who has a family to attend to, and everything to do herself. I've heard that 'Cleanliness is next to godliness;' and she glanced triumphantly at her snowy table and clean white boards, as she stood with the door-handle in her fingers.

"That may or may not be true," said the gentleman; "but, however true it may be, we must not make the mistake of supposing that cleanliness is godliness. I can see that your house is very clean, and I have no doubt your husband and children are very happy in it; but you must not forget that the claims of God stand before even theirs."

He did not say any more then, but promising to call again in a day or two, departed, leaving Mrs. Prior to ponder over what he had said. She went on with her work of cleaning; but it was evident her thoughts were upon something else. She felt strongly inclined to be angry at what the gentleman had said, for she looked upon herself and her love of order and cleanliness as being almost perfect, and her visitor had given her credit for more than this, the making her home happy to her husband and children, which she knew she did. not; and even then he thought there was something wanting.

She had repeated her favourite proverb so often, that she really had set cleanliness before all other duties; and she began to see this now, and also how grievously she had been mistaken; but this was not an easy or a pleasant lesson to learn, and Mrs. Prior was slow in learning it.

Some hours after, when her husband again ventured to return home, he found her more cross than usual, but the teathings were set ready on the table, and the arm-chair he had previously asked for was drawn out of its accustomed corner, and placed ready for him. The children, too, had been allowed to bring out books and slates, and place them on one side; and he was surprised at this, but still unable to account for the change, especially as his wife's temper seemed worse than ever.

The truth was, Mrs. Prior was more vexed and angry with herself than with any one else; though perhaps she did not know this.

She was still out of humour with herself, though, in a sullen sort of way, trying to make her husband and children feel more "at home" in the house, when the gentleman in a few days called again.

"I'm glad you've come, sir," she said, wider, and inviting the visitor to enter. good deal of what you said when you called handing him a chair.

"About the Sunday-school ?"

opening the door "I've thought a

last," she added,

"Not about that so much as the other. You remember, sir, you said you had no doubt I made my family happy by my cleanliness."

"Yes, I did; and is it not so ?" the gentleman asked. "I'm afraid not, sir."

"Are you happy yourself, Mrs. Prior?" asked her visitor; for he guessed the exact state of the case.

She looked at him earnestly for a moment, and then, colouring, said—“I know I am not."

"Then suppose we go to the root of the matter at once, and look at your proverb again. You took cleanliness, but forgot godliness. You understand the one, I know; but suppose we have a few words about the other. Godlinessor God likeness-is being like God, following his commandments and walking in his ways. Now, as God is constantly doing everything to make his creatures and especially his own people happy, it naturally follows that if we grow like him in any way we shall wish and endeavour to do the same. And we shall never be able to do it well and constantly without learning it of him. But do you not see that it is impossible to grow like one we know nothing of? If we wish to become like a person in character, we seek his company, endeavour to find out his wishes, and how he would have us act in various circumstances; and this is just what God would have us do with regard to himself. He says, 'Be ye holy, even as I am holy,' and 'without holiness no man shall see the Lord.' And this holiness—which includes happiness-is God's gift. which he is ready to bestow upon all

who seek him. Do you understand now why I asked if you yourself were happy ?"

"You think I shall never make my family happy until I have found this happiness myself," said Mrs. Prior. "It seems strange, for I'm sure I've tried to keep the place nice and clean, and I've thought it ungrateful of them when they've come in and not noticed what I've done, or wanted to have things different; and it has often made me cross and snappish with them."

"You have tried cleanliness as the first principle, the first rule of your life, and failed. Is it not so ?"

Mrs. Prior could not but confess that it was, and that her own temper and disposition were fast becoming soured with the process; but she did not say so much to her visitor, and he was too wise to press the matter further.

"When may I hope to see your children at the Sundayschool?" he asked, pleasantly: adding, "I have great faith in Sunday-school teaching, as a means of religious instruction, Mrs. Prior."

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Well, I think they shall come next Sunday," said Mrs. Prior.

"And you will bring them to the public service afterwards?" he said.

Mrs. Prior coloured.

"I don't know," she said; "I've never been used to go to church or chapel; and it always seems there is as much to do on Sunday as any other day."

"Cleanliness in the place of godliness again," said the gentleman. "Will it be possible for you to unlearn the mistake you have been making so long if you are not at any pains to acquaint yourself with God ?"

After some further conversation on the duty of prayer and reading the Scriptures, in order to learn his plan of salvation through the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ, the gentleman took his departure.

Mrs. Prior had given no promise to pay any greater regard to the sabbath. but she felt that she could not go on longer

as she had been living of late; and that night, after her husband was asleep-for she did not like him to see her do it— she knelt down at her bedside, and for the first time in her life prayed earnestly and sincerely for the help of God.

After this she resolved to alter her plans for Sunday. With this resolution made, she tried to curb her temper somewhat. Occasionally, before, she had relaxed her rules concerning domestic arrangements, but it had been done in such a manner that everybody was made more uncomfortable through it; but now she tried to be and seem more happy herself that her husband and children might become more happy. Another thing she did likewise was to offer to assist in nursing Mrs. Brown, who was still very ill and dependent upon her neighbours for help, and she tried to do it in such a manner that the obligation should not be felt.

But it was not easy to do all this; and Mrs. Prior was tempted to give it up again and again; but she sought and obtained help from God; so that she was at length enabled to correct her mistake, and make godliness instead of cleanliness the ruling principle of her life.

Law and Grace.

HE Law came by Moses.-Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

The Law says: This do, and thou shalt live.Grace says: Live, and then thou shalt do.

The Law says: Pay me what thou owest.-Grace says: I frankly forgive thee all.

The Law says: The wages of sin is death.-Grace says: The gift of God is eternal life.

The Law says: The soul that sinneth it shall die.—Grace says: Whosoever believeth in Jesus, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in him shall never die

The Law pronounces condemnation and death.-Grace proclaims justification and life.

The Law says Make you a new heart and a new spirit -Grace says: A new heart will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you.

The Law says: Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.-Grace says: Blessed is the man whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sin is covered; blessed is the man to whom God will not impute sin.

The Law says: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.-Grace says: Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He first loved us, and gave His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

The Law speaks of what man must do for God.-Grace tells of what Christ has done for man.

The Law addresses man as part of the old creation.— Grace makes a man a member of the new creation.

The Law bears on a nature prone to disobedience.— Grace creates a nature inclined to obedience.

The Law demands obedience by the terrors of the Law.— Grace beseeches men by the mercies of God.

The Law demands holiness.-Grace gives holiness. The Law says; Condemn him.-Grace says: Embrace him. The Law speaks of priestly sacrifices offered year by year continually, which could never make the comers thereunto perfect.-Grace says: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, by one offering hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

The Law declares that as many as have sinned in the Law, shall be judged by the Law.-Grace brings eternal peace to the troubled soul of every child of God, and proclaims God's truth in defiance of the accusations of the wicked one. He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment (condemnation); but is passed from death. unto life.

"BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED."