ANECDOTES AND SELECTIONS. tion of hymns for publication, called on him. He asked the doctor for some contributions for his collection. The doctor was doubtful about having any fit for such a purpose, but took his portfolio and began looking over these fugitive pieces. Almost the first one was, "My faith looks up to Thee." He handed it to his friend, and remarked, if that would do him any good he might have it. The friend read it over, and immediately perceiving its genuine worth, put it into bis collection, and it passed into our hymnology, and with what success the whole Christian church knows. SOULS' REST.-The needle point in the seaman's compass never stands still, but quivers and shakes till it comes right against the north pole. The wise men of the east never stood still till they were right against the star which appeared unto them; and the star itself never stood still till it came right against that other Star which shone more brightly in the manger than the sun did in the firmament. And Noah's dove could find no rest for the sole of her foot all the while she was fluttering over the flood, till she returned to the ark with an olive branch in her mouth. So the heart of every true Christian, which is the turtle-dove of Christ, can find no rest all the while it is hovering over the waters of the world, till it have the silver wings of a dove, and, with the olive branch of faith, fly to the true Noah, which signifieth "Rest," till Christ put forth his hand out of the ark, and taking it in, receive it to himself.-Old Writer. TIME FOR THE LORD'S WORK.-The following incident is related of Stonewall Jackson to illustrate the strictness with which he performed his religious duties. Upon one occasion, when a meeting of deacons had been appointed, Jackson waited five minutes after the appointed hour for several absentees, and then rushed off to the house of one of them, where the following dialogue ensued: "Mr. it is ten minutes past seven o'clock," (the time appointed for the meeting). "Yes, Major; but I have not time to attend to-night." "Not time, sir? not time? Why, did we not solemnly set apart this hour for the service of the church? Really, sir, I can't imagine how you can find time to do anything else than to attend to the Lord's work in the hours set apart for his service.' Saying this he hastily returned to the place of meeting, where he was speedily followed by the delinquent brother. THE PSALMS are a theatre where God allows us to behold both himself and his works; a most pleasant green field; a vast garden where we see all manner of flowers; a great sea in which are hid costly pearls; a heavenly school in which we have God for our teacher; a compend of all Scripture; a mirror of divine grace. THE MAINSPRING.-Teaching men morals is as though I had a clock that would not go, aud I turned round one of the cogwheels; but faith takes the key and winds up the mainspring, and the whole thing runs on readily. THE FIRESIDE. FAITH WORKING BY LOVE.-All true and lively faith begets love; and thus that heavenly light is the vehicle of heat. And as, by this means, true faith has a tendency to the practice of obedience, so all true obedience depends upon faith, and flows from it. But it also proceeds from love, because faith first produces love, and then works by it. All knowledge of mysteries is vain and of no value, unless it have an influence upon the affections, and thereby upon the whole conduct of life. The luminaries of heaven are placed on high; but they are so placed that they may shine, and perform their periods, for the benefit of this sphere. The Fireside. BE A WOMAN. OFT I've heard a gentle mother, Though with love's words quite as ready, Like the fancy rings and chairs? 'Tis not this to be a woman. Urge your son to be a true man, Yes, a woman-brightest model Of that high and perfect beauty, On the gilded list of fame; On the catalogue of virtue There's no brighter, holier name. THE PENNY POST BOX. Be a woman-on to duty, Raise the world from all that's low, Virtue's fair and radiant bow! That shall raise our nature human; Be a brave, whole-souled, true woman. The Penny Post Box. COME! THERE is no sweeter word than this in the New Testament, because there is none more full of the love of Jesus. It implies his nearness to us. It is not a message sent to us from a distance, but is a word of conversation uttered within easy hearing; but it includes a world of self-sacrifice which should bring Jesus from the glory of heaven down to this companionship of social intercourse with us. Before he could say, "Come unto me," he had to come to us. It is a very friendly and winning word. It is not the same as "Go." "Go and wash in Jordan seven times," was a most useful direction. It contained all that was necessary for the cure of Naaman. But Jesus does not send us away for our healing. Salvation would be a different thing for us if Jesus always said, "Go," no matter whither, and never said, "Come." This word pledges us his help, his company, his friendship. It implies, too, that what we need is found in Christ. Well might Peter say, 66 Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life." There is no salvation except with Christ and in him. In him there is rest. Hear his words: "Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me: for I am meek, and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." In him the thirst of the soul, its ardent desire for happiness, is satisfied. "If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink." "Let him that is athirst come; and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Dear reader, come! We will not say, "Go to Christ;" but standing, as we hope we do, on the Lord's side, we say, "Come to him." Of course you are not to do this in any bodily sense. Jesus was not satisfied with this when he was on earth. He is not now. Come in your heart, your thoughts, your service, your prayer, your deepest trust; come, and he will in no wise cast you out. FACTS, HINTS, GEMS, AND POETRY. Facts, Hints, Gems, and Poetry. Facts. Women laugh when they can, and weep when they will. Ir is not true that Papists are on the In a hundred ells of contention, there is not an inch of love. tants, and one hundred and sixtyseven million Roman Catholics. That is, to every five Papists there were two Protestants. Now, the most reliable statistics give the Protestants of the whole world as ninety-three millions, and the Roman Catholics as one hundred and eighty-five millions. That is, to every two Papists there is one Protestant. At the same rate of increase among the Protestants, before the close of the nineteenth century the Protestants will out number the Papists. The Papal powers-Austria, Spain, and Mexico, are also declining. More than one million five hundred portions of the Scriptures have been circulated by the agents of the Bible Society at the Paris Exhibition; and this in a Papist country! Hints. The eyes have one language everywhere. We have more to do when we die than we have done. For a morning rain, leave not your journey. Every man is perfect-until he is tempted. The wife is the key of the house. Life is half spent before we know what it is. It is easier to build two chimneys than to maintain one. He hath no leisure who useth it not. A woman's tears soften a man's Poverty is no sin. Gems. Many people are afraid of embracing ceed in maintaining it. religion for fear they should not suc When flowers are full of dew they always hang their heads; but men hold theirs the higher the more they receive, getting prouder as they get full. God puts the excess of hope in one man in order that he may be a medicine to the man who is despondent. Truths are first clouds, then rain, then harvests and food. Death is the dropping of the flower that the fruit may swell. Piety may be called the act of right growing. painted before it is glazed. There can Character, like porcelain, must be be no change after it is burned in. The church may have a creed that shall be like Jacob's ladder; and yet if there be no love in the church, unlike the patriarch himself, it will never wake from its sleep, or lift its head from the pile of stones on which it lies. One of the best prayers ever offered is that which Christ himself hallowed and set apart for our observation"God be merciful to me, a sinner!" Poetic Selections. STEP BY STEP. On the Mount of Contemplation, At the highest Aspiration, O, how near! O, how near seems heaven's portal! They talk of Christmas so long that Quickly would we pass athwart all it comes. That's between, THE CHILDREN'S CORNER. BURY THY SORROW. The world hath its share; Hide it with care. When curtained by night; Tell it to Jesus, And all will be right, Tell it to Jesus, He knoweth thy grief; He'll send thee relief. Let others be blest; The Children's Corner. A THRICE BLESSED BOY. A CRIPPLED beggar was striving to pick up some old clothes that had been thrown from a window, when a crowd of rude boys gathered about him, mimicking his awkward movements, and hooting at his helplessness and rags. Presently a noble little fellow came up, pushing through the crowd, helped the poor crippled man to pick up his gifts, and place them in a bundle, Then, slipping a piece of silver into his hand, he was running away, when a voice far above him said, "Little boy with the straw hat, look up." A lady, leaning from an upper window, said earnestly, "God bless you, my little fellow; God will bless you for that." As he walked along, he thought how glad he had made his own heart by doing good. He thought of the poor beggar's grateful look; of the lady's smile, and her approval; and last, and better than all, he could almost hear his heavenly Father whispering, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." When you have an opportunity of doing good, and feel tempted to neglect it, remember "the little boy with the straw hat." |