and likely to succeed to the throne. But such feelings never found a home in Jonathan's bosom. He felt so attached to David that he rejoiced in the very prospect of his being king, if only he should be beside him. And that is always a mark of true friendship, that it rejoices over the prosperity of another; and in adversity never forsakes. Jonathan never grew cold in his love for David, amid all the shifting scenes through which he had to pass.

When the love of friendship is practiced, it does not end in words, it flows out in deeds. And this Jonathan showed, when he actually, one day, stripped himself of his robe and garments, and gave them to David, as also his sword and bow and girdle. And when David was in danger of his life, Jonathan helped to save him. So that he was a true friend, who loved at all times, and a brother born for adversity. And David returned the friendship. As look how he walked with him, and poured his secrets into his ear, and how he wept over his death on the mountains of Gilboa -and wrote a poem, in which he said, 'I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.' And when, long years after, David found opportunity of showing his love, he did it in taking Jonathan's son to his palace and providing him with an estate.

an

But, how different was the friendship of Ahithophel, who, when occasion offered, forsook David, and sought to dethrone him, for the sake of gaining some better place in the kingdom. And Judas. Think of Judas, who for thirty pieces of silver betrayed his Lord and Master. What a black heart he must have had, and how terribly seared with sin, when he could actually, in betraying Jesus, give Him a kiss!

We all like to have friends, true friends, who will stick to us, and help us always as they are able. And a friend in need is a friend indeed. Yet, if we would like to have friends, we must show ourselves friendly, by speaking truly, and loving warmly, and acting faithfully. And true

friendship, especially Christian friendship, is a great help in life.

Once a man said to me, be sure and get companions better than yourself, for they will help to draw you up to heaven. And that same man had a garden in which he shewed a fine illustration of this, in a number of young trees that he had planted. They were very closely set together, and when I asked the reason why, he said, 'O, because they help to draw one another up towards the sky." And that is how we should try to act; to draw each other upwards to heaven.

In the Old Testament, did you ever notice, that the Israelites, on leaving the land of Egypt, for the wilderness, went down 'harnessed'? And what did that mean? That they went in coats of mail? No, but that they went down, as the Hebrew word puts it, five in a row,' arm in arm: Joseph and Simeon, and Jacob and David and Samuel, like so many brothers, helping each other in the way. And that is how we are to do, to stand shoulder to shoulder, and act as true friends in life. And as our model,

LOOK AT JESUS,

as a true friend, loving at all times. How
true and faithful has been His friendship.
How He has loved us with an everlasting
love. And how He has shown His love by
coming down from heaven, and living a
holy life of obedience to the law, and then
laying down His life on the cross, a ransom
for us.
'Greater love hath no man than
this, that a man lay down his life for his
friends; but God commendeth His love, in
that while we were yet sinners, Christ died
for us.' And since Jesus has so loved us,
ought we not to love Him, and to love one
another? 'We know that we have passed from
death to life, because we love the brethren.'

'One is kind above all others,
Oh, how He loves!
His is love beyond a brother's,
Oh, how He loves!

Earthly friends may pain and grieve us,
One day kind, the next day leave us,
But this Friend will ne'er deceive us;
Oh, how He loves!'

THINK ON THE END.

MUCKLE ye may get, lads, Weel ye may fend,

But where'er ye gang, lads,

Think on the end.

No worth a cork,
Light as a faem,
Is the joy that pairts
Happiness an' hame.

No worth a spinnin' top
What gowd can buy,
Gin ye haena treasure
Far aboon the sky.
Wae worth the watching
Wealth's change o' tide;
Was worth the speel
Up the hill o' pride.
Happier is the lot

Christ's cross to bear,
Than to Him a stranger,
Earth's crown to wear.
What drinkers dree,

Shun, boys, shun;

On to the Wicket Gate'
Steadily run.

Then, pressing onward,
Heed na the jeer;

Wha wad risk heaven's loss

WHO

the great reformer? His name is known all over the world; and although it is more than three hundred years since he died, his fame is as great as ever. Well, I am going to tell you about Luther when he was a boy, before the world krew anything about him, and perhaps we may learn something from his boyhood.

Luther's parents were very poor. His father, John Luther, was a miner, and his mother was the daughter of a humble lawyer. Martin was born in the winter of 1483, when his parents were on a journey to a new home. By denying themselves as much as they could, his father and mother kept him at school and afterwards at the

17

university. His first school was at Mansfeld; and he was so young when he went that his father sometimes carried him on his back.

In order to help his parents, Martin used to sing hymns and songs in the street, receiving food from those who pitied him. Many a weary day he had, wandering about the streets, cold, hungry, and footsore. Who would have at that time thought that he was to move the world? One kind friend of his childhood Luther never forgot, and that was the wife of a citizen of Eisenach, called Conrad. He had sung a whole day, up one street and down another, nobody seeming to pity him. At one house a dog was set on him to drive him away. Tired and disheartened, he sat down on a seat near the outskirts of the town, and gave expression to his feelings in a melancholy song. Conrad's wife heard him, and taking him in gave him a good meal; which perhaps did not do him so much good as the kindness of which it was the sign.

All this time Luther was no better than his fellow students. He was strongly attached to the Roman Catholic church, undisturbed by doubts as to its truth. At times his conduct was somewhat wild, being seen occasionally going home at night shouting and singing. No sign of his future greatness was visible as yet.

In his twenty-second year, we have the turning point of Luther's life. He had begun to think more seriously on religious subjects. One day, while talking with a companion on very solemn subjects, a thunder storm broke out, and during it Luther's companion was struck dead by lightning. Luther resolved he would become a monk; and that very evening he entered a monastery. It was now, during the quiet of his life as a monk, that he studied the New Testament. New light began to break upon his mind. He saw that fasting and prayers could not save him, but only faith in Christ. Luther the monk was gradually being changed to Luther the Reformer. God had a great work for him to do, and He enabled him