they knelt in the same church Sunday by Sunday but they never forgave each other. At last one of the brothers died. Yes, without one word of reconciliation or sign of sorrow for his unforgiving disposition, and went to meet his Judge.

The other is still living, but it is now too late to ask forgiveness of his brother who has gone "into a far country," where no appeal can reach him. Remember this when you are tempted to cherish unkind feelings against anyone, and forgive ere it is too late.

Gently think and gently speak:

Art thou strong? respect the weak : Art thou weak? from what thou art, Gently judge another's heart.

Gentle thoughts and gentle words,

Ever were thy Saviour Lord's : Shall the fellow man reprove,

When the holy God is

Love?

He who knew the thoughts of men,
He was gentle : let us then
Gentle be, in thought and tone,

We, who scarce can read our own.

Spirits harsh, and words unkind,
Like to rough, ungentle wind,
Often scatter "precious seed,"

Often break the "bruisèd reed."
Let them both together grow,
God Himself alone can know,
Who hath faith, and who hath fault,
Who are His, and who are not.
Patiently that day abide,

When "the angels" shall divide ; When "the harvest" shall declare, Which the wheat, and which the tare.

O how sad it then will be,

One afflicted soul to see

Hurt thro' thy mistaken zeal,
Hurt beyond thy power to heal.
Rain, and dews, and sunshine fall,
With unbounded love on all :
Shall thy narrow heart refuse

Its

poor sun, and rain, and dews?

Then be gentle, O my soul,

Thoughts and words alike control:

If thou must in aught decide,

Err upon the gentle side.

Rev. John Monsell.

IX.

"LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION."

"THEN was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the Devil." -St. Matt. iv. 1.

"Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted."-Heb. ii. 17, 18.

"For we have not an high priest which cannot be tempted with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."-Heb. iv. 15, 16.

The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations."-2 St. Peter ii. 9. "Because thou hast kept the word of My

H

patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly, hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go no more out, and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the City of My God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of Heaven from My God: and I will write upon him My new name.". Rev. iii. 10-12.

Every

"Lead us not into temptation." day we pray these words, but do we try to act upon them? These words mean "suffer us not to be led into temptation." We know our Father to whom we pray would not lead us into it, but we ask that He may defend us from it.

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man, but every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed."

People often pray against temptation, and then go into the very company where they will certainly be tempted. How can they

wonder then if they fall?

We must not only pray, but watch too. "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." We must be very watchful, very humble, never trusting in our own strength, but asking for God's grace to keep us from falling. That alone can keep us in the right way. Remember the beautiful words of the Collect which so well express this.

"O God, who knowest us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright, Grant to us such strength and protection as may support us in all dangers, to carry us through all temptations, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

Temptation comes to all God's children in one form or another. We cannot escape from it, but if we put our trust in God, and not in ourselves, we need not fear it; He will give us the needful grace to resist it. There is a story told of a famous knight