strength, and courage, and joy, and rest would be restored to me. Then I felt as if God appeared to me and said, 'Thou art a poor minister's son, and I have blessed thee in thy calling, so that thou art now a famous man. For years I have suffered thee to sport with the money thou hast lost. Have I not the keys of all treasuries, and can I not far more than replace thy loss? Be again of good courage, and promise that thou wilt go joyfully back to thy calling!' And I promised : and wife and children were again cheerful; and I forgot the heaviness. I have got over it, and am once more happy with my God. And prayer has done all this, and can do it, if it is earnest.” THE TRUE SHEPHERD. "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."-MATTHEW xi. 28. I WAS Wandering and weary, When my Saviour came unto me, And the world had ceased to woo me; At first I would not hearken, And put off till the morrow, But life began to darken, And my heart grew sick with sorrow; At last, I stopped to listen; His voice could ne'er deceive me, I saw His kind eyes glisten, So anxious to relieve me ; And I surely heard Him say, .66 I am sure to hear Him say, Follow on, and still keep near Me, My sheep must never fear Me, I am the Shepherd true." I thought His love would weaken, As its light and warmth go through me; As I tread my pilgrim way, My sheep need never fear Me, Let us, then, dearest brothers, Do what will longest please us,— "Precious souls! you're safe when near Me, None such need ever fear Me, I am the Shepherd true." GO YE INTO MY VINEYARD AND WORK. SOMETHING to do for Jesus, my throbbing heart would say, Lord, I would in Thy vineyard work, and labour while 'tis day. Teach me what Thou wouldst have me do, what efforts I should make ; What burden Thou wouldst have me bear, for Christ my Saviour's sake. Something to do for Jesus, for Him who died for me; How blessed is such service, how sweet such, work must be : My willing footsteps long to run, and my lips yearn to tell Abroad His love and goodness, who "doeth all things well." A soft voice seemed to answer, First thou must look within And check, by prayer and watchfulness, each act and word of sin; A life of inward holiness, like tilled and cultured ground, Will bear a rich and plenteous crop, and spread its fruits around. If His Spirit dwell within thee, and rest upon thy head, How will His blessed influence on all around be shed, And oftener than each dawning day make thy petitions known, In earnest supplications before thy Father's throne. O pray for him, thy dearest one, fervent thy prayers should be And for the little lisping babes that cluster round thy knee, All that thou lovest, and all around, thy fervent prayers should claim, Offered with faith and confidence in Christ thy Saviour's name. Then strive with care and faithfulness each duty to fulfil, Amid the trivial scenes of life, doing thy Master's will; Thine be a ministry of love-bring sunshine to thy home So loving hearts will wait thy steps, and bless thee when they come. And when the time of trial comes, Oh, cast on Him thy care, And strive with resignation each heavy blow to bear; The smile, the look of cheerfulness, sweet patience under pain, Oh, this is work for Jesus that will not be in vain. It is not by great acts alone our duty we perform— Our Saviour washed His followers' feet, as well as stilled the storm n; And in the humblest scenes of life, if thy faith shall wax not dim, Each service will be sanctified, if it be done to Him. C.Y. From the " BRITISH FRIEND." DIVINE SYMPATHY. "When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then Thou knewest my path."-PSALM cxlii. 3. My God, whose gracious pity I may claim, From human eye 'tis better to conceal Each secret conflict with in-dwelling sin, All, all are known to Thee. When, in the morning, unrefreshed I wake, Nay, all by Thee is ordered, chosen, planned, The fittest means to cure what I deplore, And this continued feebleness, this state Nor will the bitter draught distasteful prove, He drank it to the dregs, no drop remained, |