Suc tion that deserves to be remembered. Just before he died, he called the herald who had carried his banner before him in all his battles, and commanded him to fasten to the top of a lance the shroud in which he was soon to be buried. "Go," said he, "carry the lance, unfurl the banner, and while you lift it, proclaim, This, this is all that remains of the glory of Saladin the Great.' cessful warriors-mighty princes-world-wide conquerors-all are compelled to bow to death. They perish in the midst of their greatness and renown; and the eyes which once beheld them, see them no more. So, O Lord, will it be with myself. My days are numbered. They are fast decreasing. Presently friends and neighbours will look on me no more. Prepare me, by thy grace, for a mansion in the skies, when the earthly house of this tabernacle shall be dissolved! My days are shorter than a span, A little point my life appears; How frail at best is dying man! How vain are all his hopes and fears! JULY 19. "Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward." EXOD. xiv. 15. THUS God spake to his people at the Red Sea, when they stood in trembling and fear on the shore. It was not a season for delay, or alarm, or even prayer; but a time for diligent and obe dient action. Thus God now speaks to us. "Go forward," in your Christian knowledge. Treasure up an ever-increasing measure of Divine truth. Grow wise unto salvation. "Go forward" in your conformity to the Lord Jesus. ter. Imitate his example. Study his charac Walk as he walked in this world. Tell good to men. them of their danger. Point them to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. "Go forward" in the conquest of your spiritual adversaries. They are many-mighty-malignant. They must be met. You will vanquish them all and come off more than conquerors. "Go forward" in your preparation for heaven. Cultivate the graces which come from thence. Abound in faith and love. You will presently reach your home. Tarry not on the road. But in your affections often soar to the skies, even while your spirits are yet in the flesh. May every day see you going forward! "Go forward" in your efforts to do March then in your Redeemer's strength, And let the prospect cheer your hearts, JULY 20. "Son, go work to day in my vineyard.” MAT. xxi. 28. BOD has work for all his children to do here. It is not mean and toilsome; but honourable and pleasant. It is not to be performed in the way of meriting his favour; but of gratitude for his infinite love. He gives to every man his own special labour, and his own special qualifications for its discharge. Our great Exemplar in this work is the Lord Jesus Christ, who wrought the will of his Father when upon earth, counting it his meat and his drink so to do. We are to work to day. Yesterday is past. Whatever may have been its character, we cannot live it over again, The future is all uncertain to us. The present is in our hands. There is something to day to be done. Some good thought may be cherished. Some kind word may be spoken. Some brotherly action may be performed. Cast from thee, my friend, all sloth and indolence. Hear thy master's voice-the voice too of thy Father. Remember the day is passing. Night will presently be here. Your season of usefulness will soon be at an end. Work while it is called to day, for the night cometh when no man can work. Let the language of the poet embody your heart's desire ; "O be his service all my joy; Around let my example shine, And join in labours so divine." JULY 21. "Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble." PSALM Cvii. 28. THE late Percy Byshe Shelley, who made no secret of his infidelity, and who seemed to have spirits which no danger could appal, was once sailing in Lord Byron's yacht, when he was overtaken by a storm. He suddenly appeared to lose all his vivacity and courage, and the horrors of approaching death made him weep like a child. Those Divine names, which before he had never pronounced but in ridicule and scorn, he now invoked in moving accents of earnest prayer, imploring the protection and mercy of that being, whose existence he had affected to disbelieve. How many there are like the infidel poet. In health they can be as bold as a lion; but in sickness, danger, and the approach of death they are as timid as a child. Their creed does very well when there is nothing to test its value; but as soon as the time of trial draws nigh, it is found altogether unavailing and worthless. Happy are they who call on the Lord every day. Such are not afraid when trouble cometh. Having committed their ways into their Heavenly Father's hands, sickness or health, poverty or riches, sea or land, life or death, all are alike to them. Of this number may I be one. May prayer be the habit of my life; my constant exercise, privilege, and joy! Daily I'll sing my grateful song, God's kind protection still implore! JULY 22. "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" MARK viii. 36. has been well said that, "the Being who propounded this problem knew the value of the soul, for he made it; he knew the value of the world, for he fashioned it; he knew that the soul might be lost, and died to redeem it; he sees its peril, notwithstanding his interposition; and he gave this sum in the arithmetic of eternity, to be worked out here by repentance and faith, or to be worked out there in remorse and anguish, without mitigation and without end." The following anecdote is a striking illustration of the way in which such texts as the above are sometimes blessed by God to the salvation of men. A young man, who had graduated at one of the first colleges in America, and was celebrated for his literary attainments, particularly mathematics, settled in a village where a faithful minister of the gospel was stationed. It was not long before the clergyman met with him in one of his evening walks, and after some conversation, as they were about to part, addressed him thus, "I have heard you are celebrated for your mathematical skill; I have a problem which I wish you to solve." "What is it ?" eagerly inquired the young man. The clergyman answered with a solemn tone of voice, "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" The young man returned home, and endeavoured to shake off the impression fastened on him by the problem thus proposed; but in vain. In the giddy round of pleasure, in his business, and in his studies, the question still forcibly returned to him. It finally resulted in his conversion, and he became an able advocate and preacher of that Gospel which he had once rejected. May the record of this circumstance here be blessed to the salvation of some who shall read it! Religion is the chief concern Of mortals here below! May I its great importance learn, JULY 23. "Provide things honest in the sight of all men.' ROм. xii. 17. ONSCHIRVAN, king of Persia, being hunting one day, became desirous of eating some of the venison in the field. Some of his attendants went to a neighbouring village, and took away a quantity of salt to season it; but the king, suspecting how they had acted, ordered that they should immediately go and pay for it. Then turning to them all he said, “This is a small matter in itself, but a great one as regards me; for a king |