Have we offered this sacrifice of genuine devotion during the active hours of this day? Have no opportunities of usefulness been permitted to escape us? Not merely those which are obvious, which we dare not neglect, on the highways of life, but those which are revealed only to a delicate perception, in its shadier paths-opportunities presented to the tender and sympathising by the instinctive confidence of the unhappy, of healing the wounded, sustaining the tempted, or raising, comforting, and strengthening,—it may be, by the sad experience of our own infirmities,—the fallen and desponding spirit? What has been the aspect of the day on our own spiritual interests? Has it been a day of relaxed circumspection, of feeble efforts, or of broken or half-broken resolutions? Has Satan gained an advantage over us? Has he seduced us, perhaps almost uncon

sciously, into the first step of a doubtful, a devious, or a downward path? Has he infused into our system, under whatever specious guise, some poison which may infect our whole moral constitution, and by which the tone of our moral health may be gradually lowered or destroyed? Has any seed been sown in a moment of inadvertence, of which "the harvest may be a heap in the day of grief, and of desperate sorrow?" Let us, before we resign ourselves to sleep, endeavour, by the grace of God, to retrace that step, to expel that poison, to root up that seed.

Or have we, "the Lord being merciful unto us," with much infirmity, "faint yet pursuing," endeavoured to walk with wary steps through the snares which, on every side, beset the path of life? Let us offer up the evening sacrifice of a grateful heart to Him" from whom all holy desires,

all good counsels, and all just works do proceed."

It is not till we are engaged earnestly in the struggles of the Christian life, that we become sensible (and perhaps most sensible in its lesser, and what ought to be its easier conflicts) of the extent of our spiritual weakness. But our evening selfexamination, if honestly pursued, will soon prompt the confession, "O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." And every day will teach us to estimate more highly the privilege of confiding in strength and counsel superior to our own. "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

"They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up

with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint."

"In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul."

"Abide in me, and I in you; as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me."

"I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing."

"Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."

SLOW LEARNERS.

Ah! we are slow to learn; dull children all,
We see not and we hear not what we might;
We start and tremble when loud voices call,
When low ones whisper, we neglect them quite.

Terror and love, all, all are tried in vain,
And pass away like visions of the night;

We disregard the warning and the pain,
And clasp our heart's poor idols with delight.

How soft and beautiful the rosy buds

That nestle in the fresh green leaves of life! Who could believe the thorn so thickly studs

The branch he covets, while his hopes are rife?