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ROSES.

ROSES.

A JUNE day, with all its wealth of

green on trees and lawns, and the clustering roses in their first fresh beauty and fragrance. The crowds of hard green buds are giving place to masses of crimson and white and deep rich cream colour.

'Will you gather some roses for me, children, and let us have our talk about them now? Here is a knife to cut the stems, that you may not tear them from the bushes.'

Dainty moss buds, and tiny Scotch roses, the delicate beauty of the tea-rose, and great honest-looking cabbage roses, the little hands brought to me, and we placed them in the vase filled with fresh clean water.

One little bud Nellie holds out to me, 'Please keep that one for yourself, auntie'; and as I look at the sweet face I think how like she is to the flower peeping out from its green sheath.

"Thou art like some young flower,
As sweet and pure and fair,

I watch thee, and a sadness
Steals o'er me unaware.
'Methinks my hands in blessing
Above thy head should meet,
Praying that God preserve thee,

So fair and pure and sweet.' May God keep our bonnie wee flower 'unspotted from the world.' The bud seems to be opening sweetly in the shaded home garden. It might have been otherwiselook at this poor rose, half of it gone into wood.

'Alick, you must notice the tree on which this grew, and free it from some of its buds. It has been wanting to do too much, and has done nothing well.'

'But is'nt it a pity, auntie?'

'What! to take away some buds that the others may be better? No: trust me for this, and trust your heavenly Father too, my boy, when you don't quite understand. Your eager mind rushes out into the world, willing, you think, to do anything for His glory. One after another He may shut what seems to you the doors into His vineyard. You want to go and preach the Gospel, and you must be a business man. You want to reform an abuse, and no one will listen to you. You want to lead souls

to Christ, others are winning them by hundreds, and you see no results from words spoken, or find no words to speak. Be patient, then, Alick-"let patience have her perfect work"; and remember that the fruit of the Spirit is not always active service, but it is always "love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." And God's eye may have seen much of your own proud heart in the work which He took from you; and His unfailing wisdom may have known that the pride would grow stronger and harder, till the fair blossom of zeal in His service would have looked mis-shapen and abortive as this poor rose. Be patient. Let God form you; and wherever He places you, grow,—grow steadily and gratefully.

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What text does the crumpled, pinky fragrance of this full-blown beauty make you think of? Softly Minnie's voice repeats the words :

"Even Solomon, in all his glory, was not arrayed like one of these." "If God so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, ye of little faith? "'

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How many dresses has He given you?' 'That's a funny question, auntie.'

'Yes, perhaps it is; but I was wondering if you could tell me how many you have now that you have received from Him.' 'Why, all of them.'

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Yes, all of them; and which is the best of all? which will wear the longest?'

'I know," the robe of Christ's right

eousness.

'Yes; that is the robe fairer than Solomon's, that will last the longest of all, for it will last through all eternity. Who is wearing it now?'

"The Lord Jesus is ready now, is waiting now, to put it on us all. Can we keep Him waiting longer? Let us throw away all our other coverings that we fancy we have got (though, after all, they are no coverings, for the eye of God sees through them all), and let us ask our Saviour to cover us with the robe of His righteousness. And then let us trust Him to keep us covered.'

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IT is related of Julius Palmer of Reading, who was burnt in the reign of the Bloody Mary, that as the flames took hold of him, he encouraged his companions in martyrdom with these words, Yea, for coals we shall receive pearls.' And sowith the thought of those joys unutterable, which are at God's right hand, and with the assurance of that love stronger than death, which Jesus bears to His peoplethis faithful servant of God was enabled to witness a good confession, and even in the fire to speak a word for Christ.

It was a happy thought which contrasted the present suffering with the future joy,

the short earthly pain and sorrow, with the glory which should be revealed. The good things which God has prepared for His people, are indeed precious-in comparison with them no mention shall be made of pearls and rubies-the exchange of them shall not be for jewels of fine gold. Fairer than the fairest pearls of earth, more precious than its richest jewels, are the gifts of God. First and best of all, is He who is the Pearl of Great Price, who comes to abide in the hearts of His people, and to adorn and beautify their lives. Next are the gifts and graces, which, with liberal hand, He bestows on them, and by which

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He makes His people to be as the stones of a crown lifted up as an ensign upon the head. For He shall clothe His people with the garments of salvation, and cover them with the robe of righteousness, even as a bridegroom is decked with ornaments, and a bride adorned with jewels.

And the jewels of God are freely offered to all. Earthly monarchs guard securely, and with jealous care, the jewels of state. Among the glories of Hezekiah's kingdom, we are told that he built himself a treasurehouse for all pleasant jewels-and it is ever so with the kings of this world. The riches and precious things of the realm-the royal jewels, the swords of state, the crown, the sceptre, and the diadems of beauty-are all placed in secure repositories. There they are shown, under proper precautions, to the monarch's subjects, on days of holiday; and thence they are brought forth on high days of state to give dignity and glory to the monarch. But it is far otherwise with the precious things of God's everlasting covenant. He loves to give them to His people, with more than royal grace, even with divine love and mercy, He bestows them all on His redeemed. He takes the needy from the dunghill, and sets him among princes, even the princes of the earth, saying, 'I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and will clothe thee with change of raiment.' Instead of the filthy rags of his own righteousness, in which he erewhile trusted, the subject of God's grace receives pure linen, clean and white. Such, also, is the transforming power of God's grace, that he becomes a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of our God.

What wonder, then, if the mouth of such an one be opened to speak the praises of the Lord. The lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. We read that, 'Then they that feared the Lord, spake often one to another; and the Lord hearkened, and heard.' 'And they shall be Mine,' saith the Lord, 'in that day when I make up my jewels.' Jewels of God! Jewels of price! which He who searches all hearts will

make up for Himself. Who would not

wish to be thus chosen of God, elect, precious? Dear young friends, let us remember that these jewels are taken from those who fear the Lord, and speak of His mercy. Nor let us forget that it is only Divine power which can crystallize the carbon, which forms the substance of coals, into the resplendent beauty of the diamond. Yes, through God's grace, transformed into newness of life, the children of His love are made to shine for ever and ever in the home of light and joy,

Whose walls are made of precious stones,
Whose bulwarks, diamonds square;
Whose gates are of right orient pearl,
Exceeding rich and rare.

Whose turrets and whose pinnacles
With carbuncles do shine;

Whose very streets are paved with gold,
Surpassing clear and fine.

GOUROCK CHILDREN'S SERVICE.

FAMILY WORSHIP.

**The aim of this Series is to encourage the practice of Family Worship, and make its introduction easy in every household. The whole Series will contain services for a week. The service for each day includes praise, Scripture portion, and prayer. (See 'Dayspring for May.) V.-For THURSDAY.

The Psalm.

How bright these glorious spirits shine!
Whence all their white array?
How came they to the blissful seats
Of everlasting day?

Lo! these are they from suff'rings great,
Who came to realms of light,
And in the blood of Christ have wash'd
Those robes which shine so bright.
(Par. Ixvi. 1, 2.)

The Scripture Portion. Simon Peter said unto Him, Lord, whither goest Thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow Me now; but thou shalt follow Me afterwards.

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me.

In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid, (John xiii. 36; xiv. 1-3, 27.)

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The Prayer.

PRIZE ESSAYS.

Thanks and everlasting praise be to Thee, O God, for sending Jesus into this world to save us from our sins, and to lead us to our home on high.

We thank Thee that there are so many of our loved ones there awaiting us. Help us to follow them, in as far as they were followers of Jesus. And at last, in that pure land of light and love, may we meet again to be for ever with the Lord.

All we ask is for Christ's sake. Amen. [SUITABLE CLOSING HYMN-Pioneer Hymn, 2, 3, or 6; Hymns Old and New, 4, 14, 23, 25, 26, 106, 121, or 125.]

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SABBATH EVENING FIRESIDE BIBLE CLASS. CHRIST IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.

October 1st.

Did Old T. Saints long for a fuller outpouring of the Spirit? Num. xi. 29. Ezek. xxxvii. 9. What promises of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit were given them? Pro. i. 23. Isa. xxxii. 15.

What remarkable promise connected with Messianic times is found in Joel? Joel ii. 28, 29. When was this promise fulfilled? Acts ii. 14-19. To whom does Peter ascribe the outpouring of the Spirit? Acts ii. 32, 33.

What immediately resulted from the dispensation of the Spirit? Joel ii. 32. Acts ii. 38.

October 8th.

Repeat the Messianic prophecy in Amos? Amos ix. 11, 12.

Was the Spirit poured out on Gentiles as well as Jews? Acts x. 44, 45.

Was the outpouring accompanied by the same results in both? Acts xv. 7-9.

Was this the fulfilment of the prophecy in Amos? Acts xv. 14-17.

Is there any Messianic reference in Obadiah? Obadiah 21.

Is there allusion to the Saviour, under general term Saviours?

October 15th.

Are we warranted in regarding Jonah as a type of Christ? Luke xi. 29, 30.

In what respect especially does the typical reference hold? Mat. xii. 40.

Was Jonah emphatically a prophet to the Gentiles? Jonah i. 1, 2.

Did Christ remove all restrictions on the preaching of the gospel before His ascension? Mat. x. 5, 6, with xxviii. 19.

Did the success of Jonah in Nineveh foreshadow the success of the gospel among the Gentiles? Mat. xii. 41, with Acts xiii. 46.

In what respects is Christ greater than Jonah?

October 22nd.

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What is the Messianic reference with which Micah closes his prophecy? Micah vii. 20. Was this fulfilled in Christ? Luke i. 68-73. What prophecy of Messianic days is renewed by Nahum? Nah. i. 15. Isa. lii. 7. Rom. x. 15. Repeat the prayer of Habakkuk for the advent of gospel times? Hab. iii. 2.

What description does Zephaniah give of Messiah's presence with the people? Zeph. iii. 16, 17.

What new name does Haggai give to the coming Deliverer? Hag. ii. 6, 7.

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