appointed to be read each Sabbath morning, at the commencement of the sacred services of the day. It speaks to each of us individually with pressing earnestness, "to-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts." There is so much that tends to harden the heart; the words of truth grow so familiar to the ear; custom lies with such a deadening weight on the benumbed spirit, that even the two-edged sword of the word seems at times, as if it could not penetrate it, but to-day one more opportunity is granted; it may be the last ; no to-morrow is promised: oh harden not your heart. You would not willingly do it, but remember, it is impossible to spend an indifferent Sabbath; however passive you may seem to be, unless at the close of the day you can trace some stirring of your soul to lay hold on God, you have really been hardening your heart. To each of us this is the time of temptation, or of trial; and a heavenly Father's eye is fixed on us, watching to see how the trial will be met. He watches the children of prosperity, to see if gratitude, humble dependence, and heavenly aspirations mix with their earthly joy. He watches the sons and daughters of sorrow, to see whether their hearts be melting in the furnace of affliction. He watches those who have to struggle on in the entangled paths of this world's business, to see if they keep fast hold of the clue of faith. He watches the young, who just set free from some of the restraints of childhood, have time, life, energy and talent, that might be turned to noble account in his vineyard. Yes, and he watches the little ones too, for even a child is known by his doings; and has its own happy circle of love and obedience. Let us never forget that we are in the midst of the day of temptation, and let not the warning of Israel's fall

and fearful doom, be lost upon us. We may pass lightly over the words of the solemn oath with which the Psalm concludes, but they proved the death-warrant of a nation. Men and women were there in the prime of life, and the fulness of their strength, but the blighting curse was on them. Sometimes it worked silently, and one by one fell, almost unmarked beneath its influence, at other times the pestilence mowed down its thousands. Before they reached the borders of Canaan, the graves of the lonely wilderness had closed over them all. These things were written for our learning; it is not this solitary threatening of the Lord which is terrible, because we have been allowed to see its accomplishment; other warnings are equally sure, though long suffering patience at present may delay the stroke. This one fearful judgment should throw a beacon-light over every Scripture threatening, that we may share in the blessing pronounced on those who tremble atGod's word.

In philosophy equally as in poetry, it is the highest and most useful prerogative of genius, to produce the strongest impressions of novelty, while it rescues admitted truths from the neglect caused by the very circumstance of their universal admission. Extremes meet. Truths of all others the most awful and interesting, are too often considered as so true, that they lose all the power of truth, and lie bed-ridden in the dormitory of the soul, side by side with the most despised and exploded errors.-Coleridge.

A CALL TO USEFULNESS.

BY THE AUTHOR OF

66

A TOKEN OF LOVE TO LITTLE CHILDREN."

It is a delightful task, one in which even angels love to engage, to trace the varied graces wrought in the ransomed sinner by that holy transforming Spirit which, as St. Paul tells us, "divideth unto every man severally as He will." 1 Cor. xii. 11. Truly may it be said, if he work, none can let or hinder. The most untoward worldly circumstances form no barrier to his operations. He surmounts all with as much ease as Samson burst asunder the green withs by which his tyrant foes attempted to bind him. The objects of His choice are selected from all grades of society: the learned and polite must become fools, that they may be made truly wise, while the illiterate and unrefined have only to wait submissively on this infallible Teacher, in order to become wise unto salvation.

It has been said by one of the sweetest and simplest of our poets, that

"There's no soil like poverty for growth divine."

and we would now bring before your notice a short record of the Saviour's dealings with one of his children, which shall fully justify the assertion.

Poor as it regards this world's goods, she is rich in faith, in love, in hope! The cross of Christ is her

boast, her life, her joy!" God forbid," is the language of her inmost soul, "that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world : I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me." Jesus is her soul's rest,— Jesus is her burden-bearer-Jesus is her physicianJesus is her counsellor-Jesus is her friend-so loving and compassionate, no affection or tenderness like his -so precious to her sanctified soul, that all other objects in comparison lose their sweetness and value-so lovely, no object of beauty comparable to him-so dear, that life would be a blank without him, and heaven itself, but for the hope of seeing him as he is, would offer no attractions to her! Standing, as she now does, on the very threshold of an eternal world, she is waiting and listening for the voice of her Beloved to call her home. She is full of thankfulness in the midst of sufferings the most intense. 'I wait not, dear Madam, till the storm is passed, to say, He hath done all things well, but now I joyfully exclaim, He doeth all things well.'

In another leter, bearing date the 23rd of last month, she writes, "I feel myself getting sensibly weaker. The convulsions are greatly increased in frequency and violence, but my soul is calm, peaceful, and happy; yea, even joyful in my God! Oh, the privilege of living by faith. Too weak sometimes to utter my wants to my heavenly Father, I can yet look to Jesus, I can lie still at his feet; I can cling in my very helplessness to his cross, and my favourite promise is ever sweet, ever new. Isa. xxvi. 3.

In a later communication, she expresses herself in the same joyful strain :- Bless God, that my soul is peaceful and happy, my faith's strong vision looks

through and beyond the gloom of present things; this is my boast, I am my Lord's, and he is mine!'

Who, my Christian sisters, for such calm repose, such sweet assurance, would not gladly relinquish the glitter, the honours, yea, more, the comforts of this changing transitory scene? Who would not joyfully yield their ease and the dearest joys of life for a hope so much divine-such manifestations of the Redeemer's love that this poor but favoured child of heaven enjoys? Hard is her earthly lot, and coarse her daily fare-her body for years has been racked with painful diseaseher physical strength prostrate, but her mind, like the stately eagle, towers majestically above it all, and holds intimate communion with the God of the universe! As the Christian, whom Cowper so beautifully describes

--

"She looks abroad into the varied field

Of nature, and though poor perhaps compar'd
With those whose mansions glitter in his sight,
Calls the delightful scenery all her own.

She lifts to heaven an unpresumptuous eye,
And smiling, says, My Father made them all."

The following testimony was written at our request by a physician, who has closely marked her varied excellence, and contributed in no slight degree to her support:

'At the age of fifteen, the painful disorder of rickets commenced, by which an upright form was reduced to the deformity of a crooked spine, or hunchback. Her history from that period has been that of a sufferer; but, amidst all her afflictions, she has been an indefatigable servant of her Lord. Her constancy, as a Sabbath-school teacher, could not be surpassed, although situated at a distance of two or three miles from the