I shall now glance briefly at efforts on behalf of children dwelling in back courts, cellars, and hovels. There is an amount of labour and ability concentrated at present upon the reclaiming of our mission districts which does honour to the Church at large, and to the individuals concerned. The Church will do well to maintain and foster this spirit in the future. Seeking to recall the little waifs and strays, floating about in such numbers on the tide of city life, is surely a treading in Christ's own steps.

There will always be some diffidence and hesitation in labouring among well-clad and fed children, because, it may be presumed, they have other means and opportunities of learning the Gospel tidings; but there will, we are sure, be no abatement, but rather an increase of enthusiasm and moral devotion displayed in the working of the home heathen field. From the nature of the work, we do not expect that any radical change will overpass it in the future. Our little ragged subjects are too intensely ignorant to permit of much hope that we will ever get deeper with them in the Divine doctrines than broad statements of the essential doctrines of sin, substitution, justification, and sanctification, all by Christ's life and death; and imparting, if possible, a strong impression of the immortality of the soul of man. Yet what more is necessary, if we succeed by God's grace so far? It would most assuredly be comforting to have our little wards built up strongly, intellectually, in the faith. Yet simple, childlike trust is sometimes found to be stronger than all the assurance that knowledge gives. This is our hope, and should cheer us on our way. But while not anticipating many modifications in the present mode and appliances for evangelizing the masses, I do trust to see a greater manifestation of brotherly love among the workers, and less denominational and other jealousy. There ought to be more banding together of denominations of Christians in this our common assault upon the citadels of gross darkness. Here is a sphere for the "Union" spirit to work,-away from the heat of polemics and strife of parties; and where such inducement to brotherly love exists, will it be said that the bond itself is awanting? It is not. I will point you to the Sabbath School Unions of our large cities, and shew you in these organizations, far from perfect, no doubt, but embracing within their bounds men and women of various denominations of Christians, all co-operating in the work of advancing the Kingdom. These Unions are worthy of countenance, and can be made means of great assistance to its members by the collection of information as to the progress of Sabbath school work, and by being the centre to which experiences flow. If properly supported, these would be, and I believe are, means of giving increased impetus to the work, and of placing facilities within reach of the less educated teachers. I consider these Unions, therefore, masonic brotherhoods of the highest grade, of whose membership none need be ashamed, and from whose borders teachers may frequently draw encouragement in the oft-times weary, but ever noble toil. D. M'C.

[We have been under the necessity of curtailing this communication, in order to accommodate it to our limited space. Our correspondent's suggestion to the Churches to institute a junior pastorate for the young of

the flock, we do not consider it necessary to print. He has sufficiently indicated how the pastoral care of the young may and ought to be overtaken by the existing ministry. This being done, all else may be left to Christian parents and Sabbath school teachers.-Ed.]

THE WAY HOME.

[The author of the following interesting sketch kindly places it at our disposal: although printed for the use of one or two congregations in London, it has not previously been published. Several striking descriptions of home missionary experience in London have recently appeared from the same pen, and, we hope, will be given to the public in a collected form.]

It doesn't look very promising," remarked one open-air preacher to another, as they stood in a street in East London on the morning of the Lord's day.

Many kinds of merchandise were there bought and sold, of which living animals, such as birds, rabbits, dogs, and guinea pigs, formed a large portion. Here was a lad covered with canaries in cages hung all over him; there, a man in a complete suit of horse-harness; there, another dragging a cart; and still another carrying fancy boxes-all kept in constant motion by the unremitting attention of the police, who refused to allow them to stand still for a minute.

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Not very promising," assented the other; "but we will do our best, praying for our Master's help and blessing." So saying, he took his stand in a convenient spot, and commenced reading his Bible. Tall, handsome, and well-dressed, he soon attracted a crowd; and when the chapter ended, asked God's help and blessing in earnest prayer, amid the almost unbroken silence of the audience.

When he had concluded he stepped aside, and his companion stood forward, and commenced speaking to the people, who by this time had increased to an exceedingly large gathering.

In the full front of the audience stood a young woman, short almost to dwarfishness, and, from her bent form, plainly afflicted with spinal curvature. With rough good nature the men made way for her, and prevented the crowd from pressing upon her, thus enabling her to stand and listen attentively. She had a pleasant face, full, clear, brown eyes, and bright intellectual features. As the gifted and earnest preacher went on, she fixed her attention upon him, and so remained until he had ended.

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Every one of you," said the preacher, "will live for ever-as long as God himself lives, so long shall each one of us live to be punished or rewarded by Him; the dangerous gift of Immortality is upon us; we cannot, if we would, put it from us; and from this point of view-each of you regarding himself as immortal before God-I ask you to consider with me the 'price' that the Son of God has paid, once and for ever, for human redemption."

And then, in clear emphatic language, he set before them the life and death of Him of Galilee, shewing that He was the " despised and rejected" Messiah of the Jew, the crucified Nazarene, and yet the “desire of all nations," who, in the "fulness of time," had come to the world himself had made; there, by suffering such as no human thought can picture, to redeem the children of men from uttermost evil, and, by one offering, perfect" for ever them who are sanctified."

Amongst those who lingered when the preacher ended his discourse, was the little woman with the clear brown eyes; and she drew near to the speaker, as one after another thanked him, and inquired if he was coming there again; and so evident was her wish to speak, that the preacher smiled and held out his hand, which was taken with a glad thankful clasp, that of itself was right good payment for the labour he had just passed through.

A glad promise to come again the next Sunday at the same time and place sent the crowd away, many of them resolving to come again to meet the speakers; but the little woman lingered on, as though loath to part with those who had awakened a new life within her.

At length the speaker asked, "If she would come again the next Sunday?"-"I may not be alive to come," she said thoughtfully; "and your words have made me feel that my life has been a mistake, and that I am not fit to die; where can I see you to-morrow?"

I will come where you will, this evening if you like," said the preacher, “and speak again with you as long as may be needful, and shall rejoice to do so, hoping to be the means of leading you to Jesus, 'the friend of sinners.""

"Will you indeed do this for me," she asked, "when I am quite unknown to you?"

"I would do it gladly for any immortal spirit on the earth that would accept the service," was the reply. Let me know your address and a suitable time, and (God willing) I will most certainly see you again." That evening the two friends visited their hearer, inquiring first on what subject she needed information.

"How to get the peace and the love you spoke of for myself," was the clear and direct reply.

Thus encouraged and urged, once more the preacher opened his mouth and preached unto her "Jesus and the resurrection," shewing her that the facts of our own immortality and the existence of God must be fully admitted by our minds before we can enter with any real effect upon the consideration of the scheme of redemption; and, having thus explained preliminary matters, he went on to speak earnestly of the loving Fatherhood of the Almighty, of man created holy and falling into sin, of the redemption of Christ, of the repentance and faith that are necessary to salvation, and of the blessedness of Christ's redeemed brotherhood in heaven.

care.

Every word of the speaker was followed with the utmost attention and When he had finished, the woman inquired: "And do you really think that any one who desires these glorious things may have them?" "I am sure of it," was the cool, confident reply; "for God has so informed us in words that admit of no mistaking;" and He "is not a man

that He should lie, nor the son of man that He should repent," having said it, He will do it; having spoken, He will make it good. It is only our unbelief that ignores our close and magnificent relationship to the God of heaven and earth. He is our Father, we are His children, alike by birth and promise, immortal; and are heirs of an inheritance that is incorruptible and undefiled, and that cannot fade away-in a land where we shall be "freed from sin" and sorrow for ever.

"Oh, how beautiful!" said the little woman, as she sat with clasped hands and tearful eyes; but is it not far, far too good to be true?" "Search and see," was the steady reply,—“ examine your Bible, read the life and death of the Son of God; regarding His Life as our example, and His Death as the price necessary and actually paid by Him for the redemption of His own sinning brotherhood, who are unable, even if willing, to cast off their immortality.""

I will do so, carefully, before I sleep," replied the little woman, as they rose to go, after praying earnestly with her.

They left her with a promise to see her again in the week, and she re-ascended to her room, took up her Bible, and, for the first time in her life, proceeded earnestly to "search the Scriptures."

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If a man die, shall he live again?" were the first words that attracted her attention; and she answered, as to a living voice, It is just what I was thinking of, but it seems to me too much to be realized; I will search on." She turned the leaves and read: “Wherefore do ye spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which satisfieth not? Incline your ear and come unto me, hear and your soul shall live." "That is just what my friend said this morning," she thought on, "and I suppose he took it from this place. But who is this talking?" She turned on and read in the New Testament, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink." "Drink and live," she commented. "I wish I had this 'living water,' I would drink eagerly, I am certain of that.” She continued reading, seeing, with wonder, that He prayed for those who left Him in solitude to die; her tears almost blinded her as she read on devouringly-how He that was thus left alone to die, declares that He was the Son of a just and righteous God; that though He himself had done no wrong, He was willing, and even anxious to die for the sin of the world. Her face flushed with excitement, and she sank upon her knees to read, with awe and wonder, the narrative of the Redeemer's death. The eyes of her soul were opened, and she saw Him "agonizing in the garden," betrayed by one friend, denied by another, and forsaken by all. She saw the unjust judge on the seat of judgment, and the "Holy One and the Just" stand before him as a criminal, and so doomed to death. She looked upon mockery, insult, "shame and spitting," and menial's blows, and she almost held her breath in amazement. She followed Him to Calvary; saw Him staggering with pain and weariness on His way to death; and she heard His dying prayer: "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do!" and her throbbing heart re-echoed the Roman soldiers' words of witnessing faith, "This was the Son of God."

She could read no more, but her clasped hands hid her face as the grand thought was given her, that this was for her sin; that she might be accepted in the Beloved. And she prayed earnestly—with such earnest

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prayers as are never uttered in vain—that she might be forgiven for His sake; and He who has promised to hear and answer prayer, heard and answered by giving her PEACE.-" Whosoever will," Jesus says, "let him take the water of life freely."

C. J. WHITMORE,

Whitefield Presbyterian Church, London.

[Since this communication was put in type, there has been sent to us by the writer the first number of a new London monthly periodical entitled, "Sword and Shield, a Christian Magazine of Weapons for Attack and Defence. Editors: Rev. C. J. Whitmore, Whitefield Church, Long Acre, and Mr. Z. R. Woffendale, Mission Church, Somers Town. August. Price 1d." We are the more particular in inviting attention to this publication, because it deals intelligently with the new forms of religious unbelief which are springing into existence from false science, or from erroneous views of true science. This is a form of infidelity which is alarmingly prevalent amongst many of the working classes; and to attempt to beat it back by resorting to the ordinary arguments from the 'evidences," would, to borrow a comparison of Hugh Miller's, be as absurd as to oppose the cross-bow of our ancestors to the destructive fire-arms of modern warfare. The battle of the evidences has been removed from the field of metaphysics to that of physical science; and the friends of religion must qualify themselves to engage in the conflict, by practice in the use of a new description of weapon, if they would not expose their cause to the attacks of sciolists and smatterers, who can make a little second-hand geology go a long way in silencing an advocate of revealed truth who knows nothing of the scientific discoveries which are thus perverted to purposes of infidelity. From the manner in which this new publication treats of "the age of the earth" and "the origin of man," we are hopeful that it will do good service in the cause of scientific and religious truth, and supply a felt want in our popular religious literature. -Ed. S. S. M.}

HOW TO TEACH.-It ought not to be forgotten, that the great object of teaching is to benefit the taught, the teacher receiving benefit only incidentally. Unless the teacher's work is done with careful mental and spiritual preparation, it is badly done. Great care should be taken to avoid forms of speech not easily understood. We ought not to be satisfied with giving conclusions, omitting to state the process by which they have been reached. We should never underrate the faculties of those we teach. Our appeals should be, not to curiosity, but to fancy, judgment, and conscience. The teacher's deportment should be free from all levity— tender, serious, earnest.-Dr. John Hall.