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tells us that in order to ascend to His Throne, we must first be nailed to the cross. And He has not forgotten to declare, that the path which He broke, is the path for all His followers-by the Cross to the Crown-through death unto Life.

The Other Train that is Coming.

As a train was passing over & New England railroad it struck a broken rail. The brakeman felt the shock. He knew a carriage was off the line, and sprang for a brake. It was his last brave service. The crash came, and he was picked up, a poor, mangled wreck; his skull had been broken. He was heard, however, to utter these words, the last utterances of a faithful, loyal soul,-“Put out the signals for the other train!" Somewhere down the line he knew another train was coming thundering, crashing along, dashing faster, faster, faster, and there was his train on the line! Out with the signals! another train is coming! This was his last injunction.

The other train, that other train, I am saying to myself, the generation that is following us; the boys and girls that are pressing hard after us, coming along faster, faster, faster, just ahead of whom we are, only perhaps to be in their way, a hindrance, an obstacle, and possibly, the occasion of their ruin. What need of care, what need of caution, what need of restless vigilance for their sake, in speech, in act, in look, in gesture! I want nothing to escape me that will be an obstacle in their way. If we are on the track, blocking it, if we are in the way, let us take ourselves out of the way as soon as possible.

"What will you take?" was the question asked an observant boy at table, and referring to the drink he might desire.

"I will take what father takes." The father had received from the waiter a glass of intoxicating drink.

The father heard the boy's remark, set aside his glass, and called for water. He saw the other train coming, and cleared the line for it at once.

I think the saddest of all experiences is the consciousness that an opportunity

for right doing has been lost. It brings a sad look into a man's face to know that he has set an example, bad in itself and hopelessly followed by others.

We know of an empty train that came to a stop on a gradient, the station having been reached. In the absence of an official the train broke loose, and went crashing down the line to meet the steamboat express. Some one chased the runaway train, but could not overtake it. The opportunity for the arrest of the train had gone. There was a collision that night.

Oh, souls on the track! fathers and mothers! your opportunity in behalf of Don't let it slip from you. your boys and girls is to-day- now!

We are not only to have a clear line for the next train, but in every way we are to make and keep that line suitable for the travel of the coming generation. Here comes the work of the Sundayschool teacher, to get the uneasy, rambling feet of childhood over into the roadway of the very best life.

I passed recently a large rabble of boys in a vacant building plot. They were noisy and rough. What more important work, I asked myself, than to labor for that age and class, the generation coming. Through the Sundayschool, the Bible, the church we are to open a sure, steadfast, blessed way for

their feet.

Our opportunity is to-day. Did not Voltaire make the age of five the limit inside which character substantially is settled? At any rate, that limit cannot be set, with safety, very far ahead. I don't want to be so absorbed in the cares and pursuits of my generation as to forget the next. I want to think of and plan for the coming generation

that other train on the track. As the

Lord helps me, I mean to think more and more of the interests of the children and the other train that is coming.-Sunday school World.

QUARREL not rashly with adversities not yet understood, and overlook not the mercies often bound up in them; for we consider not sufficiently the good of evils, nor fairly compute the mercies of Providence in things afflictive at first hand.-Sir Thomas Browne.

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KEY-NOTE.-" WHAT AND IF YE SHALL SEE THE SON OF MAN ASCEND UP WHERE HE WAS BEFORE!"-John vi. 62.

28. And it came to ass, about an eight days after these sayings he took Peter, and John, and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.

29. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.

30. And behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:

31. Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jeru

salem..

32. But Peter and they that were with him

were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.

33. And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias; not knowing what he said.

34. While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.

35. And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

36. And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.

QUESTIONS.

What sad revelation did Jesus make to His disciples? verse 22. What cheering word had

He added? v. 27.

VERSE 28. How long afterwards had Jesus partially revealed some of the glory of His kingdom? To whom? Where? In what were they engaged in the Mount?

29. What change came over His countenance? How was His raiment affected? How do you account for this change about Jesus? What is the scene called?

30. What two characters joined Jesus? What two departments of the Old Dispensation did they represent?

31. Of what did they speak to Jesus? Was this for Jesus' encouragement, too? Did He need such cheering words?

32. By what were Peter and his companions awakened? What did they see?

33. Who were about to depart now? What did Peter then say? Why did he speak thus? Did he fully know what he was saying?

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1. Hasten, Lord, the glorious time
When beneath Messiah's sway,
Every nation, every clime,
Shall the gospel call obey.

2. Mightiest kings His power shall own,
Heathen tribes His name adore.
Satan and his host o'erthrown,
Bound in chains, shall hurt no more.

3. Then shall war and tumults cease,

Then be banished grief and pain; Righteousness, and joy and peace, Undisturbed shall ever reign.

4. Bless we, then, our gracious Lord,
Ever praise His glorious name;
All His mighty acts record,
All His wondrous love proclaim.

1. Thou art the Way, to Thee alone
From sin and death we flee;
And he who would the Father seek,
Must seek Him, Lord, by Thee.

2. Thou art the Truth, Thy word alone
True wisdom can impart:
Thou only canst inform the mind
And purity the heart.

3. Thou art the Life, the rending tomb
Proclaims Thy conquering arm,
And those who put their trust in Thee
Nor death nor hell shall harm.

4. Thou art the Way, the Truth, the Life: Grant us that way to know,

That truth to keep, that life to win,
Whose joys eternal flow.

REMARKS-The sad announcement considered on last Lord's day, that their Master was to enter into His glorious kingdom as Messiah, through suffering, shame and death, shocked His poor disciples. They could not understand it and were discouraged indeed. They needed to be cheered now somewhat. His promise, that some of them should see His kingdom, before their own death, was now to have its partial fulfillment, in the Transfiguration scene.

through death, and knew the victory hat lies beyond it. Their words were consoling and cheering to Jesus, who was a man like unto ourselves.

VERSE 31.-They spake of His decease, which He should accomplish at Jerusalem. That was the subject that filled His soul; that caused His human nature to shrink and start back. They tell Him how death had not harmed them; that it would not harm them; that a glorious victory would be gained over death and the grave through His dying. Thus was He consecrated and armed for His martyrdom by such an embassy.

VERSE 32.-But Peter and his companions, though heavy with sleep for a time, found it impossible to sleep on, amid such an effulgence. Roused by the surrounding splendors, they gazed awe-struck around, at the grand surroundings, at the glory-arrayed Master, and at the two angelic forms of the heavenly visitors. How long they silently gazed and listened we know not.

VERSE 28.-About an eight days, or but six, as we do, or do not count the first and last in (Matth. xvii. 1-13) after the incidents of the former lesson had occurred. Jesus let the fact of His violent death and of His resurrection sink into the souls of His disciples for this period of time. Doubtless, He taught them many particulars which are not recorded. Then He took three of them, His best disciplined ones-Peter, and John, and James-with Him apart from the other nine. Up into a mountain. We are not told what mountain this was. It was for a long time supposed to be Mount Tabor. But because it is not found adapted to such a scene as was to transpire, being too public and far removed from Cæsarea Philippi, from which place they did not depart, according to St. Mark (ch. viii. 30) -it is now believed to have been one of the peaks of Mt. Hermon. To pray was perhaps to attend to their nightly devotions, which pious Jews did not neglect. But Jesus continued in prayer, in order to strengthen Himself against the fear-nacles, or booths, for the Master and ful prospect of humiliation and dying such a death.

VERSE 29. And as He prayed, on, as well as more and more fervently, the fashion, or features, of His countenance, from the divinity shining through the veiling flesh, was altered; yea, even His garments glittered like the snow, set aglow with the light of the sun shining upon it.

VERSE 33. Soon, however, Moses and Elias had done their mission and were about to return. Then Peter, the ever-ready spokesman, hardly knowing what he was saying, tried to induce the saintly men to remain, to prolong the glorious scene. It is good for us to be here. He liked it better than a wandering life, and his gloomy thoughts of his Master's death had faded away into bright delight. He suggests the gathering of branches, to build three taber

His visitors-never thinking of himself and his companions.

VERSES 34-5.-Then came the testimony from heaven, from the Father, to that of Moses and Elias, for Jesus' sake, as well as for the cheering of the disciples. The cloud was a symbol of God's presence, as He had come to Mount Sinai-only this time it was a bright cloud. The voice from out of it settled VERSE 30.-Moses and Elias, the all doubts-This is my beloved Son. JeFounder and the Defender of the Old sus knew that His Father endorsed His Religion the Law-giver and the course and would sustain Him to the Prophet--were with Jesus. Their pres- end. Hear Him. This was for the ence was to teach, that the Law and the disciples, and all who should follow them Prophets had now done their work, and in the faith. The impression which the that a New Dispensation was now to set whole scene made on Peter was never in-the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They forgotten by him. Almost a generation talked with Him. They had passed afterwards, when he wrote his Second

Epistle (chap. i. 16-18), the remembrance of this night-scene was as bright as ever. See Matth. xvii. vs. 6-7. Also, Mark's account (chap. ix. 1-10). Sore afraid, the three fell on their faces, because they felt that they were in the presence of God and the heavenly world. Jesus could only comfort them.

VERSE 36.-We know not what all passed between Jesus and the three after they came down the mountain. They kept it close, even from the other Nine. What could this say? They were themselves too much amazed; and the rest were little prepared to receive the report. So Jesus told them to tell the vision to no man. Jesus had now been especially endowed with fresh strength to enter into conflict with the powers of darkness. And the disciples had realized the promise He had made to them -verse 27. In this light they walked through the night of Calvary, until the full blaze of the Resurrection-morn. Neither let us despond at the thought of death. If Moses and Elias survived the ordeal, though Jesus had not yet brought Life and Immortality to light, how much more may not we, since Jesus opened the tomb and conquered

death 1 Cor. xv. 55-6.

The Invitation.

(From the German of Albert Knapp.)

BY REV. J. H. DUBBS, D. D.

A pious peasant, in the church, 'tis said,
On Easter Monday heard the lesson read,
Where John relates how, standing on the shore,
The Lord said, "Children, have ye any meat?"
It was enough-the man could hear no more;
In humble sympathy he kept his seat,
And prayed in silence: "Blessed Saviour mine!
If Thou art hungry, come to me and dine.
"Next Sunday, Lord, be Thou my welcome

guest,

And at my humble table take Thy rest.
Of all Thy servants, sure, I am the least;
I cannot spread for Thee a royal feast;
But since, of old time, sinners ate with Thee,
I know Thou wilt not turn away from me!"

The man went home; nor did he cease to pray
The self-same words, with every opening day.
On Saturday, he could no longer rest:
"Wife !" said he, "of your pullets take the best,
Prepare it well, let all be neat and clean,
Adorn the room with posies and with green;

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Their mother said, "Come, father, please tell me!

Say, hast thou asked a nobleman to thee?"
The father smiled in silence, but delight
Shone in his features, like a ray of light.
On Sunday, when the chimes began to play,
To church the household took its usual way;
O, blessed Saviour, come and visit me!
But still the good old man prayed silently!
Thou, Lord, hast hungered-O, do not decline
My invitation-Come to me and dine!"

Then, when the solemn services were past,
Back to her hearth the good wife hastened fast:
And on the table soon they smoking stood.
The fowl was done, the soup was rich and good,
The clock struck twelve-she heard it with dis-

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Mother," he said, "and all the children, see! The greatest of all guests has come to me. A week ago I asked the Lord to dine; I knew full well that He would not decline. In this poor man, according to His word, Behold our Saviour, Jessus Christ, the Lord!"

The Guardian.

VOL. XXXII.

Editorial Notes.

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wind from the west and south, obey, and leave their graves behind to breathe AFTER a long dreary winter comes the air of the sweet heavens. Up and the reviving life of Spring. The white up they come, till the year is glorious shroud of snow enfolding the earth is with the rose and the lily, till the trees exchanged for the green and gay garb are not only clothed upon with new of vegetable life. Thus too the dark garments of loveliest green, but the fruit and dreary winter of death and the tree bringeth forth its fruit and the litgrave is succeeded by the "everlasting tle children of men are made glad with spring" of heaven. The perishable apples and cherries and hazel-nuts. The white grave clothes are succeeded by earth laughs out in green and gold. the everlasting white robe of the re- The sky shares in the grand resurrecdeemed in glory. The grassy mound tion. The garments of its mourning, and blooming flowers which mourning wherewith it made men sad, its clouds friends plant and nurse over the dust of the sainted dead, are exchanged for the never-withering flowers of the paradise of God, where

"Sweet fields beyond the swelling flood Stand dressed in living green."

of snow and hail and stormy vapors, are swept away, have sunk indeed to the earth, and are now humbly feeding the roots of the flowers whose dead stalks they beat upon all the winter long. Instead, the sky has put on the garments of praise. Her blue, colored after the sapphire floor, on which stands Thus when the corruptible shall put the throne of Him who is the Resurrecon incorruption, and the mortal shall tion and the life, is dashed and glorified put on immortality, death with all its with the pure white of sailing clouds, attendant evils shall be swallowed up and at morning and evening prayer, in victory. The resurrection of Christ, puts on colors in which the human indeed, all resurrection, is a great mys- heart drowns itself with delight-green, tery. Every spring-tide is an Easter and gold, and purple, and rose. Is not sermon, a far better one than human this whole world a monument of the learning can compose or preach. Resurrection?"

Look how the world revives when the sun draws near enough in the spring to woo the life in it once more out of its grave. See how the pale, meek, snow drops come up with their bowed heads, as if full of the memory of the fierce winds they encountered last spring, and yet ready in the strength of their weakness, to encounter them again. Up comes the crocus, bringing its gold safe from the dark of its colorless grave into the light of its present gold. Primroses, and anemones, and blue-bells, and a thousand other children of the spring, hear the resurrection trumpet of the

THE ancient Greeks used one and the same word-Psyche-to designate the soul and a butterfly; the former symbolized the latter in its transformation from a mortal to an immortal state. The homely creeping worm, which we dislike to touch or handle, at a certain period of its life-perhaps old and sick with age-spins certain threads and weaves its own shroud, coffin, and grave, all in one structure. Thus it prepares for its own resurrection. "Patiently it spins its strength, but not its life away, folds itself up decently, that its body may rest in quiet till the new body is

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