-we may lose our dearest friends. We are born to trouble. Sorrow and tears are our heritage. It is the part of wisdom to remember this truth. We ought to recognise the existence of affliction and distress in the world-weigh them calmlyconsider who sends them, and why they come, and what are the sources of strength to bear them, and consolation to alleviate their woe. In the presence of the greatest troubles the godly man can rejoice. His Heavenly Father is infinitely powerful-wise-just-and good. He governs all things, and will not let his children want. Help me, O Lord, to remember all thy past goodness to thine afflicted people-to meditate on thy pro mises and thine unchangeable love-and to rejoice in the gracious purposes which my sorrows fulfil! I would kiss the hand that smites me, and "joy in the God of my salvation."

I know the power in whom I trust,

The arm on which I lean :
He will my Saviour ever be,
Who has my Saviour been.

Therefore in life I'll trust to thee,

In death I will adore:

And after death will sing thy praise,
When time shall be no more.

MAY 21. "Or let him take hold of my strength, that he

may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me.” ISA. xxvii. 5.

HE Rev. R. Toller, of Kettering, was a most interesting and impressive preacher. One of

Many

his charms was the power of illustration. of his illustrations were drawn from the most familiar scenes of life; and, after he became a father, from the incidents which attach to that relation.

An example of his mode of presenting a subject to his hearers is furnished in a sermon on the passage at the head of this paper. "I think," said he, "I can convey the meaning of this passage, so that every one may understand it, by what took place in my own family within these few days. One of my little children had committed a fault, for which I thought it my duty to chastise him. I called him to me, explained to him the evil of what he had done, and told him how grieved I was that I must punish him for it. He heard me in silence, and then rushed into my arms, and burst into tears. I would sooner have cut off my arm than have struck him for his fault: he had taken hold of my strength, and he had made peace with me."

The Lord, from his exalted throne

In majesty arrayed,

Looks with a gracious pity down

On all that seek his aid.

When touched with penitent remorse,

Our follies past we mourn,

With what a tenderness of love

He meets our first return!

MAY 22. "And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the hea venly." 1 Cor. xv. 49.

W frame is the most skilful organization of

E are now corruptible. Though the human

matter moulded by God's hand, yet it is dying. The seeds of death are in it. The fondest love says at last, Bury my dead out of my sight." We shall be incorruptible; like Him who being raised from the dead dieth no more, death having no more dominion over him. Our bodies now are

inglorious. They are in union with sinful soulsthey minister to iniquity-they suffer the present penalties of guilt-and must_become the companions and prey of worms. But these bodies shall be raised in glory; "fashioned like unto Christ's glorious body." We are now weak. How soon wearied and exhausted! What need is there of constant support! What dulness there is often. times in devotion; because, though the spirit is willing, the flesh is weak. The resurrection-body will be powerful. It will be strong for every service. The song will never falter. We shall possess the vigour of an eternal youth. The body now is natural; having animal needs and desires. We eat and drink; we marry and are given in marriage. Our future body will be spiritual. Meats are for the body, and the body is for meats; but God shall destroy both it and them. We shall neither marry, nor be given in marriage; but be as the angels of God for ever. What a marvellous change! It shall be accomplished by the mighty power of Him who is able to subdue all things to himself. Let us rejoice in the prospect of this glorious transformation, and comfort one another with these words!

From realms of death, beneath the ground,
The saints, in countless millions, rise;

While seraphs stand admiring round,

And view the change with vast surprise.

MAY 23. "And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine." LUKE XV.

44

31.

T

HE prodigal set out one morning, and he had a long, long journey to go; he had a high hill to climb, called the hill of his own sins

and follies. He had scarcely got to the top of it, and was getting near the tower, called the tower of true repentance, when his father, who was sitting on the top of the house, saw him; and when he saw him, he ran out immediately, and ere his son had got to the door, he had fallen on his neck and kissed him. He took his son into his house and a feast was prepared and they sat down to it; but after the son had sat down, the father turned his eye to him, and he was not eating, but the tears were rolling down his cheeks. 'My son,' said the father, 'why don't you eat? Why dost thou weep, my son? The feast is all prepared for thee.' Bursting into tears, the son said, Father, dost thou forgive me all?' 'Yes,' said the father, 'I do. Eat, my son. Do not weep.' The prodigal went on. The father turned his eyes to the other guests, and by-and-bye, looking on the son, he saw that he was weeping again, and not eating. Said the father, Son, why don't you eat? The feast is all for you. Why do you weep, my son ?' Father,' said he, with the tears rolling down his cheeks again, Will you let me stay here ?' 'Oh, yes, my son,' said the father, eat; do not weep, you shall stay here; you are my beloved son.' Well, the prodigal went on, and the father looked at the other guests; but by-and-bye he turned his eyes again, and there was his son weeping once more. 'My dear son,' he asks, 'why do you weep?' 'Oh, father,' said he 'will you keep me here? for if you do not, I know I shall run away. Father, will you make me stop here ?' "Yes, my son,' said he, 'that I will. The son wiped his eyes, went on with his meal, and never wept again."—Spurgeon.

'

Ob, to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be;
Let that grace, Lord, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to thee!

MAY 24. "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." JAMES iv. 6.

GOD," remarks a fine old writer, "hath two

hands; with the one he casts down the proud that lift up themselves against him; with the other, he lifts up the humble, that lie at his feet for mercy. Humility is not only a grace, but a capacity to receive more of it. He, that goes to a river to take up water, puts the mouth of his vessel downward to do it: he that goes to God for grace, must put his mouth in the dust, and cry to have it, not for his worth's sake, but for his spiritual poverty.-St. Austin sets out this by a notable similitude; "The water that falls down from heaven upon the mountains, flows away, but the water that falls upon the valleys, stays there' in like manner the divine grace, that distils from above, doth not rest upon high proud persons, but upon humble ones. God leaves the full souls, and fills the empty; abases the exalted, and exalts the abased. All other graces grow together with humility: the more humble we are, the more we have of God with us, the more we have of grace in us; and the more we have of these, the more we have of preparation for a day of trial."

Lord, if thou thy grace impart,
Poor in spirit, meek in heart,
I shall as my master be
Rooted in humility.