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gave his hands a rinsing under the pump, and joined the group, who together entered the cottage door with wholesome appetites for their breakfast.

Breakfast, however, was not the first concern with this assembled family. The girls, throwing off their bonnets, and hastily smoothing back the hair which had become somewhat disordered by the sea-breeze, followed the widow Green into an adjoining room, occupied by the lodger, and the boys brought up the rear. On a little round table lay the Holy Bible, with a small manual of family devotion; and on the appearance of Mrs. Barker, who promptly answered the accustomed signal, and her settlement in an arm chair, all seated themselves: the widow Green selected a portion of scripture, read it with much deliberation, and offered up a devout prayer of thanksgiving for past mercies, with supplication for guidance, and every needful blessing through the day. A short greeting between the young people and their lodger, marked by affectionate respect on their side, and great kindness on hers, concluded the scene: they then hastened back, to enjoy the morning's meal.

"What sort of a walk had you, girls?' inquired Richard. 'I understand Mary was not quite awake when Helen pulled her out at the door.'

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'I was rubbing my eyes,' answered Mary, but awake for all that. 'Tis only seven now, and two good hours have I been on my feet.'

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'And a great blessing it is, my child,' observed the old lady, to be up and at work while many are lying on the bed of sickness, and not a few on the bed of sloth.'

'I wish old John Buckle would lie in bed,' con

tinued the little girl,' and not get up to scold as he does.'

'Fie, Mary,' said Helen, laying the threepence beside the old lady's saucer; 'consider how kind he is at heart;' and she delivered his message.

'I don't mind a few hard words,' remarked James if I get a good basin of milk broth along with them.'

'Hard words break no bones,' said Richard; and if none of us ever come to get hard blows into the bargain, we may think ourselves well off.'

Blows! I should like to see the person who would try to beat me!' exclaimed little Mary, in high disdain.

Hush, my dear child,' responded the widow. 'Strokes of the rod are sometimes needful for us; and we have a Father in heaven who will apply them when he sees good. You must not speak so hastily,' she continued, as Mary opened her lips to reply: the wise man tells us that a haughty spirit cometh before a fall. Let us be humble.'

"You had better mind what granny says,' added James: 6 none of us will ever be the worse for minding her.'

All eyes were turned, beaming with affection, upon the old woman, while a half-whispered assent escaped from every lip. If ever any person succeeded in attaching all around her to herself and to each other, the widow Green assuredly did so. She knew it, she saw it daily and hourly, and she numbered it among the chiefest of her earthly blessings.

Now, granny,' said Richard, when the short, frugal repast was ended, 'I've a long errand after school, and you need not expect me home till sup

per. There's some parish business to do, and I must take a letter from the overseer to Mr.-I forget his name-the new vestry clerk, and wait for an answer. So don't be uneasy if I am late.'

A hearty good bye was exchanged, and away went the lad to his school-work, which was that of a teacher rather than a pupil. We will leave the cottagers to their daily avocations, and take a peep into a higher grade of society.

C. E.

O My dear brother, learn to know Christ, and him crucified; learn to sing a new song, to despair of your own work, and to cry unto him, Lord Jesus, thou art my righteousness, and I am thy sin; thou hast taken on thee what was mine, and given to me what is thine; what I was not thou becamest, that I might become what I was not. Beware, my dear George, of aspiring after such a purity, as that thou mayest not have to acknowledge thyself a sinner; for Christ dwells only in sinners. Meditate often on

this love of Christ, and you will taste its unspeakable comfort. If our labours and affections could give peace to the conscience, why did Christ die upon the cross? You will find peace in him alone; despairing of yourself and of your works, and beholding with what love he spreads his arms to you; taking all your sins on himself, and bestowing on you all his righteousness.-Martin Luther.

THE STRICKEN ROCK.

"Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod smote the rock twice."-NUM. XX. 10, 11.

In this transaction Moses incurred the displeasure of the Lord. In three things he erred. His beautiful characteristic of meekness gave way to impatience, and that led to presumption. "Must we fetch you water out of this rock?" as if any act or power of his own could be necessary, or could be mingled with the act and power of God. Then he rashly, or angrily, struck the rock twice, which, being typical of Christ, he ought not to have done. "Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many." Heb. ix. 28. "We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." By one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." Heb. x. 10, 14.

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From the stricken rock a stream issued, which was a welcome and necessary supply to those who were faint and weary. The lives of the drooping people could not have been supported but for the flowing of this stream. The water from this rock took its course through the wilderness where they journeyed, for the refreshment of the whole congregation of Israel. All who thirsted freely drank. Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea come,

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buy wine and milk without money and without price.” Isaiah lv. 1.

All the followers of Jesus are travelling through a wilderness; all need the same sustenance. The wanderings, the journeyings, the rebellions, the murmurings, the faintness and weariness of God's ancient chosen people, are typical of all his elect.

"They did all eat the same spiritual meat, and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them: and that rock was Christ." 1 Cor. x. 3, 4,

Christ being smitten, the life-giving stream flowed which strengthens the soul and cleanses it from all pollution.

"All who wash shall be clean: all who drink shall live."

Let us individually ask ourselves if we believe this truth to the saving of our souls. We ought not to rest satisfied with a mere speculative assent: we ought to endeavour to realize it to ourselves, that God is indeed our own God and Saviour. Until we know this experimentally we cannot be sure that we have passed from death unto life. We have not “ ceived the spirit of adoption whereby we cry, Abba, Father." If we have received it," the Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God." Rom. viii. 15, 16. "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself." 1 John v. 10.

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We are new creatures in Christ Jesus. Instead of being lifeless-dead in trespasses and sins-we are quickened. We no longer fulfil the desires of the flesh; we become obedient to the spirit. This new principle within us is influential and active, and we

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