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CHRISTMAS CHEER.

CHRISTMAS CHEER.

BY CATHARINE ELLIS.

T does not seem true we are again thinking of Christmas! And many sick and lonely ones are thinking, "Shall we be remembered this year by the kind friends who cheered us in 1883 ?" I am sure your answer will be a glad "Yes!"

Only a few days ago, passing through a ward in an infirmary, you might have seen a poor, feeble, aged woman enjoying a little Testament, sent in response to the appeal last year; and she said, "It is just the size for my feeble hands." Another, speaking of the flannel shirts sent to one ill at home, "What would he have done without them!"

And the numerous bottles of sweets lasted on a good time after Christmas, and helped the doses of medicine down; though many young ones enjoyed them without the medicine! The pin-cushions, needle-books filled, and lavender-bags have given endless pleasure; also the spectacles and pairs of scissors. All the little helps made a large quantity, and cheered very many. So, again will you give your help to make sunshine all around the sick, suffering, and poor?

Many children helped last year in making little clothes, scrapbooks, cuffs, and socks; will you help again? Several SundaySchool Bible Classes helped; will you do so again? And servants also contributed considerably; will you help again? And many who are sufferers themselves helped, by prayer and many pretty and useful things their fingers made; if able, will you again?

The interesting books sent have been read with pleasure and profit, and been passed on to do good again elsewhere.

In sending sweets, may I ask, as last year, that they should come in tins and bottles, and the bags and boxes empty, as, if put in some time before Christmas, they melt, and with difficulty are divided.

Christmas printed letters and cards are always acceptable, and

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evergreens and everlasting flowers for decorating the wards will be welcomed. Pens, pencils, and writing-paper were great boons to those who could sit up and write to their friends.

Would that all who help could go from bed to bed and see the joy their presents give. "It is nice to be remembered by some one," is an oft-repeated expression. Many have not a relative in the world. Surely it is Christ-like to minister to those who cannot recompense you again, and it does often lead them to think of God's great gift-JESUS; and a word can often be spoken about Him when your gifts are distributed, as well as when the Bible Flower Mission does its work. Do not forget those who nurse the sick and minister to their comfort. They are often tired and weary in their work; will you cheer them?

As I have left Sloane Street, please do not send there any longer. In December number of LIVING WATERS the address shall be given where parcels should be sent, when I hope to be settled in a new house.

May we all follow the Lord Jesus, "who came not to be ministered unto, but to minister," and we shall know the truth of "in blessing I will bless thee" (Gen. xxii. 17).

DAILY BIBLE THOUGHTS FOR THE MONTH

ON THE UNION NEW TESTAMENT READINGS.

BY THE HON. KATHLEEN WARD.

"The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart."

ROM. I. 1, TO XVI. 17.

OVEMBER 1.-Rom, i. 1. "Called to be an apostle," therefore "separated to the gospel of God." Verse 6.

'Called of Jesus

Christ," therefore "obedience to the faith." Verse 7. "Called

to be saints," therefore "grace and peace" bestowed.

Nov. 2.—Ch. i. 25. It has been Satan's first object from the beginning to undermine the truth of God (Gen. iii. 4). Notice how our Lord describes him (Jno. viii. 44).

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DAILY BIBLE THOUGHTS FOR THE MONTH.

Nov. 3.—Ch. ii. 16. What a solemn revelation that day will disclose. Compare the passage in 1 Co. iv. 5. May David's prayer, therefore, be continually on our lips (Psa. cxxxix. 23, 24).

Nov. 4.-Ch. ii. 29. See vv. 17-21. It matters little whether we be all these things, if our hearts are not really in God's service. Look at De. x. 16, and compare with the expression "if thine heart turn away" (De. xxx. 17).

Nov. 5.-Ch. iii. 10-19. Turn back to Psa. liii. 2, and compare with Jno. i. 11. Read also the sorrowful reproach conveyed in Lu. xiii. 34. And yet "God so loved the world" !

Nov. 6.-Ch. iii. 20. Gal. iii. 24 describes the law as our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ." The law shows us at once our utter failure, and Christ's perfection.

Nov. 7.-Ch. iv. 7. "Sins

covered." What else has God

done with our sins? He has "blotted out" (Col. ii. 14), “removed " (Psa. ciii. 12), and "cast them into the depths of the sea" (Mic. vii. 19).

Nov. 8.-Ch. iv. 20. He "wavered not" (R. V.). Compare Jas. i. 6, 7, and note the passage in Eph. iv. 14. What is the remedy? "He hath set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings" (Psa. xl. 2). Nov. 9.-Ch. v. 8. "God recommendeth His own love towards us (R. V.), that great wonderful love which "passeth knowledge" (Eph. iii. 19), which is so "shed abroad in our hearts" (v. 5) that its “ constraining" power is felt in our lives (2 Co: v. 14).

Nov. 10. Ch. v. 12. Note the contrasts in this portion. The 66 one man Adam, and the one man Christ Jesus " (v. 13). "Death" by the one, "life" from the other; the reign of "sin," and the reign of grace" in v. 21.

Nov. 11.-Ch. vi. 10. "The life that He liveth, He liveth unto God." Is not this a picture of what He would have our lives to be? Read with this 2 Cor. v. 14, 15.

Nov. 12.-Ch. vi. 13. Notice how the zeal which distinguished St. Paul in former days (Ga. i. 14) was dedicated to his Master's service, and with what result (Acts ix. 22).

Nov. 13.-Ch. vii. 7. A well-known preacher made use of the illustration of the mirror, by looking into which his little son discovered that his face required washing. "The law," said this preacher, "( can never cleanse you from your sins, but it can show you that you need cleansing !"

Nov. 14.-Ch. vii, 14. Our former condition while in the service of

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Satan; but Christ has bought us back at the cost of His own life (1 Cor. vi. 20).

Nov. 15.-Ch. viii. 15-17. Mark the work of the Trinity in these verses. We are "children of God," "joint-heirs with Christ," indwelt

by "the Spirit."

Nov. 16.-Ch. viii. 18. How full of comfort this verse is for the mourning child of God! Read also 2 Co. iv. 17. "One little hour! and then the glorious crowning, the golden harp-strings, and the victor's palm!" (Bonar).

Nov. 17.-Ch. viii. 39. His love (verse 39), His power (Jno. x. 28), and His steadfastness (Col. iii. 3) are unbounded; therefore we are indeed "more than conquerors" through Him! (verse 37).

Nov. 18.-Ch. ix. 16. Read with this John vi. 65. "Had He not loved, He had not drawn us so; had He not drawn, we had nor will nor power, to rise and come!" (F. R. H.).

Nov. 19.-Ch. ix. 33. "A stumbling-stone," but to His own people "a living stone, chosen of God, and precious." A "Rock of offence," but to His people, "the Rock of our salvation" (De. xxxii. 15).

Nov. 20.-Ch. x. 15. "Keep my feet and let them be, swift and beautiful for Thee!" How should we have our feet shod? Look at Eph. vi. 15.

Nov. 21. Ch. xi. 2. "Pleading against" (R.V.). Contrast with this the "intercession for " in Heb. vii. 25. We have an "Advocate with the Father !" (1 Jno, ii. 1).

Nov. 22.-Ch. xi. 33. "His ways past finding out." Read Isa. lv. 8, 9; and take the command "my son let thine eyes observe My ways" (Prov. xxiii. 26).

Nov. 23.-Ch. xii. 8. "Cheerfulness." See 2 Co. ix. 7 (last clause), and notice also the "willing heart !" (Ex. xxxv. 5).

Nov. 24. Ch. xii. 16 (R.V.). "Set not your mind on high things." Col. iii. 2 says "set your mind (marg.) on things above"; the "things above" being as different to the "high things" as the purest gold to the commonest tinsel !

Nov. 25.-Ch. xiii. 8. This is a debt which can never be paid; for our Lord's command is "Love one another as I have loved you" (Jno. xv. 12). Can any earthly love come up to that?

Oh,

Nov. 26.-Ch. xiv. 4. "Ged is able to make him stand." "word in season " to the weary hearted! See also Isa. xl. 29, noting specially the promise in verse 31 of that chapter.

Nov. 27.—Ch. xiv. 19. May our whole lives be a "followin› “ter.”