by the proximity of the great Yorkshire coalfields, beds of magnesian limestone, and an abundant supply of excellent building stone. As good an idea of the rapid extension of the specific Bradford industry as could in a brief statement be made, is perhaps obtainable from the following statistical facts:-In 1842 the town exported yarns to the value of £637,000, and worsted tissues to the value of £4,194,000. In the year 1872 the amounts respectively were: yarns, £6,110,000; worsted tissues, £20,905,000; total value of exports in this one, but the staple branch of industry, £27,015,000. "The value of English and Colonial wool consumed in Bradford trade in one year has been estimated at £13,600,000; of alpaca and mohair, £1,500,000; and of cotton warps, £5,000,000; giving employment to 4,000,000 spindles and 160,000 looms; while the amount of business done in the merchanting of goods reached, during the same twelve months, to between £40,000,000 and £50,000,000 sterling. These estimates were made six years ago."

While Bradford has thus made marvellous progress in one direction it has not been altogether lacking in others. Its Board Schools, higher and lower, are perhaps the best housed and taught anywhere in the country. Its new Technical School of Industry, opened last year by the Prince of Wales, with immense éclat, bids fair speedily to attain the dimensions and efficiency of a College. Its Grammar School, thanks to recent legislation and the watchful eye of its senior member of Parliament, the Right Honourable W. E. Forster, has risen from some fifty to 350 pupils, and has at the Universities quite a score of former "old boys." The town has also a well conducted Infirmary, an Eye and Ear Hospital, Fever Hospital, and Mechanics' Institute. Its Free Library, Church Institute, Covered Market, Tradesmen's Home, two Temperance Halls, and two Cemeteries, are all places of interest.

That the trade of the country, and especially of Bradford, has long been bad, is too well-known to need any remark here; but we doubt not that, ere long, the sun of prosperity will arise and shine. Nay, already there are signs of his approach.

As it respects religious accommodation, attendance on public worship, and general morals, it may be said, without entering into details, which might be easily given, that Bradford will compare favourably with other large towns. The Church of England seems to be increasing in numbers and wealth, and influence; the Wesleyans, Independents, and Baptists, are about equal in strength, while the Primitives, Free Methodists, and Presbyterians, are only weak; but they are all healthy and prosperous. In their early history the Wesleyans were much persecuted in Bradford, and the celebrated John Nelson was imprisoned; but the prison, which was situated in Ivegate, and into which the writer has been, was long since taken down, In an area of nine miles we have three Colleges, viz., an Independent, a Wesleyan, and a Baptist, the Presidents and Tutors of which are very able men.

The General Baptists in Bradford are only a feeble folk; but this is principally owing to the fact that they have not been very long in the town, and to the position and character of their places of worship. Tetley Street Chapel, which was built the first, has been buried (until recently) in the centre of an Irish population of Roman Catholics, who have fought several battles in its neighbourhood on one Lord's-day, one

204

A PRAYER FOR REST.

of which was opposite its gates while the church was celebrating the Lord's Supper. One fight, on a certain Lord's-day afternoon, continued an hour, and was never interrupted; the police of the neighbourhood, not being in force, dared not to interfere. The whole district has long been a disgrace to civilization. Since, however, Sunbridge Road was made matters are a little better; and no doubt they will improve. Bethel Chapel, Infirmary Street, is in a more eligible situation; but it is too small. If its friends were able, they should sell it, move to where the people have gone, and build premises worthy of the principles they so firmly hold.

The General Baptist Association has not met in Bradford before; hence we are very anxious that its meetings should be a success; and from the tried character of the inhabitants, and the friendship of other Christian denominations, we can promise a cordial welcome to all our visitors. May the God of our Israel carry all who may visit us to and fro in safety, and graciously bless all our gatherings.

A Prayer for Rest.

REST him, O Father! Thou didst send him forth
With great and gracious messages of love;
But Thy ambassador is weary now,

Worn with the weight of his high embassy.
Now care for him as Thou hast cared for us
In sending him; and cause him to lie down
In Thy fresh pastures, by Thy streams of peace;
Let Thy left hand be now beneath his head,
And Thy upholding right encircle him,
And, underneath, the everlasting arms
Be felt in full support. So let him rest,
Hushed like a little child, without one care,
And so give Thy beloved sleep to-night.

Rest him, O Master. He hath poured for us
The wine of joy-and we have been refreshed.
Now fill his chalice, give him sweet new draughts
Of life and love with Thine own hand; be Thou

His ministrant to-night, draw very near

In all Thy tenderness and all Thy power.

Oh, speak to him. Thou knowest how to speak

A word in season to Thy weary ones,

And he is weary now; Thou lovest him

Let Thy disciple lean upon Thy breast,

And, leaning, gain new strength to "rise and shine."

Rest him, O loving Spirit! Let Thy calm
Fall on his soul to-night. O Holy Dove,
Spread Thy bright wing above him, let him rest
Beneath its shadow; let him know afresh

The infinite truth and might of Thy dear name-
Our Comforter! As gentlest touch will stay
The strong vibrations of a jarring chord,
So lay Thy hand upon his heart, and still
Each over-straining throb, each pulsing pain.
Then, in the stillness, breathe upon the strings,
And let Thy holy music overflow

With soothing power his listening, resting soul.

-F. R. HAVERGAL.

The Importance of Cultivating a Devotional

Spirit.

I. WHAT IS A DEVOTIONAL SPIRIT?

THIS word, devotional, is popularly used in a very limited sense, as including but little more than prayer, and praise, and pious meditation. The phrase, devotional spirit, however, is sometimes used in a more comprehensive sense; as including all, and giving a colouring and character to all our exercises of mind and heart, of conscience and will. Law, in his "Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life," says, "Devotion is neither private nor public prayers; but prayers, whether public or private, are particular parts or instances of devotion. Devotion signifies a life given, or devoted, to God." It is in this wider sense that we intend to use the phrase,―a devotional spirit.

By a devotional spirit, then, we do not mean some one solitary grace of the Christian character; a grace standing out as distinctly from other graces as does faith, or hope, or love, or zeal; but we understand by it a certain something which permeates and gives a tone, a colouring and lustre, to the entire Christian life. Maclaren says, "Love is the fruitful mother of bright children. Her sons are Strength and Justice, and Self-control and Firmness, and Courage and Patience, and many more besides: and her daughters are Pity, with her sad eyes; and Gentleness, with her silvery voice; and Mercy, whose sweet face makes sunshine in the shade of death; and Humility, all unconscious of her loveliness; and linked hand in hand with these all the radiant band of sisters that men call virtues and graces." Here we are introduced to a noble and winsome family; but though all these are the bright children of love, it is the spirit of devotion which gives sadness to the eyes of Pity, and her silvery tone to the voice of Gentleness, and irradiates, as with a sunbeam, Mercy's sweet face, and gives to Humility her all-unconscious loveliness, and makes radiant all the virtues and graces of the Christian character. The devotional spirit is, to Christian character, what health is to our mental and physical nature; what harmony is to music; it is "the rainbow which gathers up and harmonizes all other qualities, and bends its divine beauty over the whole life of the Christian."

We have a beautiful example of this spirit in the character of Abraham. From the time of his call, with few exceptions, his whole life was a life given or devoted to God. Proof of this is seen in his prompt and self-denying obedience to the command to leave his country, his kindred, and his father's house, and to go out into an unknown, and even an un-named land. A more total self-surrender of a life to the plastic hand of God one cannot conceive. Other proofs of a heart weaned from earth are seen in his stranger and pilgrim life; in his courteous and disinterested conduct on the occasion of his separation from Lot; in his saintly, and well-nigh silent, journey to Mount Moriah to perform the almost incomprehensible, and almost impossible task of offering there his beloved Isaac as a burnt-offering, and in the God

206 THE IMPORTANCE OF CULTIVATING fearing arrangements he made for the marriage of his son. A more beautifully simple devotional spirit than that of Abraham's it would be difficult to find.

We have another example in David. With a few dark and painful exceptions, the motto of his life seems to have been, "I have set the Lord always before me." He did set the Lord before him at times and on occasions which would excite the sneer of the godless, but which ought to excite the admiration and imitation of the godly. This whilom shepherd boy, this nimble-fingered and skilful minstrel, this inspired poetical genius, whose odes range between the wild magnificence of an Oriental storm, and the plaintive tenderness of an orphan child, saw God, and realized the presence of God everywhere; and under the influence of that presence he tuned his harp, and sang his songs, a very Hebrew Orpheus, and smote the bear and the bearded lion, and rescued the palpitating lambs from their savage foes.

This spirit was specially seen in David on the field of Elah, in his encounter with the giant Goliath. David, at the wish of his father, visited the camp of Israel. At the time of his arrival the opposing armies were raising their shouts and taking up their positions for the day. While David was talking with his brothers, Goliath, clothed in complete armour, made his appearance, and challenged the Hebrews to settle their dispute by single combat. Not one dared to accept his challenge; all quailed at his appearance, and shrank from his approach. For forty days this giant had thus come forth and had hurled defiance at the armies of Saul. David's piety was shocked, and his indignation aroused, when he found that the challenge of this uncircumcised infidel had gone so long without acceptance; and, though taunted by his brother, he indignantly asked, "Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" His words reached the ears of Saul, and he sent for him to his tent. A number of difficulties removed, Saul's armour was placed at David's disposal. David, however, preferred to meet his antagonist in the simple dress of a shepherd, rather than in the panoply of a warrior. So he went forth, with no helmet of brass upon his head, nor coat of mail upon his body, nor greaves of brass upon his legs, nor target of brass between his shoulders, nor iron-headed spear in his hand, nor a shield-bearer going before him. "Not in human armour boasting did he venture to the fight;" but going to a brook, he selected a few smooth stones, put them in his wallet, took his sling and staff in his hand, and thus equipped he was ready, and wishful, to meet the man whose voice and presence had filled the bravest warriors of Saul with dismay. When Goliath came forth to the encounter he looked hither and thither as if David was too small to be seen. Deeming him an antagonist unworthy of his great strength, he scornfully asked, "Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves?" And then, filled with rage, he cursed David by his gods, and threatened that, if he dared to approach him, he would give his flesh to the fowls of the air, and the beasts of the field. But, unmoved by fear, this stripling listened to the giant's scorn, and threats, and curses. Though but a youth, realizing the Divine presence, conscious that he was vindicating the Divine honour, and trusting in the Divine arm, he replied, "Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I

A DEVOTIONAL SPIRIT.

207 come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day"-not, I will,—but, "This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand: and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines,"-not only thine, but theirs,-" this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know,"-those of you who have never known it, and my own countrymen who seem to have forgotten it,-all "shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands."

The result of the conflict is well known. David gloriously survived, Goliath ignominiously fell. Now what is it that surrounds, as with a halo of glory, the head of this youthful Hebrew? Is it not his spirit of devotion to his God?

Another beautiful illustration of this spirit is seen in the calm and unfaltering reply of the three Hebrew captives to the blasphemous question of the proud and imperious Nebuchadnezzar. He had threatened, in regard to the image which he had set up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon, "If ye worship it not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace," and had proudly asked, "Who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?" They replied, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not," if in his inscrutable wisdom he should see well not to deliver us, "be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”

This same spirit in Paul was all comprehensive and ever-abiding. His life, if any man's ever was, was a life given or devoted to God. He lived as one who was in no respect his own, but another's; and the service he rendered to that other was not the service of a slave, but the service of devoted love. So fully was the old Paul abnegated by him that he could say, "I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me." He knew that his whole body, soul, and spirit, belonged to Christ, and in spirit, as well as in the letter, he consecrated himself to Him.

But the brightest and most perfect example of this devotional spirit is seen in the character of "the man Christ Jesus." His character was not lacking in a single excellency, nor His obedience in a single duty. Every act of His life reflected the glow of a devotional spirit. In His thoughts, words, miracles, teachings, sufferings, death, He referred everything to God. He did always those things which pleased Him. So all pervading was this spirit in Jesus that He could affirm, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father." Perfect, therefore, was this spirit in Jesus.

From these illustrations it will be seen that a true devotional spirit is a spirit which realizes all that God is in Himself, and all that He is to us, and we are to Him, in and through Jesus Christ our Lord; that it is a spirit which gives a reality to all the doctrines, precepts, and promises of the word of God, making them, not a mere intellectual belief, but a living power in the heart; a spirit which yields an humble