-Take care, Ist, How you pray; 2d, What you hear ; 3d, Where you go; and 4th, What you read.

'All are architects of fate,

Working in these walls of time ;
Some with massive deeds and great,
Some with ornaments of rhyme.

Nothing useless is, or low,

Each thing in its place is best;
And what seems but idle show
Strengthens and supports the rest.

For the structure that we raise,
Time is with materials filled;

Our to-days and yesterdays

Are the blocks with which we build.

Build to-day, then, strong and sure,
With a firm and ample base,
And ascending and secure

Shall to-morrow find its place.

Thus alone can we attain

To those turrets, where the eye
Sees the world as one vast plain,
And one boundless reach of sky.'

'Jacob rose up early in the morning.'-GEN. XXVIII. 18.

'I myself will awake early.'-Ps. CVIII. 2.

罪

HE habit of early rising was one which he

formed from his childhood, and which

he continued regularly to practise, both

in winter and in summer, to the very

close of his useful and eventful life. Sometimes he sought to press very earnestly on the attention of those that were dear to him the same practice which he exemplified so faithfully himself. In writing to a young friend, he says, 'We find our Lord when on earth rising a great while before day, that He might spend some time in secret prayer; and David says, "Early will I seek Thee;" and shall we, who stand so much in need of the Lord's assistance, slumber and sleep away our time?'

By means of this habit he redeemed large portions

of time, utterly lost by other men in idleness or sleep, and thereby he was enabled to accomplish a much larger amount of work, profitable to himself, and useful to other men, than otherwise it would have been possible for him to overtake. Moreover, he was enabled, by the diligent searching of the Scriptures, and by close communion with the living God, to keep in a state of active and healthy operation the principles of the divine life in the heart. And the result was, that instead of being utterly immersed, as is the case with many, in carnality and worldliness, his daily work was consecrated into a living sacrifice, his place of business was transformed into a holy temple, and amid the hurry and excitement of everyday life, he exhibited the rare and noble spectacle of one who, while very diligent in business, was also very fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.

Reader, mark and learn the lesson which this teaches. You cannot add to your stature a single cubit, nor can you protract your life one moment beyond the time that is fixed by the ordination of God. But by the habit of early rising, and the diligent use of outward means, you may rise to the measure of the stature of a perfect man in Christ Jesus; and by redeeming your time from idleness. and sloth, you may accomplish as much in the service of Christ, during the brief term that is allotted to you,

as if the shadow on life's sun-dial had been turned back, and God had actually added to the length and number of your days.

'Begin the day with God!

He is thy sun and day;

He is the radiance of thy dawn,

To Him address thy lay.

Sing a new song at morn!

Join the glad woods and hills;

Join the fresh winds, and seas, and plains;
Join the bright flowers and rills.

Sing thy first song to God!
Not to thy fellow-man;

Not to the creatures of His hand,
But to the glorious One.

Awake, cold lips, and sing;

Arise, dull knees, and pray;
Lift up, O man, thy heart and eyes;
Brush slothfulness away.

Take thy first walk with God!

Let Him go forth with thee;
By stream, or sea, or mountain path,
Seek still His company.

Thy first transaction be

With God Himself above;

So shall thy business prosper well,

And all the day be love.'

A

-2 PETER I. 7.

FTER he had been for some time settled in London, he was waited upon by his venerable minister, bringing along with

him a young man who had just came up from Scotland for the prosecution of his worldly calling. He was a son of the Rev. John Russel of Stirling, a man held in the highest esteem, both for the unction of his preaching and for his godly character.

And there cannot be a doubt that Mr. Nichol acted wisely, and with a most faithful regard to his highest interests, by at once introducing this young man to the acquaintance of James Nisbet, and seeking a home for him in the lodgings which he occupied, under the judicious management of a kind-hearted widow of high Christian character, belonging to his own congregation.