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"THE GREAT GOD

THAT FORMED ALL THINGS

BOTH REWARDETH THE FOOL,

AND

REWARDETH TRANSGRESSORS."

PROVERBS Xxvi. 10.

Good-bye Till Morning." FEW evenings ago I heard two little girls who had been playing together during the early part of the evening, bidding good-bye to each other for the night. And how different from the way in which some little boys and girls take their leave of each other after playing together during the evening. As they separated, I heard one of the girls say, "Good-bye till morning." How nice it would be if all little boys and girls who play together could enjoy themselves as these two little girls did, and when the proper time comes, part in the same cheerful and friendly manner.

But my thoughts did not stop here. I kept on thinking of the words, "Good-bye till morning," and the more I thought of them the more beautiful they seemed. When the evening of life comes to our friends and our loved ones, thought I, and when we are called upon to bid "goodbye" for the last time, might we not, like the girl, say, Good-bye till morning?" For is not the death of the body a short sleep, from which, at the resurrection morn, it will be awaked and raised a glorified body? And as to the little child the ten or twelve hours of a long sleep seem in the

morning to have been only a few short minutes, so free from all pain and care has the body been, while the mind has in fancy been enjoying all the mirth and pleasure of childhood; so in like manner will it be to those who "sleep in Jesus." The body for a short time at rest in the grave, the spirit in Paradise with God. How soon will dawn the glorious resurrection morn, when soul and body will be reunited in one glorified immortal being, to dwell "for ever with the Lord!" May we all so live that when the hour of parting comes, we may cheerfully and hopefully say, "Good-bye till morning."-Children's Friend.

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for the sojourner among them: that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither" (Numbers xxxv. 9-29.

Observe, 1.-There were several cities of refuge, and they were so appointed in several parts of the country, that the manslayer, wherever he dwelt in the land of Israel, might in half a day reach one or other of them. So, though there is but one Christ appointed for our Refuge, yet, wherever we are, He is a Refuge at hand, a very present help, for the Word is nigh us, and Christ in the Word.

2. The manslayer was safe in any of these cities. So in Christ believers that fly to Him, and rest in Him, are protected from the wrath of God, and the curse of the law. "There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. viii. 1). Who shall condemn those that are thus sheltered?

3. They were all Levites' cities. It was a kindness to the poor prisoner, that though he might not go up to the place where the ark was, yet he was in the midst of Levites who would teach him the good knowledge of the Lord, and instruct him how to improve the providence he was now under. It might also be expected that the Levites would comfort and encourage him, and bid him welcome. So it is the work of

Gospel ministers to bid poor sinners welcome to Christ, and assist and counsel those that through grace are in Him.

4. Even strangers and sojourners, though they were not native Israelites, might take the benefit of these cities of refuge (verse 15). So in Christ Jesus no difference is made between Greek and Jew, even the sons of the stranger that by faith fly to Christ, shall be safe in Him.

5. Even the suburbs or borders of the city were a sufficient security to the offender (verses 26, 27). So there is virtue, even in the hem of Christ's garment, for the healing and saving of poor sinners. If we cannot reach to a full assurance, we may comfort ourselves in a good hope through grace.

6. The protection which the manslayer found in the city of refuge, was not owing to the strength of its walls, or gates, or bars, but purely to the Divine appointment. So it is the Word of the Gospel that gives souls safety in Christ; for Him hath God the Father sealed.

7. If the offender was ever caught straying out of the borders of his city of refuge, or stealing home to his own house again, he lost the benefit of its protection, and lay exposed to the avenger of blood. So those that are in Christ must abide in Christ, for it is at their peril if

they forsake Him, and wander from Him. Drawing back is to perdition.

Reader! "the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men." As guilty sinners in the sight of God, we deserve and are exposed to the Divine wrath; but in mercy to our helpless condition the Lord Jesus Christ took our nature, and in our stead suffered the penalty due to our sins; and now there is provided for us a way of escape, a Refuge to which we may flee and be safe. "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them" (2 Cor. v. 19). But have we come to Christ? that is the question. "Escape for thy life!" was the urgent warning of the Angel to Lot, as the Divine vengeance was about to descend on the doomed city in which he dwelt. And, unconverted sinner, "ESCAPE FOR THY LIFE!" is the urgent warning of God's Word to thee! To disregard this warning is to perish; to obey it is to be safe.

WHERE the peace is that Christ gives, all the trouble and disgust of the world cannot disturb it. All outward distress to such a mind is but as the rattling of hail upon the tiles of him who sits within the house at a sumptuous banquet.-Leighton.

OLD truths are always new to us if they come with the smell of Heaven upon them. -Bunyan.

N

O, Lord, I cannot, cannot take that cross!

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Thy hand is holding it to me, I know; But it involves too much of pain and loss, Such crushing down of self, and things below."

Thus spake I to my Lord, and He replied With, oh such mournful pathos in His tone :"I bore much more for thee;-for thee I died: I may not bear this too, alone, alone. "I only ask thee just to share its weight,

To take thy part in bearing it with Me; If thou refuse, I can no longer wait,

I must seek help, but not again from thee."

He turned to go: methought I saw a tear

Stand for a moment in His calm, sad eye; Then with a sudden bound, a sudden fear,

I sprang toward Him with a bitter cry: "O Lord, dear Lord! go not from me away,

I could not live if Thou wert gone, my Light! I will do anything-except that cross,

I cannot share its weight with Thee to-night." One sigh He breathed, then mournfully once more Set forth to journey on His weary way : My heart stood still, my strength was almost o'er, "Help me, dear Lord!" was all that I could say.

Immediately He turned, and with a smile

Again approached me with the dreaded cross; "Lord, give me strength!" I whispered low the while, 'Help me to bear the bitter shame and loss!"

But when I reached my hand, that I might hold That cross I dreaded to my heaving breast, My Saviour's own strong arms did me enfold, And in their shelter I had perfect rest!

CHARLOTTE MURRAY.

THE closest walk with God is the sweetest Heaven that can be enjoyed on earth.

GOD displays His own glorious power in the creation of all things, as a ground to engage His people's confidence.

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A Bible Recipe for Dark, Stormy Days. "Lord, save me! And immediately Jesus stretched forth His

hand, and caught him" (MATTHEW xiv. 28-36).

O the winds and storms of life blow fiercely about you, shattering the sails of your little bark, so that you can neither keep steady or make any way? The sea is too rough for you to cross. Good sign this; for it will lead you to seek help out of yourself, in One "mighty to save." Do as poor Peter did he tried to walk the waves, but could not: when he found he was beginning to sink, forth from his frightened heart came the cry, "Lord, save me!" Jesus is at hand; begone, unbelief. He will catch you, as He caught Peter, and manage all your affairs a thousand times better than you can manage them yourself. Only try this recipe; give to the winds thy fears; trust Jesus, all will be well.-E. J.

W

The Fire Alarm.

HILE on a visit to Glasgow recently, I noticed, fixed up on the buildings at the corner of some of the principal streets, an instrument having at the top of it those two significant words, "Fire Alarm!" By means of this invention, and telegraph wires connected with the different stations, intelligence of a fire is immediately communicated to all parts of the city, calling forth a strong body of willing helpers to save life and property.

As I walked along the streets, with their busy multitudes passing to and fro, many of whom are without doubt in an unsaved condition, and consequently in danger of hell fire, I thought of how much need there was for another kind of fire alarm to be given in the prominent places of the great

prepare

for the world to come.

"What

shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Oh! if men would follow Christ's rule, and "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness," they would find that all

other things that are needful would be added to them. What urgent need is there for those who have accepted the Lord Jesus as the portion of their soul, to give the alarm, and seek to rouse their fellowmen from that grovelling spirit of worldliness which besets them, and point them to that inheritance which is in Heaven, laid up for all who come as poor, empty, needy sinners to Christ; for "in Him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily."

J. M.

O MASTER dear! the smallest work for Thee
Finds recompense beyond our highest thought;
And feeble hands, that work but tremblingly,

The richest colours in the fabric wrought.
We are content to take what Thou shalt give,-
To work or suffer, as Thy choice shall be;
Forsaking what Thy wisdom bids us leave,

Glad in the thought that we are pleasing Thee!