angels and the redeemed in the ugliness of sin and vice?

The sinner is unclothed, notwithstanding all the tailor may do for him; he is poor, and blind, and naked, for all he may say he is rich and has need of nothing. The shame of his nakedness appears; there are multitudes in heaven and on earth who see it, his deformity cannot be hidden. Not the long robes of the Pharisee, not the broidered work of a backslidden people, can save them from exposure. The spirit of a man and of a people shows through the dress and is seen further. Our vices sully the costliest robes. A beautiful garment but exposes in strong contrast the hidden turpitude of the wearer. Jerusalem is exhorted, in one instance, to put on her beautiful garments. Our country, my friends, both in its civil and ecclesiastical position, seems to be losing its beautiful garments. Where is our morality, where our honesty, where our religion? where is the true greatness to which we seem to be destined? where those robes of solid worth and widely accredited virtue, in which we might have sat even as a queen on the great white throne of nations? Mothers, beware what coats you make for your children. Through these children we hope our land will re-appear in her beautiful garments, and thereby those vices, sins, and evils that so disfigure and rend our attire will be abandoned.

The spiritual clothing of some people seems imperfect; they are half clad or redundantly clad, or unsuitably clad. See how bigotry dresses up its people; and ostentation, and sectarianism, and formality! See hypocrisy vainly dodging beneath its disguises; see the mantle of self-righteousness conspicuously bestowed upon the shoulders! Where shall we find the seamless robe of the Saviour; where gracefully put the clean white robe of the saints?

Mothers, think of these things, I say them in no unkind, no cynical temper. Your older children are even now wearing coats you made for them years ago. Do you like them? It is a garment of praise; is it a robe of righteousness; is it seemly and fitting for the kingdom of God? Have they a character which you wish them to wear for ever?

But the child whom you are dressing for almost the first time, for whom you are making his first little coat, what shall he be?

Make the little coat, O mother! But remember the child must wear it a long time; make it so that it will fit him in trial, in change, in adversity; make it so that it will be no disgrace to him, before God or his fellowmen, to be seen in it; so make it that it will be to him a robe of dignity and esteem in the world, and a robe spotless and bright in the kingdom of heaven for

ever.

The power of the simple word of God is strikingly shown in the following anecdote, related by a clergyman:-"I went (said he) to see a young man, the son of godly parents, who doubtless had often offered fervent prayer on his behalf. He was one who had imbibed infidel principles, and had gone very far in the ways of sin. I found him very ill, and as soon as I entered his room he exclaimed, 'It is of no use for you to talk to me, for I have no more soul than a pig.'

"I left him, but a few days after called again, talked kindly to him, but said nothing respecting his soul. In the course of two or three days I again visited him, and, after a few kind inquiries with regard to his health, I asked if I should read

a little story to him. To this he gladly assented. I then took a small Testament from my pocket, and read the parable of the Prodigal Son, without one word of comment.

“He started up, exclaiming, while tears rolled down his cheeks, 'What book is that in? It describes my case exactly; I am that son.':

"I replied, "This is the Word of God, William, which you have so despised.'

"Is that the Word of God?' said he, then give me my mother's Bible.'

"I took his mother's Bible from the shelf, and turned down a leaf at the place by his desire. He was now glad to listen to my conversation, and every time that I afterwards visited him I found that Bible in his hands or on his pillow. And he did not read in vain; he was restored to his Heavenly Father. That bed of suffering became a bed of peace and joy, and he departed with the assurance of pardon and eternal salvation."

had received a sum of 40%. in bank notes, which he left on a table while he went out of the house to see a friend. In the room where the notes were left two or three children were playing. During their father's absence, one of them took the notes and put them into the fire. The farmer, on re-entering the room, asked where the paper money was? The child answered, "that he thought they were only common pieces of paper, and had burnt them." In the heat of the moment the father struck the child an awful blow on the

scream. The father took it up, and to his horror found that it was dead. His wife, who was in the next room putting an infant into a bath, rushed out on hearing his exclamation, leaving her child alone. After some minutes she returned, and found that the infant had fallen into the bath, in her absence, and life was already extinct. But the terrible tragedy was not yet complete. The unhappy father, on hearing of this second loss, occasioned by his own rashness, took down his gun and shot himself.

LET men resolve ever so strongly against sin, yet it will creep again into their favour, till the love of sin be quenched in the heart; and this fire will never die of itself, the love of Christ must quench the love of sin; as Jerome says excellently, "One love puts out the other." -Gurnall.

Christ, he stood erect: he supplicates Christ, he falls, he is prostrate; the enemy of Christ is slain, that the disciple of Christ may live. The arrow was sent from heaven, Saul was wounded in the heart; not yet Paul, still Saul, still erect, not yet prostrate. He received the arrow, he fell in heart. Not when he fell upon his face did he fall in heart, but when he said, "What wilt Thou have me

Thine arrows are sharp Words transfixing the heart, exciting love. Whence it is said in the Song of Songs, "I am sick of love." She who spake said she was wounded with love. She loved, burned, sighed for the Spouse, from whom the arrow of the word had been received. Saul blasphemed

going to bind Christians and lead them to punishment; and now thou sayest to Christ, "What wilt Thou have me to do?" O sharp and most strong arrow, which having received, Saul fell, that he might become Paul!"-St. Augustine.

My dear friend must not go in search of his own wretched

rent when God sees fit. Let not your depravity be the chief object of your thoughts. God, as your Friend and Saviour, God, as present in your heart, ought to be that object. And when you are obliged to see and feel your sin, endure it in the presence of God, just as a sick child upon its mother's lap causes the pain it feels to be understood only by the touching expression of its eyes.

The view of ourselves disorders us; our cure is in looking unto God.-Tersteegen's Letters.

Let us receive the discovery of our wretchedness, as a real favour from the hands of God, and endure it courageously, before the eyes of Him whose name is Saviour, without seeking_consolation elsewhere. The Lord knows the proper time. Even waiting is an imperceptible advancing.-Ibid.

If the Lord, in His wise dispensations, withdraws the milk of sensible consolation and sweetness, and lets the soul continue for a while in barrenness and darkness, that He may try the fidelity of her love and establish her the more firmly in selfknowledge and humility—the man is then ready to despond and complain, or even to seek comfort elsewhere.

O my brethren, do not sink, do not faint! Be strong, and wait for the Lord!-Ibid.

Prepare yourself to suffer great afflictions, even to be ready for martyrdom, for the sake of our Lord: resolve to give up to Him all that is most precious

to take it: father, mother, brother, husband, wife, children, your own life; for your heart should be ready for all this. But, whilst His Divine Providence does not send you afflictions so great and so painful, while He does not require such offerings, give Him at least the little that you may. I mean, bear with sweetness those little hurts, little inconveniences, little unimportant losses, which occur daily; for by means of these little opportunities, gladly and lovingly made use of, you will give your whole heart to Him : these little daily acts of love,a headache, a toothache, a cold, little vexations from relatives, the breaking of a glass, little slights or rudenesses, the loss of a glove or ring, the effort to go to bed in proper time, or to rise early for prayer, in short, all these little trials, being rightly received and lovingly embraced, will be most lovingly accepted by the Divine goodness of Him who has promised graciously to receive our most imperfect services. And, since these occasions continually present themselves, they afford a great means of obtaining much spiritual wealth.

I have read the Life of one who was remarkable for great spiritual joy and elevation of mind, for her words of wisdom, and the instruction she gave to others: but it gave me equal pleasure to behold her in her father's kitchen, humbly kindling the fire, turning the spit, preparing the meat, baking the bread, and doing the meanest offices of the house, with a stead