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GEORGE HERBERT.

shire. When Herbert came to it, the old church was falling into ruin. With great earnestness, Herbert began its repair. The tower, the font, and some of the chancel windows he himself contributed. The roof was also made new. From the battlements of the tower may be seen some sixteen or seventeen villages with Ely Cathedral in the distance, thirty miles away.

Herbert's residence here was not long. His mother died in 1627, and soon afterwards his own weak health obliged him to leave Leighton. He went to the village of Woodford, where his brother Henry lived. Very lovely and pleasant lies this little village in Essex with the long green glades of Epping Forest making tranquil vistas round

it.

But the climate was too severe, and Herbert was again obliged to remove. It was in Wiltshire he first met his wife. They were married after three days acquaintance; and almost immediately Herbert was settled as rector of Bemerton, where he lived for the rest of his short life.

On the 26th April, 1630, he entered his new rectory. The house is separated from the church by only the width of the road. A grassy lawn sloped to the river, and from the river marge one could see the Cathedral of Salisbury in grand and pure old Gothiccomplete as it stands now from the reign of the first Edward. A medlar tree planted by Herbert still grows in the rectory garden; and every foot of the little parish is, to this day, sacred to his memory. 'Some of the meaner sort,' says Walton, who wrote his life, did so love and reverence Mr Herbert, that they would let their plough rest when his saint's bell rung to prayer, that they might also offer their devotion to God with him, and would then return back to their plough.' Another old author writes of 'that blessed man, George Herbert, whose holy life and verse gained many pious converts.' In unwearied labours he spent two short years, and then the last illness came. His poems had never been published. He gave them to a friend, saying,

'Sir, I pray deliver this little book to my dear brother Ferrar, and tell him he shall find

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in it a picture of the many spiritual conflicts which have passed between God and my soul, before I could subject mine to the will of Jesus, my Master, in whose service I have now found perfect freedom. Desire him to read it; and then, if he can think it may turn to the advantage of any poor, dejected soul, let it be made public; if not, let him burn it, for I and it are less than the least of God's mercies.'

After this he did not linger long. His wife, his nieces, and one dear friend stood beside him, and heard his last whispered words:

Grant me mercy for the merits of my Jesus. And now, Lord, Lord, now receive my soul.'

He died in the early spring-time of 1632.

A painted window in Trinity College, Cambridge, is consecrated to the memory of Herbert. The picture is of Jesus in the house of Lazarus of Bethany; and among the listening faces of the company gathered round him is that of George Herbert, whose portrait has grown familiar to so many. The window is a fitting and beautiful tribute to one who so fervently waited on Jesus. With the last few verses of his own beautiful poem, "The Flower,' this little sketch of his life and poetry must close.

"O that I once past changing were,

Fast in Thy paradise where no flow'r can wither.
Many a spring I shoot up fair,
Reaching to heaven, growing and sighing thither:
Nor doth my flower

Want a spring shower
My sins and I joining together.

And now in age I bud again;
After so many deaths I live, and write
I once more smell the dew and rain,
And relish versing. O my only Light!
It cannot be
That I am he

On whom Thy tempests fell all night.

These are Thy wonders, Lord of Love:
To make us see we are but flowers that glide,
Which when we once can find and prove,
Thou hast a garden for us where to bide.'

H. W. H. W.

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PRIZE SCRIPTURE ACROSTICS AND QUESTIONS.

'Nay, 'tis not I who called, my son :

(A higher Priest he hears)
Lie down, and if He calls, reply,
Speak, Lord; Thy servant hears.'
But can I minister as he?

Can I, too, hear His voice?
Will the Lord speak to me, a child?
Will He make me His choice?

Yes, you may minister to Him;

Each in your daily sphere;

And daily in His Word He speaks

To all who read and hear.

He calls you all, dear children;

Calls you to come to Him;

Give Him your ear, your heart, your life;

Be minist'ring for Him.

It was a message dark and sad,

The Lord to Samuel gave;

"Tis one of love and grace to us,That Jesus died to save.

M. A. LISTON FOULIS.

TRUSTING JESUS.

I AM trusting thee, Lord Jesus,
Trusting only Thee!
Trusting Thee for full salvation,
Great and free.

I am trusting Thee for pardon,
At Thy feet I bow;

For Thy grace and tender mercy,
Trusting now.

I am trusting Thee for cleansing,
In the crimson flood;
Trusting Thee to make me holy,
By Thy blood.

I am trusting Thee to guide me;
Thou alone shalt lead,
Every day and hour supplying
All my need.

I am trusting Thee for power;
Thine can never fail;

Words which Thou Thyself shalt give me,
Must prevail.

I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,

Never let me fall!

I am trusting Thee for ever,

And for all.

FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL.

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The Dayspring Bible Class.

These Questions are intended to encourage the young to read the Scripture passage carefully. The answer to every question is contained in the passage itself, and so may be found by any one who reads it with care and attention.

QUESTIONS ON MATTHEW'S GOSPEL. Chapter III. Where did John the Baptist preach to the people?

What was the burden of his preaching? What prophecy concerning John the Baptist is here quoted?

What are we told about his food and clothing? From what places did many come to him to be baptised in Jordan?

What did John call the Pharisees and Sadducees who came to be baptised?

What question did he ask them?

In what way did he require them to prove the sincerity of their repentance?

Against what delusion did he warn them? In what striking words did he assert that nothing is too hard for the Lord?

By what emblem did John describe the doom of mere professors?

What saying of John's shows his humility, and his reverence for the Lord Jesus?

How did John contrast baptism by Christ with his own baptising with water?

By what emblem did he describe the final separation of true and false professors?

Why did Jesus come from Galilee to Jordan? Why was John at first unwilling to baptise Jesus?

What reason did Jesus give why He should be baptised?

What amazing sight did John behold when he baptised Jesus?

What words were then spoken by a voice from heaven?

Prize Scripture Acrostics and Questions.

Competitors not to be above fourteen years of age; and the answers must be honestly the work of the individuals competing.

All answers to be sent, with the name and address of the competitor, not later than the 18th of each month, to the Rev. JOHN KAY, Coatbridge.

1 Give a verse to shew that graciousness of speech is a help to the acquisition of knowledge? 2 Where are unjust legislators threatened with perplexity as to the disposal of their property?

3 Where are we warned against expressing a judgment without sufficient knowledge to guide us?

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My faither-oh, he's lang, mither, In comin' hame the nicht;

He disna ken his only bairn

Will nae mair meet his sicht; He thinks na o' the pain, mither, Drink brings tae you and me:

I wish he had been here the nicht, Tae see me when I dee.

He wad hae seen hoo ane, mither,
Can dee that trusts His love,-
The love o' Him that gi'ed His life
Tae get us up above.

I thocht to say a word, mither,
Before I gaed tae rest:

A word frae his ain deein' bairn
Wad maybe hae been blest;
But sin' he's no at hame, mither,
Just say I hope he'll meet

Paisley: J. AND B. PARLANE.]

lang be here.

His only bairn, wha lo'ed him weel,
Up in the gowden street.
Maybe he'll tak a thocht, mither,
Upon the days gane past,

An' seek the Han' will guide him safe
To happiness at last.

My een are growin' dim, mither,
I'm turnin' faint and weak,

A drowsiness is on me now,

I've scarcely strength tae speak.
O pit your hand in mine, mither,
An' kiss me ance again;

I'll soon be where there is nae care,
Nor sorrow, an' nae pain.
You'll meet me there aboon, mither,-
O dinna drap a tear,

But trust in Him, wha lo'es us a':.
Fareweel, my mither dear.

[London: HOULSTON AND SONS,

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