in. She could recall the strange all of joy which came over her en kneeling down to pray that ning, she thought, I have obeyed Christ's comnd; I have taken up my cross 1 followed him." She remembered the words of a and, who, waiting for her in the tibule of the church, when the vice was over, had met her with words, *You have buckled on the arur, to-day, Maggie.' Yes, she felt it. She had enlisted the grand army of the Cross, and w what should she do to serve the at "Captain of our salvation"? "I can never be satisfied," she ought, "with simply going to arch, hearing the sermon, and then ing away. What shall I do? I anot old enough yet to teach in 18 Sunday-school, and I have no me to go around the streets and ther in scholars. If I was only th and had plenty of time, I would O much good; but what can I, a or sewing-girl, do for Christ?" Thus thinking, she turned almost consciously into a street which she d not usually follow in her walk me, and looking around, she ticed at an upper window the face an old lady whom she had somemes met at church. "Poor old lady, she looks lonely," ought Maggie. "I wonder if she ould not like to see me. She has ot been at church for some weeks, I hink." She rang the door bell. It was nswered by a woman, who said, arelessly, in reply to her inquiry, " Oh, yes, mother's in. She can't o out much now, for she is rather oorly. Go straight up-stairs, if you Want to see her." Maggie toiled up the steep bare tairs to the third story front room, at whose window she had seen the old lady. A feeble voice said, "Come in," as she knocked lightly, and she entered. The room was large, but almost bare of furniture, the carpet faded and ragged, and the rocking-chair in which the old lady sat, rather rickety. It was evident enough that the slatternly daughter-in-law cared very little for her husband's old mother. Maggie was received with unbounded expressions of joy. "It does my heart good," said the old lady, fondly, to see some one from the church. I have not been able to go these five or six weeks, and not one has come to see me but the minister. He's a dear, good man, but he has so much to do that I can't expect him to spare the time to come very often. I was just feeling rather lonely when you came in, for I can't see to read or sew, and sometimes my fingers tremble so, that I can't hold the knitting needles." "Do you ever have any one to read to you?" asked Maggie. "Oh, no; Jane says she can't spare the time; and as for the children, they would rather play than read." "I have a beautiful book at home," said Maggie,. Would you like me to bring it, and read a little to you to-morrow?" "I should like it so much," said the lady, joyfully; "but I should love still more to hear a few words every day out of the best of books," and she laid her hand upon her Bible. "It was so hard when I found that my eyes were too dim to make out the words of that blessed book. It seemed almost too much to bear, but I asked the dear Lord for patience, and I trust he has given it to me." Tears started to Maggie's eyes as she thought how little she had valued the privilege of being able to read God's word, but she said nothing. "I hope you love that book," said the aged disciple, looking earnestly at the young girl. "Indeed I do," answered Maggie, earnestly. Then beginning, rather timidly at first, she told of her new-found love for Christ, and how the Bible had become to her also the most precious book in the world. It was now growing dark, and Maggie, starting up as she concluded, said that she must go home at once, for her mother would be wondering at her stay. "You little know how much good you have done me, my dear child," said the old lady, as she bade her good-bye. You have been like one of the blessed sunbeams which God sends to brighten up the dark places of this world." Maggie's heart swelled with joy. and thankfulness as she once more turned homeward. Here was work which God had meant her to do, and she could not thank Him enough for pointing it out so plain. Weeks passed away, and every evening as soon as the stroke of six released her from her day's work, Maggie hurried to the home of her aged friend, and then a delightful hour was spent in reading and conversation. One evening in the course of her Bible reading, she came to the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew: "Inasmuch as ye have done it anto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Maggie, darling," said her old friend, "did you ever apply that to yourself?" "No," said Maggie, looking from the book in wonder; "wh has it to do with me?" "Do you not see that Jesus sa if you visit one of the least of disciples in sickness, you have don it unto Him? So in coming her every night to visit a poor old woman the blessed Lord Jesus will counti a kindness done to Himself." Who can tell the feeling of that brightened Maggie's heart the night as she walked home alons in the darkness! The thought seemed almost too great and beautiful to be true, but the word of God assured her that it was even so. Young Christian, wishing vaguely to do something for the Master, if you would hear Christ saying those blessed words to you, go and do likewise THE FAMILY LIBRARY. WE are always glad-and so, we doubt not, are many of our readersto hear of a new book by Dr. Guthrie. There is so much evangelical teach ing in his writings, so much freshness of illustration, so much force expression, and so much spiritual power, that to read one of his book is always a treat; and it is scarcely possible to rise from one of the without being better as well as wiser,-without being stronger for w as well as more confirmed in faith. The latest book of Dr. Guthrie Our Father's Business,* is eminently practical. It consists of eigh sermons or sections: Our Model; Our Object; Our Chief End, t Glory of God; Our Chief End, the Good of Man; Christian Decisic The Christian's Work; Perseverance in Well-doing; Man's Inability God's Ability; The Believer's Reward; Good Works. On all the themes the author discourses with his accustomed freshness and spirit power; on all of them he has much to say which it is eminently wor while to read. We should be glad if our recommendation should lead its being read and pondered in a thousand families. It is a book to read aloud. * Alexander Strahare The Preacher's Counsellor, by Athanase Coquerel, is a book espeially for young preachers. It answers most of the practical questions hich are often put without obtaining an answer; and its value is greatly creased by the fact, that its author, himself an eminent preacher, has rawn largely upon his own experience, for aid in advising his younger rethren. There are, indeed, many things in it with which we do not gree-much advice which is appropriate perhaps to the French pulpit, ut is not to the English. Still, we know no book equal to it; and if ar younger preachers-stated or occasional-would give it an attentive erusal, we have no doubt that both they and their hearers would have casion to rejoice. We must add that the book might have been better anslated and better edited. Coming Wonders expected between 1867 and 1875, by the Rev. M. xter, is one of a class of books with which we have not the slightest ympathy. They are an attempt to discover "the times and the seasons hich the Father hath kept in his own power;" and, not only so, but heir tendency is to cherish a vain curiosity, which is utterly opposed to ur Lord's precept, "Strive ye to enter the strait gate." This volume to our minds, one of the worst of its class. It is little less than disgusting. The so-called "illustrations" are simply abominable. We are fold that "in this second edition, some of the illustrations that appeared in the first edition are withdrawn." What must the first edition have been, if the second edition is-what it is? The Child's Gospel, by John Stock, is an attempt to simplify the Gospel for children. "Its completeness," according to the author, "is hat which distinguishes it from existing works of the kind." Even if it and been less successful, the effort to write such a book would have deerved our hearty sympathy. It is to a very considerable extent successful, however; and, taking it as a whole, the book has our warm commendation. Other books, deserving notice, must be reserved for another month. NEWS OF THE CHURCHES. WE much regret to have to announce the death of the Rev. Evan Probert, of the City-road Chapel, Stokes Croft, Bristol. He preached as usual on Sunday, March 24th, was out walking on the following Monday, but on the Tuesday alarming symptoms set in, which no medical aid could remove, and he died on the Friday morning. Mr. Probert settled in Bristol in 1834, and was a popular and successful preacher. During his ministry the City-road Chapel, in place of a less commodious edifice, was erected at a cost of £3,200. He laboured faithfully in the new chapel, and his ministrations have been greatly blessed to a large and continually growing church and congregation. Mr. Probert has left a wife * Elliot Stock. † S. W. Partridge. Elliot Stock. and five children to deplore their loss, while by his flock his memory will be long held in affectionate regard. A handsome new chapel has been erected at Bromsgrove, for the church under the pastorate of the Rev. A. Macdonald. It was opened on the 12th of February, when the Rev. H. S. Brown, of Liverpool, and the Rev. W. Brock, of London, preached. The chapel will, at the present time, accommodate 550 persons. A valuable present has recently been made to the Rev. W. Brock, of Bloomsbury Chapel, by the women of his congregation, on the occasion of his sixtieth birthday. The donors, over two hundred in number, selected a complete set of study furniture, the material of which is a beautiful specimen of old pollard oak. present was made in token of unabated and increasing attachment; and the contributions varied from many sums of a single penny to a few of five pounds. The The Rev. G. S. Reany has been recognised as the pastor of the church at Silver-street, Taunton.-A presentation has been made to the Rev. T. M. Roberts, B.A., on his retirement from the pastorate at Newbury.-A third Baptist Church has been formed at Reading, under the pastorate of the Rev. J. H. Hinton, M.A.-A testimonial has been presented to the Rev. J. C. Whitaker on his resignation of his pastorate at Chippenham. -The Rev. J. D. Alford has been cordially recognised as pastor of the church in Circus Chapel, Birmingham. The Rev. J. Bloomfield, late of London, has been warmly welcomed, at a public meeting, to the pastorate of the church at Westgate, Bradford.-The Rev. A. G. Brown, of Chelsea, has been recognised at Stepney-green.-The Rev. H. Angus has received a handsome testimonial on leaving Rugby. The following reports of MINISTERIAL CHANGES have reached us:The Rev. J. Blake, of Artillery-street Chapel, London, to Albion Hall, Dalston; the Rev. W. E. Watkins of Llanwydden, Denbighshire, Regent's-park College, to Lover Amlwch, Anglesea; Mr. J. Cave, Chapel, Chesham, Bucks; the Rev W. Drew, of Norwich, to Wigan; the Rev. J. C. Pike, of Rochdale, to St. Michael's, Coventry; the Rev. I Bentley, of Coventry, to Wisbeach; Mr. J. R. Chamberlain, of the Metropolitan Tabernacle College, ta Bath-street, Glasgow; Mr. W. C. Bunning, of the same college, to Charlotte Chapel, Edinburgh; the Rev. T. Harley, of Aylsham, to Agard-street, Derby; the Rev. J. E. Parker, of Upton-on-Severn, to Moulton, Northamptonshire; the Rev. A. C. Gray, of Newport, LW., to Wellington-street. Luton. To Rev. E. J. Peacock, formerly Baptist missionary on the West Coast of Africa, has accepted the invitation the church at Newhouse, Upottery. Devon. The Rev. W. T. Price has resigned his charge at Yarmouth The Rev. R. Hall, B.A., has resign his pastorate at Stratford-on-Av The Rev. J. Pugh has settled "" Wood Green, near London. T Rev. G. W. 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