and refreshing. A walk to the early prayer-meeting, apart from the blessing obtained whilst there, will do good. It will impart elasticity to the frame and cheerfulness to the mind. Further, by the careful study of God's Word, get the intellect right. There is perhaps only one half-hour that you can have on the quiet; well, don't let that pretty serial, with its fascinating love tale, swallow it up, or the result may be that, when the preacher is speaking about things real, your mind may be away in the land of dreams, and wondering whether that young knight proved faithful to the fair lady of his choice. Tell Emma Jane Worboise that, with all your respect for her, she must keep out of the way until Monday at least. Let the Word of God, with its rich, elevating, purifying truths, be devoured, and thus the mind will be in harmony with the engagements of the house of prayer. And then, by holy meditation, fervent prayer, and grateful devotement of part of our substance to the Lord, let there be moral preparation. Yes, we speak of the dedication of our means here, for surely a portion of what we have belongs to the Lord, as well as to the baker, butcher, and outfitter; if we lay aside a part of our income for the Lord's work, we shall enter upon public worship with greater interest and fervour. We are aware that some people don't believe in this practical sort of preparation, but be assured it is most beneficial. 'Bring an offering, and come into his courts."

Meditation is also most desirable. Meditate on God's ineffable and glorious character, His sublime service, His gracious Word, His condescending love, the rich privileges He has bestowed upon us, the honourable relation in which He has placed us, the eternal glories to which He has called us, and the sacred obligations He has consequently laid upon us. This meditation will have a salutary influence, and will whet the appetite for the rich repast, the feast of fat things. It is said that when the Romans were going to a banquet, they prepared their appetites by drinking bitters. Surely from them we may learn a lesson of importance. In going to the banquet of the King, let us prepare ourselves by solemn meditation, self-examination, and self-denial, and thus it will be far more enjoyable and refreshing.

And last, but not least, let there be much believing and earnest prayer. By this holy exercise we are raised from earth to heaven. But how little we prove its true power-how neglectful of this our highest privilege! Should we not experience more blessing by far in connection with public services if there was more private communion with God? Should we go to the house of prayer so barren and with such itching ears? Should we be so often dull, sluggish, sleepy, dispiriting the preacher, influencing the multitude, and displeasing God? No, no, is surely the response of all. Let us, then, before we enter the house of God, get upon the mount with our Saviour; let us leave the tumult and strife of the world below whilst we go yonder to worship; let us get into deep sympathy with the grand significant privileges of which we are partakers; and then, when we enter the

These considerations, then, show how incumbent the duty of devout preparation is upon all true worshippers. But perhaps some may say, "It is very well to tell us of our duty, and it would be an excellent thing if such could be carried out; but how are we to do it ?" This, by the way, is an important inquiry, and requires thoughtful consideration. Amongst the Jews of old there was what was called the "preparation day," the day in which preparation was made for the sabbath. This preparation probably consisted in the performance of all necessary duties, so that the sabbath might be free for worship, and also in attention to certain religious rites, so that the worship might be entered on with true devotion and earnestness. In this age of bustle, clamour, and competition we find that the day which precedes the gathering together of the thousands in our land for public worship is rather a day of incessant worry, and that scarcely a moment is left for calm thought. Trade and commerce encircle the whole life from the early dawn of Monday down to the late hours of Saturday. To make matters worse, in many of our towns the principal market day is on the Saturday, and men of business especially find the small hours of Sunday creeping on them before quietness and rest are secured. Where shall we find to-day such scenes as that described in Burns's "Cotter's Saturday Night"? As Charles Vince observes: "That evening used to be a season of preparation; it was made a fitting prelude to the hallowed service that followed. The altar was made ready and the wood was laid in order for the expected fire of the morrow. Households, by quiet social worship, drew nigh to God; they spent that night as it were in the holy place, and as soon as the sabbath dawned were ready with right spirit to pass into the Holy of Holies and see God face to face." But this sort of thing belongs in a very large measure to the days that are past. Certainly, however, it is to be regretted; and we think if Christian men and women would but look the matter fairly in the face, and weigh its importance, much might be done in that direction which is now passed Surely if the spiritual life was healthy and vigorous there would be a strenuous effort before the dawn of the sabbath "to tune with care each unseen chord within:

over.

"The altar must be cleansed to-day,

Meet for the offered Lamb;

The wood in order we must lay,
And wait to-morrow's flame,"

Now, the preparation for public worship which I would urge embraces the physical, the intellectual, and the moral. First, the physical. Retire to rest as early as possible of a Saturday night; if there is anything the matter with the system, try and look after its removal before then. Why should that be the special season for all sorts of nostrums and possets? Don't lie in bed of a Sunday morning, when the sun is shining bright, and the lark is singing, and the air is sweet

and refreshing. A walk to the early prayer-meeting, apart from the blessing obtained whilst there, will do good. It will impart elasticity to the frame and cheerfulness to the mind. Further, by the careful study of God's Word, get the intellect right. There is perhaps only one half-hour that you can have on the quiet; well, don't let that pretty serial, with its fascinating love tale, swallow it up, or the result may be that, when the preacher is speaking about things real, your mind may be away in the land of dreams, and wondering whether that young knight proved faithful to the fair lady of his choice. Tell Emma Jane Worboise that, with all your respect for her, she must keep out of the way until Monday at least. Let the Word of God, with its rich, elevating, purifying truths, be devoured, and thus the mind will be in harmony with the engagements of the house of prayer. And then, by holy meditation, fervent prayer, and grateful devotement of part of our substance to the Lord, let there be moral preparation. Yes, we speak of the dedication of our means here, for surely a portion of what we have belongs to the Lord, as well as to the baker, butcher, and outfitter; if we lay aside a part of our income for the Lord's work, we shall enter upon public worship with greater interest and fervour. We are aware that some people don't believe in this practical sort of preparation, but be assured it is most beneficial. "Bring an offering, and come into his courts."

Meditation is also most desirable. Meditate on God's ineffable and glorious character, His sublime service, His gracious Word, His condescending love, the rich privileges He has bestowed upon us, the honourable relation in which He has placed us, the eternal glories to which He has called us, and the sacred obligations He has consequently laid upon us. This meditation will have a salutary influence, and will whet the appetite for the rich repast, the feast of fat things. It is said that when the Romans were going to a banquet, they prepared their appetites by drinking bitters. Surely from them we may learn a lesson of importance. In going to the banquet of the King, let us prepare ourselves by solemn meditation, self-examination, and self-denial, and thus it will be far more enjoyable and refreshing.

And last, but not least, let there be much believing and earnest prayer. By this holy exercise we are raised from earth to heaven. But how little we prove its true power-how neglectful of this our highest privilege! Should we not experience more blessing by far in connection with public services if there was more private communion with God? Should we go to the house of prayer so barren and with such itching ears? Should we be so often dull, sluggish, sleepy, dispiriting the preacher, influencing the multitude, and displeasing God? No, no, is surely the response of all. Let us, then, before we enter the house of God, get upon the mount with our Saviour; let us leave the tumult and strife of the world below whilst we go yonder to worship; let us get into deep sympathy with the grand significant privileges of which we are partakers; and then, when we enter the

courts of the Lord, we shall see His power and beauty, and every chord of the new life shall play out notes of harmony and sweetness, and the word of truth shall be a word of power, quickening our desires for the good and true, refining every faculty of the soul, and making us Christlike and joyful.

In closing, there are two or three things which we may definitely enumerate, which will be the result of this private preparation. In the first place, there will be greater interest in all the services of the house of prayer. Whenever the doors are open, there will be an eager desire to join with the assembly of God's people, and nothing but sickness, bodily infirmity, or legitimate domestic claims will prevent. The once-a-day system will have no favour. The cushions and books in the pew will not be allowed to represent the individual. A contemplated cold in the back part of the head will not be sufficient to stamp him as indisposed. The visit of a second cousin will not keep him within doors. And the fact that there was a ring round the moon the previous night will not fill him with serious alarm about the weather. He is but an individual, but under the holy influence of prayer, and through meditation on God's Word, he has a tender conscience, and he is aware that by his absence he may make others careless, help to discourage the minister, take away so much from the enthusiasm of the gathering, and lose a blessing to his own soul. Further, punctuality in attendance will be conscientiously adhered to. There will be a desire to be found always in place to join in the opening hymn and prayer, to unite in the first act of worship. And when in the house of prayer heart and voice will go up to the Divine throne. All little differences with brethren will cease to exist. Eyes will not be running round on the congregation to discover the newest fashions. The clock will not be the centre of attraction. The hymn-book will not be examined from beginning to end in search of a hymn which is not there. The ears will not be open to find mistakes in the singing or the preaching. The mind will not be away on the river or in the mart. Incessant neck-twisting will be avoided, and sweet repose will not be indulged in. There will be the solemn consciousness of the Divine presence, earnest gleaning from the Book of Life, devout seeking after God, and the rich realisation of His love. And thus, with spirits refreshed, mind invigorated, soul strengthened, there will be the onward march in the path of life until the pure and perfect wor ship of heaven be obtained.

North Curry.

CHARLEY'S CHANCE.

FOR THE YOUNG.