ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S DAY.

THOUGH this Apostle is mentioned among our Lord's twelve disciples by the name of Bartholomew, he is generally believed to be the same person as Nathanael, so frequently spoken of in the New Testament. It seems almost certain from the writings of the Evangelists, that he was a Galilean, indeed St. John expressly tells us, that Nathanael was of Cana of Galilee. When Philip, who was the first to conduct this Apostle to the Saviour, told him they had found the long-expected Messiah, "Him of whom Moses and the Prophets did write," he unbelievingly asked, "Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?" alluding no doubt to the vice and immorality for which that city was so notorious. Philip's answer is very striking," Come and see." Our Saviour's reception of the Apostle may convince us, that notwithstanding his apparent unwillingness to accept Him as the Messiah, his heart was yet right in the sight of God. "Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile." The meaning of this expression may appear clearer to you by comparing it with two verses in St. Paul's epistle to the Romans:- "For he is not a Jew which is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew which is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter, whose praise is not of men, but of God." When the Apostle conversed with our Lord, he was at once persuaded of His divinity, and exclaimed, "Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God, Thou art the King of Israel."

After our Lord's ascension, St. Bartholomew, like the rest of the Apostles, attended the work of the ministry.

He visited different parts of the world, to make known the Gospel of Christ. After spending a considerable time in India, and the eastern extremities of Asia, he returned to the northern and western parts; and we read of him in Phrygia, labouring with St. Philip to plant Christianity in that land of darkness, and the shadow of death.

His zeal so enraged the bigoted inhabitants, that they sentenced him to death, and fastened him on a cross. But God, in whose hands are the wills and affections of sinful men, turned their hearts towards him, and he was taken down again, and set at liberty. From Phrygia, he proceeded to Lycaonia, and there, as St. Chrysostom informs us, successfully preached the doctrines of Chris tianity.

The last place he visited was Armenia, where he laboured indefatigably to reclaim the people from the most heathenish idolatry, but his endeavours to "turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God," were, humanly speaking, but ill rewarded. He was once more condemned to death, and cheerfully sealed the testimony he had borne to the truth with his blood.

My dear children, there is no character pourtrayed in Holy Writ, in which we may not find either much to admire or imitate, or much to warn us to "take heed lest we fall." In any difficulty we may meet with in our Christian course, in any doubt which may take possession of our minds, let us have recourse to the written Word. May it not seem to address us in the words of

Philip, when St. Bartholomew was in doubt and perplexity:-" Come and see."

We may, moreover, learn from the conduct of St. Bartholomew, whom the Church on this day calls to our remembrance, not to shut our eyes against the truth. Many of the judgments threatened by the Almighty against the Jews, by the mouths of His prophets, Isaiah and Ezekiel, were sent, "because they saw and believed not," and 66 had eyes and saw not," and because they "shut their eyes, lest they should see with their eyes." My dear children, your lot has fallen in a Christian land, and you have early been taught the value of a Saviour. In this the language of your hearts whenever you are brought as it were into His more immediate presence by the ordinances of the Church of which He is the Head:-"Thou art the Son of God, Thou art the King of Israel." St. Bartholomew did more than acknowledge the Messiah with his lips, and so must you. These are not the times of religious persecution, and therefore you are not likely to be called upon to die in the cause of your God. But, my dear children, you have been called upon to live to the glory of His great Name. You have entered upon your Christian life are you pursuing it steadily, and walking with Christ? When many of our Lord's early disciples "went back, and walked no more with Him," He put this plain question to the Twelve, "Will ye also go away? Let the answer given by St. Peter be ever deeply impressed on your memories: "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of Eternal Life."

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No man is so insignificant as to be sure his example can do no hurt.-Lord Clarendon.

EARLY PIETY.

Wait not until life's joys are fled,
And its bright sun sets in gloom;
Wait not until the hoary head

Feebly bends towards the tomb:
Children! ere those "evil days,"
"Acknowledge God in all your ways."

Would ye form the future tree,
'Tis the sapling must be bent,

So unwearied pains must be

On your early childhood spent,
Ere sin's downward-growing root,
Yields its bitter harvest-fruit.

Would ye train the heaven born soul
To achieve its homeward race,
And attain the distant goal,

Youth must be your starting place,

Ere Satan and the world arise

'Twixt you, and your immortal prize.

Would ye be as conquerors crowned
When ye quit the battle field!
Hear betimes the trumpet's sound,

Take the armour ye must wield;

First, and foremost in the strife,

Your's shall be the "Crown of Life."

ST. CYPRIAN.

THIS eminent saint, when on his road to martyrdom, was told by the emperor, that he would give him time to consider whether he had not better cast a grain of incense into the fire, in honour of idols, than die so degrading a death. The martyr nobly answered: "There needs no deliberation in the case."

Short Tales for Little Folk.

THE BROKEN PLATE.

"MOTHER, you have mended the plate, I am so glad, and will try and not break any more." "Mary," said her mother, "bring your work, and we will see if this broken plate can teach us a lesson. Do you remember last year breaking a saucer, and saying, you did not care about it, you could not help it, and you put the pieces in a cupboard out of sight, and thought no more about it; and one of them was lost, and the others rendered useless." "Oh yes! I recollect it very well, but I hope I have learnt better; for when I broke this plate, I felt very sorry, and could not be happy until I had told you what had done." "Yes, Mary, you did, and what else did you say?" I asked you if you could mend it, and when you told me you could, I was greatly pleased. But what can I learn from all this?" "Tell me, Mary, in the first instance, what was wanting in you?" "I think it was wrong of me not to be sorry, and to try and hide what I had done." "Yes," replied her mother, you are quite right, it was repentance that was lacking in you and what little girls and grown-up people all need. What does the Catechism say is required of persons to be baptized?" Mary answered, "Repentance and faith." "And what are the fruits of repentance?" "Forsaking of sin.” "Yes, my child, always remember being sorry for a fault is the first step to amendment, and who ever wishes to be good must repent of his sins. It must come before faith; pleasure: our Catechism places it first. when you broke the plate, you would not have come to me, and had the happiness of finding I could mend it. In every sin you commit you must act as you did about the plate; grieve over it, and do not lose sight of it by putting it in a cupboard, and allowing time to pass on, till it becomes too late to overcome your sin; but if you truly feel wretched about it, you will begin to look for help, finding it necessary, you will go to Christ, confess your trespasses, and earnestly ask His pardon

the trouble before the

Had you not felt sorry