the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you; for we have heard that God is with you." (Zechariah viii. 23.) This never has been fulfilled; but as the word of God is true, this is true.

Perhaps some one may say, "If the Jews are to be the great missionaries of the world, let us send missions to them only. We have got a new light--let us call back our missionaries from India. They are wasting their precious lives there, in doing what the Jews are to accomplish." I grieve to think that any lover of Israel, should so far pervert the truth, as to argue in this way. The Bible does not say that we are to preach only to the Jew, but to the Jew first. "Go and preach the gospel to all nations," said the Saviour. Let us obey his word like little children. The Lord speed our beloved missionaries in that burning clime! The Lord give them good success, and never let one withering doubt cross their pure minds, as to their glorious field of labor! All that we plead for is, that in sending out missionaries to the heathen, we may not forget to begin at Jerusalem If Paul be sent to the Gentiles, let Peter be sent to the twelve tribes that are scattered abroad; and let not a byecorner on your hearts be given to this cause-let it not be a mere appendix to the other doings of the church, but rather let there be written on the forefront of your hearts, and on the banner of our beloved church, "To the Jew first," and "Beginning at Jerusalem."-From a Sermon by the late Rev. R. M. McCheyne, appended to " Jewish Herald," for January.

WHAT IS TRUTH?

As Walter Raleigh sat down to the composition of his History, a tumult was heard outside his prison walls. He went and gazed upon it. It was afterwards reported to him in three different ways by three different witnesses, and he found that he differed in his own impressions from all. "And yet, "he exclaimed, “I am about to write a ' History of the World!'"

MOTTOES FOR THE MONTH,

OR

THOUGHTS TO THINK ABOUT.

February 1. If we wish God to hear our prayers, we must see that we always hear his word.-Bp. Hopkins.

2. Obedience must be paid, not in order that we may be pardoned, but to shew our gratitude for being so.—Russell. 3. It is easy confessing other men's sins.-Hill.

4. In Hebrew, the same word signifies eye, and fountain, as if to imply that the eye would be as much needed for weeping, as for seeing.-M. Henry.

5. He gives money, the thing he least values, and reserves to himself his thoughts, his time, his ease, his understanding mind, and never misgives that he thus indulges selfishness, and calls it benevolence.—Caroline Fry.

6. How happy should we be, if we loved God but a little.— Adam.

7. The enjoyment of the kingdom of God, is as the light of the sun; each hath the whole, yet none hath ever the less.— Baxter.

8. When we urge that we are overcome by a sudden gust of temptation, what a full proof is that liability to temptation, of our fallen state.—Biddulph.

9. If the world will not love us for our religion, we must try to make it love us in spite of it -Dr. Wardlaw.

10. He who seldom thinks of heaven is not likely to get there; as the only way to hit the mark, is to keep the eye fixed upon it.

11. Generally it is taken for granted that Christ is able to save us if He will. But, indeed, He hath no such power, no such ability. He cannot save unbelieving, impenitent sinners; for this cannot be done without denying himself, acting contrary to his word, and destroying his own glory.—Owen.

12. Instead of seeking a reward for being righteous, let us remember that God cannot give us a better reward than righteousness itself.-Rowland Hill.

13. We are not to consider what is the actual amount of enjoyment obtained in the ordinary pursuits of life, but what would be the actual amount if men would attend to those pur

suits, in the manner which God has required; if they were faithful, industrious, moderate in their wishes, cautious in their plans, and if they felt that filial confidence in Him which would enable them to cast on Him all responsibility and care.—Abbott. 14. Great cities are Satan's universities.-Jones.

15. Of all men in the world, the sensualist is the greatest schismatic. He breaks himself off from all the affairs and concerns of the invisible world, and wraps himself in this narrow sphere, as one quite cut off from God, and all that are immediately conversant with Him.-Howe.

16. It was the saying of a great saint that he was more afraid of his duties than of his sins; the one often made him proud, the other always made him humble.-Wilcocks.

17. Does God not know infallibly what measure of earthly happiness thou canst be safely trusted with? Will his tenderness allow Him to give thee less? Will his faithfulness suffer Him to give thee more?-Hugh White.

18. If God lay burdens upon us, it is not to oppress our souls, but our sins; and if he make us go through the fire, it is not that the flame may consume us, but that the smoke may kill the caterpillars and locusts that eat the wholesome herbs of our graces.-Horneck.

19. Man can never be saved by sincere obedience, for he cannot yield it; he cannot be saved by imperfect obedience, for God will not accept it.-Dr. Burns.

20. Peace of mind is the state which I very much prefer to joy; because, while joy has for the most part its origin from the contemplation of the benefits conferred upon ourselves, peace has its source altogether in the contemplation of our God, of his goodness and mercy, his truth and faithfulness. Besides, though joy may be quite as pure as peace, it too frequently participates of the animal spirits in connexion with the sublimer feelings of confidence in God; and consequently, has a nearer affinity with our corrupt nature.-C. Simeon.

21. Christ's servants were always the world's fools.-Whitfield.

22. If people were but as careful about their spiritual as about their bodily health, we should have much stronger and taller christians.- Cecil.

23. While profaneness is the broad road to hell, error is the bye path.—Burnett.

24. A little man, if his eye be clear, may look as high, though not as far, as the tallest; the least pigmy may, from the lowest valley, see the sun or stars as fully as a giant upon the highest mountain. Saviour! Thou art now in heaven; the smallness of our person or of our condition cannot let us from beholding Thee. The soul hath no stature; neither is heaven to be had with reaching; only clear Thou the eyes of my faith, and I am high enough.-Bp Hall.

25. When infidelity has once persuaded men that they shall die like beasts, it will soon persuade them that they may live like beasts too.-South.

26. Our necessities may be as many as the sands upon the sea-shore; our desires boundless as the ocean they encircle; our hopes and aspirations high as the heaven that looks down upon them, but in God is a sufficiency of supply, infinite, unfathomable, unexplored.-Miss Jewsbury.

27. I will not be so merry, as to forget God; nor so sorrowful, as to forget myself.—Bp. Hall.

28. The carnal mind is enmity against God, not enmity against the Devil, for it is in friendship with him; not enmity against the angels, for it may delight in the contemplation of their bright excellencies; not enmity against his fellow men, for it may discern much that is loveable and of good report in their natural character - but enmity against God, for He is Holy.

L. N.

EARLY CONVICTIONS.

on the

"My first convictions," says the Rev. John Todd, subject of religion, were confirmed from observing that really religious persons had some solid happiness among them, which I had felt that the vanities of the world could not give. I shall never forget standing by the bed of my sick mother.

"Are you not afraid to die?"

"No!"

"No! Why does the certainty of another state give no concern?"

"Because God has said to me, 'Fear not when thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee."

"The remembrance of this scene, has oftentimes since drawn an ardent prayer from me that I might die the death of the righteous." Penryn.

R. C.

ALEXANDER THE GREAT.

An artist was required to take a sketch of Alexander the Great. The monarch happened to have a scar upon his forehead, which he had received in one of his Macedonian battles, and the painter was for some time at a loss for an expedient to escape showing this deformity on the portrait; at length he thought upon the plan of representing Alexander sitting upon a chair, his head leaning upon his right arm, and the fore finger covering the scar upon his brow. When I sketch the Independent communion, I would put my finger upon the scar by which it may be deformed; when you sketch the Church of Scotland, lay the finger of charity upon the scar, by which she is defaced; when we sketch the Church of England, let us put our finger over the scar, which I fear, is growing in breadth and deformity upon her; and I would say the same of the Church of Rome, only she is all scar; there is no soundness in her at all. (Rev. J. Cumming, A.M.)

Enquiries and Correspondence.

Bad Gifts.

SIR,-In Ezekiel xx. 25, it is written, "I gave them statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live."

How can God, who is all mercy and goodness, give bad gifts to his people? I remain,

Yours,

J. S. W.

God permitted them to follow the wicked devices of their own hearts.

My people would not hearken to my voice, and Israel