ing; but consider well what it is you practise; do it seriously; meet quietly; and while I do not want you to put on a grave look or a grave manner, yet I do want you to feel in your heart you are about a grave concern. Believe me, much depends on the practising nights for good or evil. You must be reverent and careful then, or else you will find it hard to be reverent in Church.

5. I pray you also while you consider the privilege of being called into the choir, to consider the temptations. Every gift has its own peculiar temptation; with every rose there is a thorn; and therefore you should boldly set before yourselves the temptations which commonly accompany the gift of music. Now the temptation that seems to go with this gift is to think of self, to be vain and proud of the gift, to be puffed up about it, to be very sensitive, to be fond of praise and admiration. It requires great watchfulness to keep down the flutterings of vanity; for as you sing in men's presence, in presence of the congregation, though you sing to God, it is a trial to flesh and blood to forget the opinion of the congregation and to sing in singleness of heart. Whatever we do before men is apt to be spoilt and tainted by

considering the judgment of men; it is difficult to be quite deaf to the praises of men or to their blame. Many a time, if the truth be strictly told, has a singer spoken to himself in this way, How well I sang this Anthem or that Psalm to-day; how well the people listened." Such thoughts, I say, have crossed many a mind before now. Is it not the truth? I believe there is a great temptation in the musical to be vain, to think of themselves and the excellency of their singing. It is no It is no use disguising the truth. Consider well whether you ought not to set before yourselves the fact, that vanity is the snare to the musical, and that you ought to strive against that especial temptation.

6. As with every gift of God, there are especial temptations, so you need especial prayer. They who would sing to the glory of God, and to the good of their own souls, must pray before they sing; you must offer prayers concerning your singing; you must beseech God to give you a humble spirit, to enable you to overcome any vain-glorious thoughts; you must beseech Him to give you an earnest and religious mind, that the spirit of holiness may warm the songs of the temple, that Church music may not be mere music, a mere sound, the tinkling of a cymbal, an act of the

throat and of the voice, a thing coldly done in a professional and worldly way, but a holy offering, the solemn devotion of a gift to God the Giver. If you are worshippers as well as singers, and obtain from God the gift not only of a sweet and powerful voice, but of a willing heart, then the music of the Church will be sweet indeed; then it will send up a savour into the heavens and not be mere earthly perfume; then the songs of the temple will have wings, and then you will be able to give good account of a gift of God at the last great day.

May God by His Holy Spirit put it into your hearts to be henceforth men of such holy and religious lives, that you may be worthy of a place among the singers of the sanctuary; and may in such a holy spirit exercise your gift in the House of God as to benefit your own souls, to heighten the devotion of the congregation, and to advance the glory of God!

PSALM cxlvii. 1.-O praise the Lord, for it is a good thing to sing praises unto our God: yea, a joyful and pleasant thing it is to be thankful.

PRAYER.

ALMIGHTY God, I beseech Thee that I may render Thee acceptable service in Thy holy House, and glorify Thee therein with joyful lips. Give me grace to bless and praise Thee with the best member that I have; and as a singer of the sanctuary enable me to lift up my whole soul, as well as my voice, unto Thee. Teach me to perform the holy office to which I have been called in Thy Temple in a holy spirit ; and so fill me with all devout affections, with love towards Thee, who hast called me to Thy kingdom and glory through Thy dear Son, that I may grow in grace and in the knowledge of my Saviour, and at last have my portion with those who will sing in Thy eternal House, with the angels and glorified saints. Hear this my prayer for Jesus Christ's sake.

ARE YOU GOING TO BE MARRIED?

ARE you going to be married? If so, you are about a great matter. Once married there is no change, no parting till death; it is a life's work; through rough days or smooth, joy or sorrow, sickness or health, you will have one by your side who will be as it were a part of yourself. You twain will be one flesh. You add the care of another to the care of yourself; you have two souls to care for; you will be responsible to God for your conduct to the husband or the wife whom you are about to take; you must have influence one way or other for good or evil, when you become a part of another and another a part you; for that influence you will have to give account at the judgment-seat of Christ.

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If you help to lead your wife or husband along the narrow way of life, you will find mercy and blessings at the Lord's hand; if you are careless