restore to the air that purity which so many causes are constantly impairing. But we have talked long enough on this subject; bring me Thomson's Seasons from the library. I wish you to read the beautiful description of a thunder-storm in 'Summer,' and, as it has ceased raining, we will then walk out.

M. A. S.

Он, when we read in scripture of what Jesus did while he sojourned upon earth; when we follow him in all the steps of his most holy life; when we mark his perfect conformity to the law in all things; when we hear even his bitterest enemies acknowledging his spotless innocence; let us, in the exercise of faith, take and appropriate to ourselves all this rectitude, all this meritorious obedience: let us say, 'This, this perfection is mine; it is this alone in which God will accept me, and in which I desire to be accepted: I abandon and cast away all my own faulty and imperfect doings in the matter of justification, and I desire and pray to be found in Christ, whom I gratefully and gladly confess to glory in, as the Lord MY righteousness.'-Rev. C. Neat.

THE ASTRONOMER'S GARDEN.

-The lawn where many a cypress threw
Its length of shadow, whilst he watched the stars.

ROGERS.

THE twilight dews, the summer's cooling showers,
Such, as from England's mild and changing sky,
Fall lightly on the flowers and daisied grass,
Calling up fragrance from the garden ground,
Had given a freshness to the air: no sound
Broke the deep stillness of the summer night,
Save the low rustling of the distant leaves,
And the faint tick of the sidereal clock,
Soft falling on the ear: the brilliant stars,
A glorious host, shone forth in tranquil light,
Fair, clear, yet few, obscured by passing clouds:
Yet still the glass points up towards the heavens ;
And other eyes beside the learned there
Keep eager watch, that they perchance may see
For once the mysteries of the heavens unveiled.
For once! oh, happy must they be, who midst
The secret things from common eyes concealed,
Behold the wisdom of their God! whose thoughts
Walk daily midst the wonders of the world.

Far in the heavens appeared two distant stars; Faint was their light, and side by side they shone,

Or seemed to shine; for in the azure blue,
Between them there, the telescope displayed
To wondering eyes a glorious crown of light,
Amidst whose lustre gleamed a thousand stars,
Radiant in loveliness.

That garden scene

May pass from memory, for the days of life

Are filled with keen regrets and anxious thoughts,
And busy duties, hourly thronging round:
But when the burden of life's heavy cares
Weighs down my heart, by many a grief opprest,
Then may I call to mind the lovely crown,
Which, still unseen, shines by those distant stars,
And think even thus, amidst the daily scenes,
The daily trials of our sorrowing years,
Some hidden purpose of thy pitying love,
Thy watchful care, my Saviour is displayed;
Which, like the crown of stars, our mortal sight
Beholdeth not: until the eye hath learned
To look on all things through the glass of faith.
M. A. S. BARBER.

THE FAVOURED SHEPHERD.

No. IV.

THE FAITHFUL SERVANT.

How fully did David-how fully must all the Lord's servants in their different stations fulfil that injunction of the apostle-“ Be not slothful in business, but fervent in spirit, serving the Lord!" The servant of Abraham, to whose piety we have undoubted testimony, (Gen. xxiv.) would not eat after a long journey until he had told his errand; and having done this and accomplished all that his master had sent him to do, he resisted all invitation beyond the hospitality of one night's rest, and rising up early in the morning said, "Send me away that I may go unto my master; hinder me not, seeing that the Lord hath prospered my way." Joseph too, was wise and diligent in preserving his adopted country from the evils of famine, and promoting the interests of the king who had raised him to be next in station to himself; and thus David, the beloved of the Lord, "went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely, and he was accepted in the sight of Saul's servants and in the sight of all the people; he behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was much set by.”

Who will not be ready to join in the exclamation, whether said respecting those in public capacities, as

counsellors, ministers, nobles, or of those in the more private stations of stewards or menials of every degree in families, who will not be ready to join in the exclamation, “What a blessing is a faithful servant !” And who is, or can be, a faithful servant but the faithful follower of the Lord Jesus, the Author and Finisher of faith? Who is the wise servant but the follower of Him who is the source of all wisdom? Who is the obedient servant but he who seeks to follow implicitly that Lord who hath said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments?" Such a servant is indeed, as has been abundantly proved, a blessing to a nation or a family, while we look in vain for faithful service where the ruling principle is self-interest instead of the constraining love of Christ. Taking a broader view of the matter, however, in one sense, we are all servants -servants of the Most High God; and well will it be for us if in his service, which is perfect freedom, we walk so guided by the wisdom which is from above as to be worthy of that sentence which He will hereafter pronounce on those who have found righteousness and strength in the Lord Jesus-“Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

Happy Saul, to have such a servant as the son of Jesse! How his heart must have thrilled with thankfulness as he heard the rejoicings on the defeat of his enemies by the hand of the valiant David! How must his heart have responded to the sound of the tabret and the song of minstrels-" Saul has slain his thousands and David his tens of thousands?" But what! is it possible that the favoured master can be envious of the well-earned praises of his faithful David, the conqueror of his foe, the deliverer of his