our sorrows may be alleviated, and our path rendered cheerful. Such employment of our lips will be pleasing to Almighty God. "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto Thy name, O Most High." (Psalm xcii. 1.) "I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth." (Psalm xxxiv. 1.) "Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing; Thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness to the end that my glory may sing praise to Thee, and not be silent. O Lord, my God, I will give thanks unto Thee for ever." (Psalm xxx. 11, 12.) Let us do our utmost that sunshine may stream around our own dwellings, and those of our neighbours.

10. Spirituality.-The captive Jews of Babylon regarded their harps as sacred. They had been consecrated to the service of their God and their country, and they must not be used in meaner tasks. If they were not allowed to utter strains of true devotion and fervent loyalty, they should be silent. The captives hung their harps on the willows, and refused to employ them for the mere amusement of victorious foes. The people of God are now as exiles in an enemy's land. Our voice is to be regarded as sacred, consecrated to the service of our God, and for the music of our distant fatherland. We dare not employ the precious gift merely to please those who are at enmity with its great Author. If any will listen, we may thankfully declare, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ

G

Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." (1 Tim. i. 15.) If we discern any desire toward Israel and Israel's God, we are authorized to encourage it by the invitation, "We are journeying unto the place of which the Lord said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel." (Num. x. 29.) We are to endeavour, as fellow-pilgrims, to confirm each other's determination to reach the holy city, and enjoy the smile of its King: "They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten." (Jer. 1. 5.) We are frequently to converse respecting the joys and sorrows, the hopes and fears, the triumphs and conflicts, belonging to the pilgrim's life; and are assured that Zion's King marks and approves such use of our lips: "Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name. And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him." (Mal. iii. 16, 17.)

CHAPTER III.

THE PERFECT MODEL OF SPEECH.

"THE officers answered, Never man spake like this Man." (John vii. 46.) "Leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps." (1 Peter ii. 21.)

"In a dark night, if an ignis fatuus do but precede us, the glaring of its lesser flames does so amuse our eyes, that we follow it into rivers and precipices, as if the way of that false light were designed on purpose to be our path to tread in: and therefore not to follow the glories of the Sun of Righteousness, who, indeed, leads us over rocks and difficult places, but secures us against the danger, and guides us into safety, is both the greatest indecency and unthankfulness in the world."-JEREMY TAYLOR.

BIOGRAPHY is a power. Instruction thus presented is pre-eminently attractive. Most persons find that their attention is easily drawn to the contemplation of any scene where human conduct and passion are depictured. In the Art-Exhibition, at Manchester, the largest crowd might generally be seen around the picture of "The Three Marys," and "The Death of Chatterton," and others which strongly appealed to our universal interest in what belongs to human life, with its joys or agonies. Besides, instruction thus presented, is specially definite. "Show me how to do it," is the wish of all learners. The juvenile musician needs not only to be told in what way the instrument is to be employed, but also to look on whilst a skilful

player calls forth the stream of sweet and harmonious sounds. Parisian French is never acquired by us from any manuals, however cleverly compiled. Those who have excelled in painting and sculpture have, generally, sat for months or years at the feet of some great master, and carefully observed how he transferred to marble, or to the canvas, the glorious ideas formed within his mind, or the images of beauty furnished by nature. Above all, that which gives to biography its power for good or evil is, that instruction thus furnished is most influential. Man is an imitative creature. We have all been copyists. To some extent, and generally to a large extent, we remain copyists to the close of life. The feats of old Homer's heroes, the exploits of Grecian and Trojan warriors as sung by Virgil, the world-wide conquests of Alexander, the autobiography of Julius Cæsar, the intrepid deeds of Hannibal, and other acts recorded in ancient history, have left a deep impression on modern times. The writings of ancient philosophers have not been so powerful as the recorded deeds of ancient warriors and other men of renown. Memoirs of men who have lived within the last century or two are at the present time largely moulding the characters of many, especially of the youthful. Such records are more suitable than some of older date, because the paths they point to are still open. For weal or woe, these biographies exercise a vast influence. Some of them make known the doings of philanthropists, who, in high stations or low, with large opportunities or limited, sought to

glorify their God in promoting the true welfare of their fellow-creatures. Other biographical pages. inform us concerning selfish men, who, in varied manner, strove to make everything yield to their own unworthy designs. Both classes exercise a powerful influence. The character of those who read is largely moulded thereby, though sometimes almost imperceptibly.

The best biography is a gracious power. The Life of Christ, as recorded by the four inspired evangelists, has done much to elevate the character of myriads, and is destined yet to exert a far mightier and widerspread influence. Our blessed Redeemer is also our great Exemplar. The work for which He came from heaven was, undoubtedly, to offer a sacrifice for the sins of our guilty race. "We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man." Whilst, however, He is our great High Priest, and the New Testament chiefly represents Him as such,-He is also presented to us in other relations. We would never lose sight of the Cross. But it is also our privilege to regard attentively our Divine Pattern. We needed, in truth, much more than a model. It would have availed us little to be shown how we also ought to walk, whilst we were shut up in the dungeon of sin, prisoners in the horrible pit and the miry clay. No example, however perfect, could have availed, whilst guilt remained unforgiven, and pollution unremoved. But, whilst we