To minister, to comfort, bless,

The erring to restore,

The orphan and the motherless
To guard with holy care.

'Mid the heart-rending griefs of life
To soothe with thoughts of peace;
In waywardness and worldly strife
To bid the tumult cease.
Over the sorrowing heart to bend
With tears of sympathy,

And in the darkest hour to lend
Aid from the courts on high.

The invisible, mysterious ones
That link the spirit-land,
With gentle ministrations come

And gifts from God's right hand;

With faith, and hope, and peace, and love,

And tender mercy too;

Around our path they ever move,

To our best interest true.

Sweet children, round your life, methinks

A mother's spirit waits;

Such holy spell-such precious links

God's gracious word permits:

Then, blessed dears, may thoughts of such
A ministering One from Heaven,
In future years beguile of much
By earth and sorrow given.

Remember ye that spirit eyes

Are yearning o'er your path,
And, winging from the upper skies,
A ministering angel hath

A watch-care o'er your future fate,
A guard of secret love,

To circle round this earthly state-
To lead the soul above.

And as ye lisp at morn and eve
Soft prayers to God in Heaven,
May angel eyes look down in love
And happy thoughts be given.
When earthly scenes are past and gone,

Oh, then, in realms above,

Will in its blessedness be known,

The Guardian Angel's love.

FOURTH OF JULY THOUGHTS.

AN ADDRESS TO SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS.

BY REV. WM. HAGUE.

Let us not be weary in well-doing.

MIDST the excessive heat of our American summers, when all of us are disposed to yield so much to weariness and languor,

the recurrence of our great National Anniversary brings with it a genial and enlivening influence, adapted to rouse us to sober thought, to grateful recollections of the past, and to becoming resolutions for the future. It is well-it is a good "sign of the times," that the popular mode of celebrating the Fourth of July has undergone a gradual change; that instead of having our whole attention engaged by military parade, by the roar of musketry, by shouts and

feasts and martial music, we are greeted by sights and sounds more in accordance with the pursuits of peace, the spirit of religion, and with our character as a mighty people, having a great work to do for mankind: that our eyes are gladdened by vast processions of youth, some bearing flowers and garlands, marching under the banner of the Sunday School or the cold-water army, and by large associations of men formed to promote useful arts, industry, or general knowledge. These changes indicate an increase of intelligence, a refinement of taste, and an improvement of public opinion. On the score of Temperance alone, the celebration of our national birth-day has more of real joyousness and dignity than it had a few years ago. Now, mothers and wives hail its return more gladly, for they have less fear of seeing their sons and husbands "overcome," as it is confessed they often were, when met in honor of their country's independence. Now, our public feasts, presided over by our civil magistracy, are not contaminated as they once were, by Bacchanalian orgies, and permit

men of sobriety to be present, less subject to pain or shame. Now, our manners are approaching more nearly to the simplicity of patriarchal times, when angels ate with men, and all were cheerful, without inebriating cups.

So, when angelic forms to Syria sent,

Sat in the cedar shades by Abraham's tent,
A spacious bowl the admiring patriarch fills,
With dulcet water from the scanty rills;
Sweet fruits and kernels gathers from his hoard,
With milk and butter piles the plenteous board,
While on his heated hearth his consort bakes
Fine flour, well-kneaded in unleavened cakes.
The guests ethereal quaff the liquid flood,
Smile on their hosts and taste terrestrial food;
And while from Seraph lips sweet converse springs,
They lave their feet, and close their silver wings.

The improvement in public taste and feeling of which we speak, is to be attributed to the blessing of God on various agencies. The promulgation of the gospel is the primary spring of all wholesome, reforming influences. It gives tone to the moral nerve of a community, and imparts