are not given. The balance due to the treasurer on the year's account is stated as being £343 0s. 8d.; as, however, the receipts for the two quarters ending December last have been greatly in excess of the corresponding ones of the present balance sheet, let us hope the position will be much improved when the accounts are made up next time. The question, however,

THE WAY HOME.

forces itself upon the mind, in reading this financial statement-" How is it that to provide thirty poor German preachers of the gospel with the very small salaries specified, the large sum of £518 should be required as expenses?" We wonder what proportion Paul's " "bore to the nett expenses amount he handed over to the elders for the poor saints at Jerusalem ?

"He led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation."

BELIEVERS in Christ are unspeakably blest,
But oft are tormented with fears,

Lest they should come short of their heavenly rest,

When He in His kingdom appears.

Their sins are so many, their faith is so weak,
Themselves so unworthy His care,
They feel so unfit for the country they seek,
They fear they shall never get there.

Their pathway is narrow, and thorny, and steep,

And they in the face of the foe,*

Uphill on their hands and their knees have to creep,

Their progress is steady but slow.

Afflictions o'ertake them, and numerous cares,
Perplexities, sorrows, and pains;
Their enemies seize them, sometimes unawares,
And bind them in fetters and chains.

They groan, being burdened, and weep as they go,

Their footsteps are traced by their tears; As waves of the sea they have woe upon woe, In constant succession for years.

Yet Heaven proclaims them unspeakably blest,
And this in the end they shall prove;
When they are called home with the Saviour to
rest,

And feast at the banquet of love.

The angels of heaven might envy their state;
They now are the children of God-
The highest relation His love could create,
The fountain of all that is good.

Their persons and interests are safe in the hands

Of Jesus, their covenant Head;

. 1 Sam. xiv. 13.

The tempests which toss them obey His commands,

And o'er them His banner is spread.

Although they must battle with flame and with flood,

Which threaten to sweep them away,

The Lord, in His wisdom, works all for their good,

And helps them to hold on their way.

He calls them His portion, His jewels, His bride,

They all are most dear to His heart, More precious to Him than all creatures beside, Nor will He with one of them part.

He knows by experience the state they are in, He passed through the flame and the flood, In all things was like them, excepting their sin,

And that He removed by His blood.

They shall be like Him, when again He appears,

And with Him, in regions of bliss; Their vision no more shall be dim through their tears,

For Him they shall see as He is.

As one said of Solomon's grandeur of old,
They each shall with rapture exclaim,
"The half of Thy glory we never were told,
Nor could we believe till we came."
Believers in Jesus, though bitter your cup,
Receive it, nor be ye downcast;

Put on the whole armour, and to Him look up, And you shall o'ercome at the last.

The cross for the crown you shall shortly exchange;

Take courage and quit you like men, Till called through the kingdom of glory to

range,

And you shall be satisfied then!

J. S. ANDERSON, From The Silent Messenger.

DAUNTED BY DIFFICULTIES.

"YES, there is always a lion in his way," said Mr. Grant to a gentleman with whom he was conversing in the parlour. Fred entered the room at that moment. He heard the remark of his father, but was a good deal puzzled as to its meaning. He had read about lions, and, like most children, was greatly interested in them. He would have gone farther to see a lion than to see any other animal.

He wished very much to know to whom his father had reference in the remark above quoted, but he could not think of asking him while he was engaged in conversation. Some boys would have said at once, in violation of good breeding and good grammar, "Who are you talking about?" But Fred had been well brought up, and besides, had a good natural sense of propriety. He sat down and kept silence, hoping that he should hear something which would enable him to infer the fact which he wished to know. In general he loved to think out things instead of troubling his friends with numberless questions. It was a good trait in his character.

Fred, however, did not succeed in learning from the conversation that ensued between his father and the gentleman, what he desired; so, as soon as the visitor had departed, he came up to his father, and resting his elbows on his father's knees, manifested a desire to ask a question, respecting the propriety of which he had some doubt.

"You have some request, to make my son?" said Mr. Grant.

"Yes, father; I wish to ask you of whom you were speaking when you said there is always a lion in his way.'

Mr. Grant saw from Fred's manner that he understood the expression literally. He was somewhat amused at the idea, but refrained from laughing lest he should hurt Fred's feelings, or discourage his laudable curiosity. He replied "I was speaking of Mr. Slade; you must be careful and not let a lion get in your way."

"If a lion had a mind to get in my way, how could I help it? I am not as strong as a lion."

"What kind of a scholar is George Figg ?" asked Mr. Grant.

Fred wondered what led his father to ask that question, and his wonder prevented him from replying with his usual promptness. He finally answered in a hesitating manner. "I don't know." "Don't know! don't you belong to the same class with him?" "Yes father."

"How does it happen, then, that you don't know what kind of a scholar he is ?"

"I thought I ought not to say any thing against my class-mates."

"That is very well; you should never say anything to the disadvantage of another unless it is true, and unless you are required by some good reason to tell it. But while you try to obey this rule, you should not transgress another one by saying what is not true. I know George Figg is not a good scholar, and yet he has a very good mind; why is he not a good scholar?"

"Because he has no resolution. If the lesson looks long, he will say, 'I can't learn it,' and won't try; and if he comes to a hard place in the lesson, he gives right up."

"There is always a lion in his way then ?"

Fred's eye brightened, for now he understood the reason of his father's asking about George, and the meaning of the expression, a lion in the way. "I know

what you mean now, by telling me not to let a lion get in the way; when I undertake a thing I must not get discouraged and give it up."

"That is it," said Mr. Grant. "What if the thing is wrong?"? "You must not undertake it,” replied his father.

"What if I don't find it out till after I have begun ?"

"Then stop short, my son."

"Some young lions get in your way sometimes, don't they, Fred?"" said his mother, who entered the parlour in time to hear the latter part of the conversation.

"I don't know, mother," said Fred, doubtingly.

"Partly."

"What has hindered you the little lions ?''

“I guess they have,” said Fred, smiling, though he felt the reproof contained in his mother's remarks.

Fred, like a great many other boys, began a great many things which he never finished. This is a very bad habit; it should never be formed, or, if formed, should be corrected at once, otherwise it will grow worse and worse. There are some men whom you never can depend upon to get anything completed. In boyhood they fell into the habit of beginning things and not finishing them.

"How shall I keep the little lions away ?" said Fred.

"By always completing everything which you commence," said his father.

"But I get so tired of some things," remarked Fred.

"No matter, you must finish them for the sake of the habit; must finish them for the sake of finishing them. If you always keep to this rule, you will be more careful about beginning things. You will think more before you act, and will plan more wisely. When I was a boy I was very much like you. They used to call me great at beginning, but I seldom completed anything. My father observed it, and took me in hand, and made me finish whatever I began, if possible. In that way I was enabled to correct the bad habit, and I should be glad if you would correct it in your case, my son, without the interposition of my authority."

Fred resolved to follow his father's example.

Our young friends will, no doubt, remember that the words made use of by Mr. Grant, and which aroused the curi osity of Master Fred, constitute a scrip. ture proverb, and are to be found in the Book of Proverbs xxii. 13, also xxvi. 13. They may be taken as expressing either the baneful influence of sloth and indolence, or a grave apprehension of difficulty. Vain excuses are the invention of a mind that dislikes duty and the labour involved in its discharge, these

imaginary difficulties are the lions of an indolent person. The fearful train of evils attendant upon such a spirit entail its own bitter punishment.

But in a course of honest industry difficulties are by no means uncommon; we may have to pause when they appear, but we must not retreat. To draw back in a course of lawful enterprise when thus confronted would probably in most cases show that we under-rated the resources within our reach. Every faculty with which our beneficent Creator has endowed us is intended for use, and perseverance in a wise and good use of them is commonly attended, even in the ordinary course of life with His smile and blessing. The lions in such cases often become beasts of burden, and assist us in larger enterprises.

Perhaps the minds of some of our dear young readers are just now exercised with thoughts concerning their soul's eternal welfare. Gospel light has revealed their urgent and solemn needs-the way of life the only way is seen, and desires deepening daily, to participate in the blessings of the Redeemer's kingdom are experienced. But lions are in the way, the ridicule of companions, the scorn of friends, the deceitfulness of their own hearts and their weakness when temptation assails. These indeed are difficulties. Do they daunt and dismay? think of the privileges of the followers of the Lamb, how great they are; think of their pleasures, how sweet they are; think of their joys how lasting they are.

The spies sent by Moses brought back a sample of the magnificent fruits of Canaan, but two only of the twelve gave a favourable report of the prospect of overcoming the difficulties and possessing the rich inheritance: the ten others opposed them, and the whole congregation threatened to stone the two feithful witnesses. The ten cried "A lion is in the way; we shall be slain in the streets." At least their trembling talk about the giants and the walls amounted to that. We see, however, that the promise and the power of Jehovah furnished better ground for the hope of the few, than did the difficulties, for the fear of the many.

Then let our dear young friends who desire to follow Jesus, remember that His promises are many, and His grace is rich and free, looking to Him, undaunted 'by imposing obstacles, divine aid will never be denied.

LETTER TO A SUNDAY SCHOLAR. THE following was written by a loving Sunday-school teacher to one of her scholars; and as it was a great comfort to the scholar to whom it was sent, she thought it might be to other little ones, as there are always some such in the Saviour's fold that need encouragement.

"If sheep so greatly need

The Shepherd's watchful care,
Lambs would be desolate, indeed,
If they forsaken were."

May the blessing of the triune God be added, and to the Father, Son, and Spirit shall be all the praise. Amen. P. B.

MY DEAR GIRL,-I cannot tell you the joy your kind letter has given me to feel that you, whose soul is worth more than worlds, know you are a sinner, and that nothing but the precious blood of Jesus can take your sins away. Ever let the

THE MANAGEMENT OF SENIOR CLASSES.

THE management of senior classes in our Sunday-schools often presents a problem of no small difficulty. Young persons, some of whom are filling responsible positions in the world, are difficult to interest in sacred things. They resent being treated as children; and require a considerable amount of tact and intelligence in dealing with them, or their attendance grows lax and unfrequent, and we finally lose them altogether. Any hint on the conduct of such classes will therefore assuredly prove valuable.

A somewhat novel method has recently been adopted by Mr. Henry Cooper, who has the care of our senior boys, which is attended with considerable success. The order of the Sunday-school Union International Lessons, is as heretofore adhered to, but the lesson is introduced by a short essay, read, according to pre-arrangement, by one of the lads. These papers, of course, prove of unequal merit and value, but all are interesting, and serve useful purposes. They foster a spirit of generous emulation. They ensure some amount of general preparation, for most of the class like to be able to say something about their friend's production. They very much add to the interest of the class, for curiosity is on tip-toe as to

things that belong to everlasting life be your first and chief concern. Keep close to Christ, my dear child, and you cannot go wrong; for yours will then be a happy, joyful life, and a bright and blessed falling asleep in Jesus, to awake in the manymansioned home.

There is nothing can give us real happiness but religion. I cannot thank and praise my best Friend and loving Saviour, half enough, for thus leading you, whom I love, and have so often prayed for, to know a little of the value of your own soul. You are young, dear; but He has said, "Those who seek me early shall find And you are not too young to show to all that you love Jesus. May you live so near Him, that all may know you are His child, and that those around you may see there is a reality in religion, and learn to love the Saviour too. With best love of YOUR LOVING TEACHER.

me.

as

how the essayist will acquit himself—and they develop mental power, and the faculty of thinking upon sacred subjects. While solemnly aware that "the blessing, even life for evermore," can only come "commanded" by the Lord: I feel that good must come of all wise and welldirected efforts to promote the Master's glory. I therefore commend this to the notice of any senior teachers, the interest of whose scholars is at all on the wane.

I subjoin one of these essays, which may be read with interest, and remain, Yours most truly, W. J. STYLES.

Keppel-street Chapel.

He

ZACHARIAS AND ELIZABETH. This afternoon's lesson commences with a preface by Luke to his Gospel. states that "many had taken in hand to set forth" the life of Christ, but their names and works have perished, because what they wrote was imperfect, and, doubtless contained many mistakes, so Luke wrote (but not until he had received correct accounts from those who were "eye-witnesses and ministers of the word from the very first") the life of Christ, "in such a manner," says a writer, as to make it pre-eminently the gospel of goodwill towards men. Christ appears in it as "a light to lighten the

66

Gentiles." Luke dedicates his Gospel, as he has also the Acts of the Apostles, to the "most excellent Theophilus," the meaning of which is a lover of God. Some have thought this a symbolic name, but a Christian writer of the second century speaks of Theophilus as a great man of Antioch, to which city Luke also probably belonged. He writes to him, not exactly to instruct him, because he had been trained as a Christian, and instructed in "those things" already, but that he might fully know the certainty and immovable security of the Christian faith. The Gospel by Luke was probably written about the year A.D. 65, or about thirty years after the Ascension of Christ.

We now take up the more important feature of our subject. It states that "in the days" when Herod was king over Judæa, there was a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia." The course of Abia, or as it is called in the 1st Chronicles, 24th chapter, and 10th verse, Abijah, was the eighth of twenty-four courses of priests appointed by David; and named after the principal man in each course. Zacharias and Elizabeth, his wife, probably lived at Hebron, but it is a little uncertain. The name Zacharias means "remembered by the Lord;" and Elizabeth means the "oath of God." We next notice the character of these two people. They were not only good in the eyes of men, but "righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless." The word blameless here does not of course mean perfection, but sincere and manifest devotedness. "They had no child," it states in the next verse; this was a trouble to them, not only because they had no one to depend upon in their old age, for they were now advanced in years, but because the hope they had undoubtedly entertained of the Messiah being found in their descendants, must now have been giving way. "It came to pass as he was fulfilling what was his duty as priest on a certain occasion, of burning incense on the altar in the temple, that "an angel of the Lord," named Gabriel, appeared unto him on the right or south side of the altar. When Zacharias saw the angel he was afraid; but the angel said unto him, "Fear not, for thy prayer is heard, and thy wife, Elizabeth, shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth." Many

shall rejoice, not only those who do so with the happy parents, but those who obtain blessings by his ministry in after years. The lesson that is taught in this narrative, although rather dimly por trayed, is that God is a hearer and answerer of prayers. I hope everyone here not only knows what it is to pray to God, but to have his prayers answered. Perhaps not in the way we think would be best for us, but in the way that God knows will be best for us; for "God's thoughts are not as our thoughts, nor his ways as our ways." L. S. Jan. 2nd, 1881.

"MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT SOCIETIES." "WHAT can be done to keep our senior scholars with us," is a query which is giving rise to anxious thought in the minds of those who have to do with Sunday Schools, and who are anxious to retain their hold upon their scholars after they pass from early youth.

Many different answers have been made. Some zealous workers have advocated holding special services on week evenings, so that the scholars might be brought more often under the sound of the Gospel; while others have thought it right to provide entertainment of an exclusively secular nature, and have gone to an opposite extreme, even losing sight of the original intention, and therefore defeating their own object. Neither extreme is good, nor will either permanently secure the end which most teachers have in view; viz. that of retaining an influence over our senior scholars.

In order to realize the importance of possessing this influence we must remember that, after a certain age, our scholars mostly deem themselves too old to come to school; and when they do come it is in most cases only for the sake of a favourite teacher-the interest in the school having ceased. This being so, they become lost to us, just at a time when the influences of school and teacher would be most beneficial to them. How then is this to be remedied, as the teachers naturally look for the gaps which recur from time to time in their numbers to be filled from the ranks of the senior scholars. Shall we organise special services for the week nights? We may do so, but we shall find that the majority will not come. Is the reason asked? It is obvious-the greater number of scholars consider that they