take £50 to a poor minister. He said he would take the money next day. "Oh, my dear sir," said the doctor, "take it to him to-night. Only think of the importance to a sick man of one good night's rest." But with all our giving of earthly gifts, let us be prompt in giving to the needy and perishing the word of truth—the glorious gospel-and lovingly press it on their immediate acceptance.

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.-ECCLES. ix. 10.

Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.-2 COR. vi. 2. He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.-PROV. x. 4.

January 18.

STUMBLING OVERRULED FOR STABLISHING.

WE may learn not a little from the somewhat pecu

liar history of Mark, sister's son to Barnabas. At first everything apparently was bright and hopeful about him. He journeyed with God's servants, preached and laboured with them, and willingly encountered difficulties and trials. This, however, did not continue; for, by-andby, either through indolence or cowardice, he quite unexpectedly forsook Paul and Barnabas, and "went not with them to the work."

After such manifest instability, Paul, losing all confidence in him, would not allow of his further fellowship in the service of the Lord; while Barnabas, on the other hand, though greatly saddened by his nephew's back

sliding, was yet resolutely bent on giving him another trial. The unhappy result was a contention so hot between the two good men, that they finally separated.

It is hard to say with whom lay the right in this matter; perhaps both erred, in some degree, in overkeenness of feeling and expression. But, however this may be, in all likelihood the fears of the one and the hopes of the other, with the very sharpness of the contention that followed, were all used for the saving good of Mark. Doubtless, ever after he would be more distrustful of himself, more dependent on his Lord, and more decided in purpose to follow him fully. Thus the stumbling in the first instance was graciously overruled for stablishing in the end; and so has it been in innumerable

cases.

Happily, there is every reason to believe that there was the fullest reconciliation afterwards, not only between the two great evangelists, but also between Paul and Mark; for, subsequently, the apostle said, with much cordiality, "Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas,......if he come unto you, receive him;" and again, "Take Mark, and bring him with thee; for he is profitable to me for the ministry."

As this recorded incident but too clearly shows that the best of men are but men at the best, they never cease to need our prayers; and it is certain that were Christian people to pray more for their ministers, they would profit more by them.

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.-Ps. li. 12, 13.

For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort,

what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.-2 COR. vii. 11.

January 19.

EVEN FINDERS MAY STILL BE SEEKERS.

N reading the words, " Hearken unto me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord," we might at first suppose that the persons addressed were rather anxious inquirers in search of salvation, than actual believers who had already found it; but from the context we clearly see it was otherwise, for it is afterwards said to them, "Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law." Believers only could be so addressed, for they alone have the saving knowledge of righteousness, and the law divinely written on the heart. It is true they are still called seekers of the Lord; but this involves no real difficulty, as there are many ways in which believers may be said to seek the Lord even after finding him, and to pursue righteousness even after securing the righteousness that justifies through faith in Christ Jesus.

It might be otherwise had there been in Christian life a stereotyped fixity that admitted of no varying degrees of grace and attainment in different believers, and even in the same believers at different times. So far, however, is this from being the case, that there is, or should be, from the very first, a progressive advancement in the divine life; for the path of the just is said to be like the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the

perfect day. Such advancement requires constant watchfulness and prayerful pursuit; and thus to the very end they need to be seekers after God, and followers after righteousness.

"The true heart," says one, "should echo the will of God, as the rocks among the mountains repeat in sweetest music the notes of the peasant's horn." It was so with the Psalmist, as these words clearly show: "When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek." It is seeking like this, heart-seeking, that the Lord most prizes, and ever most richly rewards. There have been few more enlightened seekers after God than the saintly Rutherford. Every day," he said, "we may see something new in Christ, for his love hath neither brim nor bottom. What would I refuse to suffer if I could get a draught of it at my heart's desire; yet I desire grace and patience, that I may wait on and lie on the brink till the waters fill and overflow."

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.-PHIL. iii. 12-14.

January 20.

THE LORD TRIES HIS PEOPLE, BUT NEVER OVERTRIES THEM

WHEN in obedience to the divine command Gideon had

gathered an army, and was about to go forth against the Midianites, his one fear was that he had too few to meet

the multitude against him. Yet the Lord's first word to him was, that he had far too many; and he was straightway enjoined to proclaim in the ears of the people, "Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead." The result was that there remained of the people ten thousand. This to Gideon was a heavy blow and sore discouragement. But a harder trial yet awaited him. There were still too many, the Lord said; and by another sifting, nine thousand and seven hundred more were withdrawn from his ranks. Three hundred only now remained to face Midian's countless host; and they were to do so, not with swords and spears, but with trumpets, and lamps, and empty pitchers. This was purposely setting weakness against strength, and folly against wisdom, not only to weaken mere creature confidence, but to show that the Church has arms of which the world knows nothing. Yet to Gideon, at the time, it was a trial of peculiar severity.

Nevertheless the trial was not allowed to be greater than he could bear. To encourage him in his extremity, the Lord gave him a sign without being asked for it. He bade him go down to the camp alone, taking no one with him but his armour-bearer Phurah. Coming near one of the outposts, he heard one Midianite telling another a singular dream. "Behold," he said, "I dreamed, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and overturned it, that the tent lay along." This was the dream; and as there is often "a providence in our sleeping fancies," it was so emphatically here, for his neighbour immediately replied, "This is nothing else, save the