N–O
A VICIOUS horse is none the better tempered because the kicking straps prevent his dashing the carriage to atoms; and so a man is none the better really because the restraints of custom and providence may prevent his following that course of life which he would prefer. Poor fallen human nature behind the bars of laws, and in the cage of fear of punishment, is none the less a sad creature; should its Master unlock the door we should soon see what it would he and do. A young leopard which had been domesticated, and treated as a pet, licked its master’s hand while he slept, and it so happened that it drew blood from a recent wound; the first taste of blood trans forme d*the gentle creature into a raging wild beast; yet it wrought no real change, it only awakened the natural ferocity which had always been there. A change of nature is required for our salvation — mere restraints are of small
CATO RES -the Two in a Christian.
A Christian lives in two worlds at one and the same time — the world of flesh and the world of spirit. It is possible to do both. There are certain dangerous gases, which from their weight fall to the lower part of the place where they are, making it destructive for a dog to enter, but safe for a man who holds his head erect. A Christian, as living in the world of flesh, is constantly passing through these. Let him keep his head erect in the spiritual world, and he is safe. He does this so long as the Son of God is the fountain whence he draws his inspiration, his motives, encouragement, and strength. — George Philip.
NOVELTY Influence of.
YES, the people gathered in crowds around the statue, and looked at it again and again. It was not the finest work of
art in the city, nor the most intrinsically attractive. Why, then, did the citizens of Verona stand in such clusters around the effigy of Dante on that summer’s evening? Do you guess the reason? It was a fete in honour of the poet? No, you are mistaken; it was but an ordinary evening, and there was nothing peculiar in the date or the events of the day. You shall not be kepi in suspense, the reason was very simple, the statue was new, it had, in fact, only been unveiled the day before. Every one passes Dante now, having other things to think of; the citizens are well used to his solemn visage, and scarcely care that he stands among them. Is not this the way of men? I am sure it is their way with us ministers. New brooms sweep clean. What crowds follow a new man! how they tread upon one another to hear him, not because he is so very wise or eloquent, much less because he is eminently holy, but he is a new man, and curiosity must gmtify i’self! In a few short months, the idol of the hour is stale, flat, and unprofitable; he is a mediocrity; there are scores as good as he; indeed, another new man, at the end of the town, is far better. Away go the wonder-hunters! Folly brought them, folly removes them: babies must have new toys.
“Sir,” said the Duke of Wellington to an officer of engineers, who urged the impossibility of executing the directions he had received, “I did not ask your opinion, I gave you my orders, and I expect them to be obeyed.” Such should be the obedience of every follower of Jesus. The words which he has spoken are our law, not our judgments or fancies. Even if death were in the way it is — “Not ours to reason why — Ours, but to dare and die;”
and, at our Master’s bidding, advance through flood or
OBEYING GOD — with Delight.
“I WISH I could mind God as my little dog minds me,” said a little boy, looking thoughtfully on his shaggy friend; “he always looks so pleased to mind, and I don’t.” What a painful truth did this child speak! Shall the poor little dog thus readily obey his master, and we rebel against God, who is our Creator, our Preserver, our Father, our Saviour, and the bountiful Giver of everything we love? — Christian Treasury.
OMNISCIENCE.
A plate of sweet cake? was brought in and laktupon the table. Two children played upon the hearthnif before the fire. “Oh, 1 want one of these cakes. ’ ,; cried the little boy, jumping up as soon as his mother went out, and going on tiptoe towards the table. “No, no,” said his sister, pulling him back; “no, no; you must not touch.” “Mother won’t know it; she did not count them,” he cried, shaking her off, and stretching out his hand. “If she didn’t, perhaps God counted,” answered the other. The little boy’s hand was stayed. Yes, children, be sure that God counts! — Children’s Missionary Record for 1852.
ORDER IN DOTY- its Beauty.
L.INN.EUS, the great Swedish botanist, observing the beautiful order which reigns among flowers, proposed the use of a floral clock, to be composed of plants which open and close their blossoms at particular hours; as for instance the dandelion which opens its petals at six in the morning, the hawkweed at seven, the succory at eight, the celandine at nine, and so on; the closing of the flowers being marked with an equal regularity so as to indicate the progress of the afternoon and the evening.
“Thus has each hour its own rich hue,
And its graceful cup or bell.
In whose coloured vase may sleep the dew,
Like a pearl in an ocean shell,”
Would it not be a lovely thing if thus with flowers of grace and blossoms of virtue we bedecked every passing hour; fulfilling all the duties of each season and honouring him who maketh the outgoings of the morning and the evening to rejoice! Thus with undeviating regularity to obey the influence of the Sun of Righteousness, and give each following moment its due, were to begin the life of heaven beneath the
ORDEH — of Gracious Operations,
“A DISCUSSION arose between some members of a Bible class, in reference to the first Christian exercise of the converted soul. One contended that it was penitence or sorrow; another that it was /car, another love, another hope, another faith, for how could one fear or repent without belief? Elder
G, overhearing the discussion, relieved the minds of the
disputants with this remark : — ‘Can you tell which spoke of the wheel moves first? You may be looking at one spoke, and think that it moves first, but they all start together. Thus, when the Spirit of God operates upon the human heart, all the graces begin to affect the penitent soul, though the individual may be more conscious of one than another.’”