when thinking of the wonderful plan of redemption-of the Son giving His life for us, of the Father accepting His sacrifice, and of the Holy Spirit converting sinnerssaid, a threefold cord is not soon broken. The words, "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all," show us this threefold cord.' That is what the minister says before we leave the church, mamma,' said Maggie. 'Yes, dear, these words are called the benediction, or words of blessing. The priests of old blessed the people in words very like those, using the name, The Lord, three times (Numbers vi. 23-27). When the children had read the three parables in the 15th of Luke, mamma told them that the first shows us Jesus the Good Shepherd seeking the lost; that the second shows us the Holy Spirit lighting the candle of the Word, and making it shine into the heart of the sinner; and the third shows us the Father receiving, forgiving, and welcoming the returned wanderer. "Why is not the parable which shows us the Father placed first, mamma?' asked Willie. 'Because it is only by Jesus, through the Spirit, that sinners can come to the Father. Jesus is the sinner's surety. He obeyed the law, and died in our stead; the Father is well pleased; the Spirit has come, and thus the everlasting covenant is a threefold cord which can never be broken.' Glory in the highest be For the word, that 'God is love!' II. He filled his tiny hands with flowers, III. But on the morrow came the rain, IV. And when again, between the showers, V. 'See, child,' I said, 'no flowers are here, Each little daisy hides its head;' He raised his eyes, so blue and clear'Why, there is still the grass!' he said. VI. He gathered it by root and stalk, VII. Ah, little child, I thought, full well I want the lesson thou dost teach, How we may need-ah! who can tell The wisdom of thy childish speech! AIII. When all our sky is clouded o'er, Though summer flowers may bloom no more, BIRTH-DAY LESSONS. 77 BIRTH-DAY LESSONS. 0° URlittle maiden was seven years old. So Nature had donned a robe of gold, And called her ambassadors, dressed in green, To welcome and honour the youthful queen; And all was bright on that summer day, When her majesty's servants came out to play. They crowned her with roses fresh and fair, That sprinkled the dew on her sunlight hair, And built her a throne on a mossy ball, With a silver birch for a canopy tall; Then ran to seek for a lily straight, That the Queen with a sceptre might rule in state. And when they were gone, the flowers in her hair, Bent down and talked to the maiden fair. 'Be spotless and pure,' was the white Rose' song, Unstained by the world as you pass along: 'Modest and gentle,' the Blush Rose said, Drooping still lower her beautiful head: 'Steadfast and brave,' sang the crimson Rose 'When prickles are sharp, and the red blood flows.' And a wild little blossom leant down to her ear, Nor wish that a higher lot had been sent, For the life is not wasted that seeks to bring A sparkle of love from the heavenly spring, And the hands are not empty that cast a ray Of comfort and hope on the wanderer's way, And the angels account not the spirits mean, That follow the steps of the Nazarene.' J. G. M. K. PREPARED FOR 'THE CHILDREN'S SERVICE' AT GOUROCK BY REV. DAVID MACRAE. I WISH some of the little readers of the 'Dayspring' could come to our children's service some Sabbath evening, and hear how well many of our boys and girls can answer these questions, and how sweetly they sing their hymns; and see how nicely they behave, and with what order, when the service is over, they march out class by class. "Tis like the march of little soldiers; and, indeed, we want them to become soldiers-good soldiers of Jesus Christ-going forth, like Him, not to hurt any one, but to help and to save. Would you like to know all we do at our children's service? Well, we have great variety. We have prayers offered; we have reading or recitation of verses of the Bible; we have questions on the forenoon and afternoon discourses; and we have serial questions, like those you will find below. We call them 'Pioneer Questions,' because they are meant-like the pioneers of an army, or the pioneers of civilization of the far westto go forward and prepare the way for much that is to come behind. All these exercises are separated-or rather, I should say, linked sweetly together-by hymns. The whole service, indeed, is so pervaded by the atmosphere of praise, that it is called our Children's Service of Song. We have also pleasant meetings now and then during the week-sometimes for lectures; sometimes for examination; sometimes for the magic lantern. Then, we have our winter festival in January, and our summer festival in July, when we go over in review all the work of the session; and have hymns sung, and verses recited, and little speeches made by the scholars themselves. The blessing with which God is following these labours of love has gladdened the hearts of all; and we shall rejoice the more, if the publication of our Pioneer Questions now begun in the 'Dayspring' should prove of service to others* As the accounts of our children's service-carried away by friends-have brought many letters of inquiry from those desirous of starting similar services elsewhere, I may say, that, as far as success has attended this part of our congregational work, I attribute it largely to the following points which we have sought to secure:-(1) A foundation of perfect discipline; (2) Exercises com SERIES A. SCRIPTURE QUARTETTES. *The order of the Series and of the Sets has been partially determined by local circumstances, and can be altered where found desirable. I.-Sin and Salvation. 1 Is there any one on earth that does not sin? There is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. (Eccl. 7. 20.) 2. What is the punishment of sin? The soul that sinneth, it shall die. (Ezek. 18. 4.) 3 What did God do to open up a way of salvation for us? God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3. 16.) 4 Who was it that Jesus suffered for? He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities. (Isa. 53. 5.) II. Three Commands. 5 If we love Jesus what must we try to do? If ye love me, keep my commandments. (John 14. 15.) 6 What is His commandment to us about God? Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. (Mark 12. 30.) 7 And what has he told us to do to others? As would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. (Luke 6. 31.) ye 8 How are children to treat their parents? Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. (Col. 3. 20.) III.-Seeking God early. 9 What does the Bible tell us about seeking God? Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near. (Isa. 55. 6.) 10 Does He give any special promise to those that seek Him early? I love them that love Me; and those that seek Me early shall find Me. (Prov. 8. 17.) 11 But will He receive little children? Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. (Mark 10. 14.) 12 What will Jesus do with the little ones that come to Him? He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom. (Isa. 40. 11.) bining value with interest and variety-such variety as will allow of the oldest being instructed without the youngest being fatigued; (3) The exclusion of everything childish, and the constant endeavour to develop intelligence, and form character; (4) Hearty sympathy with the young, and an earnest desire to see every scholar a true Christian. 80 BLUE AND PURPLE AND SCARLET. in the grate had reddened the room with their glow, and, most of all, touched dainty Nelly with the soft cheeks and violet eyes. When Nelly stirred, puss, beside her, rose up and stretched his velvet paws, and made a fine arch of his sleek, grey, furry back, and brushed the round red cheek with his long warm tail. And then Nelly rubbed her eyes, and looked round the room, but there was nobody there; she was quite sure of that. There were other Nellies than she. Maybe some one on the street had called a wee wandering girlie by that pretty pet name of her own. And here was puss. He had come into her lap; he had folded his velvet paws, and half shut his sleepy green eyes-how green they were!-not blue like Nelly's; and how queer they looked with their little black centre, that was sometimes round, and sometimes long and sharp. Puss shut them and opened them, shut them and opened them; and at last shut them and slept. Then Nelly began to think what she had been thinking about when somebody said 'Nelly!' and scattered her thoughts away. She knew she had been thinking about something nice, and was teased to forget what it was. She had been building her castles, and the noise had thrown them all down. And she was almost as troubled as was Bobby many a time when some heedless skirt swept the wooden blocks he had raised into turrets and towers. For the building of Nelly's castles, which needed no blocks, gave her even more delight. These air buildings were certainly very fine and pleasant work; no heavy stones to bring, no workman's hands to direct; fairy palaces they, all reared with a wish, hung with silken curtains, bright with gilded walls; filled with fairy inmates, all beautiful and kind. 'Whew' moaned the wind outside; 'chirp, chirp' chimed in bravely the sparrows on the window sill; 'crackle, crackle' sang the amber flames; and ‘purr, purr, purr' murmured drowsy pussy through it all, in the blue folds of Nelly's lap. Nelly began to be sleepy too, and moved to make herself comfortable. And when she moved she espied an open Bible on the rug, and remembered what it all meant, and what she had been thinking of. The Bible was open at a place not familiar to all little readers, and it was this had set Nelly wondering and dreaming by the fire. The simple old story of Jesus;-of the babe born in Bethlehem; of the wise men, and the new star; of the blameless childhood; the gracious manhood,—its kind, true, gentle or warning words,-its healing touch; the lonely, lonely Calvary, where Christ died for us;-all of this Nelly had read, and read again and again. And loved it, and listened to it every day, till she knew nothing so well. But this evening Nelly had turned over the pages of her Bible till she came to nearly the beginning; and it was not familiar to her like the stories of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. There were many long words, and Nelly read slowly; often spelling them, and sometimes not quite sure of what they meant. It was about the Tabernacle,-the beautiful, beautiful Tabernacle; where the Ark of God was to be set; where the outspread wings of the angels were to shadow the mercy-seat; where God had promised to dwell, to hear the people when they came in their sorrow to pray to Him. เ Nelly read of all the precious things that were for this holy place; of the blue and purple, and scarlet; the rams' skins dyed red; the beautiful shittim wood; the gold and silver; the fine linen; the costly stones; and how all the people gave them willingly to the Lord.' Nelly once heard some one say these words had a fine meaning, and that just the same as God asked of the people then, He asked of all who loved Him now. Nelly had not forgotten this; and reading the passage, she had wondered over it in a simple way of her own. This was what it said: And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing; and they brought the Lord's offering to the |
