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vine promise for a reward for even so small an act of benevolence as giving a cup of cold water to a disciple, and that he regarded as worth a great deal.

Did he work for nothing? Does anybody work for nothing when he does good?

THE SHORT CANDLE.

As I sat in my chamber, I saw a little girl working by the light of a candle. It was burnt down almost to the socket. I perceived that she plied her needle very fast, and at length I overheard her saying to herself, "I must be very industrious; for this is the only candle I have, and it is almost gone."

What a lesson there is, the words of this child!

learn wisdom from it!

thought I, in

Surely I may

Life is but a

short candle. It is almost gone, and I have no other. How earnestly engaged

should I then be in every duty of life! While I have the light of life, how careful should I be to perform everything enjoined by my heavenly Master.

1. I ought to be in haste to work out my own salvation with fear and trembling, knowing that when this light is extinguished there is no other allowed to mortals for preparation.

2. I ought to be all alive to the immortal interests of my fellow-creatures; working while it is called To-day; striving to bring sinners to the Lord Jesus Christ: for my brief candle is soon to go out; and there can be no conversion of sinners in another world.

3. I ought to be unceasingly active in every act of benevolence, making as many happy as I can; relieving the miserable, and doing good to all within my reach : for this light is soon to be put out; and in the other world the miserable and suffering will be beyond my reach.

4. I ought to use every talent for the glory of God and the kingdom of Christ; working the works of Him that sent me while it is day, because the night cometh in which no man can work.

"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest." -Eccl. ix. 10.

THE LITTLE GIRL AND THE
MINISTER.

A PIOUS English clergyman, calling one day, in the course of his pastoral visits, at the house of a friend, affectionately noticed a child in the room, a little girl about six years old. Among other things, he asked her if she knew that she had a bad heart; and, opening the Bible, painted

to the passage where the Lord promises, "I will put a new spirit within you, and I will take the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh." He then entreated her to plead this promise in prayer, and she would find the Almighty faithful to his engage.

ment.

Many years after, a lady, at the age of twenty-three, came to him to propose herself for communion with the Church, and how inexpressible was his delight when he found that she was the very person with whom, when she was a child, he had so faithfully conversed on the subject of religion, and that the conversation was blessed, and made the means of her conversion to God. Taking her Bible, she had retired as he advised, pleaded the promise, wept, prayed, and the Lord heard her, and answered her prayer. He gave her what she most anxiously desired, a new heart.

Let all ministers learn from this the importance of being faithful to children. Let no child ask, "Why don't the minister speak to me?"

THE TREE OF REMEMBRANCE.

PICKING up an acorn from the ground, Aunt Phebe bade each of the children examine it. "Such an acorn," said she,

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was once this tree, which now reaches almost to the clouds, and spreads its refreshing shade around. Such, dear children, is sin in your hearts. If it is suffered to remain, it will grow and grow till nothing can take it away; now the Saviour is willing to destroy its power, and he only can do it; but if you do not desire it, and do not pray to him to take away your sinful heart, and make it clean, he does not promise to do it. the time will come when it

You know

will be too

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