if my business should have made a fortune for you, you will have no reason to quarrel with it."

"What shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul? "I gently repeated. "Why, George, you have surely turned puritan," exclaimed my friend; "but do not I tell you that I have nearly done with the mercantile world at least, and shall soon have time to enjoy my ease, for I have honestly earned it."

"And how long do you expect health to enjoy all your good things?"

"Oh, I am very well; never was better. I enjoy excellent health, which I attribute to early rising, regular business habits, and the steady pursuit of one laudable object, which has been to get on honestly in the world. I have done it, and now to watch over the boys a little will prevent me from feeling quite useless and idle."

"I am sure my brothers will not do as papa has done," remarked his daughter in a low voice; "they have been kept so close that they are determined to be free whenever they can."

I thought of the departed uncle, on whom we had commented so freely nearly forty years before, and asked my friend if he had not trodden nearly in the same steps.

"Oh no!" he indignantly replied; "I do not love money for its own sake. I have only laid up for my children, and for the comfort of my old age: I am no miser."

Truly "the heart is deceitful above all thingswho can know it?

But it proved that my friend was in earnest now, and to the extreme delight of his family, the country house was taken, and furnished in a style suited to his ample means, and the most distinguished fashion of the day. A splendid equipage was purchased, and all things were ready for the removal of the household. On the appointed day I called to bid them farewell, and to express my wishes that their true happiness might be based upon a better foundation than any of this world's perishing vanities, however honestly earned.

The carriage was at the door, but strange consternation was in the countenances of the servants. The door stood open, and I entered the house. The offices were deserted, and I ascended to the drawingroom, to be shocked and distressed by the scene of woe which was enacting there.

Amidst the wild horror and anguish of his family, the alarm of servants, the active care of medical attendants, lay the lifeless form of the man who but a few minutes before had been in apparent health, whose prospects were so flourishing, and who was about to begin the enjoyment of his hoarded wealth. He had fallen down in the counting-house, over his treasured books and familiar desk. The appalling fact of death could scarcely be credited by the widow and her children, and they would cheerfully have given the whole produce of his long years of toil, to hear one word from his lips, to feel the throb of one pulsation in his stagnant veins; but all was over, and who could offer consolation? I dared not speak to them of hopes and joys for him beyond the grave. My heart sickened at the thought, and as memory rapidly retraced the few short interviews since we were youths together, my mind rushed further still back, through eighteen centuries, to a season and a scene vividly recalled by this sad event, and I beheld a Divine Teacher and a listening multitude, and he said unto them, "Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: and he thought with

in himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? and he said, This will do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods, and I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

A pompous funeral train followed the body of the rich merchant to the tomb, and the newspapers told of his enormous wealth, and the fortunes of his sons and daughters; and his forty years of "diligence in business" was quoted as an example to young be ginners in the world. But of the end thereof to him, who ventured to speak? None could add the blessed testimony of" fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;" and his eternal future was a theme on which every tongue, but that of sickly sentimentality or unbelief, was silent as his own cold grave. Forty years of honourable industry, springing from the soil of faith in God and Christ, the heart's true Lord and Master, may be met again without fear or shame by him whose sins are blotted out in the blood of the Lamb; but forty years of toil for gain, unsanctified by hopes beyond the gold, and wishes beyond the self-indulgence it may buy, will leave only their godless record for the eternal condemnation of the sinner at the judgment day.

Pause then, young beginners in this world's absorbing business, and begin with God; for you cannot end in peace and hope without him. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, whose blood cleanseth you from all sin; as yourAdvocate in heaven who ever liveth to make intercession for you in all your wants and trials; and as your sympathizing Friend and Brother through all your pilgrimage on earth. Step on to this rock of your salvation, where all things work together for good to them that stand thereon, and where alone there is peace, rest, and safety, for "the life that now is," and for "that which is to come."-Tract Magazine.

CURE FOR DESPONDENCY. THE proper cure for despondency (aside from the good. He who, surrounded as he is with daily oppordue preservation of bodily health) is activity in doing tunities of usefulness, wanders off into some lonely chin upon his hands, and begins to muse on the field, plants himself upon the top of a rock, leans his troubles of life, must needs become melancholy enough. Let him go home and engage in some useclear away from his sky. The sun shines bright on ful employment, and the clouds will of themselves none but the men who are active in Christ's service.

A SETTLED MINISTRY. RICHARD BAXTER cites amongst the causes of the success of his ministry at Kidderminster, the fact, that he was settled amongst the same people sixteen years. "For," said he, "he that removeth oft from place to place, may sow good seed in many places, but is not likely to see much fruit in any, unless some other skilful hand shall follow him to water it. It was a great advantage to me to have almost all the religious people of the place of my own instructing and informing; and that they were not formed into erroneous and factious principles before; and that I stayed to see them grow up to some confirmedness and maturity."

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I LONG TO GO HOME.

"I LONG to see home!" cries the sailor, straining his eyes from the mast-head to get a glimpse of the green hills of his native land.

row, wheres hall we find sympathy like that which we get at home? Home! The poet never spoke more truly than in those words, "There's no place like home."

Have the children who are sitting at their warm firesides, or around the pleasant tea-table

"I must hurry home," says the mother, thinking of her sweet babe in the cradle.

Oh, how I want to get home!" cries the tired school-boy

"Don't stop me; I will go home," exclaims the little girl, skipping off as fast as her feet can carry her.

How every body loves home! When we are tired, home is the place of rest. When sick, home is the spot to be nursed at. In joy, who will rejoice with us like those at home? In sor

upon them with eyes of love-I ask, have they ever considered how very dreadful it must be to have no home, no spot where they love and are beloved for, after all, the especial charm of home is, that love is there.. Look around your own home, and think how very mournful it would be to have no home at all.

“Where should I go, and what should I do?"you ask. Ah! that is a great question. Where should you go? You may think there is no danger upon that point, for you feel very sure that you will always have a home.

Perhaps, then, you will be very much surprised when I tell you, that some day or other

tent to make what he called "ONE HONEST EFFORT for the salvation of their souls." He spoke of their efforts in worldly pursuits, in contrast with their neglect of the undying soul. The remark affected him, and he resolved to make one honest effort, and for that purpose set apart the next day-Sabbath-as a day of fasting and prayer.

In the morning the president preached a very solemn discourse in the chapel. The young man retired to his room for prayer. Sins long forgotten rose up before him. He reflected upon particular sins, and tried to humble himself on account of them, confessing them to God. Doddridge's Rise and Progress, the Bible, and the earnest appeals contained in the letters received from his absent father, were read with many tears. The early religious privileges which he had enjoyed made his sins more aggravated. He felt that he had indeed sinned against a just and merciful God. He wished to sin no more. He felt willing to do any thing, or suffer any degree of torture ever inflicted, as an equivalent for the pardon of his sins, for he could not see how he was to be saved by faith.

In the evening he went to a prayer-meeting, which was felt to be the most solemn he had ever attended. Distressed on account of his guilt, he asked the friend who had invited him to attend the prayer-meetings to come to his room, that he might unburden his feelings to him. After giving some directions, he prayed with him. When his friend left, he felt that if ever he obtained pardon, he must do it then, for he could put it off no longer. He felt that if he should perish, it would be perfectly just. He saw that no efforts of his own would avail. There was left but one hope, "The Lamb of God," the crucified Saviour. He prayed for mercy, feeling that though his petitions should not be answered, yet his situation could not be more miserable. No longer did he feel that if one effort did not succeed, he would try no more; for now he resolved never to turn back, but if he perished, to perish asking for mercy. His agony was such that he could hardly utter his desires. He could only cry, "God be merciful to me a sinner," and think of the promise, "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."

The next morning his mind was calm and tranquil. His first impression was, that he could not have been in earnest on the previous day, but the feeling was entirely different from any ever before experienced. He now felt a love for Christians; the Bible seemed to be a new book; prayer had pleasures never known before. Seeking out his most intimate friend, he proposed a walk, that he might speak of Jesus, and urge him to repent and believe. During the day his joy gradually increased, till he felt greater happiness than he had ever before experienced. It was the joy of pardoned sin.

At the prayer-meeting that evening he arose to tell his fellow-students what God had done for his soul, and to urge them to make "one honest effort" for their souls' salvation. Some: wept, and others sang the praise of the Redeemer.

In a few days a little band of ten students cherished the hope of pardon through the Saviour's atoning blood. A young converts' prayer-meeting was commenced, and continued each week until their studies were completed. Six of that little group entered the ministry, and among them the subject of this narrative, who has often from the pulpit entreated sinners to make ONE HONEST EFFORT.

A mother's prayers were answered, though she did not live to witness the conversion of her son. The prayers of Christians, that more labourers might be sent into the harvest, were answered. The conversation of pious friends and the meetings for prayer were blessed.

Christless sinner, will you make one honest effort for your own salvation? Is it not a reasonable request ? Not indeed that your mere effort will save you But God meets with anxious earnest souls. Do not delay! Life is short. Death is certain. If you intend to repent at some future time, why do you go on doing the very deeds for which you expect at some future time to repent? Is not this course inconsistent? Will you not at least make one sincere effort? You need not fear to give up your present enjoyments. If you love Christ, you will no longer desire the pleasures which you now think it a hardship to give up. The withering touch of disease may at any time reach you. You must shortly stand before the judgment-seat of Christ. O throw yourself now at the foot of the cross, and seek pardon for your countless sins against a holy God. Christ is able and willing to save sinners, when they come to bim. "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." "Now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation." Throw yourself upon the mercy of Christ, just as you are. This may be the crisis, the turning-point. Decide, as on a death-bed you will wish you had done. Resolve, O resolve now! to make ONE HONEST EFFORT for the salvation of your soul.