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But all this is natural, and of the earth. What nust the name be, what power must it have, in its spiritual, heavenly sense! In such a family stood Phebe. To such a high relationship did she belong -an honor to the family through all time.

It is hardly necessary to remark, that this idea of relationship is still diligently preserved and cherished among all the members of the Phebe family. They keep up this family feeling, and are jealous for the family honor. With them blood relation is a subordinate interest, the higher relation in the family of Christ is paramount.

We have seen members of this family, who were rich, educated, and polished, pass by those whom the world regards as "first families," and really prefer to be found with the humble and poor, who had the life of Christ in them. These they acknowledged on all occasions as their "sisters," and took delight in showing them consideration and help, however much the world neglected them, or however carelessly passed them by.

Their preferences in this respect have reminded us often of the conduct of Christ Himself. On one occasion, as we read, whilst he was teaching the people the things of His kingdom, his mother and other near relatives came and desired to speak with Him. Their desire was made known to Him. But He felt Himself to be engaged in a higher matter. "He answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren. And He stretched forth His hands toward His disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!" By this He meant to say, that He was bound to His own children by higher and better bonds than those which bound him to His own kindred. Hence He added: "For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother." In this same spirit He said on another occasion, that whosoever loveth father, mother, sister, brother, husband, wife, more than Him cannot be His disciple. These we may love-much love-but Him, and his children

more.

This the members of the Phebe family have always done. They break through all natural ties, and if necessary set them aside, that they may find one another. Scattered over the Church, as they are, they remain united by this high and holy bond of love; and whenever, and wherever they are brought into contact with each other, whether in circumstances of joy or sorrow, they greet ore another with a sacred brotherly and sisterly love. So cordial is this fellowship, that we have seen members of this family meet, who had never seen one another before, and yet they were at once as intimate and confiding as if they had known each other for years. May this large and increasing family still further spread. That will be a happy age when they shall fill the whole earth. For all, as the name implies, are the children of light and love.

DOING GOOD.-We should be doing all the good we can to one another while we are together, which will be but a short and uncertain time.

MEDITATION.

TO WHOM?

FROM THE GERMAN OF DR. SCHAFF, BY S. T.

Lord, to whom shall we go? Jno. 6: 68.

Hast thou learned, O my soul, this solemn question, which Peter in the name of all the Apostles here addresses to the Lord, when many inconstant ones forsook Him? The question in which he forever renounced the world and avowed his faithful adherence to Christ, the Son of God, without whom from henceforth he could and would not live? O my soul, God has created thee for Himself, and thou art without rest until thou restest in Him. Restlessness is thine inherited portion, since thou art fallen. It is thy punishment, at the same time also the entire ruin of thy former greatness, and a surety of thy higher destiny. Well for thee, if thou hast come to the knowledge of thy restlessness and hast turned thyself with full confidence to Him to whom wind and waves yield obedience. The earth is beautiful, nevertheless only the footstool of the Lord of glory. The firmament with the sun, moon and stars is full of grandest majesty, but even this is only a dim reflection of Him who rules above their shining brightness. Innumerable are the treasures of earth, yet a single soul is worth ten thousand times more than they all. And on this account what is a man profited, if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Nothing visible can satisfy thee, my soul, for thou art invisible. Nothing temporal or perishable is able to quench thy thirst, for thou art, even if fallen, still a daugher of the King of heaven.

The eternal will the eternal seek;

Its thirst in life's pure stream will slake,

Which clear as crystal ever wells

From under the throne where Jesus dwells.

God alone is thy origin and thy aim; His love thy home; His grace thy glory; His intercourse thy peace. But how shalt thou come to God, without Him who is the way, and the truth, and the life. Without Christ God is an angry judge and a consuming fire; in Him, however, a reconciled Father and the fountain of all good. Dost thou wish for forgiveness of sins, which debar thee from God : Christ has obtained it for thee by his expiatory death upon the cross? Dost thou long after peace of conscience which the world cannot give and the world cannot take away: He is the Prince of peace, who speaks to the believing soul: Peace be with thee. Seekest thou after unfeigned love to God, charity to thy fellowmen, after a cloak of righteousness, in which thou mayest be able to

stand before the divine judgment, after a hope that can sustain thee in all trouble, and in the hour of death wipe the cold sweat from thy brow, bearing thee over death and hell into the mansions of the blessed: He, from his infinite mercy, through the Holy Ghost will give thee all these without money and without merit. To the question then: To whom shall we go? thou hearest the unerring word of God: To Christ who is the salvation and life of a lost world! Let others go elsewhere, to the congregation of the ungodly, to the house of feasting, to the corruptible and corrupting pleasures of this world: all these are highways to eternal ruin. Trouble not thyself about the many, who are staggering down the broad and giddy road, after a short dream, to awake amid the terrors of the second death. Follow thou after the little flock upon the narrow, but safe path of life, which prophets, apostles, martyrs and saints have trod, and after having overcome sin, Satan, death and hell attained to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven.

A NATIONAL LITANY HYMN.

GOD, most mighty, sovereign Lord,
By the heavenly hosts adored;
God of nations, King of Kings,
Head of all created things:
By thy saints with joy confessed,
God o'er all forever blessed:
Lo! we come before Thy throne
In our Saviour's name alone.

Thee, O Christ, we worship, bless,
Head of all Thy Church confess;
Hear the praises, and the plaints,
Of Thy needy sighing saints.
Let Thy blood our ransom be;
Save us as we trust in Thee.
Pleading at Thy throne we stand,
Save Thy people, bless our Land.

By Thyself, the Source of grace;
By Thy Headship of our race;
By Thy coming from the skies;
By Thine awful Sacrifice!
By Thy reign o'er all on earth,
For its new, and second birth;
In Thy merits let us stand,
Save, O Lord, and bless our Land.

From all public sin and shame;
From ambition's grasping aim,
From the pride that brings a fall,—
Sins of sense whose dregs are gall:
From the love of vanity:
From forgetfulness of Thee:
From the judgments of Thy hand,
Spare Thy people, spare our Land.

From rebellion, war, and death;
From the pestilential breath;
From dread famine's awful stroke;
From oppression's galling yoke;
From the earthquake's stunning blow;
From all public fear and woe;
Spare us, spare us, Lord most high,
Hear Thy people's humble cry.

On our fields of grass and grain,
Drop, O Lord, the kindly rain;
O'er our wide and goodly land,
Crown the labors of each hand:
Let thy sure protection be
O'er our commerce on the sea;
Open, Lord, Thy bounteous hand,
Bless Thy people, bless our Land.

Let, O Lord, our Rulers be

Men that love and honor Thee;
Let the powers by Thee ordained,
Be in righteousness maintained:
In the people's hearts increase
Love of piety and peace:
Thus, united we shall stand,
One wide, free, and happy Land..

God, the Father, let Thy love
Shine upon us from above;
God, the Son, our Saviour, plead,
With Thy Blood for all we need:
God, the Holy Ghost, impart,
Healing power to every heart:
Triune God!-0 hear our plea,
Save us as we trust in Thee.

TOBIAS WITT.

FROM THE GERMAN OF ENGEL, BY THE EDITOR.

Tobias Witt was born in only a tolerably sized town, and had never travelled much among the neighboring villages. Yet he had seen more of the world than many a one, who has spent his fortune in Paris or Naples. He was fond of relating all manner of little stories, which he had gathered here and there from his own experience. These stories had little poetical merit, but were on that account only the more practical; and the most singular thing about them was that two of them always belonged together.

One time a young acquaintance, Mr. Till, praised him on account of his wisdom. Hey! said old Mr. Witt, and smiled: Were I only

ε0 wise?

All the world says so, Mr. Witt. And as I would also like to attain to it

Hey! well, if you desire to become such, that is easy. You must only carefully observe how the fools do.

What! How the fools do?

Yes, Mr. Till !

fools do.

As for example ?

And then you must do otherwise than the

As for example, Mr. Till: There lived here in my youth an old Mathematician-a lean, peevish little man; Mr. Veit was his name. He always walked about muttering to himself. In his whole life he talked with no one. And to look into any one's face, this he did still less. He always looked darkly into himself. What think you now, Mr. Till, that the people called him?

What? a profound man?

Yes, you may be sure-a fool! Ho! thought I to myself-for I did not like the title-we must not do as Mr. Veit. That is not a good way. To look into one's self, that will not do. Look the people boldly in the face! Or to talk with one's self, even-fie! rather talk to others. Now, what think you, Mr. Till, was I right in this?

Well, yes! of course!

I dont know. Not just exactly. For there was another one around there at the same time. This was the dancing-master, Mr. Flink. He looked the whole world right into the face, and talked with every thing that had ears, round and round. And this one, Mr. Till-what think you the people called him?

A pleasant man?

Nearly right! No; they called him also a fool! Ho! thought I again, this is droll! How then must I do, to be regarded wise?

Neither altogether like Mr. Veit, nor yet altogether like Mr. Flink. First, I must look the people nicely and boldly into the face, like the one, and then must look nicely and considerately into myself, like the other. First, I must speak aloud with the people, like Mr. Flink; and then quietly with myself, like Mr. Veit. Do you see, Mr. Till? So I did; and this is the whole secret.

At another time a young merchant, Mr. Flaw, visited Mr. Witt, and complained very much of his misfortune. Hey! what? said Mr. Witt, shaking him: You must seek fortune, Mr. Flaw; you must be intent upon it.

This, I have done for a long time, said Mr. Flaw; but what good does it do? One stroke ever follows upon another! For the future, I will rather lay my hands into my lap, and stay at home : Not exactly-not exactly, Mr. Flaw. Follow fortune you must ever, but only be careful how you hold your face.

What! how I hold my face!

Yes, Mr. Flaw! how you hold your face. I will make the matter plain to you. When my neighbor here on my left was building his house, the whole street in front was lying full of joist, and stone, and rafters. Then our Burgomaster, Mr. Trick, came walking along. He was at that time still a young officer, full of blood. With hands extended away from himself, he ran into the stuff, having held his head so high that his nose was pretty much on a level with the clouds! Bump! There he lay! He broke one leg; and to this day he still limps. What now, do I wish to say by this, Mr. Flaw?

Well, the old doctrine! Thou shalt not hold thy head too high! Right! And yet not altogether this. For not long afterwards there came another walking along that way. This was the village Poet, Mr. Schall. This man must have had verses on family cares in his head. For he glided very thoughtfully along, looking into the earth as if he intended to creep into it. Crash! A rope broke; and a joist came down before him like a thunder clap. The poor creature fell down fainting, became sick, and had to lay in bed for weeks. Consider well now what I mean, Mr Flaw-how must we hold our face?

You mean, nicely at a medium?

Yes, certainly; that we look neither too pertly into the clouds, nor yet too timidly into the earth. If one casts his eyes about calmly up and down, and from one side to the other, one will go nicely forward through the world, and a misfortune will not so easily happen.

Yet once more was Mr. Witt visited by a young beginner, Mr. Wills. This one wished to borrow a little money from him for a speculation. Not much will be made by it, said Mr. Wills; this I see at once; but it will flow of itself into my hands, as I may say. Hence I wish to take it along.

This tone of speaking did not at all suit Mr. Witt. And how much, Mr. Wills, do you think you might need?

Oh, not much! A small sum,

dollars, about.

The little matter of a hundred

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