ANECDOTES AND SELECTIONS.

care and condescension of Jehovah himself, for "He giveth grace to the lowly." Palaces and thrones have no attraction for him, so he passes them by; but "to this man will I look, who is poor and of a contrite heart." It is a preparative for receiving grace, and the effect of grace received, from both which considerations the more a man has of it the better. He who seeks earnestly the best gifts will find this to be one of them. Let us not be satisfied with a small degree of this lowliness, but strive after it, and remember that he who is contented with grace enough to get to heaven, and desires no more, may be very sure that he has none at all.

TESTS OF PIETY.-A christian once said, "I find that I love God, and desire to love Him more. I find a desire to requite evil with good. I find that I am looking up to God to see Him and his hand in all things. I find a greater fear of displeasing God than all the world. I find a love to such christians as I never saw or received good from. I find a grief when I see the commandments of God broken. I find a mourning when I do not find an assurance of God's love. I find a willingness to give God the glory of all my abilities to do good. I find a joy in the company and conversation of the godly. I find a grief when I perceive it goes ill with christians. I find a constant love to secret duties. I find a bewailing of such sins as the world cannot accuse me of. I find I constantly choose suffering to avoid sin." The man who can truly say this of himself is fitted for earth or heaven. There are test points in this record, very convenient for others to try themselves by.

THE WISE MAN AND THE BLOCKHEAD.-Seven things characterize the wise man, and seven the blockhead. The wise man speaks not before those who are his superiors either in age or wisdom; he interrupts not others in the midst of their discourse; he replies not hastily; his questions are relevant to the subject; his answers to the purpose; in delivering his sentiments he takes the first in order first, the last last; when he understands not, he says, "I understand it not;" he acknowledges his errors, and is open to conviction. The reverse of all these characterizes the blockhead.

POPERY IN SOUTH AMERICA.-"The outward forms and ceremonies of the Church are strictly and pompously performed, and this is all the christian duty which is required. A man may commit any crime, from petty theft to murder, and live an undisguised life of debauchery; and in an hour after committing any crime, may confess to the priest, partake of the holy sacrament, and return to his evil practices; fully persuaded that a more perfect christian never lived."

WE have before now said a few words about your trying to make your own firesides a place of comfort and happiness. Remember it depends upon yourselves. The husband and wife must both agree to try to make it so. Now and then little sparks of temper will fly off, but try by love to quench them. For as the poet says,

"The kindest and the happiest pair

Will find occasion to forbear;

And something every day they live

To pity, or perhaps forgive.”

Frederika Bremer has given some good advice on this subject' especially to young married couples. We hope all such who read this will treasure up the following counsels in their heart, and keep them there ready for use, for they are sure to need them.

"Deceive not one another in small things nor in great. One little single lie has, before now, disturbed a whole married life, a small cause has often great consequences. Fold not the arms together and sit idle. 'Laziness is the devil's cushion.' Do not run much from home. One's own hearth is of more worth than gold. Many a marriage, my friends, begins like the rosy morning, and then falls away like a snow-wreath. And why, my friends? Because the married pair neglect to be as well pleasing to each other after marriage as before. Endeavour always, my children, to please one another; but at the same time keep God in your thoughts. Lavish not all your love on to-day, for remember that marriage has its to-morrow, and its day after to-morrow, too. Spare, as one may say, fuel for the winter. Consider, my daughters, what the word wife expresses. The married woman is the husband's domestic faith; in her hand he must be able to confide house and family; be able to entrust to her the key of his heart, as well as the key of his eating room. His honour and his home are under her keeping his well-being in her hand. Think of this! you, sons, be faithful husbands, and good fathers of families. so that your wives shall esteem and love you."

And
Act

THE PENNY POST BOX.

The Penny Post Box.

66 TRUST IN THE LORD."

SOME people will tell us that there is no such thing as Divine Providence; as if God Almighty had forsaken his own world. What heathen they are! They would be more at home among the old Grecians worshipping Jupiter or Juno and the rest of their rabble rout of gods. The other day we found in our box a note from an old friend, a sober baptist minister, who says, "If the following instance of divine interposition will suit your pages, take it. I can attest the truth of it. I have known the good man for forty years."

; a

"A poor man who feared God, managed to keep himself and wife by working at his trade—but an inflammation in one hand disabled him from pursuing his accustomed labour. At this time his wife was near her confinement, and every thing looked dark and darker still-the small house was emptied of every thing that could be spared to buy a little food twice a day-prayers were not answered-and to beg of men they were unaccustomed. About three weeks before his wife's confinement the poor man, cast down and distressed, was walking up one of the streets at Wlady met him and asked if his name was K--? to which he replied, 'Yes, madam.' And where do you reside when at home?' At E- B- Lane.' The lady then kindly gave him ten shillings, and bid him good morning. Early on the next day, the same lady paid a visit to the all but empty dwelling, and left a sovereign. Neither the man nor his wife have ever since, to their knowledge, seen this kind and seasonable friend. The poor man says in his own simple way, 'Thus the Lord helped us in a time of great need. Though greatly tried for weeks and months, I never despaired. I trusted in the Lord, and have been to this day fed by Him whose tender mercies are over all his works."

H

P. T.

Now is not this a pleasing and encouraging fact? and yet when we come to think all about it, what is there in it that is not quite natural? what is there that hould make any of us think it wonderful except our own want of faith in God? Here is a family in want-this poor man cries and the Lord hears him, and disposes the heart of this lady to help him. This is all natural, and it is a most beautiful comment on those words of our blessed Lord, Matt. vi. 25-34. What we all want, more than food, is more faith in GOD. So "Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed."

FACTS, HINTS, AND GEMS.

Facts, Hints, and Gems.

FACTS, HINTS, AND GEMS.