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after teacher, but my heart ached still, and I was as far from

rest as ever.

"One morning I was walking, in sadness of spirit, in the neighbourhood of my father's mill, when I heard a sweet young voice singing,—

'There is a fountain filled with blood,

Drawn from Immanuel's veins;

And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains.'

The words were not new to me, but the earnestness with which they were sung, the heart conviction of their truth which thrilled in the voice of the singer, was something quite new. I listened, and little Hannah-for it was she

went on,

The dying thief rejoiced to see

That fountain in his day;

And there have I, though vile as he,
Washed all my sins away.'

"That morning was a memorable one in my history; for in it I came to learn that what I had been anxiously striving to do for myself had been done for me by infinite love and wisdom. I had been striving to save myself, and had not caught a glimpse of the mighty Redeemer who stood waiting to take the work of my salvation on Himself. I resigned myself to His gracious care, to His tender promises, to His all-sufficient grace, and I found rest at last. The world, literature, wealth, confession, fasting, ordinances, and all my own efforts had proved broken cisterns, without a drop of living water in them. His promise alone I found true years ago, as I find it true now: 'Come unto Me, all ye that are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest; take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls." "

Reader, has this narrative no meaning for you? If you are pining under the burden of your sins, it should have; if you are seeking by any means of human invention to quiet conscience and to be at peace with God, it should have; if

you are dissatisfied with the best good the world can offer, it should have. The Saviour-the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever-is still unchanged, and He is ready at this moment, if in penitence and faith you resign yourself into His holy keeping, to give you that peace which the world can neither give nor take away. Every other refuge in which you may seek safety and rest will, sooner or later, turn out to be a refuge of lies; but the refuge to be found in Jesus will never disappoint your hopes: it will abide for ever.

The Tunnel.

N my musings I saw a tunnel leading through a high mountain. It was broad, with tortuous and rugged sides. Wide, because all living must pass through it. Along its sides were here and there yawning caverns leading to unexplored and dangerous places, and below were pitfalls, into which all travellers were liable to stumble.

In view of its perils, Wisdom at length devised the construction of a smooth pathway in the centre. It was elevated above the common level, so as to carry it over all obstacles. It was straight, but narrow, because comparatively few would walk therein, and to render them more cautious of their steps.

There was a light to illumine this path and make it more safe and easy to walk in. But the light was seen only by those who were in the way. The multitude crowded on each side of it, but their eyes were closed. The light they might have seen, if they would but open their eyes. Every moment: many would fall by the way, or wander forth into the bypaths which led far from the light and to certain destruction.

Upon each side of this narrow way were steps leading from the dark and dangerous ground to the place of safety, and upon this illumined path were kind watchmen, calling

to the wanderers and inviting them to come up. The poor, blind, and perishing were taken by the hand and led up the steps, and cords were also let down, with which many were gently drawn to the path of life.

Occasionally could be seen an anxious person inquiring the way, and at times a larger and more earnest company of watchmen and other wise ones were engaged in calling upon the travellers in the broad way to come up and be saved. At these periods more anxiety was seen in the faces of these travellers, and more inclination to go up to the way of light and safety. It was sometimes hoped that all would choose the path of wisdom; but, strangely enough, there would soon be a lull among the watchmen, and the benighted multitude would walk farther from the light, and appear more inclined to wander away from it.

A notable fact was that many who walked in the narrow way seldom or never joined in the watchmen's call to the wanderers in the broad road. They seemed at ease and resting in the feeling that they themselves were safe: "The watchmen are employed to invite the wanderers to come up,” they said, “and why need we speak or manifest concern for them ?"

Stranger still, those who had set their feet in the narrow way were not all careful to walk therein; many were inclined to return to the perilous ways they had so lately escaped. It was much of the labour incumbent upon the watchmen to caution against a turning down to the world, as the broad road was termed. Despite all entreaty and warning, some even left the shining path, and seemed lost in the crowd.

At the entrance of this tunnel the young were almost the only ones seen to go up to the way of life. The broad way grew broader as the multitude walked farther from the light. The yawning openings were more frequent and more dangerous. The watchmen found it more and more difficult to gain the attention of the multitude. It was rare that any who had travelled the whole way, or a greater part, without

a desire to go upwards, ever set foot upon the steps which still invited them to walk thereon.

And I saw the end of great multitudes who continued to walk in the broad road. Near by the shining gateway through which the wise and faithful ones were permitted to pass to the regions of eternal safety was a dreadful abyss of sorrow and remorse. It was then too late to retrace those steps so long taken in the broad road; and into the deep pit to which their wandering and wisdom-defying course had led them they were plunged.

The spectacle was terrifying, but they had walked in a way of their own choosing, and now realized the fruits of their perverseness. The voice of entreaty and warning no

longer reached them.

It was too late-for ever too late!

"With all your Heart."

HE Divine promise is, "Then shall ye seek Me and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart." Have we been a long time without the cheering and quickening influences of God's Spirit, and do we now feel a desire to glorify our Divine Master by returning to Him? Let us ask Him "with all our heart" to help us put away sin and seek His glory. He promises that He "will be found by us, and we shall feel that He has brought us into a large place, has "set our feet upon a rock," and put a new song in our mouth, even praise to our God. Let us do this, and our cry will be, "Hear what great things the Lord has done for us."

Christian brethren, are we impressed with the truth that we need God's blessing and the reviving influences of His Spirit upon our churches? Let us seek the Lord with all our hearts. "He will be inquired of by the house of Israel to do it for them."

God says to His people, "Return unto Me, and I will return unto you." "Ye shall seek Me and find Me, when ye

shall search for Me with all your heart." Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit." white to harvest; are we ready to reap?

"Herein is My

The fields are

Christmas.

HERE breathes a murmur in the air,
whisper on the wind,

A message echoing everywhere
Of peace to all mankind.

The happy children come and go

With mysteries of delight;

And church-bells ring across the snow :-
'Tis Christmas Eve to-night.

Glad hopes and wishes fond we weave
For those we cannot see:

Oh, may the joys of Christmas Eve
E'en now encircle thee!

And echoes of good-will and peace
Ring out with silvery chime;
And care depart and hope increase
In this glad Christmas time!

And if the thought of other days
Brings sadness to thy brow,
If, gazing on some vacant place,
Thy voice is soft and low,

The message borne on angels' wings
Thy drooping heart shall cheer;

And may the light which Christmas brings

Illumine thy New Year!

Emily S. Elliott.

PRINTED BY W. CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET AND CHARING CROSS.

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