could even strike His only and well-beloved Son. Surely, surely we could not sin so lightly if we really understood the full force of this agonised outburst? Oh! that we could keep the sound of it ever in our ears. To us, however, there is a bright side even in this utterance. "The transgression of My people," for which He was stricken, bows us down with shame; but, "He was stricken," tells of forgiveness and restoration. If we have been wandering from Him and refusing to return because we are so ashamed of having wounded our Loved One, let us look again at the latter part of this sentence. "He was stricken " for this very transgression of ours and the fact that He has suffered the penalty due to us, speaks of free forgiveness for us, even for this sin of wandering, if by faith we have accepted Him as our substitute, whom God accepted as such.

VIII. "My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them" (Hos. iv. 12). "Is thy Counsellor perished?" (Mic. iv. 9; Is. ix. 6). Wherefore, when thou wast in perplexity, and in need of counsel, camest thou not to Me? The Spirit records the fact of some that they "asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord "-showing how grave a matter He feels it to be-this leaving Him out of our counsels. Even if He had not said, "Counsel is Mine, and sound wisdom; even if He had not told us it was our wisest course to ask counsel of Him who cannot err, He must have been "wounded" when we left Him out of our counsel. "The Lord of Hosts, which is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working," says, "I will instruct thee, and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will counsel (marg.) thee with Mine eye." Is it nothing, think you-this asking counsel of "stocks and staffs" (idols which we have allowed to usurp His place in our hearts), and leaving the Lord out of our counsels? See what the consequence was to Saul (1 Chron. x. 13, 14). Sometimes we

do ask counsel of Him, but will not wait patiently for His answer, and rush off to seek counsel of our fellow-men. Thus it was with His people of old, "they waited not for His counsel." Reader, are you in perplexity and sorely in need of counsel? Go and seek it of the Lord, He will give you an answer, only wait for it. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." The Lord does often use one of our fellow-men to give us His counsel, makes him His mouthpiece. But He never thus uses any but His own faithful servants, those who are so near Him that they understand His mind. Nor should we go to even these, till we have first sought and waited for, counsel of Himself. Then, having asked Him, if it be His pleasure to reveal His will through another, we may go and seek counsel of our friend; this will not be asking counsel of "stocks and staffs," for our one desire is to do His will ; we are not turning the back on Him and ignoring Him, nor leaving Him out of our counsels.

FLORAL TEXT CARDS.-We have received from Mr. Bernhd. Ollendorff, 4, Jewin Street, London, E.C., a most beautiful selection of Scripture Text Cards of all sizes, some for framing and hanging up, others, smaller, for sending by post, or otherwise to friends. The texts are chosen with much care, and most appropriate for general use. They are printed so clearly as to be easily read. This is a great advantage, for on some cards the attention is quite taken away from the text by floral adornments. In Mr. Ollendorff's cards the flowers are most tastefully drawn and exquisitely painted. They are a marvel of cheapness, and are sure to give much satisfaction. The sixpenny packets are excellent value for the money. We would recommend our readers to send to Mr. Ollendorff (address as above) for a catalogue of his cards; and those who like to enclose stamps for packets of cards will be sure to be pleased with what they get. Sunday School Teachers who want little reward tickets, should send for "Wondrous Things" (No. 132), price 6d. The large Texts for framing are lovely, and we wish that our readers would have plenty such in their houses, in place of the pictures one often sees.

Daily Bible Thoughts for the Month.

ON THE UNION OLD TESTAMENT READINGS.

By Blanche A. Rowan.

"I the Lord will give Thee. to open the blind eyes."-Is. xlii. 6, 7.

EXODUS XVI. TO LEVITICUS VI.

NOVEMBER I.-Exodus xvi. 15. "It is a portion" (marg.) It is a grand lesson to learn that this "It" includes every circumstance in our daily lives. Yielded souls are fed by the accepted will of God, saying of each smallest thing, "It is the Lord” (Jno. vi. 52, 56; Ezek. iii. 1-3). November 2.—Ch. xvii. Trace the frequency of these Bible questions-"Why," "What," "Wherefore," "How," "Can God?" None can enter Canaan rest as long as unbelief questions God's love and power (Heb. iii. 19).

November 3.-Ch. xviii. 19. Christ's intercession, both in ch. xvii. II, etc., and in these verses, is beautifully brought before us. See Heb. vii. 25. "Able to save" therefore, "in all respects, to the full extent." The word "uttermost " is from the Greek "Pantelos," a double superlative, pan, all (the whole man), telos, perfection, to perfection. Can we trust Him to save us thus fully?

November 4.-Ch. xix. Contrast with the Covenant of grace (Heb. xii. 18-29), they might not come near to gaze. We are called into "the holiest of all " (Heb. x. 19, 22). But notice how alone we may enter-soul and body washed "whiter than snow."

November 5.-Ch. xx. 10. The Sabbath was thrice given. First, as a privilege (ch. xvi. 23); then as law, in this chapter; and again when the people were restored again through mediation in ch. xxxv. 2. It pointed back to God's rest in creation; to the deliverance out of Egypt (Deut. v. 15), and was a sign of separation unto the Lord (Ex. xxxi. 13). Shall not our "Lord's Day" be all this and far more to us? There is a growing tendency to laxity in regarding it.

November 6.-Ch. xxi. 5, 6. It is to this institution that Ps. xl. 6 (marg.) refers. Christ Himself exclaiming to the Father, "Mine ears hast Thou bored," "I will not go out free." Have we followed in these His footsteps? (Rom. xii. 1) adding with David, "Bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar" (Ps. cxviii. 27). November 7.-Ch. xxii. These chapters are full of practical teaching.

It is sadly dishonouring to God that Christians can so often be reproached for failure in strict upright dealing and unvarying honesty. Let us seek to "wash our hands in innocency."

November 8.—Ch. xxiii. 15, last clause, and ver. 20, etc. The conditions given first, the promise afterwards. the latter without fulfilling the former. to His "obedient children."

November 9.—Ch. xxiv. 16. ing: also in Gen. vii. 10.

We may not appropriate God's precious promises are

Notice the seven days of patient waitIf we feel discouraged by seemingly

unanswered prayers, let us take courage to wait His time. (See Hab. ii. 1-3; Rev. vi. 9-11; 2 Thess. iii. 5 ; Zeph. iii. 8.)

November 10.-Ch. xxv. Seven chapters follow descriptive of God's meeting place with man—the Tabernacle (ver. 22). Every detail points to Christ, "in whom all fulness dwells." Only one chapter was devoted to the account of creation.

November 11.-Ch. xxvi. In the curtains and coverings of the Tabernacle we see the "various features of Christ's manifested character." Notice the special materials used—Fine twined linen, His spotless manhood (2 Cor. v. 21; I Jno. iii. 3); Blue, His heavenly character (Jno. iii. 13; Phil. iii. 20); Purple, denoting royalty. 'Born King" (Ps. ii. 6; Zech. ix. 9); Scarlet, when genuine, is produced by death, and pointed to His sufferings and death (Heb. ii. 9; Phil. ii. 8; Rom. vi. 3, 4).

November 12.-Ch. xxvii. The Brazen Altar typified the Cross of Christ, where sin was dealt with according to the Divine judgment concerning it.

November 13.-Ch. xxviii. In this and the next chapter we get the Priesthood unfolded to us.

Here, first, the robes. How blessed to know that the names of the weakest believers are borne upon the shoulder and breast of our Great High Priest, and " graven upon the palms of His hands."

Nov. 14.-Ch. xxix. 37 (last clause). Do we remember and realise this fact as we present "ourselves, our souls, and our bodies" upon His altar? (Matt. xxiii. 19).

November 15.—Ch. xxx. I. "To burn incense." Even the feeblest expression or exhibition of Christ in the life of a believer is an odour of a sweet smell ascending to God. (See Cant. i. 12). November 16.-Ch. xxxi. 18.

"As the Israelites had the law engraven on stones, so by the Spirit should "Christ" be written upon our hearts, and upon all our ways (2 Cor. iii. 3).

November 17.-Ch. xxxii. I. "Make us gods "—something tangible.

Our walk is to be one of faith altogether. See the warning needed to the saints even in the Apostles' time in I Jno. v. 21.

November 18.-Ch. xxxiii. 13. How often we have prayed this prayer; but has it always been "that I may know Thee ?" (Phil. iii. 10). If so, it includes "the fellowship of His sufferings " (Luke xviii. 32; Matt. xx. 22-23). Verse 21 tells us that only as we abide by Him can we know His way or see His glory. November 19.-Ch. xxxiv. 29, 30. while we see "Jesus only " (2 Cor. iii.

Others see the light reflected, 18).

November 20.-Ch. xxxv. 4, 7, etc. Notice in this chapter the voluntary devotedness of the people; and mark in ver. 5 the expression, "An offering of the Lord," pointing to the truth taught in Lev. xxvii. 28.

November 21.—Ch. xxxvi. 5, 7. "Much more than enough!" But this was brought about by each individual bringing as he could. Let us bring our share day by day.

November 22.—Ch. xxxvii. Bezaleel, a man "filled with the Spirit of God." (See ch. xxxv. 31). This must be our qualification, if we would work acceptably. Only the emptied can claim the filling.

November 23.-Ch. xxxviii. 22. See the willing obedience resulting from the anointing with the Spirit "according to all that the Lord commanded" (Jno. xiv. 15).

November 24.-Ch. xxxix. 30. This is just what is to be written upon everything connected with God's holy priests now (1 Pet. ii. 5). Thus we may antedate the millenial day, when it shall be written upon even the bells of the horses. Holiness is wholeness. All is to be wholly the Lord's.

November 25.-Ch. xl. The anointing of the Holy Ghost is spoken of continually as the secret of power for walk and service. (Compare ver. 15 with 1 Jno. ii. 27). But let us recollect the order-first, pardon; then purity of heart and life; thirdly, power.

November 26.-Leviticus i. "The Priest's Guide Book." The offerings point to the work of Christ in different aspects. Here in the burnt offering we see Christ presenting Himself without spot to God.

It is a picture of "self-emptied devotedness to God." Refer to it in Phil. ii., first, His own self-surrender (ver. 5-8); then the Apostle Paul's (ver. 17); and lastly, Epaphroditus' (ver. 26).

November 27.—Ch. ii. The meat-offering typifies Christ's perfect humanity; fine flour, the perfect evenness of His character. Anointed with oil (Mark i. 10), and every action and word mingled with oil. He did everything by the Spirit of God.

November 28.-Ch. iii. "In this offering we see Christ not so