Father, who "doth not willingly afflict," but who graciously designs by this discipline to draw His children nearer to Himself.

Oh! cannot some who have passed through more than a little of mental suffering and bodily weakness, bear witness to the goodness and mercy of our gracious Lord in supporting us under our afflictions, and at times giving us to feel that, because it is His will it should be thus with us, and knowing that He chastens His chosen ones, therefore our very sufferings and privations are a sweet pledge of His love, and are graciously intended to draw our hearts nearer to Him, and to strengthen our filial confidence and dependence on Him?

But we must ever bear in mind that it is very possible to be afflicted without being profited, and that trouble may even leave us in a worse spiritual condition than it found us. Everything depends on the spirit in which we receive it,-on the account to which we turn it. Some years since I heard a Friend relate, that on one occasion, when sorrow was weighing down his spirit, he received much instruction from watching a sheep, who was going to be conveyed to a little distance in a cart, and for that purpose his legs had been tied. For a time the poor creature kicked and plunged, and showed great uneasiness at the bonds that were upon him; and of course the more resistance he offered the more the cords hurt him. But at length, having found that all his efforts to extricate himself were useless he laid perfectly still, and seemed resigned to his bonds; for when he patiently submitted they no longer gave him pain. Well," thought he, "I may learn a lesson from this poor animal. Has not my Heavenly Father bound me with the cords of affliction, and is not my spirit sorely galled by struggling against them, and resisting His will ?" And he then saw that if, like the poor

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sheep, he were willing to be passive, the bitterness of the affliction would be removed; and that to bear it with true resignation to his Lord's will would bring strength and patience, so that hard things would be made easy, and bitter things sweet.

May not our afflictions be viewed as a talent, for the right use of which we are accountable? If, when they come they are received in a spirit of resistance and repining, and are not the means of turning our hearts to God, we shall undoubtedly be hardened by them, and shall be less open to conviction, and to good impressions, than we were before. But if they bring us to a Saviour's footstool, to petition with softened hearts,

"Let Thy will not mine be done,
Make my will and Thine but one;

then indeed will the sting from them be removed, and they will be accompanied by a peace and a sweetness that nothing in this world can afford, and which the true Christian feels to be inexpressibly precious, inasmuch as they are an added link to his God and Saviour; and in the spirit of humble submission he is permitted to understand (perhaps more perfectly than he ever did before) the tenderness and fulness of his Heavenly Father's love.

But there are some, who from unfaithfulness to their known duties, from unwatchfulness, and it may be from sinfulness, have brought great suffering upon themselves. Perhaps this is the worst kind of sorrow to bear, because they feel that they have not that claim upon the sympathy and compassion of others which may be expected under other trials. But although what they suffer may be the natural effect of their conduct, yet, if borne in the right spirit, will it not be found among the "all things" which work together for our eternal good? And if such are made sensible

of their error, and their hearts are tendered by their trials, surely the Lord's abounding compassion flows strongly towards these erring ones, desiring that they should return unto Him, repent, and live.

May we then each one go with confidence to our loving Father with all our sorrows--ever remembering that "He doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men." Remembering also, that Jesus, our great High Priest, was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin, and that " He ever liveth to make intercession for us." The Lord assuredly has a purpose in all He does, or permits to befall us. Yea, gracious and loving purposes, which in His mercy He will effect in our hearts, if we will but be as the passive clay in His holy hands. Then will ability be granted in the greatest sincerity to breathe the prayer, "Do with me, O Lord, what seemeth Thee good, only let me be wholly Thine."

P. H. PUMPHREY.

THE CHILDHOOD OF CHRIST; OR, THE MOTHER'S
LESSON ANTICIPATED.

IN the mellow Autumn weather,
In the evening cool and calm,
Child and mother talked together
Underneath a stately palm;
But no false or fabled story
Did that careful mother tell,

No, she thus unveiled the glory

Of the God she loved so well :

Then the gentle child said slowly,-
"Yes, I saw Him yesternight;
Now I know this gracious Being
Thou hast shown, must be the same
Whom I have been hearing, seeing,
Ere I knew His human name;

Yet thy words seem weak and broken,
And amaze this heart of mine,
When I think how He hath spoken
In another tongue than thine;
But the wonder of my story,
Mother, scarcely is begun,

For this Form and Voice of glory
Smiles on me and calls me, Son!"
Timidly that wondering mother
Watched her child's uplifted eye,
And the awe she could not smother
Mingled with her low reply ;-
"Ah! how much thou art above me,
Early thou begin'st to show,

Yet thy human heart must love me,
Who am all thou hast below."

R. BALL RUTTER.

THE LAW OF LOVE IN THE LAW OF MOSES.

It is no uncharitable supposition that many, even of the lovers of the Bible, while diligent in reading the New Testament, the Psalms, and some favourite portions of the older Scriptures, pass over other portions, and especially those books which contain "the law," with very cursory and occasional perusal. This neglect would probably give way before a better acquaintance with the importance and deep significance of this portion of divine revelation. The Mosaic code embodies a moral law, which in its spirit is of universal obligation (Rom. iii. 31). It also includes a ceremonial law, which, though temporary, was binding on the conscience so long as it endured. As a whole the law was a plan of life for the Jews-national, social, and individual. It was, without doubt, severely disciplinary in the minuteness of its regulations, and the multitude of its ceremonial requirements. On a superficial view we are apt to be impressed by its apparent harshness, severity, and vindictive character. This feature is in part owing to its origin, amid the circumstances of a people suddenly redeemed from bondage, and journeying for forty years through the wilderness, in constant and exceptional perils, which made the strictest discipline necessary, both for the safety of the nation and the preservatiou of its witness for Jehovah. Swift and exemplary punishments for offences, and strict regulations, were true mercy.

As a whole the law of Moses is animated by a benignant spirit. There is no nation professedly Christian that upholds, either in theory or practice, so high a standard of justice, kindness, and compas