This Magazine is published on the 24th of the previous month, or on the 25th when the 24th falls on a Sunday. Local Booksellers should deliver it before the 1st of the month. for 30 words, and Id. for each additional word, PRIVATE MEDICAL HOME, 9, Lupus Street, St. George's Square, South Belgravia, for Ladies and Children (Medical, Surgical, and Confinement Cases). For terms apply to Lady Superintendent. Probationers taken as vacancies occur; also Ladies to be trained in Dispensing, Lectures twice a week. The Trustees of Free Bed Fund for Ladies in reduced circumstances earnestly solicit further Contributions. LADY receives 12 Pupils, who have A the advantage of a superior educa tion with careful Christian training and home comforts. High-class Professors Principal, 12, Eaton Place, attend. Brighton. SOUTH-EASTERN COLLEGE, RAMSGATE, under the auspices of the Clerical and Lay Alliance. PRESIDENT-The Very Rev. the DEAN OF CANTERBURY. HEAD MASTER-The Rev. E. D'AUQUIER, M.A., Clare College, Cambridge, one of the Examiners to the Irish Board of Intermediate Education; assisted by a large staff of Assistant Masters. The College is a public school intended to afford a sound education based on the Protestant and Evangelical principles of the Church of England. The school year is divided into three Terms; each Term consists of about thirteen weeks. The fees for board and tuition are from forty-two to fifty guineas per annum. The first wing of the new buildings has lately been opened, and contains every modern improvement. Exhibitions and Scholarships of £10 and £15 are annually thrown open for competition. The pupils are prepared for the Oxford and Cambridge Local Examinations, the London matriculation, preliminary law and medical, the Army, and the Universities. For further information, apply to the Head Master. SOUTH-EASTERN COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL, under the immediate supervision of the Rev. E. D'AUQUIER, M.A., and the Rev. J. B. WHITING, M.A. Boys from 7 to 10 years of age prepared for the College or other Public Schools. The main features are identical with those of the S. E. College. Head Master-R. E. FISKE, M.A., Oxon. SEA-SIDE EDUCATION.-High Class School for Girls. Westwood, South-Eastern Road, Ramsgate. Principals, Mrs. Hume and Miss Sutcliffe. Owing to increase of numbers, the Principals have removed to much larger premises, situate in the South-Eastern Road, which have been built by them and fitted with every modern convenience for a School. Large playground and tennis courts. Resident English and Foreign Governesses and Visiting Masters. Pupils prepared for the Public Examinations. Lessons in Cooking, Riding, and Swimming. Parlour boarders received after the summer vacation. References kindly allowed to the Rev. J. B. Whiting, M.A., St. Luke's; and the Rev. E. D'Auquier, M.A., Head Master of the South-Eastern College, Ramsgate; also to parents of pupils. IMPORTANT WORK ON CHRISTIAN CONSECRATED LIFE. RECREATION: OR, THE CHRISTIAN'S LEISURE TIME. By the Rev. ERNEST BOYS, M.A., Editor of "Christian Progress." CONTENTS.-1. Introduction; 2. The Need of Recreation; 3. Sanctified Judgment: 4. Doubtful Things; 5. "The Spirit in which we do it ;" 6. Influence upon others; 7. Tests for Recreation; 8. Submission to Authority; 9. Restraining Young People's Amusements: 10 Gaining influence for God; 11. Recreations open to Christians. MAY BE ORDERED OF ALL Booksellers. PUBLISHED BY NISBET & Co., 21, BERNERS STREET, LONDON, W. CHRISTIAN PROGRESS. VOL. X.] NOVEMBER, 1885. [No. 11. "He shall Direct.” By Helen Moore. ONE of the many helpful verses in the Word of God, which the christian worker ponders and loves, is the following, "In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." We should spend many a long hour wondering and doubting what course to pursue, or what decision to make, if we could not take every difficult matter to our God, and rely on His promised guidance. But He has so ordered our lives for us, that we need this wonderful help in every single step of our journey; not only the "right path" is His leading, but each little step of that path; and so we gladly read, "The Lord directeth. his steps," and again, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord." It is just this divine ordering which makes the Christian feel so safe and happy in his Heavenly Father's hands. If we undertook to gather up all the verses our Bible contains respecting our safety in leaving ourselves to His guidance, while seeking His help and trusting Him for the fulfilment of His promises, we should find we had no loophole left for doubting or wondering whether, after all, we had really taken the right way: because, taking the difficulty to God, trusting to His Word, we must be in the right, for His promises are always sure. We too often make our own difficulties, and hug our unworthy doubts, out of the faithlessness of our own hearts. How many a verse on this subject is beautifully coupled with "trust." "Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass." "Whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.” "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not to thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths," etc. Yet how very frequently are we anxious and worried, as some untried, unknown stretch of road lies befores us, and we wonder, in our wearying perplexity, whether to turn this way or that. No doubt we go and ask our Father's guidance to enable us to make a right decision; but how many there are who remain just as unsatisfied even then: they say, "Suppose it were not the Lord's leading after all," "Perhaps what I took to be His way was really my own inclination, leading me to take that step," or "I cannot see His light on the path now I have taken this turning, I greatly fear I have gone wrong!" Is not this too often the case? are not many of us fully conscious of just such anxious surmises? But they are wrong, wrong. Our Lord never meant us so to dishonour Him. He has given us the clearest, plainest directions, and once having committed our way to Him, He never means us to go on carrying a great burden of doubt and care on our tired shoulders ! The Christmas Post. CHRISTMAS is casting shadows beforehand in the shape of preparations, varied and manifold, for the relief of the sick and poor. Let us, for our encouragement in one department-which we may call the postal department of the Christmas work-register some rays of sunlight which last year Christmas left behind. THE CHRISTMAS POST. 203 Many hearts and hands were extended in the planning and organization of Christmas Letter distributions far and near; for, now in its fourteenth year, the Christmas Letter Mission has distributors in various lands. At home, by ministers and district workers, Sunday School and Bible Class teachers, visitors to homes and hospitals, the illustrated missives were scattered; soldiers, also, and sailors, postmen and policemen, tram and omnibus men, navvies and miners, welcomed the Christmas post, to say nothing of the sick in hospitals and in sick rooms, for whom the scheme had its first organization. Abroad, our soldiers in Egypt employed on lonely stations, and the sick and suffering in America, India, and other lands, shared in the distributions; and many a grateful record tells of hopes restored and blessings received through this simple ministration. Two such are here presented with the hope of enlisting new friends and co-operators in this branch of the Master's work. ENGLAND-The following from a missionary to omnibus men was received last winter :: REGENT CIRCUS. "To-day, while labouring among the drivers, conductors, timekeepers, and policemen, who are to be met with at the above-named place, and in course of conversation with a conductor of a light green omnibus running between Burdett Road, East of London, and Notting Hill, West End, he said, Mr. G., do you remember the Christmas letter you gave me last year?' I said, 'I remember it well.' He said, 'I have taken great care of it, for I have had the card framed; it has often proved a very great comfort to me after I have done my day's work (which is about sixteen hours per day). When I enter my room I look at it and read the various texts, and then say my prayers before going to bed, and thank God for His goodness to me during |