'INASMUCH.' royalist devoted to the cause of Cromwell-no friend to King Charles. Then, for many years, his history is so blent with the history of England, it is too difficult and too unquiet to describe now. Milton became Cromwell's secretary, and lived through the Commonwealth of England, when all who loved Charles were in disgrace. Then the scene changed again. Cromwell was dead. Charles Second was on his father's throne; and the republican poet took refuge in obscurity. He was indeed pardoned by Charles, but his public life was past; and the late, serenity of age he devoted, with solemn ardour, to his first pursuit-poetry. His sight had been slowly failing. In 1658, when he began to write the 'Paradise Lost,' he was quite blind. His life lay behind him, full of its stormy memories, and the darkness shut him in-alone with God. Since he left his father's house, he had scarcely known home-happiness. His wife was not fond, and his daughters were strangely undutiful. They gave him no daughter's love, but left him in his old age. Perhaps, from this cruel neglect, he turned the more fervently to the one friend left to solace him-the poetry he had loved from youth. He was seven years writing Paradise Lost.' A few years later he published Paradise Regained.' And three years after its publication he died, in a small house in London, on a November day in 1674. Many great men crowded to the funeral that wintry hour, when the poet was buried in the chancel of St. Giles' church. And his beautiful, blind face was remembered, and his solemn music on the organ, and how he rose in the early dark, that the first dawning hours of every day might be given to devotion and work. His great poem, 'Paradise Lost,' is England's treasure through the centuries; but the little children will keep as theirs his beautiful early hymn. Milton's third wife lived for fifty-three years after him. His three daughters also survived him; but he left no son. H. W. H. W. 'INASMUCH.' 33 THERE passed through the bustling street A maiden with gentle face, And the quiet, fair brow of one whose heart Has its home by the Throne of Grace. Not lightly weary was she; In well-doing steady and strong; And she trustfully looked for the season due,' And the joy of the harvest-song. But many a weary step Has been hers in this sultry day; And never before has seemed to her So long and toilsome the way. เ She has begged' for the Master's cause And some have given and some have not, That the Lord would bless her way; Will not provide for his own; For the silver and the gold of earth Are His-are His alone. But the people who will not give, When the Lord comes back again,Ah, what will they say to the 'Inasmuch '? Ah, what will they answer then? It is easy now to say That China is far away; That other claims, and nearer ones, Will China be far away When the Lord' makes up His own;' And when they are called from east and west To stand at the judgment throne? It is easy to say, 'So much Has been given and done before, That I make it a rule, now, not to give To any new claim at my door.' Has the Lord's loving-kindness stayed? Has He risen and shut to the door? Do you think He will turn away when we knock, 'Had say, And you but come before!' A. J. T. 84 THE DAYSPRING BIBLE CLASS. The Dayspring Bible Class. QUESTIONS ON MATTHEW'S GOSPEL. Who led Jesus into the wilderness, after He was baptised? Why was He led there? How long did He remain in the wilderness without food? By what name, indicating his constant work, is Satan here called? With how many different temptations did he try Jesus? How many times did Jesus, in answering Satan, assert the supreme authority of Scripture, by using the words, 'it is written'? By what suggestion did Satan tempt Jesus to distrust His Father's care? What words of Scripture did Jesus quote, to shew that the Word of God is even more needful for man than bread? What part of the 91st Psalm did Satan misquote, in order to tempt Jesus? How did Jesus repel this temptation? With what false promise did Satan tempt Jesus to covetousness? With what sword did Jesus drive him away? Who came to Jesus when Satan left Him? Where was John the Baptist, when Jesus returned to Galilee? At what city did Jesus dwell, after He left Nazareth? What prophecy speaks of Christ's coming to that part of Galilee? By what emblem does that prophecy describe the change wrought in the hearts of men by Jesus? Name the subject of Christ's preaching in the early part of His ministry? Which four disciples were first called? What allusion did Jesus make to their occupation, when He called them? What two words in this narrative point out their prompt obedience to the call of Jesus? [These are NOT Prize Questions; but intended solely to encourage the study of the Scriptures at home, and train the young in the art of questioning.] A PRIZE SCRIPTURE ACROSTICS AND QUESTIONS. WITHERED LEAVES. SIMPLE maid, whom God, all-wise, Had roused within her vacant mind Till, in her heart, strange thoughts arose As, through the garden walk she strayed 'Though such fair gifts were meet.' Then silently her lap she filled, And straight her treasure brought; Whilst we our thankless murmurs stilled To mark the kindly thought. This childish gift, so vain, so poor, The noblest efforts of the mind- Though this proud reason grieves— Though reason fails, if love inspires Still, Lord, accept our feeble songs, J. K. MUIR. NEW EVERY MORNING. 35 THE sunlight is new every morning; let it stream in all its freshness into the household. Throw open the windows, and take it all in. It is health to the marrow and fatness to the bones.' The mercy-seat is new every morning. It is sprinkled afresh with the blood of the Lamb, newly slain from the foundation of the world. The Lord's mercies are new every morning. What mercies! how numerous! how great! how undeserved! yet how unfailing! O let the song of praise be new every morning. Let the incense of prayer be fresh as the new spices, beaten fresh for every morning sacrifice. 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. A ACROSTIC 2. CRY of woe, in sorrow's darkest hour; Join those initials, and the name is found A living fountain, where life stagnant lay; :s .,1 se :-.se 1 m.d: Is .s: d SS Id .d:-.d d mong us, the true :f,.,f,f,.f,-. 1,8,.,S: S1 Who'll stand by his colours? who's on the Lord's side? Oh, who is there a :d.,f !m : - . m1| f, and the tried, Who'll stand The sword may be burnished, the armour be bright, Who is there among us yet under the rod, Paisley: J. AND R. PARLANE.] d.,d: d.,d Id |