taking of us. The more a child trusted you, the more anxious you would be not to disappoint it; and the more we trust God the more he will do for us. We have his own word for it, that if we seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness' (that is, God's glory and spiritual blessings) 'all these things shall be added unto us.' 66 But," ," said I, "did you never know any of God's children in want of food and clothes?" "Many and many a one," answered Mrs. Godfrey, "but then it's their own fault. They may give up trusting their heavenly Father to provide for them, and begin to take thought for the morrow again; and then it may be that, to bring them back again, God may leave them alone for a time, to let them see how badly off they'd be, in spite of all their thought, if he didn't take thought for them too. He sometimes lets them want for another reason; but oh! not because he doesn't take thought for them and love them, but because he sees the trial is good for them. Just as I once knew a little girl who lived with her rich grandfather, and had everything she could wish or want. But she caught a dreadful fever. For weeks and weeks there was not a hope of her life; she got better, however; and, as she did, she became so hungry that she was almost ravenous ; but the doctor said one mouthful of solid food would kill her. Many and many a time her poor mother would leave the room crying for sorrow to hear her begging for food, and yet not daring to give her a bit; and I'm sure that if golden guineas had been ordered for her, her grandfather would not have thought them too good for her. But till the doctor said it was safe, not a taste of anything but drink did the poor child get; and, even then, it was no dainty, but a little scrap of sailor's biscuit that she was allowed to have. And yet no one could think it was want of love that kept good things from her; it would have been easier and pleasanter for the mother to have given her what she liked, than to have denied her; but she loved her child too well to give what would be hurtful and unfit at that time. And so there may be times when God may see it good for us to be tried with want of food or clothes, as well as with sickness, or any other trial. But that doesn't prove that we ought to take thought for the morrow; for all the thought in the world would not keep us in food and clothes if it was God's will we should not have them; and if it is his will we should have them, nothing will hinder his sending them to us. "I remember hearing a beautiful story about that lately," she went on. "A lady was sitting comfortably by the fire one cold winter's day, when suddenly a poor sick woman she sometimes visited, but had not seen lately, was brought to her mind with the thought she ought to go to see her that very day. She got up at once to go; because, as she always asked the Holy Spirit to guide her where to go, and what to do, she was sure he had put the thought into her heart. So she dressed herself, and putting some tea and sugar and bread and butter into a little basket, with a bit of ham for a relish, she set off. It was a long, long distance, and there was such a fog she was tempted more than once to turn back still she did not like to go against the voice of the Holy Spirit; so she went on, and at last arrived, and found the poor woman in bed, and her daughter busy working. The kettle was boiling on the fire, so the lady said, 'I see you are going to tea, so I won't stay; but I have brought a little addition,' taking out the contents of her basket. 66 6 'Oh, ma'am,' said the poor woman, 'may God bless you: neither my daughter nor I have broken our fast to-day. But,' said the lady, 'the table is laid.' 66 6 " "Yes,' answered the poor woman, 'I've been asking the Lord all day to send us something to eat, and I knew he would; so I told Mary to have everything ready. Thirty years has the Lord supplied me, and I knew he would not fail me now; and so he sent you to supply our wants.' "And," added Mrs. Godfrey, "taking thought all the day long, could not have got that comfortable meal. If we really have God for our Father, it's trust that we want, and not taking thought." Psa. cxix. 105. Psa. xlvi. 4. Isa. lv. 2. Psa. lxxiii. 24. Acts xxvii. 20. Acts xvi. 29, 31. I Thess. v. 21. Mat. vii. 24, 25. 2 Tim. iii. 15. Job xix. 25-27. John xi. 23-26. Psa. cxix. 89. Psa. lxxxii. 5. Matt. xiii. 44. 2 Tim. iii. 16. John xvi. 13-15. Psa. cxix. 130. Psa. xxxiv. II. L The Bible. BY BERNARD BARTON. AMP of our feet! whereby we trace Stream from the Fount of heavenly grace! Or radiant cloud by day! When waves would whelm our tossing bark, Pole-star on life's tempestuous deep! Of victory's hour the palm! Childhood's instructor, manhood's trust! Our hope, when we go down to dust Word of the everliving God! Will of his glorious Son! Without thee, how could earth be trod? Yet, to unfold thy hidden worth, Thy mysteries to reveal, That Spirit, which first gave thee forth, And we, if we would rightly learn The wisdom it imparts, Must to its heavenly teachings turn Prov. vi. 23. Isa. xxx. 21. Rev. xxii. 1. Isa. xxxii. 2. Matt. iv. 4. John vi. 49, 50. John xiv. 2. Luke xxii. 29. 2 Pet. i. 19. Psa. xcix. 7. Acts xxvii. 21. Psa. lxii. 5. Psa. cxii. 4. Isa. xxv. 4. I Cor. xv. 1 Pet. i. 25. John vi. 68. John xi. 10. Rom. x. 14. 1 Tim. iii. 16. 2 Pet. i. 20, 21. Matt. xi. 29. Job xxxiv. 32. Mark x. 15. T is an old and a true saying, that "God helps those who help themselves." The Bible is full of warnings against indolence; of encouragement to industry. We are commanded to be "not slothful in business." We are warned that "slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep, and an idle soul shall suffer hunger." To the sluggard it is said, So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man." "He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand; but the hand of the diligent maketh rich." 66 Sampson Wilder, a wealthy American merchant, and for many years president of the American Tract Society, was a striking illustration of this. His father died when he was quite young, leaving the family in straitened circumstances. Sampson, the eldest son, was accordingly sent to business at a very early age. His industry, integrity, and business tact soon became apparent. When a lad of sixteen he was sent to Boston, fifty miles distant, with seven wagon-loads of produce, which he sold and invested in goods. In this way he made the acquaintance of several merchants, who offered him employment. He partially engaged himself with one firm at a salary of one hundred and fifty dollars a year; but their religious character was not of a kind to satisfy his mother, and, in compliance with her wishes, he relinquished the situation, and went into the service of a Mr. Henley, at a salary of fifty dollars! Here he found a home with pious people, and came under the notice of Dr. Morse, who invited him to his house, placed his library at his service, and gave him instruction on Saturday evenings. Through |