such as I saw the first evening I met him as he was watching the setting sun. Quietly as that sun went down behind the horizon, at the appointed hour did the old man disappear from the midst of us, "to sink to-day, but to rise again tomorrow," as he said. His departure occasioned general and deep regret; and, until this day, even the memory of old Richard is not without its good influence in the place where he spent his declining years, and from which he ascended to the Father's house.

Mercy and Judgment.

Jow delightful is it to trace the tenderness and lovingkindness of our God to His people, and to recognise in it the truth of His own remarkable declaration, when, speaking of punishment, He calls it "His work," 66 His strange work," "His act," " "His strange act;" acknowledging, indeed, that it is His doing, but at the same time His most unwelcome occupation, reluctantly forced on Him by the sins of His creatures, but cheerfully suspended, or withdrawn, the moment its absolute need is over. We should love to contemplate God in this character, to feel, under our severest chastenings, that "He does not willingly afflict or grieve" us; and that we cannot rejoice more sincerely in the removal of any trial, than He does in giving the word for its departure. How strongly does this view draw out the heart in grateful love to God! How powerfully do we feel in every change, whether it be the increase or decrease of a trial-this is God's work! This comes from the hand of One who loves me! This will surely be sanctified to me! Yes; He who sends the chastening will never leave it to accident or chance to produce its effect, but will Himself engage that this "light affliction, which is but for a moment, shall work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."

Blunt on the Pentateuch.

BELIEVE confidently, pray fervently, expect largely, walk humbly, and repent daily.

If you exercise faith on God's promise, you will daily live in dependence on God's power.

If you go to God with an empty hand and an empty heart, you will never be sent away without a supply: He filleth the hungry with good things.

In the wilderness of sorrow, temptation, and care, Jesus often goes forth to meet and converse with His people; and when He meets with them there, He speaks to their hearts.

A free pardon produces a grateful heart.

God loves you too well to give you unnecessary pain; not a pain can be dispensed with, if God is faithful to His character and word.

The love of God is a boundless ocean; but it only flows on earth in little rills; but evéry rill leads back to the ocean whence it flows; the love of God always leads to the God of love.

A short race, a rough pilgrimage, a dangerous voyage, a fierce combat, a hard day's work; and then a glorious prize, a happy end, a good home, a complete victory, and an eternal reward: fear not, the end crowns the whole.

Faith believes God's word, Patience waits God's time, Hope expects all God has promised, Love urges to obey all God's commands, Humility bows low before God's throne, Submission shuts the mouth in trying times, and Resignation cheerfully surrenders all to God's disposal: when all these graces are found together, the character is complete.

The divinity of Christ is the basis of Christianity; if this is removed,

all falls to the ground.

F

The Holy Women of old.

IRST in transgression, but last at the cross,
First at the sepulchre, mourning their loss,
Sad and faint-hearted, together they come,
Bearing their off'rings of love to the tomb:
Finest of linen and sweetest of spice,

Balms the most precious, and ointments of price.
Loving hands folded the napkin and shroud,
Sprinkled with tears that were hid from the crowd;
Hearts full of sorrow were heard in that word--

66

Oh, tell me where ye have taken my Lord!"

First to rejoice that the bonds of the grave

66

Could not hold Him who is " mighty to save,"
First to proclaim the glad tidings abroad
That Jesus was risen, our Saviour and Lord;
Not stolen away,'
," but self-raised from the tomb
Had their most glorious Redeemer now come,
Filling their sad hearts with gladness and joy—
Joy which earth's sorrows could never destroy.

All through His life they had followed their Lord, 'Ministering substance," and hearing His word;

66

Washing His feet and anointing His head,

Following closely wherever He led ;

Sitting so meekly to learn at His feet,
Rev'rently touching His robe in the street.

Faithful to death were those sheep of His fold;
Such were the true, holy women of old.
Christ-like in holiness, meekness, and love,
Christ-like in having their treasure above,
Christ-like in service, to them it was given

To live in this world on the threshold of heaven.
In the world-but not of it-they lived to do good,
And in their vocation each did what she could.
They brought up young children, and opened their door
To pilgrims and strangers, the sick and the poor;
Made clothes for the naked, and washed the saints' feet,
And with diligence followed good works, as was meet.
True daughters of Zion! Their record's on high;
A glorious reward shall be theirs by-and-by.

"Well done, faithful servants!" their Master shall say; "What ye've done to the poor ye have done unto me!"

Such our noble examples! But now let us see,
And ponder, what manner of women are we.
And if a sad contrast we clearly behold,

Let us blush when we think of those women of old.
Oh! who can take knowledge of us as the Lord's
By our dress, by our manners, our life, or our words?
(Dress seems a light thing in itself, but take note,
Do we look for a wise man beneath a fool's coat?)
Let us look at our sons, whom in childhood we led;
They are thorough-paced worldlings from feet to the head;
At our daughters! Alas! to look is but to sigh-
Where is their "adorning, of great price," on high?
And where is their feminine "shamefacedness?"

The scoffer cries "where ?" We the sad truth confess.
When Sara was sought she was found "in the tent!"
And to bless their own homes Christian women are sent.
Woman's mission is noble as lowly and pure,

And to find it she need not go far from her door.

But where are our daughters? and whose is the fault?
Have we brought up our children for God as we ought?
Have our households been ruled by the light of God's word?
And are we like women that wait for their Lord?

Can we say, Lord! behold here the children Thou'st given
All carefully trained for the kingdom of heaven?
Are we women of whom He will not be ashamed?
No matter how much by the world we are blamed-
Women grave, soberminded, awaiting the day

When our Master and Lord at His coming shall say,

"Ye have loved and wrought much, since your sins were forgiven,

Now come and sit down with your Master in heaven!"

44

The half was not told me."

was born where I now live, a grey-headed woman, in the pretty little village of Oakwood, so it is no wonder that I love it dearly, and that in its quiet churchyard I hope to be laid to rest when my time comes, as old John Noble was yesterday. Of all my friends in the village, and they are many, he was my favourite; the one I loved best to visit, the one from whom I learned most; and

I am so glad that the words "The half was not told me," are to be carved on his headstone; they were continually on his lips, and it was he who made them so full of precious meaning to me, and to many another besides.

The first time I remember his repeating them to me was a few days after he had gone to Thanksgiving Cottages. 'But I must tell you about them also. Our good squire, Sir Ralph Shipton, had a large family, and amongst them three fine sons in the army. All three were in the Crimean war, and, through God's mercy, all three escaped unhurt; and when they came home safe and well, the Squire said he would build three cottages as a thank-offering; then he said that was not enough, he would build six, and give them to those who either from sickness or ill health were unable to earn their bread.

So the six cottages were built, and certainly Sir Ralph took no end of pains to make them snug and comfortable. There were four rooms in each—a kitchen, a parlour, and two bedrooms over them, with a tidy little yard at the back, and a pretty garden in front, and a nice porch, with flowers trained over it, and every convenience you could think of; the coal-hole and water ready to hand, and presses, and cupboards, and shelves wherever they could be put. Then Lady Shipton furnished them all, even to putting a square of carpet on the parlour floor, red, or blue, or green, whichever those who were to get them liked best, and chintz curtains to match, and two easy chairs; nothing was forgotten, even to a cuckoo clock, but nothing was grand or out of place.

John Noble and his wife were given No. 1; and the whole village agreed that a better choice could not have been made. In the prime of life, and in the midst of his work, John had been suddenly seized with rheumatic gout, and it never left him till it had crippled him for life, and distorted his poor hands so sadly that it was painful to look at them; and it was easy to see that he would never again be able to do a day's work. The trial of dependence was a very bitter