entered her pew precisely at the hour, followed by His Royal Highness the Prince Consort, the Princess Alice, Prince Alfred, and by Lady Churchill, and the Hon." Miss Wortley.

A minute or two before, Earl Russell, the Countess, and their two little children took their seats in the adjoining front pew in the gallery, which in Scotland is the most fashionable part of the church. One or two domestics sat in the pew behind. The minister ascended the pulpit stairs as the hour was striking, and immediately commenced the worship by giving out the sixty-third Psalm from the Scottish version, and now the little church of Crathie was about three-fourths full. There, within the distance of a few yards, were assembled the highest personages in this or any land, very plainly attired in mourning, and apparently more devout than the Highland rustics behind them. There, again, is Earl Russell, whose patriotism and strong intellect can so readily grasp the constitutional interests of England, and the liberties of the world.

There, also, in the seat behind, are a few Highland shepherds, whose minds most probably can comprehend little else of this world but their tiny flocks. There, also, among the rest, it was very pleasing to see a good sprinkling of Highland women, on whose heads there never was a bonnet of any kind, and who were evidently well satisfied, even in the presence of Queen Victoria, to wear their plain but clean white linen caps (mutches as they are called) over their grey locks.

Throughout

that neat little country church there was an indiscriminate mingling of county lairds, and Highland peasants and paupers, an epitome, in fine, of Great Britain. The Rev. A. Anderson, the minister of the parish, conducted the service, as he usually does on the first Sabbath morning after Her Majesty's arrival. He is a very moderate specimen of the Scotch clergy, but he has the good sense to invite others, more able and gifted than himself, to occupy Crathie pulpit on the

subsequent Sabbaths, during Her Majesty's residence at Balmoral. His text was 1 Cor. iii. 11.

The simple divisions were as follow :

1st. Christ is the foundation of all saving knowledge.

2nd. Of all holy obedience. 3rd. Of all true happiness, both here and hereafter.

There was no pretence to eloquence -not even a graceful attitude; not a single figure, nor one rounded or polished sentence-not one illustration-not a novel sentiment-and not even a novel way of putting an old truth. In fact, several sentences were rudely and incoherently constructed, with now and then an ungrammatical expression. But to compensate for these defects, there was a simple, full, clear, and unvarnished exhibition of the faithful saying. To Christ all were directed as the only foundation, exclusive and divinely appointed ground of a sinner's acceptance in the sight of God. Evidently the preacher's object was not to amuse, or to tickle the ears of his audience with finely turned periods; but to point sinners to the Lamb of God, in the glory of His person, in the perfection of His work, the righteousness of His kingdom, and the adaptation of His redemption to the souls of men. Hence, whatever the sermon lacked of eloquence, illustration, style, or method, it was replete with "the truth as it is in Jesus," the truth full-orbed in all its grand evangelical doctrines and vital principles, and sanctifying influences; and, above all, the doctrine of the cross, "Christ crucified, the wisdom of God and the power of God." The writer felt thankful, as well as highly delighted, in these days of negative theology, to see Queen Victoria listening, with evident satisfaction, to the simple yet glorious truths of our old-fashioned Puritan Christianity; and could not refrain from offering up prayer to God, that the good seed thus sown might find a permanent lodgment in Her Majesty's heart, and in the hearts of her children, and be seen yielding

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abundant fruit many days and years hence. In conclusion it may be stated that no notes of any kind were used, and that throughout the entire service, which lasted barely an hour and a-half, there was no

indication, either in manner or matter, that Her most gracious Majesty Queen Victoria was present. E. S. HART.

Norwich, October 9.

I CAN'T PRAY.

"HAVE you said your prayers?" said Mrs. Marven to her little son, as he was about to get into his bed.

"No, mother; I can't pray tonight. It won't do any good.' "What do you mean?"

"The Bible says, forgive, and you shall be forgiven; and if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your trespasses. I have not forgiven Oscar for lying about me; so there is no use in praying. The Lord won't hear me."

Mrs. Marven reproved her son for not treating the matter with greater deference. She showed him that he ought to forgive, so that he could pray.

He was right in saying there was no use in praying unless he forgave; but that did not excuse him for not praying, and it did not make it safe for him to neglect prayer.

ABILITY DEVELOPS ITSELF. DR. MORRISON was a distinguished missionary in China. As his labour was great, and almost too much for one man, for he translated the whole Bible into Chinese, he sent home to the Society in England to send out a young missionary to help him. When they got his letter, they set to work to inquire among their friends for the right kind of young man to go to China as a missionary to help Dr. Morrison. After a while a young man from the country-a

pious young man, who loved Jesus Christ -came and offered himself. He was poor; had poor clothes on, and looked like a countryman, rough and unpolished. He was introduced to the gentlemen of the Society, and had a talk with them. They then said he might go out of the room, till they consulted with each other about him. When his back was turned, they said they were afraid the young man would never do to help Dr. Morrison; that it would not do to send him as a missionary, as he was but a rough countryman. Finally, they said to one of their number, Dr. Phillip, Doctor, you go out and tell the young man that the gentlemen do not think him fit to be a missionary; but if he would like to go out as a servant to a missionary, we will send him."

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The doctor did not quite like to do it; but he told the young man they thought he had not education enough, and lacked a great many other things necessary to a missionary, but if he would go as a servant, they would send him out. He quietly said, "Very well, Sir, if they don't think me fit to be a missionary, I will go as a servant. I am willing to be a hewer of wood, or a drawer of water, or do anything to advance the cause of my heavenly Master."

He was sent as a servant. But he did not remain one. After awhile he got to do what he longed to do-to preach the Gospel; and he became the Rev. Dr. Milne, one of the best and greatest missionaries that ever went to any country.

What a beautiful lesson!