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Not less lovely, perhaps lovelier still, is the Germander Speedwell or Veronica. If a Cowslip mimics gold come up from the mine to earth's crust, Veronica fetches down the hue of heaven to our feet. "Speed well," it says, saluting us, and calling our thoughts skywards. Or if we consider its name of Veronica, "true image,”—the name likewise assigned to a legendary holy woman who did "what she could" to comfort our Lord under the burden of His cross, this nobler name recalls to us the Way of Sorrows which verily is the way of heaven, and which our Saviour trod for our sakes; which St. James, like Him in spirit, and as tradition avers in face, trod following in His footsteps; which in Christ's strength and at His command we also, please God, will tread after Him.

Veronica bears a cruciform blossom easily shed, sustained by a cloven calyx. It unfolds several flowerets together, in a sort of scattered spike; closing at night, and against a damp atmosphere. Its leaves emerge from the hairy stalk in couples, with toothed edges and an outline somewhat heart-shaped: its small capsule moreover is inversely heart-shaped. Many varieties exist of Speedwell, some paler, others more deeply dyed; and they flourish profusely in widely different situations. Nor are they accounted destitute of medicinal and nutritive properties: the Dutch have even conferred upon them, for their real or imagined virtues, the name of Honour and Praise ; a title worthily borne by a humble little plant which under so many endearing aspects preaches to us the love of God. towards mankind.

The flowers appear on the earth.-Song of Solomon ii. 12.

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Great or small below,

Great or small above;

Be we Thine, whom Thou dost know

And love:

First or last on earth,

First or last in Heaven;

Only weighted with Thy worth,

And shriven.

Wise or ignorant,

Strong or weak; Amen;

Sifted now, cast down, in want:—

But then?

Then,—when sun nor moon,

Time nor death, finds place,

Seeing in the eternal noon
Thy Face:

Then, when tears and sighing,

Changes, sorrows, cease;

Living by Thy Life undying

In peace:

Then, when all creation

Keeps its jubilee,

Crowned amid Thy holy nation;

Crowned, discrowned, in adoration

Of Thee.

*ጥ

St. Barnabas,

APOSTLE.

11 JUNE.

The Sacred Text.

OSES, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.-Acts iv. 36, 37.

When Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the Name of Jesus.-Acts ix. 26, 27.

Men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.

Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith. Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world. Then the disciples determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judæa: which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.— Acts xi. 20, &c.

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Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.—Acts xii. 25.

There were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas . . . . . and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate Me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the

Jews and they had also John to their minister. And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer: which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer withstood them. . . . Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem. But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down. And the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.

Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. And the word of the Lord was published through

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