to perfect myself in what remains of geometry; and it is well you have called it to my mind, for I have to row myself across the river to get my book. The burden of the day is in great part unknown to me. I can, however, foresee something of it in these severe studies, added to the knowledge that my companions will be keeping it as a holiday. The lesson of the day, so far as not included in the geometry aforesaid, cannot be foreseen. But I shall be more on the watch for it, in consequence of your reminding."

"My son," said the old man, "it is impossible for me to tell you the advantage I have devived from the habit of looking forward every morning, and backward every evening, upon the passing day with these three little words on my mind: THE DUTY, THE BURDEN, THE LESSON.”— S. S. Journal.

THE HOLY BIBLE.

"Most wond'rous Book! bright candle of the Lord!
Star of eternity! the only star

By which the bark of man can navigate

The sea of life, and gain the coast of bliss.
This is the brightest star which rose on time,
And on its dark and troubled billows, still
As generation, drifting swiftly by,
Succeeded generation, threw a ray

Of heaven's own light, and to the hills of God,
The everlasting hills, pointed the sinner's eye :
By prophets, seers, and priests, and sacred bards,
Evangelists, apostles, men inspired,

And by the Holy Ghost anointed, set
Apart, and consecrated to declare

To earth, the counsels of the Eternal One."

CONCERNING this Book, an old author says,-“ A nation must be truly blessed if it were governed by no other laws than those of this blessed Book; it is so complete a system that nothing can be added to it or taken from it; it contains everything needful to be known or done; it affords a copy for a king, and a rule for a subject; it gives instruction and counsel to a senate; authority and direction for a magistrate; it cautions a witness, requires an impartial verdict

of a jury, and furnishes the judge with his sentence; it sets the husband as lord of the household, and the wife as mistress of the table; tells him how to rule, and her how to manage. It entails honour to parents, and enjoins obedience to children; it prescribes and limits the sway of the sovereign, the rule of the ruler, and the authority of the master; commands the subjects to honour, and the servants to obey, and promises the blessing and protection of its author to all that walk by its rules. It gives directions for weddings and for burials; it promises food and raiment, and limits the use of both; it points out a faithful and an eternal Guardian to the departing husband and father-tells him with whom to leave his fatherless children, and in whom his widow is to trust; and promises a father to the former, and husband to the latter. It teaches a man how to set his house in order, and how to make his will: it appoints a dowry for the wife, entails the right of the firstborn, and shows how the younger branches shall be left. It defends the right of all, and reveals vengeance to every defrauder, over-reacher, and oppressor. It is the first Book, the best Book, and the oldest Book in all the world. It contains the choicest matter, gives the best instruction, and affords the greatest pleasure and satisfaction that ever was revealed. It contains the best laws and profoundest mysteries that ever were penned; it brings the best tidings, and affords the best of comfort to the enquiring and disconsolate; it exhibits life and immortality, and shows the way to everlasting glory; it is a brief recital of all that is past, and a certain prediction of all that is to come; it settles all matters in debate, resolves all doubts, and eases the mind and conscience of all their scruples; it reveals the only living and true God, shows the way to him, and sets aside all other gods, describes the vanity of them, and of all that trust in them. In short, it is a Book of laws to show right and wrong—a book of wisdom, that condemns all folly, and makes the foolish wise-a book of truth that detects all lies, and confutes all errors-and a Book of Life that shows the way from everlasting death. It is the most compendious Book in all the world-the most authentic and the most entertaining history that ever was published; it contains the most early

antiquities, strange events, wonderful occurrences, heroic deeds, and unparalleled wars. It describes the celestial, terrestrial, and infernal worlds; the origin of the angelic myriads, human tribes, and infernal legions. It will instruct the most accomplished mechanic, and the profoundest artist; it will teach the best rhetorician, and exercise every power of the most skilful arithmetician; puzzle the wisest anatomist, and exercise the nicest critic. It corrects the vain philosopher, and guides the wise astronomer; it exposes the subtle sophist, and makes diviners mad. It is a complete code of laws-a perfect book of divinity-an unequalled narrative-a book of lives, a book of travels, and a book of voyages. It is the best covenant that ever was agreed upon, the best deed that ever was sealed, the best evidence that ever was produced, the best will that ever was made, and the best testament that ever was signed. To understand it is to be wise indeed; to be ignorant of it. is to be destitute of wisdom. It is the king's best copy, the magistrate's best rule, the housewife's best guide, the servant's best directory, and the young man's best companion. It is the school-boy's spelling-book, and the learned man's masterpiece; it is the ignorant man's dictionary, and the wise man's directory. It affords knowledge of witty inventions for the ingenious, and dark sayings for the grave; and it is its own interpreter. It encourages the wise, the warrior, the racer, the overcomer, and promises an eternal reward to the conqueror. And that which crowns all is, that the AUTHOR who is the KING ETERNAL, and only wise GOD, is without partiality, and without hypocrisy, for 'in Him is no variableness nor shadow of turning.'"

"Within this awful volume lies,

The mystery of mysteries:
Happiest they of human race,
To whom their God has given grace,

"To read, to fear, to hope, to pray,

To lift the latch, to force the way;
But better had they ne'er been born

Who read to doubt, or read to scorn."

Who would not like to read, and to become intimately

acquainted with such a precious treasure? We beseech you peruse this Sacred Book daily, study it diligently and prayerfully, for it is eminently The Book containing words that can make you wise unto salvavation. May each of you be able to say

"Holy Bible! Book divine!

Precious treasure-thou art mine;
Mine thou art, to guide my feet;
Mine, to judge-condemn-acquit ;
Mine, to comfort in distress;
Mine, to lead to promises;

Mine, to warn of sinners' doom;
Mine, to show that doom to shun;

Mine, to show the living faith;
Mine, to triumph over death;
Mine, to tell of joys to come;
Mine, to bring an earnest home;
Mine, to point me on the road;
Mine, to lead my heart to God.
O, Holy Bible! Book divine!

Precious Treasure-thou art mine!"

St. Helen's, Auckland.

EFFICACY OF PRAYER.

J. S.

A GIRL of twelve years of age, in one of the Sundayschools of Massachusetts, was known for some time to be very serious and anxious that her teacher should converse with her about her soul. At length, a beam of joy lighted up her countenance, and she said to her superintendent, "O, how I love my Saviour!" One Sabbath, soon afterwards, she came to him, at the close of the school, and as he took her by the hand, she burst into tears. "Elizabeth," said he, “do you love the Saviour now?" "Yes," said she, "but I have been tempted this week. Something seemed to say I was not a Christian, and it made me very unhappy." "What did you do then ?"

"I prayed that I might be delivered from temptation, and then I felt happy."

She gave satisfactory evidence of being a child of God. Her exercise of mind and her prayer were like those of

mature Christians.

GOOD FOR EVIL.

A VERY little girl, who often read her Bible, gave proof that she understood her obligation to obey its precepts. One day, she came to her mother, much pleased, to show her some fruit which had been given her. The mother said the friend was very kind in having given her so much. "Yes," said the child, "very indeed: and she gave me more than this, but I have given some away." The mother inquired to whom she had given some; when she answered, "To a girl who pushes me off the path, and makes faces at me." On being asked why she had given to her, she replied, "Because I thought it would make her know that I wish to be kind to her, and she will not, perhaps, be rude and unkind to me again." How admirably did she thus obey the command to "overcome evil with good!"

Poynton.

POETRY.

"THE LORD HE IS GOD."

THE Lord is God, and He alone}
Can take away my sins;
He sits upon his heavenly throne,
And there for ever reigns.

The Lord is God, Him will I serve
While in this vale of tears,
That I with angels may rejoice
Whene'er my Lord appears.

The Lord is God, Him will I love,
Because He first loved me;

And died, my precious soul to save
From endless misery.

The Lord is God, I'll speak his praise
While here on earth below;

And when in heaven I'll sing his grace
Where endless blessings flow.

There I shall see my Saviour's face,
And ever like him be,

And join with angels in His praise,

To all eternity.

A CHILD.