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ming, but no education; where, if you asked the pupils a simple question in arithmetic, to see whether they understood principles, they were at a loss. They would know the "Rule of Three," but nothing of its principle proportion. You will find the same with regard to history; they have read a great deal, but, as to thinking about what they have read, as to history having been an instrument to draw out and exercise their reflecting powers, you find no traces of this. The fact is, that parents require so many things to be taught, that there is no time for the solid work of education.

Remember you are preparing your pupils for usefulness hereafter. You are rather forming habits of thought and acquirement, than cramming them to the full with all the knowledge they are ever to possess. Do not give them too many hours study in a day; that is a great mistake; just give them as many as will healthfully exercise their minds, and no more. Try to draw out their minds in regard to the Scriptures. Children may be crammed with texts, and, perhaps, not understand one; you may teach but a small portion at a time, but take care that the child has made this little her own. You will then show the world, that so far from Christian instruction and Christian education preventing first-rate secular training, that it tends to promote it. It happens that there are many young ladies' schools in my district; I have in the month six Bible classes, five of which contain forty girls or more each; and I often bring before them how the feeling of their being trained for future usefulness would sweeten their studies. If they feel, "I am in all my studies Christ's servant; while I am being trained thus, my mind is having strength given to it; by and bye I shall not have so much time to read or to study as now; now is the time to acquire that energy which hereafter will be devoted to my Master's service;" if they can be brought to feel thus, I have no doubt that they would show their friends that Christian instruc

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tion, so far from preventing them from fulfilling their relative duties, or hindering their secular training, has qualified them for the one, and helped on the other.

In concluding my address to you, dear Christian sisters, I will say, that I cannot conceive a more interesting work than the instruction of the young. You may, perhaps, say that ministerial work is the highest of all; certainly, next to it is the instruction of the young, and I do feel that this is the highest work to which woman can be called. We believe, that you have been led by providential circumstances to this calling, and that you go out under the favour of the Most High, with the assurance of his strength being made perfect in your weakness, assured that He will support and strengthen you; that you have a Saviour that can be touched with the feeling of your infirmiGo out, then, strengthened and encouraged by the words spoken to you in his name. Be sure that you can lean upon Him at all times; that you go out

to do his work; that He will guide and direct you in that which pleaseth Him. Be assured that you are under the care of a tender Father; that you have a Friend who "sticketh closer than a brother;" that the Great Teacher, the Holy Spirit, will guide your mind in leading young souls to Christ. Let the words of Jesus be ever in your mind-" Feed my lambs."

"AS GOOD AS MY NEIGHBOUR.”

A CLERGYMAN in his parochial visitation, a Scripture reader, a district visitor, indeed every home missionary of whatever denomination, has few greater difficulties to contend against, in urging the necessity of repentance and a renewed life, than the answering of such an argument as the above, "I am as good as my

neighbour." So continually is it repeated, so incontrovertible is it considered, that many persons seem to think that the Almighty and the All-holy One will permit any degree of sin that is a general iniquity, not committed by one alone, but shared in by others, and every remonstrance against such an absurd, such a fatal mistake, is met by the apology, "I am no worse than the rest of the world."

I am aware that this subject is not new, that much already has been written and said about it, and that it is an error which has often been successfully combated; yet as it is still persisted in, and even where it is not openly made an excuse for inconsistency of life, it is, nevertheless, tacitly given and accepted as such, I feel that a few remarks may not be inappropriate. I would therefore entreat those who thus speak to consider whether this be really an exoneration or even a palliation of a crime. Apply it to the things pertaining to this life and you will at once perceive its fallacy.

Suppose you were about to embark on a long and dangerous voyage, and, as you were going on board some friend were to point out to you that the sky was overcast by heavy clouds portending a tempest, that the vessel was ill calculated to ride safely through the threatened storm, that the captain was inexperienced, and the pilot knew not the track; would you feel satisfied in disregarding the warning and answering that others were to sail in the same ship, that you were not worse off than they?

Or, if the terrors which had been foretold should come, if the tempest should arise, would it be any consolation to you amidst the raging of the troubled ocean and the strife of the contending elements that the danger was shared by your fellow-voyagers, that if you perished they perished also?

Is then the preservation of this fleeting life so infinitely more important than the securing of a

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blessed immortality? Is the first death-the " one thing that is unto all," which may perhaps be deferred but cannot be avoided-is it to be dreaded so much more than the second death, the loss of that everliving part which is of more value than the treasures of the whole earth, "For what is a man profited if he should gain the whole world, and lose his own soul; or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Your neighbour is no criterion for you. Each must work out for himself his own salvation. The valley of the shadow of death must be trodden alone, no earthly friend can cheer the way; and to those whom Christ does not sustain, to them who, not having sought Him in life, are not strengthened by Him in death, it presents a dark and fearful path encompassed by many

terrors.

Think of this. Remember, it is to his own Master that each standeth or falleth, and do not thoughtlessly seek to shelter yourself among the multitude of evil doers or plead as a sufficient excuse for your sins that others do the like, or beguile yourselves as you would silence others with the words, "I am as good as my neighbour."

CARLA MEREX.

THE YOUTHFUL DISCIPLE'S PRAYER.

THOU God of salvation, my Saviour and Friend,
My Refuge in danger, my Hope in distress;
Thy favour has neither beginning nor end;

Oh show me thy mercy and rich saving grace.

Thy Mercy which pardons transgression and sin,
Thy Grace which is cheering, supporting, and free,
Lord, grant me these blessings, and then I'll begin
To live more devoted in future to Thee.

My time and my talents, O Lord, shall be thine,
The whole of my service to Thee shall be given,
While daily I pray for attraction divine,

To draw my best thoughts and affections to heaven.

Oh give me thy Spirit to teach me thy truth,

Thy Truth, as it centres in Jesus thy Son,
To lead and to guide me in age as in youth,
Till all my probation and labours are done.

And then let me enter the mansions of light,

With loud hallelujahs sing praises to Thee,
All sin will be banished and darkness and night,
While sceptre and crown are provided for me.

All

power and glory, dear Lord, shall be thine, Thanksgivings and honours to Thee shall be given, While Jesus, the Sun, shall eternally shine

On seraphs and glorified spirits in heaven.

W. D.

A SHIP ON THE SANDS.

MANY years have passed since I witnessed the catastrophe which I am about to relate. The early spring found me at the sea-side in the neighbourhood of Deal. During the night the wind had been blowing in most fearful gales. I arose from my restless pillow betimes, and in the first dawn of morning hastened to the shore to see the mountainous waves roll in from the stormy German Ocean in massy grandeur. I had not been long there before a cry was raised by the men of the coast-guard service, that "a vessel was on the sands."

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