they fell on their knees together, it was the first time in their lives; and they prayed a prayer, with few words, but with many tears. It was the publican's prayer—“ God be merciful to us, sinners!" And He who has promised that "if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven," was in the midst of them. He heard their petition, and he helped them.

The happy day had arrived when the little boy would no longer have to pray alone, or the grandfather have to grieve. Father and mother now began to bend their knees together before the Lord, and to beseech his mercy and forgiveness, to ask for a new heart, and for grace to dedicate themselves and their child entirely to him.

THE TRIUMPH OF ENVY.

HARD times afford, in various ways, a good test for character. The man who has been sailing upon the high tide of prosperity does not know how much he has set his heart upon his gains, until the calamity comes which threatens to sweep them away; his new circumstances reveal to him facts of which he was in ignorance in regard to himself. In many cases, we doubt not, the lessons thus learned will be permanent and salutary. The teachings of Providence concur with those of Scripture in the prohibition. "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world."

Hard times, however, not frequently develop an opposite phase of character. What is a season of calamity and mortification to some, is the time of rejoicing for others. Those who were just now so prosperous, have not pursued their sunny career unobserved. Their success has turned many eyes upon them. Less favoured competitors for wealth have regarded with anxious, painful emotions, the increasing distance which every new advance of the prosperous man placed between them. With ill-concealed jealousy they have witnessed his business expanding, his possessions increased, his luxuries multiplied, his name

becoming more and more conspicuous. They are, perhaps, hardly conscious themselves how earnestly they desire that the tide which has swept him on so buoyantly should turn against him. At length the crisis comes. One and another is carried away by the torrent of commercial disaster. Each week, nay, each day, adds to the number whose names are heralded as bankrupt. Finally, he hears that his rich and successful competitor has been involved in the ruin. To the friend who brings this intelligence he expresses regret, says many good things of Mr. Thrive, now that he has no longer reason to be jealous of him, and talks about what a calamity his failure will be to the whole community. Now, we will not suppose Mr. Little-soul to be so ignorant of what is stirring within him, as that he can really persuade himself that he is grieved by his neighbour's misfortunes. Grieved! Not he. A little jubilee has been going on in his heart. His countenance unconsciously brightened, and his eye was lustrous with real gratification, when he heard the words, "Mr. Thrive has failed." Had he been alone, he might have leaped for gladness. He is so full of it that he cannot keep the news to himself. He goes forthwith to several neighbouring counting-houses, and scarcely finishes his " Good-morning!" before he begins, with rueful countenance, all the more so because assumed, 66 Have you heard the bad news? Thrive has failed!" He announces it to his wife and children when he goes to dinner, and describes to the latter, minutely where Mr. Thrive lived, and how he lived, that they may know just who it is that has come down from his eminence. It is the uppermost topic when visitors come in; and Little-soul ever thinks of it, and feels several degrees more comfortable as he sees his unfortunate neighbours walk up the church-aisle on the Sabbath. In fact, Little-soul is a happier man for some days. In due time, when the period for expressing grief has elapsed, he begins to speak out what was in him. He had always thought Thrive a fast man,-too venturesome, too reckless, too ambitious to do a big business and get a great name; he could have been as rich himself, if he had been willing to play the same game; he wonders how

Thrive will manage to lay aside all his greatness, and come down to be like other poor people; how Mrs. Thrive will like laying aside her brocades, laces, velvets, fine furniture, &c.; and how the little Thrives will now treat other people's children at school. He imagines that they will find that times have changed.

DO YOU WANT A FRIEND?

1. Know for one thing, that I call upon you to consider solemnly whether Christ is your Friend, and you are his.

There are thousands on thousands, I grieve to say, who are not Christ's friends. Baptised in his name, outward members of his church, attendants on his means of grace, -all this they are, no doubt. But they are not Christ's .friends. Do they hate the sins which Jesus died to put away? No. Do they love the Saviour who came into the world to save them? No. Do they delight in the word of reconciliation? No. Do they care for the souls which were so precious in his sight? No. Do they try to speak with the Friend of sinners in prayer? No. Do they seek close fellowship with him? No. Oh, reader, is this your case? How is it with you? Are you or are you not one of Christ's friends?

2. Know, in the next place, that if you are not one of Christ's friends, you are a poor miserable man.

I write this down deliberately. I do not say it without thought. I say, that if Christ be not your friend, you are a poor, miserable man.

You are in the midst of a failing, sorrowful world, and you have no real source of comfort or refuge for a time of need. You are a dying creature, and you are not ready to die. You have sins, and they are not forgiven. You are going to be judged, and you are not prepared to meet God. You might be, but you refuse to use the one only Mediator and Advocate. You love the world better than Christ. You refuse the great Friend of sinners, and you have no friend in heaven to plead your cause. Yes! it is sadly true. You are a poor, miserable man. It matters nothing

what your income is; without Christ's friendship you are very poor.

3. Know, in the third place, that if you really want a friend, Christ is willing to become your friend.

He has long wanted you to join his people, and he now invites you by my hand. He is ready to receive you, all unworthy as you may feel, and to write your name down in the list of his friends. He is ready to pardon all the past, to clothe you with the righteousness of faith, to give you his Spirit, to make you his own dear child. All he asks you to do, is to come to Him.

He bids you come with all your sins, only acknowledging your vileness, and confessing that you are ashamed. Just as you are,-waiting for nothing,-unworthy of any thing in yourself,-Jesus bids you come and be his friend.

Ah! reader, come and be wise. Come and be safe. Come and be happy. Come and be Christ's friend.

4. Know, in the last place, that if Christ is your friend, you have great privileges, and ought to walk worthy of them.

Seek every day to have closer communion with Him who is your friend, and to know more of his grace and power. True Christianity is not merely the believing a certain set of dry abstract propositions. It is to live in daily personal communication with an actual living person, -Jesus the Son of God. "For me,” said Paul, “to live is Christ."-(Phil. i. 21.)

Seek every day to glorify your Lord and Saviour in all your ways. He that hath a friend should show himself friendly, and no man surely is under such weighty obligations as the friend of Christ. Avoid every thing which would grieve your Lord. Fight hard against besetting sins, against inconsistency, against backwardness to confess him before men. Say to your soul, whenever you are tempted to that which is wrong, "Soul, soul, is this thy kindness to thy Friend?"

Think above all of the mercy which has been shown thee, and learn to rejoice daily in thy Friend! What though thy body be bowed down with disease! What though thy

poverty and trials be very great! What though thine earthly friends forsake thee, and thou art alone in the world! All this may be true, but if thou art in Christ, thou hast a Friend, a mighty Friend, a loving Friend, a wise Friend, a Friend that never fails. Oh! think, think much upon thy Friend.

Yet a little time, and thy Friend shall come to take thee home, and thou shalt dwell with him for ever. Yet a little time, and thou shalt see as thou hast been seen, and know as thou hast been known. And then thou shalt hear assembled worlds confess, that he is the rich and happy man who has had Christ for his friend.-From New Tract under this Title by Rev. J. C. Ryle.

VARIETIES.

WHAT A BOY CAN DO.

Children, you remember the story of Hans and the beacon-fire, do you? That was what a boy could do for his home. Let me now tell you of a noble boy who worked for the church.

One time at a camp-meeting, a boy came up to the preacher, and said, "Sir, I would like to join the church if you have anything for me to do."

"Have you any young friends that you become religious?" asked the preacher.

could get to

Yes," said John, " and I will join the church."

The next day the preacher saw a young man, a friend of John's leaning against a tree. This boy looked very serious, and the preacher approached him saying, "Where is John to-day?"

"O!" said the boy, "John has gone to hoe corn in my place, and has lent me his horse that I might come to meeting and get religion!"

Do you think John will lose his reward? He could not preach; he was not old enough to exhort, or labour in