meet his Master-which made him court trial. And to court trial is always a symptom which indicates something unsound in the heart of the person courting it, some self-reliance which mars his faith. We are taught to pray, "Lead us not into temptation; " a prayer which can only be offered sincerely by those who feel their own utter weakness. But those who, like St. Peter, long for an opportunity of approving the steadfastness of their faith, virtually pray, "Lead us into temptation." And then, when led into it, and when it pleases God to make experiment of them, they fail. Self-distrust alone, "All my fresh springs are in Thee! though we must always fail without it, will never by itself secure victory; the soul which has made the discovery that it has nothing in itself to hang upon, must hang upon Christ. This is strongly and strikingly brought out in the narrative on which we have been commenting. It was not till St. Peter's eye was caught by the fury of the elements, by the raving wind, by the boisterous surge; it was not until his attention was diverted from the Saviour that he began to sink. Had he steadily kept Christ in sight all through, it might have gone well with him to the end. So long as he was in the ship, his thoughts were engaged with the majesty and power of his Lord, who could even walk on the waves; now that he is in the midst of the trial which he had courted, his mind wanders to his own danger, and his faith is shaken. "When Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt ?" SELF-KNOWLEDGE. O WHAT a change it would make in the world if men were brought to the knowledge of themselves! How many would weep that now laugh and live in mirth and pleasure! How many would lament their sin and misery that now are pharisaically confident of their integrity! Do but once know yourselves aright, know what you are, and what you have done, and what is your danger, and then be prayerless and careless if you can; then but trifle out your time and make a jest of holy diligence, and put God off with lifeless words and compliments, if you can. Men could not think so lightly and contemptuously of Christ, so unworthily and falsely of a holy life, so delightfully of sin, so carelessly of duty, so fearlessly of hell, so senselessly and atheistically of God, and so disregardfully of heaven as they now do, if they did but thoroughly know themselves.-Baxter. WARFARE. KING DAVID'S varied experience, as through many vicissitudes and dangers, he rose from a shepherd-boy to become a king, led him to think much of God's providence and protecting care. It was to the Lord he ascribed his safety in peril; "O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle;" and likewise his success in war: "Thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle; Thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me." Even for the sorrows of his life he had learned to bless God: "Thy loving correction hath made me great." What he thus felt as a man he no less fully realised as a statesman and a warrior. Oppressed with all the anxieties which, as well as a crown, must weigh down the brow of a king, he had the same confidence in God for national as well as individual protection. While active in defending his country, he felt that there was something better than statesman's skill or warrior's strength. "As the mountains are round about Jerusalem so is the Lord round about His people." And so, blessed by God, he left the kingdom of Israel, up to that time subject to constant and disastrous invasion, to his son, ready to enter upon a new era of unexampled peace and prosperity. Now the thought has doubtless occurred to many minds, how could David be at once a warrior and a man after God's own heart? Is there not something in the character of God abhorrent to bloodshed? Yet David scruples not to call Him the God of battles. Still more in the revelation of God in Christ, is it not strange that the Gospel of peace and love, that bids us love our enemies, and submit to reproach and wrong, has nowhere condemned the profession of arms, and has found some of its first and most honoured followers, even, among the ranks of the stern soldiers of Rome? How is this? How is it that God, the creator, condemns not war, the dread destroyer of His noblest works? How is it that the meek and lowly Saviour forbids not His followers to engage in war, the worst offspring of the worst passions-pride and hatred ? Let us address ourselves to the answer of this question. Civilisation, alas! increases the power, but [does not change the nature of man. Let us then consider how it is that we may confidently look for a divine blessing upon those who righteously engage in war, and believe that there is a divine approval upon the lawful use of arms. Observe, then, that Christianity is no impracticable scheme. It does not sacrifice the real and possible for that which is ideal and not at once attainable. Christianity takes man as he is, to raise him to what he should be. This is Christ's plan. He did not refuse the sinful or unworthy that came to Him. He did not tell them to wait till they were better and fit to approach Him; but He welcomed them at once, and as they were, forbidding none, even the most fallen, to hope for that high elevation to which He would lead man, and unto which He commands us all to aspire. It is not because the standard of Christian character is not elevated, or because its idea of man is low, that He deals thus with us. Nay, there is no thought too lofty, no elevation too noble, for man, redeemed by Christ, and trained by the Holy Spirit, to aspire to. "Be ye perfect, even as your Father, which is in Heaven, is perfect." Such is the command laid by our Lord upon all His followers. But we are not told to reach this elevation by a ladder impossible to climb, nor are we left without help and guidance in ascending it. Grace to pardon our sins and our shortcomings of the glory of God is given, and also grace to help our infirmities, and strengthen our weaknesses, and to support us in our temptations. The Christian, whether the lowliest beginner or the greatest saint, is never one who is satisfied with himself, or has reached his own ideal and standard, much less that which God has for him. 66 Brethren," says St. Paul, in allusion to his own struggling, his own warfare, as a Soldier of Christ, "I count not myself to have attained: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Thus religion has pronounced no wholesale condemnation of war. Christ has not forbidden His followers the profession of arms; nor have they ever been found less valiant in fight, less faithful to military duty, because they were soldiers and followers of Christ, as well as of an earthly commander. Nay, the good and great lessons which may be learned in warfare-the necessity of order and obedience, the duty of self-sacrifice, the glory of giving even life itself for a noble cause these lessons have often trained men for a higher service than that of king or country. Thus religion takes us in the unavoidable evils of our present sinful state, and will use them to train us for a better and a higher life, as the soldier, even in his trade of destruction, may learn some of his noblest lessons of generosity and duty. Every Christian must long for the time when "nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more;" but no Christian will allow his desires to make him shrink from the terrible duties of warfare which may be imposed upon him. And that nation, too, is assuredly safest which, not neglecting human means of self-protection, yet relies not on these alone, but seeks also 'to dwell under the defence of the most High, to abide under the shadow of the Almighty." Rev. JAS. WHITE, M.A., Head Master, Royal Naval School. "SOLDIERS OF THE CAPTAIN." * Endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. The Captain of . I. SOLDIERS of The Captain! Stand, for Him, and fightHardness, glad enduring, Armoured in His Might! He is that Great Victor Praised in Angels' songsGlory of each Soldier Who to Him belongs. II. Leader never vanquished— III. Take ye, then, the Helmet, Fierce though be the Warfare, And, though dark the Conflict, Jesu! Captain! help us Fighting, Lord! for Thee: A SONG IN THE DEEP.-A Jubilee Singer, one of the black students of the Fisk University, Tennessee, was on board the ill-fated steamer Seawanhuku. Before leaving the burning steamer and committing himself to the merciless waves, he carefully fas tened upon himself, and his wife, lifepreservers. Some one cruelly dragged away that of the wife, leaving her without hope, except as she could cling to her husband. This she did, placing her hands firmly on his shoulders and resting there, until, her strength becoming exhausted, she said, "I can hold on no longer! "Try a little longer," was the response of the wearied and agonised husband. "Let us sing 'Rock of Ages."" And, as the sweet strains floated over those troubled waters, reaching the ears of the sinking and dying, little did those sweet singers of Israel know whom they comforted. But, lo! as they sang, one after another of the ex * hausted ones were seen raising their heads above the overwhelming waves, joining with a last effort in this sweet, dying, pleading prayer: "Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee." With the song seemed to come strength; another and yet another was encouraged to renewed effort. Soon in the distance a boat was seen approaching! Could they hold out a little longer? Singing still, they tried, and soon, with superhuman strength, laid hold of the lifeboat, upon which they were borne in safety to land. This is no fiction; it was related by the singer himself, who said he "believed Toplady's sweet 'Rock of Ages' saved many another besides himself and his wife." THE WAY TO HEAVEN.-Sir Richar d Steele, in one of his journeys to Scotland, observed a shepherd on a hill - side pondering over a book. Reprinted from General Hymns in "Our Sailors' Hymn Book," compiled under the direction of THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN SAILORS' SOCIETY, London: S. W. Partridge and Co, 1881. K Steele rode up, and inquired what he was reading. "The Bible," said the shepherd. "What do you learn from this book?" asked Steele. "I learn from it the way to heaven." "Very well," replied Sir Richard, "I am desirous of going to the same place, and wish you would show me the way." The shepherd moved round, and pointed to a conspicuous buildingtower, raised on an eminence, and said, "Weel, sir, ye maun just gang by this tower." Sir Richard was much surprised, and demanded what the tower was called. "The Tower of Repentance," answered the shepherd. It was so named. Some centuries ago, a Border cavalier, in a fit of remorse, had built the tower, to which he gave the name of Repentance. A NOBLE REVENGE.-During the Revolution-that unhappy period for France-the peasants of a certain village thought themselves justified in revenging their wrongs upon the resident landowner. The ferment was great, and at length threatened to burst out with fury. The priest mounted his pulpit, and said, "My friends, the day of freedom and vengeance has come ! This man has been our oppressor! He must be punished! In such an undertaking I will not forsake my flock. Let me be your leader, and swear that you will all follow my example." All the peasants made oath accordingly. "And," he added, "that you will all be faithful to your oath?" Every one cried, "Yes!" "Good," said he, solemnly. to our present and future happiness. When the Gospel enjoins piety towards God, justice and charity towards men, and temperance and chastity in reference to ourselves, the true interpretation of these laws is this-God requires, in order to our eternal happiness, that we should do those things which tend most to our temporal welfare; that is, in plainer words, He promises to make us happy for ever, upon condition that we will but do that which is best for ourselves in this world. To conclude, religion is founded in the interest of men, rightly apprehended. So that, if the god of this world and the lusts of men did not blind their eyes, so as to render them unfit to discern their true interest, it would be impossible, so long as they love themselves and desire their own happiness, to keep them from being religious; for they could not but conclude that to be their interest, and, being so convinced, they would resolve to pursue it. Verily, "in keeping of God's commandments there is great reward."—Archbishop TIL LOTSON. EVENING.-Every object, a little while ago, glared with light; but now all appear with softened lustre. The animals harmonise with the insensible creation; and what was gay in those, as well as glittering in this, gives place to a universal gravity. Should I, at such a season, be vain and trifling, the heavens and the earth would rebuke my unseasonable levity. Therefore, be this moment devoted to thoughts, solemn as the close of day, sedate as the face of things. However my social hours are enlivened with innocent pleasantry, let the evening, in her sober habit, toll the bell to serious consideration. Every meddling and intrusive avocation is excluded. Silence holds the door |