and others, helpful, if possible, in clearly apprehending the unspeakable privilege of holding all for Jesus, free from all embarrassments whatever.

66 things

This dear child needs no capital to carry on her business; already she has helped her mother to earn, pay for, and furnish their home, and they have it out of debt. She faithfully and lovingly serves as maid and man of all works in keeping straight" in-doors and out, and aids at the spinning-wheel and loom in earning daily supplies for the family, and no thought enters her heart that in all this there is hardship for a child like her. Evidently she accepts it all as a blessed service of love from Christ for Him and her beloved mother and grandmother. And in her kind of business in making money for the Lord, beyond that which goes to sustain and gladden the home, she needs no investments. Her capital is in the bushes and trees and stones, from which she makes large profits and dividends, all of which go to the one Stockholder, Our Lord Jesus Christ.

all

My friend the manufacturer, on the other hand, whilst he with the same cheerfulness does all for his precious family that the Lord would have him do, and holds all he can make as the Lord's, for the wants of his own household, and for the glory of the kingdom of God, yet requires large investments in mills and other appliances for his kind of business in making money, for Jesus. He requires no investments, as treasures laid up on earth for himself or his children; his treasure and theirs he lays up in heaven, but he increases capital so far forth only as it will enable him to do more for the Lord. And from year to year, as he takes account of stock, his joy is full in finding always inscribed on everything, All for Jesus, and in seeing that

the amount each year put into the blessed channels of the waters of the river of life, to make glad and glorious the city of God, is enlarged.

Other friends I have, very dear ones too, who are differently situated from both of these. They are engaged each in some special work of the Lord, like that of George Müller in England, in which all they have in the world is immediately invested. Their homes, offices, and all, are part and parcel of their special work, and their own support and that of their households come out of it, as all their earnings, as well as the gifts they receive, go into it. This is right for them and is glorious for the Lord.

But it would be wrong for the child to sell the house and farm if she could, or for the manufacturer to sell his mills, and give the money all to George Müller. It would, in the one case, be killing the goose that lays the golden egg, and in the other breaking up the very nest. The grand privilege of "All for Jesus," then, is this, freedom from the bondage of idolatry to the world, in laying up treasures on earth, and from captivity to its vanities and pleasures, on the one hand; and on the other, complete emancipation from the bondage of law as to how much must be, or ought to be given to the Lord, by the perfect liberty of the principle of love which holds all joyously as the Lord's, and asks how much may I do or can I give for this or that branch of the Lord's work, holding always first that one's own household must be provided for with things honest, and that without owing anything of debt; and also that whatever capital is required in the business to which the Lord calls one, must also be held sacred as an investment, all for Jesus.

(To be concluded.)

Acceptable and Rejected Worship. "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is His delight."-PROVERBS XV. 8.

In the first record of worship, after the expulsion from Eden, we find this important lesson taught, that some, but not all, worship is well pleasing to the Most High. Two brothers drew nigh to God with their offerings. The younger was graciously received by God, but the elder was rejected. This difference in treatment was not arbitrary. It was occasioned by the spirit and conduct of the suppliants. To the elder, whose offering was refused, it was said, "If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?" This explains the declaration,-"And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: but unto Cain and to his offering He had not respect." We

examine not any further into that instructive narrative, but receive the lesson that well-doing is essential to acceptable worship; and call to mind that these brothers may be fairly regarded as representing those who since then have gathered around God's altars. Cherished sin will occasion the rejection of any sacrifice, however costly. Loving obedience will ensure the acceptance of any offering, however small.

Sacrifices rejected because of cherished evil.-In many cases those who walk in the crooked ways of transgression cease to enter the house of the Lord. They bring no offering whatever to His altar. This, however, is not invariably the case. There are others who find delight in what is vile, yet often tread the courts of the Lord and endeavour to persuade themselves that sacrifice will

avail instead of loving obedience. There have been such ever since Cain and his offering were rejected.

His

Jehoram, the son of Ahab, trod in the footsteps of his wicked father. sinfulness was such that it brought upon Israel sore judgments. Samaria, where he reigned, was so straitly besieged by the Syrians, that the dreadful predictions of Moses were fulfilled in mothers eating their own children. Jehoram was not penitent, but resolved to take away the life of Elisha, the faithful servant of God and reprover of sin. Yet Jehoram appealed to God in reference to his murderous purpose; and when this cruel king was startled by the horrid narrative concerning the fate of a helpless babe, slaughtered and boiled by its famishing mother, he rent his clothes as he passed by on the wall, and the bystanders perceived that the king had sackcloth within upon his flesh. Jehoram submitted to penance, but repented not of his sins.

When the wicked Jews and priests were intent on securing the immediate sentence of crucifixion against Jesus, they were also preparing to keep the passover. They imagined that to enter into the judgment-hall of Pilate would defile them; but they refused to see that malice and lying and murder were offensive to the God of their fathers. They would not on any account disqualify themselves for presenting the sacrifice of the paschal lamb, yet cherished within their hearts the most diabolical wickedness.

In India, during many generations, there was a race of men whose hereditary profession was to live by murder and theft. Scarcely can British rule suppress their cruel dealings in our day. Yet, in their way, these Thugs were a most devout people. Intense devotion to the worship of the goddess Kali was the link which united them in a strange bond of brotherhood. By these professional assassins religious ceremonies were constantly performed. When deliberately purposing to murder a number of their fellow-creatures, these cruel men would first betake themselves

to the temple of their goddess, and present prayers and offerings there. Bloodshed on a great scale was preceded by special devotions.

Many Roman Catholics have, like Louis XV. of France, and our James II., sought to atone for past and future wickedness by penances and gifts to the priesthood. Numbers in our own day are seldom absent from early mass on Sunday, and seldom fail to drink to excess before night. But even in those sanctuaries where the whole Bible is found, and the complete Gospel is proclaimed, there is danger of men trusting in what is merely external, to the neglect of holiness of life and heart. All have need to bear in mind that sin will mar

any sacrifice. "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.'

Sacrifices accepted because of loving obedience.-Two pigeons, or two mites which make one farthing, were pleasing to God when the offering was presented by one who was striving to run in the way of His commandments; whilst a thousand oxen would have been regarded as an abomination if brought by a wicked man. Those who worship God "in spirit and in truth" are not merely tolerated," the Father seeketh such to worship Him." None will be rejected on account of their youth. "What do you do without a mother to tell all your troubles to ?" said a child whose mother was living to one whose mother was dead. "Mother told me Whom to go to before she died," answered the little orphan, "I go to the Lord Jesus; He was mother's Friend, and He is mine." The other replied, "Jesus Christ is up in the sky. He is a long way off, and has a great many things to attend to in heaven. It is not likely that He can stop to mind you." "I do not know about that," said the orphan; "all I know is He says He will, and that is enough for me."

No suppliant will be rejected on account of his poverty. Nearly a century ago, a man settled in Western Pennsylvania, who owned some land and stock, but he was far from market, and money was scarce. His family being

large, he fell into arrears. He owed his merchant some ten dollars. A day was fixed for payment of the money; but, as the time approached, the money was not forthcoming. A neighbour and he had built a fish-basket. Each was to have what was caught during the night, alternately, but the good man had been very unsuccessful. He was in great

157

distress concerning the payment of the debt. So he spent most of a night in prayer. In the morning there was fish enough in the basket to discharge the debt and provide for the immediate wants of the family. The Lord is so loving as to find pleasure in hearing and answering the supplications of those who serve Him.

SUGGESTIONS FOR SUNDAY-SCHOOL ADDRESSES. BY THE REV. J. FINNEMORE.

I.

Founded upon the Afternoon Lesson for July 12th, 1874.

THIS afternoon's Lesson describes how the Gospel preached by Paul was received by three different classes of hearers. (Where did they live? How did each class receive the Gospel message?) The Thessalonians utterly rejected it; the Athenians entertained it just as they would have entertained any new system of morals or philosophy, being ready to listen to anything new; but the Bereans, having heard the words of the Apostle, examined them with great care and in a right spirit, and then gladly and fully received the Gospel, and devoted themselves to the Lord. The last is the proper result of all preaching and teaching of the Gospel, and the result which your teachers long to witness in you. We shall not dwell upon the first two points, but at once proceed to the third, and try to show how you should listen to the teaching of the Gospel in order to profit by it.

First of all, there must be willingness and desire to know the truth. Without these, it is impossible to learn very much from what we hear. There may be some degree of attention, and even of interest, but these, by themselves, will not make the truth permanently profitable. If you throw a snowball against a wall,

small portions of it will adhere to the wall, but by far the greatest portion will be broken into pieces and lost. So portions of truth will cling to an interested mind, even though there be not a strong desire to know the truth, but the greatest part will be thrown away, producing no immediate saving result. When you come, therefore, to the sanctuary or the school, come with an earnest desire and strong determination to know the truth. Then the word preached or taught will fall into your mind like seed into good ground, and will yield abundant fruit.

It is the truth alone which makes men really wise.-There may be much knowledge and great skill in those who do not know or receive the truth, but in them you will fail to find true wisdom. They have not learnt to direct the powers and resources of their minds to their proper end. The Gospel alone teaches men to do this, showing that as our life is given and sustained by God, so it should also end in Him. "Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."

Then again, the knowledge of the truth is essential to our real happiness, both in this world and in that which is to come.Without it, we remain in ignorance of the deep spiritual significance of God's law and requirements; we cannot, therefore, order our life so as to please Him; neither can we be fortified against those errors which darken the mind, harden the heart and lead astray from God.

There should also be candid and persevering study of the truths so received.

This seems to have been the great point of distinction between the Bereans and the Thessalonians. The latter rejected the truth without thought and examination, but the former made the declarations of the Apostle the subjects of searching inquiry. "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so." It is immediately added, "Therefore many of them believed;" such a result being brought about not only by the preaching of the Gospel, but further by their own inquiry into the truth. Your teachers do not teach you all that may be known on any subject, but hope by what they do teach to beget in you a desire for further information. You should read and study the Bible for yourselves. It invites and will repay the closest scrutiny. Such exercise will make you better and more intelligent Christians than you could otherwise be. The rejection of the truth does not arise from such candid and thorough examination, but from the reverse. If you would be "rooted and grounded" in the truth, you must be not only hearers but searchers.

But further, if you would profit by what you hear, you must be not only hearers and learners, BUT DOERS.-So St. James teaches us:-"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." It is not enough to hear or read the Word of God, admiring its beauty and wondering at its revelations. To derive benefit from it, we must act as it directs, conforming our lives to its precepts and examples. The people who are praised in the Lesson did this. They not only heard of Jesus Christ,

that He had died for them, and that through Him they might have eternal life by trusting in Him, but, having examined the Word of God to see whether these statements accorded with it, they gladly embraced the truth, and trusted in Christ, to the salvation of their souls. In doing this, they would doubtless have to give up many old prejudices and customs, and forsake the strongholds of their previous confidence. But they did not hesitate. All went when they found the truth and the Saviour. So it may be with you. In order to meet the requirements of the Gospel, you may have to give up some coveted pleasure or cherished hope; but if you would be like the noble Bereans, not hearers only, but doers, you must not hesitate. Your eternal salvation is of infinitely greater importance than any earthly pleasure or possession. Let nothing stand in the way: act according to your convictions and the light which you have received. Then you will profit by what you learn, and be blessed in your deed.

II.

Founded upon the Morning Lesson for August 16th, 1874.

THIS morning's Lesson sets before us an example of true friendship, and doubtless you all admired the noble and self-denying conduct of David's friend. (Do you remember his name? How did he manifest his friendship and love?) This gives us an opportunity to offer you some advice on the formation of friendships. "Friendship," says one, "is a strong and habitual inclination in two persons to promote the good and happiness of one another." It is, therefore, a very noble and a very holy thing, and a blessing the possession of which must contribute very largely to the happiness of man. Without it, indeed, life would become almost burdensome. Those who auswer fully to the description are comparatively rare; still, all may have friends who will more or less nearly approach this standard.

Generally speaking, it is during the