by that. But they were in too great a hurry; they did what a great many poor sinners do; they tried to save themselves in the wrong way, and they died in consequence. It's no use our trying to save our souls, you know, lads; we can't do it; there is only one that can save us, and that is Christ Jesus. If those two men had waited till we could get a rope fixed, they might have come ashore the same as the others did; but they wouldn't wait. There are many lost because they won't take the only way of salvation that is laid down for them; they trust to their own goodness, or to their priest, or confession, or something of the sort; but if they read their Bibles they might know that nothing that they can do can make them fit for heaven. No, no; there is but one way, but that is a sure one. The blood of

Jesus Christ, God's Son, can cleanse us from all sin, and make us fit to meet God: nothing but that will do. Do you remember, lads, what the poor man we read about in the Bible said to Paul and Silas? He cried out, "What must I do to be saved ?" and they told him to "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ." That's just what he had to do, and he should be saved; and that's what you must do; it's the only way offered in God's word.

Well, there were a lot of us trying to get a rope to the brig, and at last a fisherman managed to get aboard of her and carry a line with him, and by this means all the rest, eight men in all, were saved.

You should have seen those fishermen, how eager they were to save the crew! If we were all as eager to save our fellow-men from going wrong, we might do a deal of good amongst us.

It was a sad thing to see the death of those two young men who were drowned; fine strong fellows they were, but they were out of the reach of all help directly that great wave caught them. But what would you have said of us if we had not tried to save the others? Why, you would have looked upon us as murderers; you would have said we were cowardly and inhuman to leave them to perish; but we are

worse than that if we are content to see our fellow-men perishing around us, and don't hold out a helping hand; if we see them steering in the wrong course, and don't point out the danger they are running into. Don't be ashamed to do it, mates, no more than you would be ashamed to warn a vessel off the rocks. I know it's sometimes hard work, telling men of the danger they are in, when they don't want to hear about it. You may get abused for your interference, perhaps; but never mind that, you must do your duty.

We were all right glad when the crew were safe ashore and made comfortable. I don't know how they got home to Germany, but I expect they were taken back all right. I. came away that day, so I don't know what became of the cargo, nor the wreck neither; but I do know I was glad to think that I had been there to help save the crew.

I haven't got much more to say, lads, but before I leave off I do want to impress upon you the importance of knowing whether you are steering in the right course. Don't let there be any uncertainty; make sure about it, and if you find that you have been going wrong, oh, turn before it is too late! The gracious Saviour is waiting for you; He is willing to receive you and to guide you into the right way. Do not think that you have gone too far; none are so sinful that they cannot obtain pardon. Come, then, to Jesus, and receive pardon, and blessing, and peace in this life, and in the life to come, joy everlasting.

Faith.

'HE end from the beginning, Lord,

TH

Is known alone to Thee;

E'en where the shadows thickest fall
Thy piercing eye can see.

No cloud obscures Thy perfect plan,
No dimness falleth there;

Clear beams of strength and holiness
Thy majesty declare.

G. H. S.

My finite mind can never grasp

The purpose of Thy will,
Yet I, an atom in Thy sight,
Some part of it fulfil.

Give me the faith that soars beyond
Poor reason's feeble ray;
Let evidence of things unseen
Drive doubts and fears away.

And when the shadows densest fall,
Or clouds obscure my sun,
When sin with deadly purpose waits
To spoil Thy work begun.

Then, Lord, in me Thy goodness show,
To me such faith be given,
That from "far off" I may behold
The "better things" of heaven.

Then help me patiently to trust,
And wait the word of love,

That shall change faith to glorious sight,
In shadeless life above.

S. P.

44

I have done my Work, and now I am going to have a little Rest."

ITTLE did she who spoke these words think how true they were literally to be. She had occupied the morning in pursuance of her usual plan

had gone to God's house, where she loved to join in a quiet week-day service; and, after spending some time in reading to an invalid, reached her home somewhat wearied. Her faithful servant met her with a little word of reproach, fearing she had overtaxed her strength, and she cheerfully replied, "I have done my work, and now I am going to have a little rest." Then requesting to be called when all was ready, she went into her room to prepare for dinner.

The call was given in a few minutes, but no answer being returned, and her mistress not appearing, the maid went up, to find her insensible on the floor. She had heard another call, and one which must be obeyed. Happily for her, she knew what another servant of God, recently summoned in like sudden manner, expressed the moment before he was taken—“What a blessed thing it is to be ready!"

The messenger Death had come, not, to her, as the King of Terrors, but bearing from the King of kings a mandate, "Come up hither;" and she was even then wending her way all unconsciously through the dark valley-which is not dark, however, to the Christian, and which issues in such glorious light to one who knows that

"Christ leads us through no darker rooms
Than He went through before;

He that unto Christ's kingdom comes
Must enter by this door

the mansions of the blest. She had fallen in the act of hanging up her jacket, and never spoke again.

Medical aid was called in, and a valued friend who lived near was speedily by her side, who watched the quick breaking-up of the earthly tabernacle in but a few short hours, hoping that the drawing of the last breath might be delayed till the return of the dying one's only sister. She had gone out for a two days' visit in the country, little thinking that the good-bye had been a real one for the present, and that she was to come back to see only a lifeless form in a desolate home. A sweet smile rested on the face of the dear departed, who, in the natural position of sleep, looked as if she was but "taking of rest in sleep." And so it was. Her words were fulfilled; her work on earth was done, and she was able to rest, though in a different sense from that in which she had spoken.

Although not strong, nor possessed of large means, hers was no idle, uninfluential life. In the early days of her religious life deep convictions of sin and a striving to meet

the innate corruption of the human heart by efforts of her own, and to work out a righteousness for herself, with a shade of asceticism gathered from the only teaching within her reach at that time, had given a rather gloomy character to her religion and countenance; but as the new life grew and deepened under the cheering influences of the Holy Spirit and the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness, all this passed away, and she was ever bright and cheerful, with ready sympathy for work, or joy, or sorrow, ready to every good work as far as her health and means would allow, and a power for good in her own little circle.

One who valued very much her sympathy wrote thus of her long years ago:-"A precious note from C―― has come in. I feel this dear girl is an important helper of my faith and joy. Eternity alone will show how much I have been aided in my pilgrimage by her availing prayers." On the other hand she herself thought that the gratitude was due all on her side for benefits conferred in the privilege of intimate communion with one of the most deeply-tried and deeply-taught of God's children. Thus it often is in heart communing with heart; and in the intercourse of daily life, all unwitting of the comfort and help bestowed, and thinking he only is the recipient, each one owns the benefit. The experienced Christian who helped on her younger sister in the faith was refreshed and comforted oftentimes, and now they together rejoice in the presence of the Lord they loved on earth.

From childhood upwards there is a satisfaction in a work completed and successfully accomplished, be it the first page of reading, or the first pocket-handkerchief hemmed, or the first sum proved, or the problem successfully worked out, or the thought traced to its origin or final results, or the grand discovery turned to account. How pleasant to say, "I have done my work." And when it has been a hard piece of work, a disagreeable or a trying piece of work, there is all the more satisfaction in having overcome difficulties and obstacles wherever they lay, whether within or without, in stubborn