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wrath were passing over Him, and of the meaning of the few words which He did utter we can apprehend but little. His grief was too deep for tears, too great for words. And yet it is right that we should strive to apprehend at least a little of His sorrows, for they were the sorrows of humanity, and most emphatically our own. "And being

in agony he prayed more earnestly." What could be the cause of His anguish? As yet His back was not given to the scourge, nor His sacred temples to the thorns. His quivering flesh shrank not as yet from the rugged nails; nor was His body oppressed with the weighty cross: He saw in the distance the cruel soldiery, the purple robe, the crown of thorns, the weary journey, the infuriated crowd, the lingering and protracted death, but it was not the apprehension of these which filled His soul with agony; there were deeper wounds than these. His Father's hand must smite Him, and from the enjoyment of His love He must for a time be cut off; for had it not been written that "it pleased the Father to bruise him, to make his soul an offering for sin"? This was the dread penalty He must endure, and it was this which

"Made the sacred drops of anguish fall,"

and drew such importunate cries from His lips. Think of this, O my soul! and learn to hate those sins which placed a gulf between even the soul of the holy Jesus and that Father whom He so loved.

But, deep as was the agony of Jesus, it sealed not His lips, nor prevented the access of His spirit to God. He still embraced the hand which smote Him. The storm was severe, the darkness great, the pains acute, but still His simple, confiding, and child-like faith pointed to His Father in heaven. His God had said that He would hold His hand, and give Him a covenant for the people. And now that overwhelming sorrow has seized His soul, and he sinks in deep waters where there is no standing, He pleads and rests upon the promise. The storm was loud, but His voice was louder than the storm; His anguish was strong, but His prayers were stronger. Oh, Christian, what an example to thee in the battle of life, amid the temptations of Satan, the sophistries of reason, the mysteries of providence, and the dark shadows of sickness and approaching death: to pray on and on, and still more fervently, the darker the night, the heavier the cross! This will help thee to stand in the evil day, to hope against hope, to battle with thy foes; and, however rudely the winds of trial and temptation and affliction may blow, will keep thee from making shipwreck of faith amid the storms of life.

THE EXCHANGE.

He takes my heart, oft sad and broken,
And gives me His, love's sweetest token;
And tells me I am not forsaken,

Yes, even me!

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EVERYTHING in the universe has a comes from mistaking these ends higher end than its own in exist- and misdirecting our energies, thus ence, and one of the chief objects of producing poor and inferior fruit a worthy life is to discover those from the soil which is meant to ends, and to contribute its share yield rich and noble harvests. Thus towards their furtherance. The the final end of all business is comseed evidently exists for the plant, morly supposed to be simply the the plant for the fruit, the fruit for acquisition of property. Wealth is the sustenance of life. So in hu- made not only the immediate, but manity, the body, with its wonder- the ultimate result of all traffic: if ful mechanism, exists not for itself, that is gained, business is thought but to develop and strengthen the to have accomplished its legitimate powers within; and those powers work; if not, it is pronounced a subsist, not for their own sake, but failure. With this sole end in view, for the results they are capable of the means will be arranged in conproducing. Life itself is given to sonance. Whatever promises the us, not that we may live alone, but most rapid increase of property will that we may progress; and every be seized upon with avidity, and advancing step we take is valuable, other interests, whether domestic, not chiefly for itself, but for the social, or moral, will be made subpossibility it opens to us. servient. Even where conscience Much of the misery in the world interferes to prevent actual wrong

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doing in the pursuit, it is sometimes regarded as a sacrifice of the real purpose of business-to higher ends, it is true, but still a sacrifice.

low and selfish ends. Intrinsically, however, it is worthy of better aims, and capable of higher results. Business, honestly and conscientiously A deeper insight into life's mean- pursued, where persevering diliings will, however, reveal a fuller gence and faithful attention are and nobler significance in business exercised, where the rights of all than the mere acquisition of pro- are upheld, and justice firmly adperty. It has an end beyond that hered to, brings with it a discipline of supply, an object above that of of character that can hardly be pecuniary success. It has a great secured in any other occupation. moral purpose, the establishment It brings into exercise all the of a lofty and unbending rectitude in the hearts and lives of men. No discipline can be found more perfectly adapted to this noble work than that of business. For it involves a continual adjustment of various claims, self being one of the claimants. It is a competition of rights and interests that presses more urgently and perpetually than in any other scene of life.

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of the mind, not only in judging of matters of prudence, but also those of right. Perplexing questions which involve conflicting interests must be decided, thus exercising and strengthening the judgment; the limits of self-love are to be assigned; not only honesty, but integrity, candour, discretion, and patience must be cultivated, and Com- the entire mental and moral nature undergo continual development if business is truly and conscientiously followed.

merce, with its" thousand wheels," is not a mere vehicle for transmitting to those engaged in it their share of this world's goods; it is No such results will be reaped, rather a great moral machinery, however, by him who substitutes whose purpose is the promotion of the immediate end of business, intelligent fidelity and justice among acquisition, for its ultimate end, men. This is true, both as regards character. To him the perils of communities and individuals. Com- trade are countless. Temptations merce promotes national wealth, to gain by artifice, concealment, and but this is not its only nor its deceit will surround him on every highest mission to nations. It is a hand, opportunities for enriching civiliser of the human race; it ac- himself at the expense of another's companies the desire for liberty and rights, enticement to amass money culture, giving them a new impulse, by speculation and chance rather while it provides the means for than by earnest striving, will contheir satisfaction. Its increase tinually occur to tempt and perkeeps pace with that of freedom, chance to overwhelm him. If he and wherever it flourishes most ex-acquire his coveted riches, he yet tensively and unrestrictedly, we find the most widely diffused intelligence and prosperity. If its influence in promoting virtue is less apparent, it is only because men do not recognise this to be its purpose, or pursue it for this end. The passion for rapid accumulation, the eagerness for wealth, the ambition for display, crowd out the thoughts of higher interests, and business is degraded by being used only for

sighs, for he lacks the sterling virtue that is needful to extract the real blessings of wealth; if he fall, he is wretched, for he has based all his hopes upon a dream, and the awakening is terrible.

On the other hand, the business man who regards his pursuit as a school of virtue rather than a sphere of selfish interests, who is daily studying its lessons of fidelity, integrity, and honour, will ever win

its loftiest moral prizes. He may conscious rectitude of purpose. acquire a fortune or he may lose These are the real treasures, pure one, but in either case he will gain and incorruptible, which the conthat which no wealth can bestow scientious pursuit of business can and no poverty take away. an bestow, and these are the great unblemished name, an unsullied ends which its discipline is capable character, a fidelity to truth and a of achieving.

THREE ANGELS.

THEY say this life is barren, drear, and cold-
Ever the same sad song was sung of old,
Ever the same long, weary tale is told,
And to our lips is held the cup of strife:
And yet a little LOVE can sweeten life.

They say our hands may grasp but joys destroyed,
Youth has but dreams and age an aching void,
Which Dead Sea fruit long, long ago has cloyed,
Whose night with wild, tempestuous storms is rife :
And yet a little HOPE can brighten life.

They say we fling ourselves in wild despair
Amid the broken treasures scattered there

Where all is wrecked, where all once promised fair,
And stab ourselves with sorrow's two-edged knife:
And yet a little PATIENCE strengthens life.

Is it then true, this tale of bitter grief,
Of mortal anguish finding no relief?

Lo! midst the winter shines the laurel leaf;
Three angels share the lot of human strife,
Three angels glorify the path of life.

Love, Hope, and Patience cheer us on our way;
Love, Hope, and Patience form our spirit's stay;
Love, Hope, and Patience watch us day by day;
And bid the desert bloom with beauty vernal,
Until the earthly fades in the eternal.

NEWS OF THE CHURCHES.

THE arrangements for the annual | place on Tuesday, the 25th; Mr. services and meetings in London Thomas Adams, of Birmingham, are now complete. At the usual will take the chair. The Revs. introductory prayer-meeting in the Eustace Conder, of Leeds, and Mission-house on Thursday, the John Clifford, M.A., of Praed20th of April, the Rev. Dr. Davies, street, London, have cordially of Haverfordwest, will preside. The accepted the invitation of the annual members' meeting will take committee to preach the annual

sermons. The chair at Exeter J. J. Fitch, of the Metropolitan Hall, on the evening of the 27th Tabernacle College, to Lymington, of April, will be filled by Sir Robert Hants; the Rev. W. Jeffrey, of Lush, and the speakers engaged Westbury, Wilts, to Trinity Chapel, are the Rev. J. M. Stephens, B.A., Bexley Heath, London; the Rev. of Sheffield; the Rev. Thomas J. Burtt, of Ipswich, to Aldburgh, Morgan, of Howrah; the Rev. Suffolk; the Rev. W. C. Taylor, of James Smith, of Delhi; and the Uley, near Dursley, GloucesterRev. C. H. Spurgeon, of London. shire, to Park Road, St. Helen's, Lancashire; the Rev. T. Durant, of Liverpool, to Hamsterley, Durham; the Rev. S. Pilling, of Potter's Bar, Middlesex, to Blackpool, Lancashire; the Rev. S. Mann, of Blockley, Worcestershire, to Carey Chapel, Reading; the Rev. G. Barr, of St. John's College, Cambridge, to Cottenham, Cam.; the Rev. J. D. Jones, of the North Wales College, to Machynlleth; the Rev. W. H. Price, of Tonyrefail, to Builth. The Rev. J. Hobson has been compelled, on account of ill-health, to inform his deacons that he must retire from the active pastorate of the church at Salter's

The chapel in New Road, Oxford, under the care of the Rev. J. P. Barnett, has been re-opened, after extensive alterations and repairs.A new chapel has been opened at Rowley, for the ministry of the Rev. D. Matthews.-A new chapel has been opened at Tondu, near Bridgend, Glamorganshire, for the ministry of the Rev. E. Schaffer.

The Rev. E. Cossey has been recognised as the pastor of the church at Bingley, Yorkshire; the Rev. R. J. Middleton, of the church at Watchet and Williton, Somerset; the Rev. T. Garnard, of Haverford-Hall Chapel, London. The Rev. W. west College, of the church at Ebbw Vale, Monmouthshire; the Rev. A. G. Short, of the church at Sittingbourne, Kent; the Rev. R. C. Page, of the church at Crane Street, Pontypool, of which the Rev. Dr. Thomas has been pastor for forty years; the Rev. S. Backhouse, of the church in Round Chapel, Manchester; the Rev. G. H. Cook, late of Bristol College, of the church at Summer Hill, Maindee, Monmouth-tired from the pastorate of the shire.

The following reports of MINISTERIAL CHANGES have reached us since our last issue :-The Rev. J. Evans, of Everton, Liverpool, to Tydee, Monmouthshire; the Rev.

H.Wright has resigned the pastorate of the church at Leith. The Rev. S. G. Swindill, of Sansome Walk, Worcester, has resigned his pastorate, and has intimated his intention of entering the ministry of the Established Church.

We regret to announce the death, at the age of fifty-seven, of the Rev. J. H. Wood, who recently re

church at Sandhurst, Kent; also of the Rev. D. Davies, formerly for many years the pastor of the church in Bethesda Chapel, Swansea, and afterwards of the churches at Cardigan and Aberavon.

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