is, though we may not be able to say well what it means. Joy is a good thing. Sometimes it is got in a bad way, and by bad means. That is not well. It will not stay long if it be got by doing wrong, or if the heart be full of sin. Sorrow came by sin, and sin still causes sorrow, even when the sin which brought it is put away. There is no joy so sure and so lasting as that which is brought by goodness. How, then, may we get joy?

2. Two ways of living.-Hear now what Paul once said to another, "Let me have joy of thee." So we may give joy to others. Do we not know this and feel it every day? May not a brother give joy to a sister? a child to a parent? friends and companions each to the other? Think of the many ways in which you have given and got joy. But we may also give sorrow, and get it, too, from others. Do not parents sometimes get sad hearts through their children? not even brothers and sisters give sorrow to each other? How sad that life should be passed in spreading sorrow! How blessed to pass a life in spreading joy! The one life is like a cloud giving no rain, but spreading gloom. The other life is like a ray of sunshine, cheering and brightening all it touches. Which shall your life be like ? But how may we thus give joy? Our verse will teach us.

Do

3. Joy in the Lord.-"Joy of thee in the Lord." That was what Paul wanted. He knew this was the one only sure way of getting it. But what

did he mean? "Joy in the Lord," must mean such joy as the Lord would approve, and got in such a way as would please Him. Paul asked the man to whom he wrote, to show kindness to one who had grieved him. Some would rather try to get joy by grieving those who wrong them. But this is not the Lord's way. He says to all, "Do good to them that hate you.' This is, indeed, a way to get joy, and a way to spread joy also. Paul wanted not the good done to himself, but if done to another it gave him joy. True joy is "the fruit of the Spirit,' something which God Himself causes to grow up in the heart of those who love Him. In His "presence is fulness of joy."

REVISION.-What is joy? How did sorrow

come? How may we get joy? How may we spread it? What is " 'joy in the Lord"? How did Paul wish to get it?

December 27.-A Christian Warfare. 2 TIMOTHY iv. 7: "I have fought a good fight."

1. What Paul fought.-The end of Paul's life was near. That death was drawing nigh which he said would be "gain." As he looked back over the long years which had passed, he felt like a warrior who was putting off his armour at the close of a long and fierce battle, and he said, "I have fought a good fight." But against what had Paul fought? Against evil men: some had tried to lead him astray from what was right; some had done him great wrong. Against Satan. He had tried ever to get sin into Paul's heart, and to hinder the good work he was doing, but Paul strove against him. Against his own evil heart. This was, perhaps, the hardest fight of all. For Paul,

like all other men, was a sinner. The thoughts of his heart were evil, and it was only by the grace which God gave him that he could keep down and conquer the evil within him. 2. How Paul fought. He fought against men with good words and kind deeds. These are sharp and strong weapons. He fought, too, by the patient enduring of ill. How meekly he bore suffering! how bravely and cheerfully too! Then, he fought with the Word of God. How often he turned aside the rage of men and the malice of Satan with this weapon! Who had taught him to use this? How did Jesus fight against the temptations of Satan? Paul also fought with prayer. This brought him help from God, and none could stand against him then. And he now looked back upon "the world" of evil men and things; "the flesh," his own bad heart, which was now changed; and "the devil;" and felt that by the grace of God he could say he had overcome them all. Was not that a "good fight"?

3. All must fight.-Have we enemies? Yes, the very same which Paul had, and the same need to fight against them. Have we his weapons? The very same also. Even little children must strive against sin. Do not naughty companions try to lead you to

LITTLE DAVID.

RETURNING from labour one evening, I was informed that a little girl had called to say that her brother was very ill and wanted to see his teacher. As soon as possible I went. At the door I was met by the mother, who had been watching for my coming. With tears in her eyes she said, "We are glad you are come; David has been so much wanting to see you. Last Sunday (you know what a bitter day it was) he was very poorly, and I wanted him to stay home from school, but he wished so much to go that I had not the heart to refuse him. He went; but he had scarcely strength enough left to return home. With great effort he reached the door, when he fell down exhausted, and he has been very unwell ever since. Last night he was so ill we did not expect he would have lived till the morning."

This statement did not come upon me unexpectedly. I had often looked upon the boy's frail form and flushed face and listened to his short breathing, as he took his seat in the class, and had thought that consumption, that fell destroyer of the youth and beauty of England, had marked him for its prey. But the thought that I was about to lose one of my best scholars made me very sad. He had never given me the least trouble: it was quite a pleasure to talk to him, as he sat listening with rapt attention to my entreaties that all in the class would at once seek an interest in the Saviour's precious blood.

When I entered the house, I found that he was a little better, and able to come down-stairs. He was sitting in an old arm-chair drawn to the table, on which lay his Bible, which he had been

reading. When he saw me his eyes shot forth their welcome. I said,—

"I am very sorry to see you so ill." "I am a little better to-day," he said; "but last night I was so ill I thought I should have died."

"And were you ready if God had called you?" I inquired. "Yes."

"When did the change take place? tell me all about it."

"You know last Sunday in school we read the twelfth chapter of Ecclesiastes, where it says, 'Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth;' and you explained it to us. I felt a great deal then, though I did not say anything to any one. After I got home I was so poorly that I could not go to the evening preaching, so I stayed home to mind the house. After mother had gone out, I took my Bible and read the eleventh and twelfth chapters of Ecclesiastes. When I read the ninth verse of the eleventh chapter and the first verse of the twelfth chapter, I thought my 'evil days' are already come, and the years in which I can say, 'I have no pleasure in them.' Ithought, I have not remembered my Creator in the days of my youth.' I knelt down by the fireside and cried to God for mercy; I wept and prayed until God spoke peace to my soul, and now I feel my sins are all forgiven. I should so much like to see father, and tell him about it. But I have written a letter for him to read if I should be gone before he returns."

None but those who have been accustomed to rejoice over souls born for glory and souls for whose conversion they have watched and laboured, can tell the joy caused in my heart by this

narrative. We knelt together, and from that humble hearth there went up heartful thanks to Him Who had saved us by His grace, and filled our hearts with peace and joy and love.

The end was not so near as we anticipated. For several months David had to wait before his change came. It was not until the summer that he passed away. Twice each week I visited him, and always found him resigned; willing to get better if it were God's will, but if not, "to depart and to be with Christ." Just before he died, he called his father and mother and sisters to his bedside, and bade them an affectionate farewell, dividing his few

EDUCATIONAL

Essay on the "Examination of Sunday-School Teachers."

AT the Quarterly Meeting of the Castleford Wesleyan Circuit SundaySchool Union, held at Methley, an Essay was read by the Secretary, Mr. T. H. Gorle, on the "Examination of SundaySchool Teachers." The Essay, in a somewhat condensed form, is here appended:

There cannot be two opinions as to the value and importance of Sundayschool work; consequently, we think that all earnest and thoughtful persons engaged therein will hail any measure or series of measures inaugurated to increase that efficiency. Living as we do in an age when all things are more or less tested, we cannot expect that any work which has attained gigantic proportions will escape the notice of all who from time to time are called upon to support it; there can be no doubt that results will be looked for, and especially will this be the case with Sabbath-school operations; hence the necessity for increased efficiency. promote this end we must use every legitimate means within our power. Whilst the closet must ever take precedence in preparation for this work, there must be intelligence exhibited in the mode of working; and to keep pace with the increasing facilities afforded to

To

treasures amongst them. But his greatest treasure, his Bible, out of which he always read in Sunday-school, he reserved for his teacher. I was just in time to receive it from his hands as a last token of his esteem and love. I need not say that it will always be reckoned amongst my greatest treasures. God has given me great encouragements to labour on. Three of my scholars have passed away leaving a blessed testimony behind that they are gone to be with Jesus: whilst from three others I have heard the glad tidings that they have "liberty found, through the blood of the Lamb."

the young for obtaining elementary knowledge, there must be on the part of Sabbath-school teachers no objection raised to any method which will tend to their improvement, which in effect means their increased usefulness.

Let us then remark that it is thought one means for the attainment of the end desired is to be found in the examination of those who are willing and anxious to be engaged in this department of Christian labour. We shall find this principle adopted more or less in the world, as well as in the Church. Take our own denomination, as the one we are most familiar with, and you observe a numerous body of men employed who are called lay-preachers; these men give voluntary service to the church of their choice, but they are not allowed, and rightly too, to go up and down preaching without control and examination. They have to submit to pass through a certain routine, and they are accepted or rejected according to their proficiency. Why, then, should Sabbath - school teachers be exempt from a similar process? Their work is of a very important character, they have committed to their charge immortal spirits to train for Christ and heaven; should they not be apt to teach, patient and well up to their work? And how is this to be

known unless they are examined? No one desirous of being successful in this work would object to any proper method which would tend to make his or her efficiency known. Right-minded persons would look upon such an ordeal as a means of improvement, for they would necessarily prepare for the time when they would be required to answer questions, and it would most effectually lead to their benefit intellectually, morally and spiritually.

The duty now before me seems to be:-First, to consider the mode of such examination; and secondly, to suggest the line of question to be submitted to the candidates.

The

I. As to the mode of such examination -the question arises whether it should take place immediately upon the person offering his or her services to the School, or whether there should be a little space given for trial and preparation. That, however, may be left as an open question, and we may next discuss whether the questions should be asked orally or in writing; and who should examine? I am inclined to questioning by the living voice, as it may be made intensely interesting and instructive to all concerned. writing system would be less likely to attract attention, and might sometimes, perhaps, exclude some who would be very eligible for the work, but who might not be so well up in penmanship as to make it easy for them to do what would be required. Then as to the examiner: I am inclined to a similar method to that adopted in the case of local-preachers—the Chairman of the Meeting to put the questions, and the teachers determine by their votes as to the admission or rejection of the candidate. Of course,

NOTICES

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if it be a written examination, the papers could be read over to the teachers in their usual meeting, and the decision taken as in the other case. II. The questions to be asked should come under four heads:-(a.) As regards personal experience. Have you given your heart to God? Do you now experience a sense of the Divine favour? (b.) The second series should have reference to the work itself. This is necessary, to see whether the person has a just appreciation of the responsibility, the encouragements and the discouragements of the work, and should be something like the following:-Do you enter upon this work feeling its responsibilities? Do you rightly estimate its importance? Deathless souls to be trained for glory. Do you realise that the children will probably be troublesome, sometimes try your patience, and are you prepared to exercise patience and overcome tendencies to discouragement? (c.) The third series should comprise questions on the principal truths taught in the Bible. Do you believe in the inspiration of the Bible? What does it teach respecting the Deity? As regards man? His origin? His fall? The redemptive scheme? Give the words of the Scripture summing up the Gospel in a single passage? What is the teaching of Jesus respecting children? Does He attract or repel them? (d.) The rest of the questions should refer to discipline and the regulations of the School, and might be as follows:-Are you prepared to be punctual, regular and attentive to the discipline of the School? Will you occasionally visit the homes of the children composing your class, and invite the co-operation of the parents?

fascinating little book was written, as the preface states, in the hope of interesting young readers in our Indian empire; and this it is certainly calculated to do, for the story of these noble lives, as