement. Where have we wandered! How have we grieved thy good Spirit! How often wouldest thou have gathered us, and we would not! How often hast thou called us to labour in thy vineyard, and we have refused! O Lord Almighty, one day in thy sight is as a thousand years! To thee we commit the residue of our days. Take us out of our own hands, Lord; and be thou henceforth the guide of our life. Save us, blessed Redeemer, from the evil that enslaves us: bring our souls out of prison, that we may praise thy name: heal us, good Physician, of our soul's inveterate disease: lead us, heavenly Instructor, in the way of holiness, as thou alone canst lead; then shall the past, over which we mourn, and which seems to us so lost beyond recovery, direct and animate and sanctify the future, as it is written: "And ye shall praise the name of the Lord your God, who hath dealt so wondrously towards you:" "Redeeming the time, because the days are evil:" "Thou shalt love the stranger as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God:" "What reward shall I give unto the Lord for all the benefits that he hath done unto me?" "My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad."

:

Let us look upon the lives of men as books. And we are helping to write these books--how many! See, our near relations and the friends we meet every day-in how much of their histories have we a hand! Events are to people O, thou who didst give thyself for us, to redeem what they themselves make them to the heart us from all iniquity, and to set us apart for thy of the evil, good itself becomes evil; but “all service, let us, we beseech thee, be as pencils in things work together for good to them that love thy hand, to write the remembrance of thy love God." Sins also withhold good things from us; on the hearts of thy children. No want of learn- and covetousness and vanity and an inflated ing, talent, or experience we know shall or can heart so blind our eyes that we do not see when prevent us for thou art the wisdom, knowledge, good cometh, and so call evil good, and good and experience of all who trust in thee; want of evil; but "they that wait upon the Lord underfaith in thee is the only stumbling-block: Lord, stand all things." He teacheth them how to remove it out of our way. Let thy presence gohandle matters wisely:" "he teacheth them to forth with us, thy Spirit rest upon us, thy love and thy power be our light and salvation, our refuge and strength, our trust and hope, our confidence and assurance for ever.

profit:" "his secret is with the righteous:" he
rejoiceth over them to do them good: he lifteth
up the light of his countenance upon them, and
blesseth the pathway of his chosen.
The valley

of Achor is to them a door of hope; the valley of derided it at the time-has followed him about Baca, refreshment; the valley of the shadow of like a guardian angel, snatching him from evil, death, the gate of heaven. Beloved, let us ex-impelling him to good, resting not, ceasing not, amine ourselves: what have we written in these immortal volumes? What has our friendship or communion done for those with whom our lot is cast? Have we been to them a blessing, or a curse? a help, or a hindrance? Have we been as reflections of the light of God? or has our dark shadow hidden his presence from the eyes of our companions?

until it has brought him to mercy's door, even
unto him, in whom alone is life, and peace, and
all things! Do you feel your ignorance, your in-
ability, your insufficiency to do what you know
to be your duty? Are you a disciple of Jesus
Christ? then remember the five loaves and the
two fishes, which he blessed, and brake, and gave
to his disciples to set before the multitude. Much
is little in our own hands; little, much in the
hands of Jehovah. Do you feel how little you
have as yet done to promote his cause?
O be-
seech him to forgive you all that debt, for the
sake of his dear Son; but never, never think the
debt is a little one.

"He that walketh with wise men will be wise;" and the companion of the foolish and the frivolous, the careless and the ungodly, drinks in of their spirit, even though he seemed to be created for better things, and has, perhaps, to acquire the taste which shuts him out from the good he would enjoy, and which his thirsty soul pants after. We You are engaged pleasantly, and profitably; and converse with the kind, and our hearts are softened; some unexpected, and, at this time at least, unwith the noble, and they are exalted; with the welcome visitor comes in. O do not think thus generous, and they are enlarged; with the selfish, of him; fling aside your own engagements gladly, and they are deadened: we sit beside the lowly-gratefully: he comes not of himself: "Not a minded, and perhaps lord it over them for a time; sparrow falls to the ground without your Father." but how like a cool and refreshing shade the God sends him to you, that you may see what sweet remembrance of all their gentleness, their manner of spirit you are of; whether you prefer meek forbearance, and unrequited friendliness, your own pleasure to the will of God, your work passes over our faint and languishing and weary to his work. See, here is a blank leaf in your spirits, in the day when the Lord's hand is upon brother's history open before you by the provius, and his fierce wrath threatens us; and there dence of God. It may be towards the end of his is no one to bring a little water to cool our parched history, and every page is of fearful consequence, lips: then we linger, and pause, and look inward, God knoweth! Lift up your heart for an instant and compare; and our hearts are more prepared mentally to him. Let your conversation be such to open to him, who is "neek and lowly of as becometh the gospel of Christ, and watch for heart," who "heareth the desire of the humble, an opportunity (it may be God shall grant you and despiseth not the prayer of the destitute." it, nay, perhaps has sent his child to you for this He seems not such a stranger to us: his disciple very purpose) of speaking directly to his glory. has been kind to us, perhaps has prayed for us. He wants a warning word just now, or a word We have seen our Lord's picture; and now, at of comfort or encouragement, or he wants least, we feel its beauty. Great is the power of guidance or direction. You do not know what mind over mind, and not the less surely worketh he wants; but the Spirit of your Father knoweth, that which worketh imperceptibly: therefore is it and he will speak by the mouth of those who are written, "The thought of foolishness is sin ;" and led by him. We read of one in former times: "for every idle word that men shall speak they "The Lord was with him, and did let none of his shall render account thereof in the day of judg-words fall to the ground:" O that we also had ment;" and therefore is it written that the Lord, who" delighteth in mercy," delighteth also in the way of good men." It is not only because their hearts are opened to receive the blessings he pours into them, but because they are partakers of his nature: they also are merciful: they are as light and salt and leaven upon earth. He hath anointed them "to speak a word in season to him that is weary;" and "he openeth his ears to hear as the learned."

Scorn not the talents God has entrusted to you, nor the task he has assigned: think not little of your influence, past or present. God blesses by little things as well as great; yea, good from him comes not all at once, but in small portions, and often through what seem to us unlikely channels, to teach us to distrust our own judgment, to look not upon things with the eye of sense, but faith, and never to despise any single thing, What trifles they are sometimes, that take and keep our hearts from communion with the Holiest! We had been on our guard, it might be, against what we thought greater evils; but these have made us prisoners. And what a little passing word too, spoken often almost despairing of any good result, has followed him who heard and perhaps

faith to feel, and to rejoice in the presence of him who saith to his disciples, 'I am with you always, even to the end of the world"!

"Lay

But here is a book you did not expect to write in. See a poor beggar coming towards you. He may be an impostor. True; but the apostle says: "Charity thinketh no evil, hopeth all things, be lieveth all things;" and he was willing himself to be all things to all men, if by any means he might win some; and your Saviour says, he to whose mercy-seat you come continually, "Give to him that asketh of you, and from him that would borrow of you turn not thou away: up for yourselves treasures in heaven:" there be "your heart." He tells you to love, and not to judge: he will be the Judge in the day appointed; but this is the day of grace. Alas! there are many impostors in the world; and, because iniquity aboundeth, the love of many doth wax cold; and they forget the children of the Highest are kind even to the unthankful and the evil: they forget that "while we were yet sinners Christ died for us," and that, as the Father sent him into the world, so sendeth he us (John xvi. 18; 1 John iv. 7-17): "He that giveth to the poor shall not lack; but he that hideth his eyes shall

have many a curse :" "He that giveth to the poor Lord, and the excellency of our God." See where lendeth to the Lord." Child of God, will you he is already risen, the Sun of Righteousness, lose an opportunity of lending to the Lord, or run risen indeed: behold, the sword is a ploughshare, the risk of "many a curse?" the curse not "cause- and the spear a pruning-hook, employed in the less." And which is the most to be dreaded, that field of the world, at work for the Most High! you should be imposed upon, or that your Saviour, God hath said: "Let there be light;" and see poor and needy, should be sent away from your the dark places of the earth are radiant with presence unrelieved? "When saw we thee an beauty. See, the sturdy ruffian is become his hungred?" My Lord, I took it not for thee: faithful and devoted martyr: see, the outcast child "Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of of sin cast out by sinners, too guilty and depraved these, ye did it not to me" (Matt. xxv. 45). O even for them: see her "sought of God:” see her shall not Naaman the Syrian rise up against us in "beloved of the Lord," weeping at his feet, the day of judgment, and condemn us? He clinging to him, much forgiven, loving much." stayed not to examine the servant of the prophet, "This hath God wrought:" "He is able to do but gladly gave him more than he desired; and exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask we, we will not even attempt to examine: we or think :" "Cast thy bread upon the waters," send the suppliant away without a word. "Ye the rough "waves of this troublesome world :" cannot serve God and Mammon," saith the Lord."freely ye have received, freely give:" the We cannot think of ourselves, and of him: we Spirit of God moves upon the face of the waters: cannot seek our own, and the things that are "Not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit, Jesus Christ's: "A double-minded man is un- saith the Lord of Hosts." stable in all his ways."

He who asks your charity may be an impostor; but in this is no imposture-he is one of the books. Something is to be written by you in this man's history: what will you write there? O may God assist you! There are not many to write good on that poor heart. Speak kindly to him: relieve him kindly: uplift in his sight him who saith, "I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me:" remind him of him who was so rich, who is so glorious, and yet became so poor; a man of sorrows, weary and heavy laden, despised and deserted, that we through his poverty might be rich, through his atonement pardoned; who "hath ascended up on high, who hath led captivity captive, and received gifts for men, yea, even for his enemies (for the rebellious, also), that the Lord God might dwell among them." He may laugh at your words at the time, and think you very foolish perhaps, and himself clever in having so deceived you: "Who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the Lord's servant?" Yet may they, yet shall they, if it please the Lord Jehovah, change the whole character of this poor wanderer's life: "Cast thy bread upon the waters, and thou shalt find it after many days." But the word of God, the bread from heaven-O, Christian pilgrim, whatever you withhold, withhold not that! Nor heed you the careless or sullen countenance: he who addresses you may not always be careless or sullen. Are you always the same? And the words you speak to him may take root in his memory. "He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that observeth the clouds shall not reap;" but you are to look to him, "who maketh the clouds his chariot, and who walketh upon the wings of the wind;" "whose way is in the sea, and whose path in the great waters, and whose footsteps are not known." "Blessed are ve which sow beside all waters."

The wild, the worthless, the wicked, what do they want? It is only the "Sun of Righteousness" to arise upon them "with healing in his wings;" then shall the wilderness and the solitary place be glad, and the desert rejoice, and blossom as the rose, yea, blossom abundantly, rejoice even with joy, and singing: "the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, and the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the

Jubenile Reading.

THE BLESSEDNESS OF TRUE RELIGION*.

TRULY "the ways of Christ are ways of pleasantness; and all his paths are peace. Prayer is not merely necessary to obtain the divine blessing and as a duty we owe to God, but prayer is the entrance to real joy and blessedness. So all God's commands given to us in the bible, though they seem strict and difficult, are really the path marked out by him who knows us best and loves us most, by which only we may arrive at true happiness.

Prayer is coming to God through Jesus Christ, and by his Spirit, in that faith which believes all God has said. In prayer we open our heart's desire before God. Believing that God is with us, though we see him not, and that he hears our words and will regard our requests, and give us all that is good for us to have, we speak directly to "the King, eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God." How wonderful and glorious it is, and not less real than wonderful, as thousands upon thousands of happy children of God have from age to age testified, that such weak and sinful creatures, as we are, are allowed thus freely to come to the Lord of heaven and earth by Jesus the way, the truth, and the life.

My dear young friends, think of what this great privilege is. You have always with you and about you the great God, who has declared most plainly and fully, that he loved you so much that he gave his Son to die for you, and that, not having spared his Son, but delivered him up for us all, he will with him also freely give you all things. In the name of Jesus you may pray always. His eye is always upon you: his ear is always open to your prayers. Wherever you are, you may lift up your heart to him, and call upon his name, and never, never seek him in vain when in the name of Christ Jesus.

you

ask

What is most of all important is, that you should, while young, learn the great privilege of

* From "A Manual of Prayer for the Young;" by the rev. E. Bickersteth. London: Seeleys. 1848.

this daily communion with God, through a divine Mediator. You may see by youthful Samuel and his early piety, as contrasted with the wickedness of Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas, how blessed a course that of early religion truly is. The child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the Lord and also with men ; while the wicked sons of Eli perished in their sins, and brought ruin on themselves and their country. Then it was that God gave that striking lesson, which may well be a guide to our whole life: "Them that honour me I will honour; and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed."

Know then that it is your richest privilege, your highest honour on earth, and your daily happiness, to go to God, and open every secret desire and fear and trouble to him; to confess all your sins just as you feel them, and he will forgive you; to tell all your desires, and, as far as they are for your good he will grant them; to thank him for all that makes you happy, and he will receive your praise; and to ask him to bless all you love, and all about you, and he will even hear a child's prayer, and do them good.

Great as is this happiness, however, it is but a small part of the blessedness of true religion. "The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." O the unspeakable present blessedness of peace with God! Being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ." And yet farther: "Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." It is the pathway which all the saints of God have trodden to their heavenly home. We may also "rejoice in hope of the glory of God." And what a glory that is! To see God face to face; to know him as he is, to behold the glory of Christ; ourselves to be like him, to partake of his bliss and glory; to be equal with the angels; to be with all the excellent of the earth in their happy home; every sight to be a sight of bliss, every sound a sound of joy, every change a change of increased blessedness; to have increasing knowledge of God and the highest and best things, and to have holy and happy employment for ever in promoting all the goodness of him who is light and love. And all this for ever and for ever! O my youthful readers, that I could but assist any of your steps to this exceeding and eternal weight of glory!

God has always shewn a special delight in early religion. He appointed circumcision to admit infants to his covenant. He regarded Abraham with peculiar favour, because he knew he would command his children and his household after him; and they would keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment. The bible delights to dwell on Joseph's, Samuel's, David's, Solomon's, Jeremiah's, Josiah's, Daniel's, John the Baptist's, and Timothy's youthful piety. It tells us of our Lord Jesus himself at twelve years old, being in his Father's house, asking questions; of his being subject to his parents, and of his increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. He defended the young who cried to him, "Hosanna, thou Son of David, blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord," against those who blamed them. He said: "Have ye never read, Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?"

So he has charged the young: "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth," and gives them the sure promise: "They that seek me early shall find me."

THOUGHTS ON PERFECT PEACE, AD-
DRESSED TO THOSE WHO WOULD BE
LOVERS OF GOD'S LAW.

BY THE REV. BEAVER H. BLACKER, M.A.

"Great peace have they which love thy law; and nothing shall offend them."-Ps. cxix. 165.

commandments; for length of days, and long life, and peace, My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my shall they add to thee. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart so shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.”—PROV. iii. 1-4.

We have lived for little purpose (because it proves that we have made little observation upon human life), if we are not thoroughly convinced how vain a thing it is to expect any such condition as pure and satisfying enjoyment here on earth. Trouble, more or less, is the lot of all mankind; since neither the knowledge of the wisest, nor the wealth of the richest, nor the power of the mightiest, nor even the virtues of the best, can keep them altogether free from disappointment or vexation. Life, even in its best estate, is but a chequered scenea mixture of good and evil; so much so, that they who enjoy (comparatively speaking) more of what is good are pronounced to be happy; whilst those who suffer more of what is felt to be evil we describe as wretched and unfortunate. Therefore, since trouble, in a greater or less degree, is entailed on all, it is folly to expect to escape it: prudent it is to consider how we may profitably bear it, whenever our all-wise Creator is pleased to afflict us. A rational or understanding being, such as man, who has the power of calculating benefits, and of providing for events, ought certainly to consider how he may best await his trials. Even the most favoured know not how soon and how sorely they may be disappointed; and it is an indisputable maxim that, for what may happen to any man at any unsuspected hour, all, no matter who they be, high or low, rich or poor-all should endeavour to be well prepared.

Now, where is this provision to be found? Where are we to look for guidance in the midst of doubtful because perishable prosperity? and where for support under heart-breaking adversity? Before I conclude this "pastoral address," we shall all, I hope, unite in feeling that this world, with even its very best attractions, yields nothing really satisfactory; that whosoever leans on things temporal for happiness (to use a prophet's phrase), "leans on a broken reed, which will go into his hand, and pierce it ;" that he resembles one afflicted with bodily disease, who tosses to and fro on his sleepless bed, unable to remain at rest; in short, that they alone who love God's law obtain great peace, and live without offence. Our knowledge of the world informs us that many, in time of sorrow, seek comfort in exciting and sensual pleasures. For example (as Solomon says in Proverbs xxxi.), some drink strong wine, and thus endeavour