known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor ? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto to him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. Rom. xi. 33—36.

Grace! 'tis a charming sound,
Harmonious to the ear!

Heaven with the echo shall resound,
And all the earth shall hear.

Grace first contrived the way
To save rebellious man;

And all the steps that grace display,
Which drew the wondrous plan.

Grace first inscribed my name,
In God's eternal book;

'Twas grace that gave me to the Lamb,
Who all my sorrows took.

Grace led my roving feet
To tread the heavenly road;
And new supplies, each hour, I meet
While pressing on to God.

Grace taught my soul to pray,
And made my eyes o'erflow;

'Twas grace which kept me to this day,
And will not let me go.

Grace all the work shall crown,
Through everlasting days;

It lays in heaven the topmost stone,
And well deserves the praise.

KEEP EACH OTHER AWAKE.

I HAVE read-for I never was much of a traveller myself—that the air on the Alps has a great tendency to lull travellers to sleep, and if they indulge in sleep, they die. In order to prevent this, the guides frequently cry," KEEP EACH OTHER AWAKE, FOR IF YOU SLEEP YOU DIE!" Now I have observed that the atmosphere of the present world has just the same effect on professors of religion; and that if a professor rises in worldly wealth, or respectability, or honour, he becomes very sleepy in reference to spiritual things. I have seen many who, while poor, were very regular in their attendance on all the means of grace, and very attentive to their religious duties; but when they began to rise in the world, they began to neglect the meetings for prayer, then the week-day sermons, and then, a little rain, or cold weather, would keep them at home part of the Lord's Day. The Bible was then no longer regularly read through, family pray er was not regular, or hearty and earnest, as it used to be. Private prayer was not so frequent, or so lively. The tract was no

longer carried in the pocket, to be given away to the passer by. Nor was a word spoken for Jesus, as was once the case. The atmosphere of the world has lulled the soul to sleep, and some deep affliction, or severe trial, or heavy loss, is absolutely necessary to rouse up the soul from its slumber.

All around us, we see professors sleeping, and we ought to endeavour to awaken them. Suppose you were crossing the Alps, and you saw a fellow-traveller fast asleep on the snow, and the night was fast approaching, would you not endeavour to awaken him ? Would you not consider it cruel to go on your way, and leave him to sleep himself to death? True, you may not know him; you may never have seen him before. But he is a fellow-creature, and, perhaps, a fellowcountryman, and you could not think of allowing him to perish without an effort to save him. Well, all around you, professors are asleep on the snow of this cold, keen world. If they continue to sleep, they die. Will you not endeavour to arouse them? Will you ask with Cain,-"Am I my bro-. ther's keeper?" Will you not rather speak to them of the love of Jesus, of the duties which they owe to the world and the Church, of the serious consequences of continuing to slumber on until the Master comes? Will you not try to stimulate them to pursue their journey, and get on with their work, seeing "the night cometh ?" I am afraid we are

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sadly remiss here. We let our fellow-professors sleep on, afraid to offend them, we are unfaithful to them. "Thou shalt not suffer sin upon thy brother," is a Divine command. "Be not partakers of other men's sins," is an inspired exhortation. That command should be obeyed. That exhortation should be carried out. But if they were, we should rouse up sleepy professors in every direction, saying to them, as the mariners did to Jonah, "What meanest thou, O sleeper, arise and call upon thy God?" Or, arise and work for thy God!

Friends, let us beware of a worldly spirit. Let us not unnecessarily mix up with the world. It will be sure to injure our spirituality, and hinder our usefulness. If Providence shines upon us, let us beware of the lulling influence of prosperity; for if we do not, we shall soon fall from our own steadfastness, and fall asleep on some bed of sloth. Others have fallen, and we may. Many who are now sleepy, inactive, and comparatively useless professors, were once lively, active, and useful. Let us, therefore, not sleep as do others, but let us watch, and be sober. Let us keep company with lively Christians. Let us engage in works of usefulness. Let us always have something to do for Jesus, that we may have no time to fall asleep. Let us diligently attend to the Master's declaration," Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments; lest he walk

naked and they see his shame." By the love of Jesus to us, by the work of Jesus for us, by the Spirit of Jesus which is with us, we are admonished to keep awake. By the work Jesus has appointed us, by the commission Jesus has given us, by the promise Jesus has made to us, we should be stimulated to work for him. By the certainty of his coming to call his servants to account; and by the uncertainty of the time when He will come, we are exhorted to be wakeful, watchful, and diligent. Brethren, let us be watchful ourselves, and let us attend to the call of the guides,- "KEEP EACH OTHER AWAKE, FOR IF YOU SLEEP YOU DIE!"

Forth in thy name, O Lord, I go,
My daily labour to pursue;
Thee, only thee resolv'd to know,
In all I think, or speak, or do.

The task thy wisdom has assign'd,
O let me cheerfully fulfil!

In all my works thy presence find,
And prove thy acceptable will.

Give me to bear thy easy yoke,

And every moment watch and pray,

And still to things eternal look,

And hasten to thy glorious day:

For thee delightfully employ,

Whate'er thy bounteous grace hath given;

And run my course with even joy,

And closely walk with thee to heaven.