own you as His in the presence of His Father and of His holy angels.

"Early set forth on thine eternal race;

The ascent is steep and craggy thou must climb;
God at all times has promised sinners GRACE

If they repent;—but He ne'er promised TIME.

"Cheat not thyself, as most, who then prepare

For death, when life is almost turned to fume;
One thief was saved, then no man need despair,
And but one thief, that no one might presume."

A BIRTHDAY PRAYER FOR YOUTH.

"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."-Ps. xc. 12.

GOD hath into existence brought,
And made my life His care;
Let birthdays waken solemn thought,
And lead to earnest prayer.

The years of childhood now are passed,

And the world's wildering maze

I have to tread, oh let me haste

Unto a throne of grace!

Lord, teach me o'er my sins to weep,
Then view the Lamb of God;

And kindly guide my youthful feet
In wisdom's pleasant road.

Oh clothe me with humility,
Increase my faith and love;
Saviour, on earth I'd follow Thee,
And reign with Thee above.

The future I to Thee commit,
Oh guide me with Thine eye;
My bliss be at Thy feet to sit,
Then 'twill be gain to die.

THE FOOLISH BARGAIN.

"Esau for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.”—
HEB. xii. 16.

ESAU parted with a large future blessing for a small present gratification. His language was, "What good shall this birthright do me? I shall soon die; why should I care about my posterity? Let me look out for myself, and enjoy myself now."

For thus acting the Holy Spirit calls him " a profane person." Alas, how many similar bargains are being constantly made! The world's markets are ever open, and Satan's constant aim is to induce immortal beings to prefer the interests of time to those of eternity, the gratification of the senses to the possession of God's promises.

To obtain a complete view of Esau's case, Genesis xxv. 27-34 should be read carefully. Methinks some persons after reading it will be ready to say, "Was it not very unkind in Jacob? did he act right in this affair?" I answer, this does not so much concern us. We are ever prone to go from the main point which God sets before us, asking how can this or the other point be reconciled, instead of diligently inquiring, what does it teach me, what good can I get therefrom? Many, for instance, puzzle themselves concerning the elder brother in the parable, instead of admiring the father's tenderness, and imitating the prodigal's repentance. We do not apologise for Jacob-far from that; but we are anxious you should not lose the lessons God intends to teach you by Esau.

The birthright was a divine gift. It included

authority (Gen. iv. 7, xlix. 3), a double portion (Deut. xxi. 17), a special blessing (Gen. xxvii. 4), and the priesthood (Num. viii. 16, 17). Esau parted with all this, more especially the prospective advantages for his family, for a mere trifle-a mess of pottage. In so doing he was said to despise it. For thus acting he lost the blessing. "For ye know that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears" (Heb. xii. 17). That is, he found no place of repentance in Isaac's mind. He did repent himself, but he could not alter what had been done.

One thought I would wish particularly to impress upon the young, which is, that sins which have entailed much misery, involved much loss, and brought down fearful judgments, have appeared to some to be very little. It seemed but a small act for Eve to pluck fruit from a tree, for Uzza to touch the ark, for Achan to secrete a small portion of the spoil of a city, for Saul to spare the Amalekites, but God did not think so. Sins committed against plain commands, com

mands which are intended to be tests of character, are very aggravated.

But who are in danger of imitating Esau now? There is a danger, and to keep from it is the design of the apostle in introducing this sad case. Look into the world; how many are selling the pleasures of a happy home, all dear domestic joys and family comforts, for sensual gratification, and the intoxicating draught! Look round the Church; how many who seemed "not far from the kingdom of God," sacrifice all their religious connections for some earthly alliance! How many young professors have quenched convictions, seared their consciences, and turned their backs upon religion, for some worldly advantage!

Look in the Church. It is here the apostle directs our attention. He evidently introduces Esau to illustrate what he had said concerning "failing of the grace of God." The allusion is to a person starting in a race, and giving it up without attempting to reach the goal; turning aside to some other pursuit, and thereby proving that they were never right-hearted (Heb. iv. 1). Such became roots of bitterness in the Church (Deut. xxix.