my physical strength has seemed to decline. True, I have sufficient energy to enable me to perform my daily duties as they are at present; but how terribly wretched it is to feel so languid at the end of each day! And those hopes which formerly shone so brightly, and which seemed so easy to realize-where are they? If only health had been granted me, then I should surely have been successful; but now it is impossible. Every desire which is worth being fulfilled, every object which is worth seeking, every achievement which is worth accomplishing; in fact, everything for which I care, depends upon an effort which it is past my power to make."

While musing thus he was startled by what seemed to be a voice, saying: "Seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." The sentence sounded so distinctly that for the moment he imagined the words were spoken by some one near; still he soon realized that they were the utterance of an inward prompting. The effect, however, soon passed away, and again he was wrapped in reverie. He thought of his office and routine of duties; he compared himself with those who occupied the higher positions around him; he saw in some of them what he regarded as mental incapacity, a lack of business ability, frequent neglect of duty, and a moral character of such a standard that he would not even compare it with his own. Considering these conditions, he wondered how it was that his steady application, his uniform desire to discharge every duty satisfactorily, seemed to be unnoticed, and that he was passed by while others were promoted, and that he still occupied the comparatively low position which he had held so long. He asked himself if it was because he possessed too large an opinion of his own qualifications that he was again and again disappointed; or was it because man cannot control his destiny, that he could make no advance? and must he, therefore, be content always to do the drudgery of life? or-and here he paused, as if lost for expression; but above the emotional tumult within his

wounded spirit, as if in answer to his distressed inquiry, a whispering voice said: "Seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." This time the sentence bore elements of hope. He felt sure that the message was sent to meet his case. Regarding it. as such, his countenance brightened, his step became firm and fast, and soon he reached his home, where he entered his chamber and bowed himself before the great eternal God, whose power is not stronger than His love; and a few fervent words floated from quivering lips to the throne of grace.

Rising from his first true devotion, the young man again gave himself up to abstraction. This time his thoughts were less distressing. Although marked by regret, his reflections were hopeful. By what infatuation is it," he asked himself, "that all these years I have persistently neglected the chief thing upon which I was taught that all real happiness and success depended? What ought I to expect but the most miserable failure, while I am untrue to my early instruction and my inner self? Now I see that I have sought to raise an edifice, and have carefully planned and provided for everything but the foundation. I have been battling with the waves of an adverse sea, and have systematically avoided that help upon which my very life has depended. I have always felt that a power higher than my own has been at work through all the details of my career; and yet, with a presumption equalled only by its folly, this power has been resisted. Still even now it seems to be striving with me, and will not leave me to myself."

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Again he knelt in prayer, and, pouring out his heart to God, closed with the declaration : Father, Thou shalt be the guide of my life."

From this time his troubled spirit was at rest. Soon he felt that a gracious Providence was directing his steps aright. Yet he realised that the world was still before him, and that very much depended upon his personal efforts in making

satisfactory progress. Under the stimulating influence of dawning success, he threw himself into business duties with unremitting energy, confident that prosperity would mark his course.

He had miscalculated his power of physical endurance, however; and the extra pressure proving too much for his strength, his health gave way. Now came the trial of

his faith. For months he was laid aside by prostration, during which period a spirit of quiet resignation was nurtured, so that he calmly committed his life and interests into his heavenly Father's hands. Yielding himself unreservedly into such keeping, he was contented to wait the issue; nor was he troubled with any great anxiety as to the result of his illness. He often looked on to the glorious immortality, to which at times he seemed to be brought very near, and wondered whether it was soon to be his home, or whether he was first to gain some faint impression of the home in heaven by experience in a home on earth. To have chosen for himself would have been a difficult task; but, conscious that higher judgment had decided it, he gladly reposed in the assurance that wisdom and mercy determined his appointed time.

Winter was approaching when he was first taken ill, and all through the long cold months he was a prisoner to his room; but the night of the seasons at length gave place to day, and spring gladdened the earth. The spirit which breathed upon the leafless branches, and clothed them with life and beauty, also refreshed the sickly form of him who lay watching the opening of the buds. As the summer came on our invalid recovered strength, which continuing gradually to increase, gave hope of his soon being enabled to resume his business duties. Several times inquiries, with expressions of concern, had reached him from his employers, who during his absence had discovered his value, as they had not done before.

One day, when he had made considerable recovery, it was proposed to him that he should undertake a commission

of trust to a branch establishment in the south of France as soon as he should be equal to the journey. This being in accordance with his wishes, he accepted the engagement, and in three weeks started on his way. The change proved so beneficial to his health that soon the last traces of his disease left him, and he found himself rapidly gaining strength. As the business upon which he was sent prolonged his residence abroad, another year had dawned before he returned to England, in the full vigour of health and strength, where he found that the successful execution of his commission had gained for him respect and esteem, and material advantage beyond what he had even anticipated.

Need we follow him further? We have seen enough to prove how completely the promise was fulfilled: "All these things shall be added unto you.” We will say only, that scon the home he had often pictured was possessed; and its joys, with his many other blessings, led him daily to bow his spirit in thankful adoration to that God whom he had made his trust.

Friends, there is a way by which the necessities of our nature, those indefinite yearnings after something higher and better, of which we are often the subjects, may be met; and also there is an ample supply of material good at our service. By a variety of means we strive to obtain these benefits, but in vain, till we "seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness." If we would always follow in this course, we might divest ourselves of much care and anxiety which now are our burden. Then we might in reality—

"Live exempt from care

By the energy of prayer;

Strong in faith, with mind subdued,
Yet elate with gratitude."

I

AM in such perplexity:

My sins have ta'en such hold of me,
My soul is full of fear:

So black and dark it is within,
L'en overwhelmèd with its sin-

Oh, when will light appear?

How often has the Spirit striven
To draw my thoughts from earth to heaven;
Whilst I with stubborn will,

Basely rejecting each appeal,

Endeavoured only to conceal

The void which nought could fill.

Lord, Thou alone canst ease my pain;
Thou wilt not let me ask in vain;

Hear Thou my humble prayer.
Stretch forth Thy strong sustaining hand,
And rescue me, e'en as a brand,
From the consuming fire.

Lord, I most truly do repent;
Pardon my former discontent;
Soften the heart of stone.

Be ever near me lest I fall,

Teach me to look to Thee for all:
Oh, take me for Thine own.

The Loss of Her Majesty's Ship "Eurydice.”

ER MAJESTY'S ship Eurydice was commissioned at Portsmouth April 7th, 1877, and was ordered at once to the West Indies. It was a training-ship, and had on board a crew of more than three hundred, mostly lads and young men. It left Bermuda to return home, on March 6th, 1878, and had so prosperous and speedy a voyage that it passed the Lizard on Sunday, March 24th, and was seen off Dunnose about four o'clock in the afternoon of that day. Every sail was spread, for the weather was fine, and all on board must have felt