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The eye that looks at human agency alone will soon be dimmed with tears; the ear that listens only to the mighty roar of the world, will soon be stunned; but the eye that looks upward may still catch a glimpse of Jacob's ladder, the ear that turns heavenward may yet hear the still small voice. It is only when we trust in man that we find him a broken reed, but when we trust in the Living God we recognize a power at work around us which knows no failure, a wisdom which knows no difficulties, a love which never can be chilled.

In man's weakness that Strength is perfected; by man's weakness that Wisdom works out its own ends; for man's weakness that Love ever yearns in pity, and out of man's weakness will the Lord of Heaven and Earth perfect praise. For among the countless multitudes that shall throng the shining corts of heaven, there will not be one who will not confess "Not unto us, O Lord, but unto thy name be the praise."

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In my daily course of reading, the 24th and 25th chapters of the 2 Chronicles have particularly arrested my attention, and the perusal has been of much benefit to my soul's good. A few remarks I would now offer for the advantage of others, on the characters of Joash and Amaziah.

Joash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest; this good man guided and guarded Joash, and all this time all went well; but after the completion of the repairs of God's house Jehoiada waxed old, was full of days, and died. Then came princes of Judah who made obeisance to Joash, and it is written, the king "hearkened" unto them; they caused him to transgress. The Lord, full of love and mercy, sent his prophets, but he would not give "ear." Zachariah then boldly stood up to declare the anger of the Lord. This was such a condemnation that at the command of Joash they stoned him until he died. We have only to read the chapter to see the dreadful end of the king.

His son Amaziah then began to reign, and the Inspired Book says, "and he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart." The princes to whom Joash "hearkened," were idolaters. This one inspired word speaks most loudly; the listening ear is a ready inlet to sin, the heart receives it, a proof of its deceitfulness, and one act of wrong follows another. The murder of his earliest and best friend-could it have been foretold him, he would have shrunk with horror from such an atrocity; but in his hardened state, he commands Zachariah to be stoned.

Amaziah walked not with a perfect heart, notwithstanding he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. We have the same God to judge us, who is the searcher of hearts, and our offering must be a perfect one, and Christ alone is that one. No leaning on an arm of flesh; no costly offering is required, but the simple flowing of love from our hearts to Him who first loved us and gave himself for us. E. M. f.

DILIGENCE.

We all know how impossible it is for a slothful, or idle man to succeed in any thing that requires exertion; he dreads labour, it is not only distasteful, but hateful to him. If his station in life is that of a workman, or mechanic, he is seldom in time in the morning, his work is neglected during the day, idle men like himself are his companions, the public house too often becomes his favourite place of resort, he is thrown out of employment, poverty and want follow, and too often intemperance and crime. Instead of, by the labour of his hands and the exercise of his faculties, earning his own living, providing for others connected with him by the ties of relationship, and benefiting his country, he, and those who ought to have been dependent upon him, are a burden to society, and his evil example is a curse to the neighbourhood in which he lives.

But it is not alone to the man who works for daily wages, that idleness and want of energy are destructive of success; they produce in a greater or less degree the same effects, whatever a man's calling or condition may be. If the tradesman, the merchant, or the lawyer neglects his business, if he does not diligently exert himself, and make proper use of his talents, time, and money, he soon finds that customers, or clients, drop off one by one, and take their business where it is better attended to.

There are many, however, who delight in labour; their daily occupations are pleasant rather than irksome to them; there may be much arduous toil, and even drudgery to be gone through, but they are always ready for it, it never comes too soon or too often, and the idle would be astonished to learn how much these hearty workers can perform. It is a comfort to be associated with such men, and we have the privilege of knowing several; those about them insensibly imbibe a portion of their spirit; their diligence begets diligence in others. What a change would come over the prosperity of England if idleness were to paralyze the exertions of all her sons!

But being "not slothful in business," that is, in the temporal concerns of this life, is only part of the duty which we wish to press

upon our readers: we desire more particularly to urge upon you the importance of diligence in the pursuit of heavenly things: the former will only benefit us here, the latter will determine our condition through eternity, and he who in a spirit of prayer is earnestly endeavouring to live for heaven, will not forget that he has duties to be performed on earth.

You are, we trust, attempting to do your duty in your station in life, whatever it may be, one perhaps as a servant, another as a clerk, a third as a master, many as sons, some as husbands and parents, and most, if not all, we are glad to think, as Sunday school teachers. In whatever situation you are, you have work to do, and duties to perform, that often require care and thoughtfulness, and occasion much anxiety; set about them vigorously, throw all your energies into them, look upon labour, whatever it is, as a blessing, and do not think anything impossible; difficulties will disappear before you, discouragements will be additional inducements to perseverance, but above all, let all be done as unto the Lord, and if your efforts are not always crowned with success, you will at any rate reap the rich reward that invariably attends the performance of duty.

"The hand of the diligent maketh rich." Remember that you may be constantly at work; you have the young to teach at stated intervals, by example you may always silently influence both young and old, and you can pray for all; you may do much, the fruits of which will not be seen until long after you are in the grave; and we would say to all-whatever you do, do it earnestly and heartily-there is a motto before you, whenever you take up this publication, which may be well repeated here, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might," and it may be followed with this important admonition, "the night cometh when no man can work."

f. D. J.

THE FLOWER OF LIFE.

All glorious are the starry gems
That deck the russet sod;
And matchless is the beautiful
That comes direct from God;

There is a flower, of form divine,
That groweth by life's way,
Of glory far above the hosts
That throng the courts of Day.

Light from the fount eternal glows
Upon its petals fair,

And richer scent than angel's breath
O'erloads the ambient air.

For him who wears it on his breast,
Life endeth all its jars,
Its night of trial is illumed

With promises like stars.

All mists and clouds evanish quite :-
When danger draweth nigh,

Man knoweth where the victor's strength
And hope of conquest lie.

With heavenly ardour glowing high,

He ventures to the fight;

And in the panoply of God

Puts all his foes to flight.

This flower nor feareth blast nor drought;

Its reign is but begun

In utmost fulness when the crown

Is taken from the sun.

O seek it, while the spring of life
Smiles brightly in the sky;
To live without its fellowship

Is, verily, TO DIE.

Islington.

R. H. E.

ADVICE AND ENCOURAGEMENT.

THERE are few persons who do not occasionally take pleasure in calling to their remembrance the incidents of early life, and it is perhaps an additional enjoyment when this can be done in company with those who shared in such incidents, and jointly experienced the alternate gratifications and disappointments which marked the path of former years; but if from various causes this enjoyment cannot be had, then it may nevertheless be sometimes found not altogether unprofitable to relate to others such facts and events as left the deepest impression on the mind of the remembrancer.

One of the most pleasing reminiscences of the writer is, that in early life he was led, as it were unconsciously, by some Christian friends to take an interest in Sunday schools, where (for the encouragement of young persons) he does not hesitate to say he spent some of the happiest moments which perhaps he ever enjoyed; and often, as he reviews those days, is he led to exclaim

O did the young around but know

How great those pleasures are,
They would each sinful joy forego,
And seek such bliss to share.

The health of the writer, however, now admonishes him, that he can no longer participate in such delightful employment; he therefore invites and encourages all young persons to enlist themselves in the honourable rank of Sunday school teachers, and come forward to the help of the Lord against the mighty, assuring them they will be amply repaid for all the time they may devote to such hallowed work.

It is by no means intended to represent Sunday school teaching as all sunshine, since no duty or exercise can have for its constant attendant a never-failing cloudless sky; yet while the writer willingly admits that trials are to be occasionally borne, and sacrifices made in this work of faith and labour of love, he confidently affirms that the very bearing those trials, and making those sacrifices, will not only tend to produce in the mind a feeling of joyous remembrance, but also prove a decided means of self-improvement.

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These lines may meet the eye of some teachers, who from something or other which has taken place connected with the management of the schools where they are engaged, not exactly in accordance with their views, have been tempted to give up their classes and decline teaching, with a full determination, it may be, that they will spend their time in a manner more profitable to themselves. The writer would most earnestly and affectionately entreat all such to and consider well, 'ere they relinquish their posts, whether, if the temptation be once yielded to, and the classes abandoned, they can carry out their former determination, or whether some other plausible temptation may not arise, or some unforeseen event occur to prevent what was well intended; for if the enemy can only once succeed in unsettling the mind, an injury is done, the extent of which it is impossible to calculate; the writer cannot call to his recollection a single instance where in such a case evil consequences did not ensue. But he will go further, and suppose that circumstances of a more painful and unpleasant character should occur, which even threaten to break up the school, whereby a teacher becomes dispirited and difficulties increase; is that the time for a teacher to quit his post and his class, and leave his fellow-teachers to remedy the matter as they best can? Would it not be more wise and prudent, and much more likely to restore order, if the teachers stood firm, and sedulously applied themselves to the use of such suitable means as may be at their command, or within their power?

And here a case occurs to the mind of the writer, from which a very useful lesson may be drawn; it is recorded in the 27th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. In that case everything depended upon certain parties abiding in the ship: and who can venture to say what may be the good effect of a single teacher keeping his post, exercising his faith and patience, and in earnest prayer committing the case,

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