for the illumination, when London should be sacked. Every captain had received some gift from the prince to make himself brave; and lances so gorgeous-'twas a preparation for a triumph, not for a war. And then came that night, and the sob of the storm, and the drip of the mysterious oars, and the devil ships of Gianibelli, and the flame, and the mist and the tempest; and so-but we know the rest; only, what would an Israelite have said over such a victory? "Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind."

These are the things in a nation's history which make a people look up. These are the foundations of national pride and exultation. It is possible, indeed, that in many a lonely Methodist chapel, in many a far-away village cottage, the sentiment, God for England, is felt just as truly, and perhaps as profoundly, as in the hearts of the ancient Hebrew. But these things have not entered into the texture of our national poetry. We have very little of what may be called national poetry, and what we have does not ring with the grand sentiment of "God is with us," the perpetual sentiment of Hebrewism. Does this arise, as some have said, from the fact that Christianity disclaims patriotism? We are disposed in part to admit this; that no land ever has been and ever can be what Palestine was to the Jew; and hence, too, while he had no epic poet, everything in his land became epical, and as we have said and seen, all things of institution and of scenery became greatly representational.

Our history has incidents as glowing and marvellous, but have we the heart of the ancient Hebrew to recite the story? Why, it is in the memory of men living now, and here, how Napoleon I. spread his mighty camp along the heights of Boulogne, where a hundred thousand men waited for the moment when, beneath the leadership of the First Consul, they were to spring on England-those preparations were vast-and fifty thousand men spread along the coast. from Brest to Antwerp. "Let us be masters of the channel," said Napoleon, "for six hours, and we are masters of the world." Also the master of the French Mint received orders to strike a medal commemorating the conquest-and although the die had to be broken, there were three copies taken; two are in France and one in England -the Emperor crowned with laurel, and the inscription in French, "London taken, 1804." But there was One sitting in the heavens who laughed: the Lord had them in derision. He spoke unto them in his wrath, and vexed them in His sore displeasure; for alas, alas! Admiral La Touche Treville, having received orders to put to sea, he alone knowing the destiny of the fleet, fell sick, poor man, and died just then; and there was no head to direct, and no hand to strike, and the thing had to be postponed. But Napoleon, Emperor

Napoleon, did not give up: in 1805 he was waiting still in Boulogne! London was not taken, to be sure, in 1804, but it might be in 1805. He climbed the heights again and again, and waited for the junction of the fleets; but he strained his eyes in vain : his admirals blundered, and so that fleet which was to have taken London, while Napoleon supposed it hastening to Brest, was flying to Cadiz, there to meet with Nelson at Trafalgar; and so, in fact, London was not taken. But what would an ancient Hebrew have said? He would have said, "As we have heard, so have we seen." ." "God is known in her palaces for a refuge. For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together. They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away." "We have thought of thy loving-kindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple." He would have sung as Deborah sang, "So let all thine enemies perish, O Lord: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might."—Eclectic.

BETTER THINGS.

Better to smell a violet,

Than sip the careless wine;
Better to list one music tone,
Than watch the jewels' shine.

Better to have the love of one,

Than smiles like morning dew;

Better to have a living seed

Than flowers of every hue.

Better to feel a love within,
Than be lovely to the sight;
Better a homely tenderness

Than beauty's wild delight.

Better to love than be beloved,

Though lonely all the day;

Better the fountain in the heart,
Than the fountain by the way.

Better a feeble love to God,
Than for woman's love to pine;
Better to have the making God
Than the woman made divine.

Better be fed by mother's hand,

Than eat alone at will;

Better to trust in God, than say,

My goods my storehouse fill.

Better to be a little wise

Than learned overmuch;

Better than high are lowly thoughts,
For truthful thoughts are such.

Better than thrill a listening crowd,

Sit at a wise man's feet;

But better teach a child, than toil
To make thyself complete.

Better to walk the realm unseen,
Than watch the hour's event;
Better the smile of God alway,
Than the voice of men's consent.

Better to have a quiet grief

Than a tumultuous joy;

Better than manhood, age's face,

If the heart be of a boy.

Better the thanks of one dear heart,
Than a nation's voice of praise;
Better the twilight ere the dawn,
Than yesterday's mid-blaze.

Better a death when work is done,

Than earth's most favoured birth;

Better a child in God's great house

Than the king of all the earth.-George MacDonald.

SUNDAY SCHOOL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CHURCH.

A gentleman who for many years superintended the Sundayschool connected with the Union Methodist Episcopal Church, in Philadelphia, recently stated that he had noted down thirty-eight scholars, and twelve teachers, who had gone from that school into the ministry.-Sunday School World.

DILIGENCE.

THE qualifications necessary for a "Model" Sunday school teacher are four-fold, Social, Physical, Mental and Spiritual. The enumeration of them should not make us, who are conscious of our many deficiencies, lukewarm in the work, nor affright those who are about entering upon the honourable task: rather let each strive to emulate him who comes nearest to the standard of excellence, that so we may not be ashamed of our work. The Artist seeks every where for beauty, though his design falls far short of his conception, but were his imaginings less elevated, how mediocre would his work be. The most finished productions of Genius, are replete with blemishes and flaws. The "Perfect" in Art, Science, Religion or Literature, we shall never know on earth.

Is, then, striving after perfection a vain thing? By no means; for it is impossible earnestly to pursue what is good, without getting good. To labour to excel, is never labour in vain. The Sculptor who, with vehement gazing, impresses on his memory the graceful forms of statues, the product of Greece or Rome, may not bring from his own studio rounder limbs, finer features, and more graceful attitudes; but his work will be more worthy of his skill, because of his ardent gazing upon his predecessors' work. So with the Painter, or the Poet. The study of the ancient masters of colour and form, or catching the cadences of those who, like the sweet singer of Israel, have filled the world with wondrous melody, may not enable the one to impart faultless finish to his canvas, or the other to out-soar Milton in his song; but, who does not feel that both are the better for their schooling. And if we as teachers would achieve much, and perform it well, we must set Him before us who said "learn of Me."

What are the spiritual qualifications of a teacher? Holiness, without which none shall see God. Zeal, intense devotion to the Master's work. Faith, a full assurance that the work must succeed. Meditation, the diligent study of God's word. Gentleness, winning all hearts by an unfeigned love. Hope, so as not to despair of the most wicked or refractory. Single-heartedness, aiming alone at the glory of God, the good of the Church, the well-being of the scholars, and the salvation of the world by means of the school. Prayer, both public and private, with, as well as for the scholars. Gladness should cheer and animate when success is given; but when prosperity is withheld, duty should prompt to unflagging

labour, with the remembrance of the promise "the soul of the diligent shall be made fat."

The teacher's mental qualifications comprise not only the acquisition of knowledge, but the power of dispensing it. He must exercise his imagination, be observant, and discerning, able to discriminate wisely between things that differ: knowing how to apply the right lesson to the right child, at the right time, and in the right way. He should read distinctly, like Ezra giving the sense and causing his hearers to understand. He should be able to sing, or love singing. He should strive to speak correctly. He should aim to excel in any post to which he may be appointed. He must ever be punctual, affable, and decided; and success and happiness in the work will not be long withholden.

Our next qualification is of the physical character of the teacher. He must not be too young to understand his responsibilities, or so old as to lack the vigour needed for the right discharge of school duties. There is a time to rest, as well as a time to work. He needs good temper, courage, subordination and prudence; as a rule, he should be without deformity of speech, or body, or mind, apt to teach, patient.

The next qualification is the social. A convert, recently reclaimed from vicious courses, should not too hurriedly be admitted into the Sunday school as a teacher. No teacher should be admitted to teach in the school, merely because of his position in the church, on account of family connexion, worldly influence, or riches; fitness must be first, and other considerations second. No publican, or frequenter of pot-houses, should be considered eligible for the holy work, nor any to whom well-grounded suspicion attaches of unchristian-like character or dealings. Consistency of life is needed in every department of the church, but emphatically so in the Sunday school; children are lively at discerning inconsistences, and should such be at all tolerated, farewell success. "Be ye clean who bear the vessels of the Lord."

Thus, then, without distinguishing departments, we have given a brief sketch of the salient points of a socially, physically, mentally, and spiritually equipped trainer of the young for heaven. Does any one ask, who is sufficient for these things? We reply, our sufficiency is of God. Let us covet earnestly the best gifts, diligently seeking His qualifying and sanctifying grace, and those who seek shall find.

There is no royal road to proficiency. Industry and attention are essential to success. Earth, air, sea, and sky must be laid under tribute for the effective accomplishment of the teacher's task.