for heaven, the latter for hell. Gracious Lord, impress this thought on the mind of saint and sinner, that the one may be more circumspect in all his movements, and that the other may be led without delay to repent

of his sins before thee, to rely on thy Son for pardon and grace, and to live to thy praise, and for the wellbeing of his friends and neighbours. Amen. Witheridge.

J. S.

The objector against the truths of Divine revelation is a fool.-" But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body shall they come? Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened except it die," &c.-1 Cor. xv. 35. F. M. L.

THE PRESERVING LEAVES.

I ONCE heard a story about a man who was travelling on horseback. As he passed along, he saw a bird acting very strangely, so he stopped to watch it. The little thing seemed to be very much frightened; its wings fluttered, and it kept flying into a tree with leaves in its mouth. He dismounted, and going to the tree, he found that the bird had a nest of young ones in the branches, and that with all the speed of which it was capable, it was placing the leaves around the nest. The young birds opened their mouths for something to eat, but the mother did not give them anything; she only placed the leaves around them.

The traveller wondered why she should do this, but he soon saw the reason. The mother was sitting on a distant tree, showing signs of terror, and the traveller saw a snake crawling up the tree towards the bird's nest. Slowly, slowly, it comes up. See! its mouth is close to them. It will devour them. But no! it touches the leaves which the mother has placed around the nest, and immediately it drops to the earth. It crawls up again, but again it drops as soon as it touches the leaves. They are poison to it, and the little ones are safe.

Those leaves were to the little birds what the leaves of the Bible will be to you. Many of you had them placed around you by loving mothers when you were very young. Oh! see that nothing blows them away! Let them ever be around your hearts. If you have not yet had

them placed there, place them there yourselves. Then the serpents of sin may come near you, but they cannot bear the touch of those precious leaves. Though they are life to you, they are poison to these your

ON no subject are distinctions more necessary to be made than when speaking of the paternal character of God, and yet this point is very frequently overlooked. Texts are sometimes quoted in the same paragraph, and referred to the same persons, which should be distributed to various classes, and which perhaps belong to different dispensations. God is said to be the Father of angels, who are called "Sons of God," Job, i. 6; xxxviii. 7. He is the Father of all mankind, who are called "His offspring," Acts xvii. 28, 29. He was the Father of Israel in a way that He was not of the nations generally, Deut. xxxii. 6, Isaiah Ixiii. 16; and he is the Father of believers in a higher sense than any. Creational and dispensational relationships are both cast into the shade by electing, redeeming, regenerating, and adopting grace. This last relationship

has its foundation in Christ, Rom. viii. 29; is according to God's sovereign and loving purpose, Ephes. i. 5; was fully declared by Christ, who delighted to reveal the glories of God the Father, and the privileges of His people as children, John xvii.

enemies. With prayer for your sword, with the Bible for your charm, you may pass through a world full of these serpents, unstung and unharmed.

MISS ELIZABETH T. READ, daughter of Dr. Alexander Read, of New Bedford, Mass., was a member of the Institution of Messrs. Abbott, at 412, Houstoun-street. While in her usual health, she was attacked by the prevailing influenza a few weeks

26; xx. 17. It will appear to be very wonderful and glorious, if the character, titles, and actions of God as a Father are considered, 2 Cor. i. 3, 4; Heb. xii. 5-10; it can only be realized by the teaching and indwelling of the Holy Spirit, Rom. v. 5; and will be consummated in eternal glory, Rom. viii. 19-23; Rev. xxi. 7. The relationship has failed in every other respect but the last. Angels, those morning stars, have fallen from their orbits. Man is a creature who, like the prodigal, has wandered far off in pride and sensuality. Of the Jews, God says, "I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me." That relationship which flows from grace, which is founded on union with Christ, and cemented by the Holy Spirit, can never fail.

By not distinguishing these different views of God's paternal character, some, it is to be feared, have had a false confidence nourished in them, while timid believers have been bereft of the strong consolation which it is their privilege to enjoy JOHN COX.

ago, and after a sickness of but a few days, suddenly and very unexpectedly died. She was sixteen years of age, and possessed unusual personal attractions, a mind of great activity and refinement, and very remarkable amiability and loveliness

When all, when all is still around,
Save the rustling of the trees,
I hear, I hear melodious tones,

That are borne upon the breeze.

And as the sweet sad tones come on, And steal upon my ear,

I hear the songs that Lizzie sang, The ones I loved to hear.

And as the music draweth near,
I think I hear the swell

Of that sweet, low, and mournful

tune,

"HE doeth all things well."

Then should we weep for Lizzie,

That her spirit thus has flown, When we think that she is hovering

near,

To guide us to our home?

May we not hope to meet her

In that land where all are blest, Where the wicked cease from troubling,

And" the weary are at rest?"

MIRACLE OF HONESTY.

AT a party one evening several contested the honour of having done the most extraordinary thing; and a reverend gentleman was appointed! the sole judge of their respective pretensions.

One of the party produced his tailor's bill, with a receipt attached to it. A buzz went through the room that this could not be outdone, when

A second proved that he had arrested his tailor for money lent to him.

"The palm is his," was the general cry, when a third put in his claim"Gentlemen," said he, " I cannot boast of the feats of either of my predecessors, but I have returned to the owners two umbrellas that they left at my house."

"I'll hear no more," cried the astonished arbiter; "this is the very ne plus ultra of honesty and unheardof deeds; it is an act of virtue of which I never knew any person capable. The prize is yours, Sir."