Another pearl was then added to my treasure, and that was the pearl of hope; so that I was enabled to rejoice in the blessed assurance of Him who spake as never man spake: Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out,' John vi. 37.

"The time came, however, when I left off to 'do business in great waters; for things went very smoothly and well with me. I began to think, with David, that the Lord had made my mountain to stand so fast, that I should never be moved.' I began to be less careful, and then was less prayerful, in my heavenly walk. This carelessness and selfconfidence by degrees brought in great backsliding of heart, and barrenness of soul; and where it would have ended, I cannot tell: but it pleased a faithful God, who had set his love upon me, to visit me with the rod. The dark clouds of his providence gathered above me, and a heavy storm broke over my head. One dearer far to me than my own life was suddenly snatched away, and I was left a lonely pilgrim on the earth. Then, indeed, was my soul overwhelmed within me; and, being exceedingly tossed in the tempest of affliction, my cry was, 'All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me!' Again I became a diver; and, in the deep waters of adversity, by the mercy of a covenant God, who made all these bitter things to work together for my eternal good, the pearl of submission was added to my treasures. 'The Lord gave,' said I, 'and the

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Lord hath taken away;

Lord.'

blessed be the name of the

"In this 'great deep,' I saw more of the works of the Lord and his wonders than I had ever known before. He made all his goodness to pass before me, and showed me wherefore he contended with I had left my I had departed from him.

me.

'first love.' I had joined myself unto idols, and mine eyes were turned earthward; but in these deep waters the Lord lifted them up, and then I saw 'no man, save Jesus only.' Two other pearls were obtained through mercy-the pearls of love, and of Christian assurance. Yes! when the winds and waves were stilled, there was 'a great calm;' and in that calm my soul could say unto the Lord, not only, Whom have I in heaven but thee?' but also, 'There is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.' These, then, are some of the pearls which, through mercy, I possess.

"I must now say a few words about one pearl which I have kept back till the last, because, in comparison thereof, all the pearls I have spoken of are worthless as the small dust of the earth; and, as my Lord knows how apt I am by my waywardness to lose or injure the pearls and ornaments in my possession, he has placed this one Pearl of pearls, which is the sum and substance of all my wealth, in so secure and exalted a place, that it is utterly impossible for the bitterest of my enemies, either on earth or in hell, to touch it. God has

placed this inestimable treasure 'far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion,' even in heaven itself, at the right hand of his eternal throne. Yes, this precious Pearl of great price' is the Lord Jesus Christ, my sacrifice and my Saviour, the eternal and everlasting God, who, by the offering up of himself, has purchased for me an inheritance in the kingdom of his Father, where I shall be with him for ever and ever."

THE SAVINGS' BANK.

It may seem hard to a servant when she gets her wages paid her, to go directly and put it into the savings' bank. It may seem hard to her at the time; and, if she be of an impatient disposition, she may think to herself, "Is it not foolish in me to go and pay away my money as fast as I can earn it? While other people are sporting their new ribands and laces, here I go and put my money out of sight, in this great house, and for a long time hear no more of it." But by and by when a time of need comes, a time of sickness or misfortune, she goes again to the savings' bank, and finds it a very great

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57

comfort to be able to draw out the means of helping her through her necessity.

The impatient Christian, or even the patient but faint-hearted Christian, is often inclined to cry out that he hears nothing of his prayers. "While the

worldly-minded around me are at ease," says he, "my prayers are mingled with my tears day and night at the footstool of my God; but I hear no more of them." Alas! he is for a moment tempted to say, "I have cleansed my heart in vain ;" but, by and by, comes a time of great trial, a heavy affliction, a sore bereavement, a painful sickness, or he is brought down to the gates of death; and then the Lord is a wall of fire round about him, fills his heart with heavenly peace and resignation, and gives him "a happy issue" out of all his afflictions. Then he finds that his heavenly Treasurer has not overlooked the faintest sigh that escaped his breast, but was only reserving the profits of it until the most suitable time of need.

THE BLACKSMITH.

"Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work," Isa. liv. 16.

I was once overtaken by a wintry storm, and was fain to take refuge in the shop of a blacksmith. Fancy to yourself Old Humphrey standing upon the high hearth, with his head part of the way up the broad chimney, the bright flame shining full on his face!

What an animating scene is a blacksmith's shop! all noise, blaze, and bustle! The blacksmith takes a piece of iron, burns it in the fire until it is sufficiently malleable; then puts it upon the anvil, and beats it about, until it is formed into the shape for which it is intended: perhaps a horse-shoe, a hoe, or a pick-axe, which is brought forth from the blacksmith's shop ready for service.

The people of God are sometimes sorely tried by their worldly-minded neighbours, who are set against them. It is natural to feel angry with those who thus afflict and oppose them; but Christians should check these feelings, with such a thought as the following: "How do I know what service my heavenly Father has designed me to do for him? These very people, though I count them such