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"Then look right across the house steadily. Do you see, now,

ly.'

"Ah! I see something dim

"Do you think you see the spire beyond?'

"Hardly; and yet there is a point of light.'

"Well, now, look right to the very edge of the sky. Do you see any thing?'

"No-yes! but only a cloud; still I had not noticed that cloud before.'

this?' 'No.' You take the very largest type that you can procure, 'Can you read it?' 'No.' But the tree?" what if he should then say: 'I am blind?' That explains all. A blind man can neither read the truth in small type nor in larger type, nor in the largest type; but the man whose eyes are weak may often read it in large type when he can not read it in small. So, again, if from your house of faith you look out of the windows of belief, and upon the distant edge of the horizon see the bright towers of the "Now this house which lies celestial city, you may take a man near us is the house of affection to the window, and you may and friendship; and that beautipoint to the distance and say: ful tree which grows further off Now, can you in that dim cloud is the tree of poetry, of the bloomsee a point, just the top of a pin- ing, enthusiastic, feeling heart; nacle? That is the pinnacle of and the spire that rises up beyond one of the great, beauteous man- belongs to the temple of religion, sions of the celestial city-can in which we worship; and quite you see it?' in a line with this you may serve, on the edge of the sky, the towers of the celestial city, half hidden in a luminous cloud. And if a man has those full human affections, which are interpreters, he will be able, when we point him to the spire, to see beyond "Then do you see, much near- it the city in the distance; and er to us, to the right- it is if we point him to the tree, he almost in a line with the spire will see the city; and if we point do you see a beautiful tree cover- him to the house, he will see the ed with spring verdure, green city; because they all, as it were, leaves, beautiful white and red lie in one line; and he that can blossoms ?'' see the last object that can note it distinctly, even as a cloudcan see all the other objects which lie in a line with it. But it may happen that a man can only see clearly the first object. He can see how holy and how lovely human friendship is. Well, if he has affection enough just to discern that, the other things behind

"No, no; not at all.' "Then you say: 'Well, do you see yonder spire, a good way on this side a tall object, lighted up just now with the glittering sunbeams?' "No, no.'

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"No, no.' "Well, do you see, then, just below. it is almost in the same line-just below, in a valley, upon its opposite slope-do you see a house, a broad, kindly, hospitable-looking house?'

but

"Yes,' he says, 'I think I see

the house.'

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it he can at least see dimly. You the future, lets us look into the can not have an eye for love grave, discloses the solemnities of without looking toward heaven, the judgment, gives an earnest of though heaven itself may remain eternal retributions.

for a while invisible. For you

God speaks in prosperity, where

can not behold this house of all is bright and cheering; refriendship without getting a dim minds us that our sun may soon sight of the tree of poetry, whose be obscured, "and storms of sorbeautiful blossoms soon come row fall." clearly into view; and if you can And he speaks in adversity, behold the tree of poetry, it is when all is dark and gloomy; impossible that you can have any directs our thoughts to a better clear view of it without seeing world, where sorrow and sighing something of religion beyond. flee away, and tears are wiped You will see the spire, as it were, from every eye. through the leaves of the tree, and yet above them. And if you see the spire, why, then, it is quite certain that you will soon see the celestial,city; for these four rise up one above the other."

The Voice of God.

GOD speaks to men in a thousand voices: sometimes loud, as in the death of friends, and calamities; sometimes soft and gentle, as in the tender mercies of his providence and grace, and in the gentle whisperings and breathings of his gentle Spirit to win them back to life and heaven.

God calls in youth, when the heart is tender, before the world has bound it in iron fetters, and before evil habits are fixed; he says: "Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth."

And in manhood God calls, impresses us with the importance of being ready for early death, and urges the duty of spending the remainder of our days in his service.

And then in old age he calls; reminds us that our sands are nearly run; that soon the silver cord will be loosed, and the golden bowl broken, probation ended, destiny fixed.

Reader, God calls in health. He In seasons of revival God calls. speaks to us when we are well, When others are converted and for he knows we need to be in enter the ark of safety, he leads full possession of all our powers us to think that now is the acto attend aright to the great con- cepted time, now the day of salcern. In health we read his calls vation. He impresses us with on the printed pages; hear them the belief that one call will be from the sacred desk; trace them the last; that there will be a last in the events of providence; feel time; that we may refuse Christ them in our hearts. and grieve the Spirit once too

And in sickness God calls. He often; and he excites the appreawakens in us apprehensions of hension that now may be our danger, turns our thoughts to the last opportunity, and that, if we past, carries our imaginations to now neglect to secure an interest

in Jesus Christ, we may never have another offer of mercy! Reader, will you listen to this call of God? It may be your last! Disregard it at your peril!

time in social prayer. How much? Have you three prayer-meetings in a week? And can you not spend three hours, out of every one hundred and sixty-eight, in the praying circle? Can you not give this fraction of time to God, Prayer-Meetings. in this way? You would blush READER, do you attend the to tell the meanest friend you prayer meeting? Does your have, that you could not devote heart exult in the prospect of so small a portion of your time meeting God in the social-circle, to him, when either your interest and of mingling your prayers and or his requires it. If you can your praises with the lovers of command the time in no other Jesus? Have you a relish for way, redeem it from sleep, from this employment, which will lead useless conversation, vain musyou to forego your ease, and ing, or light reading. Three worldly gain, and carnal joys, in prayer-meetings a week! Why order to participate in it? Does not have one every day? We conscience answer: No? Shall know of some Christians who heaven's King offer you an au- have a daily prayer-meeting. dience of himself, and will you They rise before the sun, and throw an indignity upon him, by spend a half-hour together every voluntarily absenting yourself morning, in reading, and praying, from the place where he unvails and praising God. And they are his glory? Shall heaven's gate ten-fold better prepared to disbe flung open, and you invited charge the duties of the day than to behold its beauties, that your those who have spent that halfsoul may be ravished, and your hour upon their beds. heart made to leap for joy, and "But our prayer-meetings are will you refuse to look? Shall dull, formal, and lifeless, and I better than angels' food be fur- receive no benefit from attending nished, and will you refuse to go them." That is the very reason and taste? why you ought to attend them.

Reader, we again ask, do you Why are they thus dull and lifeattend the prayer-meeting? Why less? Have you contributed to do you not? Are you fatigued make them so, by your tedious, with the labors of the day? Who monotonous prayers, your slughas required you to exhaust your gish singing, your drowsiness of bodily powers, and thus to unfit manner, and your coldness of your mind for its noblest employ- feeling? A prayer-meeting is ment? Are your worldly con- composed of its members. cerns numerous and pressing? every member come with a right Who has required you to spend frame of spirit, and the meetevery hour in caring for the body, ing will be full of interest. Let while the soul is starved? But, all come seeking for God, and you say, I can not spend so much God will visit and refresh them.

Let

The benefits to be derived from with kindred spirits? We love attending a prayer-meeting de- to share our joys and our sorrows pend very much upon the state with others. And if the heart is of mind with which we attend interested in religion, this princiupon our daily business. Do you ple of our nature will bring us indulge a worldly-minded and together in the social circle, to covetous spirit? Do you suffer pour forth our united prayers yourself to forget God in your and complaints into the bosom of worldly business? In a word, our common Parent. And we instead of living for the glory of venture to say, that where prayerGod, are you living for yourself? meetings are neglected, the closet If so, you have only to look into is seldom or never frequented. your own heart for the cause of the dullness and unprofitableness of the prayer-meeting.

Pray for your Minister. FEW Christians are fully im"But the prayers are so te- pressed with the importance and dious." We wish there were no advantage of this duty, both to ground for this complaint. The themselves and the church of petitions of a hungry soul are soon which they are members. This offered up, as a hungry child duty faithfully performed blesses asks for bread in few words. In the pastor-blesses the Church social meetings, no prayer should and cause of Christ, and blesses exceed five or eight minutes. him who offers this prayer of Let the hymns also be short, faith. If Christians were united and the singing animated. The and importunate in praying for exercises should be varied. their ministers, how would reSomething more should be introduced than mere singing and praying. The reading of a few verses of Scripture, a striking anecdote, or some appropriate remarks, will add greatly to the interest and profit of a prayermeeting.

vivals be multiplied, and conversions to God be greatly increased! Pray, then, for your minister.

1. For divine grace to renew, quicken, and preserve him as a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for his Maker's use.

2. That the Holy Spirit may so "But we have no prayer- apply his studies, that he may meeting in our neighborhood." ever be a learner, and always a And are you a Christian, sur- teacher.

rounded by fellow-Christians, 3. That the Lord would so orand yet without a prayer-meet- der and sanctifiy his experience, ing? To what purpose is man and direct and bless him in the made a social being, if in the most use of his talents, as to prove important business of life, his so- that he was sent and is owned cial nature is to be entirely lost of God.

sight of, and his social feelings 4. That he may always be faithdisregarded? if, in the purest ful as a preacher, diligent as a pleasure of which his nature is pastor, and exemplary as a patcapable, he may not participate tern.

5. That he may never trifle with the word of God, the souls of men, or the delusions of Satan. 6. That he may be preserved from diminishing his usefulness by a political, a worldly, or a careless spirit.

The Night in the Garden.

It seems to me that the history of the world can not exhibit an act of higher, nobler courage than our Saviour performed in coming' down to meet Judas and the armed band, the night before he was crucified. Just imagine the

7. That he may be watchful to discover, and labor to improve scene. opportunities of usefulness.

9. That his principles and conduct may invariably be regulated by the commands and example of Christ.

10. That he may realize and diffuse such an unctional spirit, as may be most salutary to himself and profitable to others.

On the eastern side of Jerusalem, without the walls, 8. That his hands may be there is a sudden descent to a strengthened; by God's provid- stream, which flows through the ence restraining the wicked valley. Across this stream, on his grace renewing and comfort- the rising ground beyond, was a ing penitent believers-and his quiet and solitary place, where power preserving his spiritual Jesus often went for retirement children in truth, righteousness, and prayer. He understood very and peace. well his approaching torture and crucifixion; he had taken, the evening before, his last sad farewell of his disciples, and with the day of agony and death before him on the morrow, he could not sleep. It was a cold night, but a sheltered dwelling in the city was no place for him. He asked his three dearest friends to go with him, that he might once more cross the valley, and for the last time take his midnight walk upon the Mount of Olives. Oppressed with anxiety and sorrow, he fell down alone before God and prayed that he might be spared what was to come. had gone on firmly thus far, but now his heart almost failed him. Six long hours of indescribable agony seemed too much for the frail human powers which must necessarily bear the whole. prayed God to spare him if it could be possible.

11. That God may dispose him to ascribe the success of his labor to the divine purpose, mercy and power.

12. That he may be blessed with such encouragement in his work, as may prove a constant stimulus for renewed exertions.

Remember that the most enlightened, faithful, talented, and consistent minister is but a man; and pray for your minister, as St. Paul exhorted the Romans to pray for him.

Now I beseech ye, brethren, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; that I may be delivered from them that do not believe, and that my service may be accepted of the saints."

He

He

But it could not. His strength failed under the exhaustion produced by his mental sufferings, and by the more than death-like

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