This affecting narrative, it is hoped, will not only tell upon parents, but on teachers and on ministers too, for some of us are ready to confess to a want of moral courage in speaking to individuals. We can be bold enough in the pulpit, but in our visits do we avail ourselves of the opportunity of personal appeals to the various members of the households to which we have access? Nor let those who are called private Christians, who hold no official character in the Church, think themselves excused from opportunities of seeking the salvation of those around them. How kindly the little maid in Naaman's household availed herself of the opportunity of speaking of the prophet, which resulted in the healing and conversion of her master; and surely all Christians, in whatever capacity, should be moved to embrace every opportunity of speaking for Christ and for souls. Oh, let us think of the sinner's danger! Think of what Jesus has done, is doing, and willing to do, for them; and, to use a common expression, "leave not a stone unturned" to rescue them from hell and lead them to heaven. But we should not merely not neglect; we should seek for opportunities of usefulness. Our Lord "went about doing good," not only the good that came in His way, but He went out of His way, and sought for opportunity, as when" he must needs go through Samaria," to "seek them that were lost." There are many occasions on which, with discretion, we may rebuke the ungodly, and not suffer the lewd and profane to go without hearing our testimony for God and for holiness. "And if some proper hour appear, I'll not be overawed, But let the scoffing sinner hear So in doing good, by acts of benevolence we should imitate Job, who could say, 66 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame; I was a father to the poor, and the cause which I knew not I searched out." How especially this applies to those who have riches and leisure! Oh that they would visit the poor and the sick, "especially of the household of faith," to supply their need and cheer their spirits. Such efforts would bring their own reward, and prove not only opportunities of help to the receivers, but of spiritual health to the givers, who would be the greater gainers, as we know from the highest authority: It is more blessed to give than to receive." Again, we would say, omit no opportunity of either receiving or doing good. One of the wise men of Greece gave this maxim for the guidance of life: "Know the opportunity." And He, compared with whose wisdom all Grecian learning was foolishness, said, "Are there not twelve hours in the day?" and then warned us that "the night cometh, in which no man can work." To everything there is a season -an opportunity-which, if slighted, may never return. Let us, then, seek for opportunity, in our household, our neighbourhood, and even Most of the calamities of the present life are the result of neglected opportunities. Neglect the instruction of a child, and he will grow up in ignorance. Neglect the seasonable opportunity for cultivating your ground, and the passing observer will say, "I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; and, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down." And if thou dost likewise only simply neglect thy opportunity of husbandry, "So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man." Neglect your business, and no one will be surprised to see your name in the bankruptcy list. No worldly interest can prosper where there is neglect. Well might the Apostle ask, with regard to the higher interest of eternity, "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" Let no reader therefore lay the flattering unction to his soul, that because he has not indulged in flagrant sins, because he has not been a studious sower of evil, or a diligent agent in the destruction of his own soul and the souls of others, that therefore he shall stand acquitted in the judgment. Why was that fearful denunciation, "Curse ye Meroz"? Simply because they neglected the opportunity of coming to the help of the Lord against the mighty. They had not taken up arms against Jehovah; they had not gone over to the ranks of the enemy; but they had neglected the duty incumbent upon them of active adherence to the rightful cause. Parents! what an opportunity you have of training your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. We speak not now of those parents who, by positive evil example and influence, instead of training their children up for heaven, are training them down to hell; but even professedly Christian parents, it is to be feared, neglect the golden opportunity of instructing their children by domestic devotion and daily instruction in the things which pertain to salvation. Dr. Read, on "The Revival of Religion in the Family," furnishes an affecting instance of the heart-breaking results of such neglected opportunity. "I knew (says the Doctor) a youth of about sixteen years of age, who was of a generous but froward temper, and he resolved to go to sea. He was tenderly beloved by his mother; and she had educated him with as much religious care as most parents. No sooner, however, was he placed beyond her reach, than memory and conscience were busy with her; and she thought bitterly of the many opportunities that might have been improved for his spiritual welfare, and were not. She reproached herself, but found present relief in the sincere resolution that on his return she would without delay be more earnest for his conversion to God. Alas for her-he never returned! he was lost at sea. The shock laid her prostrate, and left her distracted. What she regarded as neglected opportunities rose in her mind like the great waters, and threatened to overwhelm her. And still that tender and gracious spirit is battling in doubtful conflict with unavailing regrets and self-accusations which no earthly hand can subdue." This affecting narrative, it is hoped, will not only tell upon parents, but on teachers and on ministers too, for some of us are ready to confess to a want of moral courage in speaking to individuals. We can be bold enough in the pulpit, but in our visits do we avail ourselves of the opportunity of personal appeals to the various members of the households to which we have access? Nor let those who are called private Christians, who hold no official character in the Church, think themselves excused from opportunities of seeking the salvation of those around them. How kindly the little maid in Naaman's household availed herself of the opportunity of speaking of the prophet, which resulted in the healing and conversion of her master; and surely all Christians, in whatever capacity, should be moved to embrace every opportunity of speaking for Christ and for souls. Oh, let us think of the sinner's danger! Think of what Jesus has done, is doing, and willing to do, for them; and, to use a common expression, "leave not a stone unturned" to rescue them from hell and lead them to heaven. But we should not merely not neglect; we should seek for opportunities of usefulness. Our Lord "went about doing good," not only the good that came in His way, but He went out of His way, and sought for opportunity, as when he must needs go through Samaria," to "seek them that were lost.' There are many occasions on which, with discretion, we may rebuke the ungodly, and not suffer the lewd and profane to go without hearing our testimony for God and for holiness. out." 66 "And if some proper hour appear, I'll not be overawed, But let the scoffing sinner hear So in doing good, by acts of benevolence we should imitate Job, who could say, I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame; I was a father to the poor, and the cause which I knew not I searched How especially this applies to those who have riches and leisure! Oh that they would visit the poor and the sick, " especially of the household of faith," to supply their need and cheer their spirits. Such efforts would bring their own reward, and prove not only opportunities of help to the receivers, but of spiritual health to the givers, who would be the greater gainers, as we know from the highest authority: It is more blessed to give than to receive." Again, we would say, omit no opportunity of either receiving or doing good. One of the wise men of Greece gave this maxim for the guidance of life: "Know the opportunity." And He, compared with whose wisdom all Grecian learning was foolishness, said, "Are there not twelve hours in the day?" and then warned us that "the night cometh, in which no man can work." To everything there is a season -an opportunity-which, if slighted, may never return. Let us, then, seek for opportunity, in our household, our neighbourhood, and even in our journeys. The railway carriage may furnish goodly opportunities of usefulness. A friend of the writer was travelling, when in the same compartment were a company of very boisterous companions, who were singing vain songs, and in their rude hilarity called on my friend to give them a song, who, lifting up his heart in prayer for Divine direction that he might improve the opportunity, sang— "I heard the voice of Jesus say, Lay down, thou weary one, lay down "I came to Jesus as I was Weary, and worn, and sad- So going through the whole hymn, and at the end of singing the chorus- "Oh the blood of Jesus, That cleanseth from all sin," &c. during which they all paid the most marked and respectful attention, and after the first verse actually joined in the chorus, after which they thanked him, and there was not another objectionable word spoken by them during the rest of the journey. And who can tell? impressions may have been made that day that will result in swelling the chorus of the skies. Let us, moreover, embrace every opportunity for securing our personal salvation. Some reader's eye may alight on this article who has stifled many convictions, effaced many serious impressions, and lost many opportunities of mercy; yet to such we would say even, “Now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation!" There are special seasons and peculiar conjunctions which never return. But here, in the Gospel, is an opportunity announced superior to every other, having relation not only to the body, but to the deathless soul; not only to time, but to eternity! To some reader there may have been convictions, and resolutions, and hopeful signs, when it might have been said of them, "Thou art not far from the kingdom of God;" yet instead of cherishing the conviction, it was banished, at least postponed to "a more convenient season," but that season never came. Take heed, therefore, to that fearful declaration, "My Spirit will not always strive with man." 66 'Hasten, O sinner, to return, And stay not for the morrow's sun, A SECRET WORTH KNOWING. MAMMA," said Daisy, as she was preparing to go to bed at the close of a long, pleasant day of play, "I wish I could do some good in the world, and not spend all my time in dressing and undressing_dolls, and just having a nice time. I wish I could be a grown-up person for a little while, and then I could help somebody instead of wasting all my days this way." Mrs. Marsh smiled, and patted her daughter's curly head. "If you really want to be useful, my dear, I don't think you need wait to grow up.. There are very many things a child can do to help; and sometimes I have thought a child could accomplish almost as much good as a grown-up person." “Oh, mamma!" said Daisy, "I don't see how; I wish you would tell me." "For one thing, "said the mother, "you can save me a great many steps. Think how many times I have to go upstairs and down." Oh, but that is so easy," sighed "what I want is something Daisy big." "But it is the little things that make up the large things, don't you know? Now if you were to watch every day for the opportunities you would see how much you could accomplish. Suppose you begin to-morrow." “I will,” said Daisy. "I'll try for one day; but I am afraid, mamma, that I shall not be very busy." However, the next morning, when the sun peeped in through her window-blinds and woke her up with his broadest smile, she remembered her talk of the evening before, and thought what she should do to begin the day aright. "Late at breakfast again! that was what papa always said; and here was the first thing for her to do. She slipped on her shoes and stockings as quickly as possible, and ran to her mother's door. "Good morning, mamma!" she cried; "I am beginning with the little things right off. You need not dress me; I am going to try and get along with it myself; and I shall not be late, either." She did not allow herself to peep out of the window; nor did she waste much time in yawning and rubbing her eyes; and she had ample time to read a few verses in her little Bible and say her prayers before the bell rang; and she danced down, a very light-hearted, happyfaced child. "A good beginning," commented papa, who had been informed of his daughter's longings to be useful. "Certainly a very good beginning, if you can only keep it up." "I can try," said Daisy. And she did try most earnestly all the day. The first thing, after breakfast was over, Mrs. Marsh had to give the baby a bath. The water had to be heated and brought upstairs in a pitcher, and this the mother usually did. Daisy met her on the landing with a small pitcher in her hand. Any other time she would have danced by her mother without thinking; to-day she said, "Oh, mamma, this is where my steps come in to save yours. Give me the pitcher." "Won't it be too heavy, dear?" "Not a bit," laughed Daisy. "Why, my big wax doll, that I carry upstairs and down, and don't think anything of doing it, is heavier than this." It seemed so pleasant to be of some use in the world. After the water was brought baby's clothes were to be taken from the drawer, and the brush and comb and soap and baby basket put on the floor by mamma's side; and after the bath |