to keep the path on which we stood through five fields then cross a lane and pass over a plank, and follow the path through three fields more. Then we should be, our friendly helper said, on the high road and near to the town. We followed implicitly the plain direction, taking care not to deviate from that narrow path which we could now and again only barely discern. We had nothing to go by but the man's word, and we met no other person all the way. After awhile a reflection in the sky indicated that we were nearing a large town, and confirmed our faith in our director, and we walked on to find his word fulfilled.

As I thought about this little adventure, it appeared to illustrate in several particulars the journey of life. How often we too hastily assume we know our way, or take for granted that a would-be guide has the qualification he affects to possess. Then how prone we are to choose what is supposed to be the easier path without due consideration, only too ready to regard that as best which we think will cost us the least effort. Are there not critical times also in our lives when the way seems altogether blocked up, and the soul, bewildered and lost, can do no more than cry out in the gloom and darkness, if peradventure some unknown helper may be at hand? It is desperation, rather than faith which speaks, but that is better than no faith at all. And there comes an answer from One whose face we cannot see, whose form we only dimly discern, but whose voice is distinct in tone, and explicit in the directions it gives. "You are in the wrong way, come where I am; take this narrow path, and keep resolutely to it, and you will presently reach the home you desire." Is it not in this strain Christ speaks? "Repent ye."1 "Come unto me."2 "Narrow is the way which leadeth unto life."3 "No man....looking back is fit for the kingdom of God."4 We are to believe Him, and to prove we do so by obeying His directions. There is no other word than His to go by, and we need no other. It is sometimes dificult to see the narrow path marked for us to 1 Mark i. 15. 2 Matt. xi. 28.

8 Matt. vii. 14.

4 Luke ix. 62.

tread, and watchfulness is as necessary as prayer. Obedience to this Guide, however, has never been regretted by any one, and the traveller's heart has often been gladdened as some gentle sign from heaven has assured it that the celestial city could not be far away. Troubled and perplexed, and struggling vainly in the darkness, you may anxiously ask: "How can we know the way?" Remember our Guide not only shows it, but Himself is it. "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me."1

"Venture on Him, venture wholly,

Let no other trust intrude;

None but Jesus

Can do helpless sinners good."

E. C. P.

The Pears Go Round.

The years go round,

Men live and die,
The nations fret,

The hours fly.
The sinner sins,

He fears no more,
And lo! the Judge

Stands at the door.
Yet sleep, my child,

Sleep deep and calm,
The Shepherd strong
Will keep His lamb.
The Saviour's love

Is wise and sure,
His care and power,

Will still endure.

W.

T was a beautiful evening in May when an old woman called at our meeting-house, to inquire if a service would be held that evening. She said she was sorry" when told that the next service would be held on the following Friday. "I like to come, sir," she said, "though I am ninety years old." "A great

66

age,' e," I remarked. "Yes," she answered; "but I don't care how soon God calls me; I'm tired of life." She was reminded of God's great goodness in the past, when she looked at me sternly and said: "I've been very good to Him. I've led a quiet, good life." "Is it possible," I said, you have lived ninety years and have not yet learned that you are a sinner? Have you not often heard these words from the Bible: 'For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.' 'There is none righteous; no, not one.' 'If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.' 'If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.' Has not your conscience," I asked, “risen in judgment against you for misspent Sabbaths, for idle words, for depraved thoughts and evil deeds? Do you really think you can stand in the presence of a holy God and say you have been very good to Him? 'For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.' All God's servants know this; and David wrote: 'Thou hast set our iniquities before Thee; our secret sins in the light of Thy countenance.' My poor friend, you have much need to fall on your knees before Him and to cry, 'unclean, unclean!' Your earnest prayer should be, 'God be merciful to me a sinner!" She still clung to her self-righteousness in spite of all that I said.

Are you who read these lines in a similar state of mind? Are you among the self-righteous? Can you conscientiously say you have not broken God's laws? No. Well, then, you are a sinner and need a Saviour, and Jesus is just the Saviour you need. He said: "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and

are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." We have not been good to God; but He has been, and is always good to us. We see His goodness in all creation; but more especially in the atoning work of Jesus Christ. "But God commendeth His love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." God's love is so great towards us that the most wicked man or woman that will come to Him through Christ, and ask for pardon, will be heard and blessed. "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered." Come then to Jesus. "Now is the accepted time."

Picture of Spiritual Childhood.

MY

Y soul, if thou would'st only be
A child on earth continually,
Then God and Paradise e'en here
To thee I know would soon appear.
A little child is meek and still;
And how submissive is its will !
It taketh what its mother gives,
Ne'er grieves, but sweetly on it lives.
When taken up, laid down again,
When free or bound, it must remain;
Whate'er its mother doth is best;
It smileth, and content doth rest.
If men of it be negligent,
'Tis friendly, patient, innocent;
Contempt can ne'er excite its ire;
To glory ne'er doth it aspire.

A child can ne'er in gold or treasure,
Or in the pomp of words, take pleasure;
'Tis careless what its lot may be :

A life of wealth or poverty!

Men's favour costs it ne'er a thought;
For king or prince it careth nought;
And yet more wonderful than all,
A child's so weak and poor and small.

A child hath nothing to conceal ;
Its eyes its inmost thoughts reveal;
It acteth in simplicity,—

From evil thoughts of others free!

With thought profound it doth not tire
Its mind, nor for deep things inquire;
It liveth in the present free
And glad, in sweet simplicity.

A child, by sorrow ne'er distress'd,
Lies shelter'd in its mother's breast;
Let happen here whatever will,
Of self it thinks but little still.

A child alone can never stay,
Much less can wander far away;
It clingeth to its mother fast,
Itself doth on her guidance cast.
A child from anxious thought
'Tis rais'd and borne unmurm'ringly;
Thinks not that evil may befal,-
'Tis full of confidence in all !

What others think and others do,

free;

It knows not, nor doth care to know;
Whate'er before its eyes is done,
In innocence it looketh on.

The work it ever loveth best

Is lying on its mother's breast;

Is ever to behold her face,

And fold her in a fond embrace.

Its mother's breast it treasures morc
Than all earth's pleasures, all its power;
Here it hath fulness-sleeping here
All else forgetteth far and near.

Oh, happy childhood, pure and free,

What lessons have I learned from thee!

Who is like thee is truly wise,

And worthy in his Maker's eyes.

Oh, childhood dear to God's own heart!
Christ's Spirit only can impart ;

How longs my inmost soul for thee!
O Christ! be Thou now formed in me.

O Jesus! let me e'en belov

In child-like purity thus grow!
Thus God and Paradise e'en here
To me I know would soon appear.

GERARD TERSTEEGEN,