Y little love, I like to look Into your eyes, so dark and tender; O, wistfully to me they speak

Their dim sweet prophecies of splendour.

I like to look into your eyes,

To clasp your gentle little fingers; To watch that loveliest of smiles

That round your lips like sunlight lingers.

My litttle love!—my darling boy,

The tears will gather in my eyesUpon this gentle baby life

To think that ever storm may rise.

Yet baby sweet!—a heaven waits,
And Jesus keeps the little lambs;
I know that He will keep my love,
And guide him safe through winds and
calms.

You will not be a reed like me

Beneath the lightest breath to bend; But beautiful and strong and free,

Will wear your gladness to the end.

You will go forth, O, brave and bright.
To prove the nobleness of life!
If you must wrestle by the way

You shall win triumph from the strife.

Why tears for Thee, my baby love?
Sweet life, it is the gift of God;
The world perhaps will bless you yet,
The earth be greener where you
trod.
'Tis sweet, 'tis sweet, 'tis very sweet
To kiss your little baby face;
And wondering wistfully to say—

'O, Father, give my darling grace!'

And all our prayers for those we love—
They do not pass into the air;
They reach the Father's heart above,
The blessing follows on the prayer.

H. W. H. W.

HOME LESSONS FOR THE LORD'S DAY.

THE IMAGE OF GOD.

FTER His own image. What does that mean, mamma? said Katie, when she had read the words, God created man, male and female, after His own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures.

'Do you know what we mean, when we say of a child that he is the very image of his father?'

'O yes, mamma, that means that he is very like his papa; just as like him as he can be.'

'Adam and Eve were the children of God, and when created, they were very like their Father. God made them after His own image or likeness.'

'But, mamma, it is a little boy's face that is like his papa's, and God is a spirit. How could Adam and Eve be like God?'

'If you read the words which follow in the answer, I think you will find that out.'

Katie read, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness,' and after thinking for a little, said, 'It must have been Adam's soul that was like God.'

'You know that it is the soul, not the body, that is the dwelling place of knowThe ledge, righteousness, and holiness. human body is a very wonderful work of God, but it is only the servant of the soul, the nobler part, which God created after His own image.'

'How was Adam like God in knowledge, when God knows every thing?' said Willie.

We are quite sure that Adam's knowledge was not infinite, like God's, for the promise of greater knowledge was the temptation by which Satan deceived our first parents. But Adam's knowledge was very great, and it was perfect in kind. All his knowledge was truth. You know, Willie, what are the five gateways by which knowledge enters the soul?'

Our five senses,-Eyegate, Eargate, Nosegate, Mouthgate and Touchgate.'

'Before man sinned, truth alone entered his soul by these gateways. Every sight and every sound in creation spoke to him

of the greatness and the goodness of his Almighty Father. His was the "true knowledge which leads to love," not the knowledge which puffeth up. In the passage from which the word knowledge is taken, it is placed in opposition to falsehood, which shews us that it means truth, Read Col. 3, 9, 10.'

'Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him.'

These words shew us that to be like God in knowledge, is to know the truth, to have the Spirit of truth dwelling in us, and guiding us into all truth by making us to know the love of God which passeth knowledge. (1 John 2, 20, 27.) This is the knowledge which is better than gold; all the things that may be desired, are not to be compared to it. And what is it to be like God in righteousness and holiness? Can you tell me, Willie?'

'Our teacher told us that it meant that before he sinned, Adam always thought the truth, and spoke the truth, and did the truth.'

"Yes, when God made man, He made him upright. God's commandments were his delight, and God's glory his chief end. In the eighth psalm, Adam's glory before he sinned is described in words which are quoted in Hebrews, to describe the glory and honour with which Jesus is crowned. You know what Jesus is called, because Adam was a type of Him?'

"The second Adam means Jesus, mamma.' Jesus is the second Adam, and the best way to understand what it is to bear the image of God, is to study the life of Jesus. He was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners. God made Adam like Him. Read Jer. 2, 21, Willie.'

Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed &c.'

'Jesus is the true vine, and these words shew us that man was made to be like him. Do you know, Katie, how sinners may become again like God in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness?'

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'It is the Holy Spirit who makes sinners like God, mamma; He gives them new hearts.'

"The Holy Spirit shews sinners the beauty of the Lord in the glass of His Word, and by looking at Him, they are changed into His image. (2 Cor. 3, 18). Can you tell me, Willie, how a photographer takes likenesses?

The photographer first prepares the plate, and then places it so that the reflection of the person will fall upon it, and the sun paints and fixes the likeness'

'And if we wish to become like Jesus, our hearts must be prepared to receive His image, and the Holy Spirit will shine upon His Word, and paint His likeness on our souls. When will the likeness be quite perfect, Katie?'

When we get to heaven, mamma; the Bible says, "We shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is."'

The souls of Christ's people will be made perfectly like Jesus whenever they die, but when will their bodies too, bear His image? 'At the resurrection.'

'Yes; at the resurrection, the Lord Jesus will change the bodies of His people, and make them like His own glorious body. To be with Jesus, and to be like Him, is the joy of heaven. Maggie, dear, you will let us hear the verses you have learned about the new heart;' and little Maggie repeated the lines by Charles Wesley

A heart in every thought renewed
And filled with love Divine,
Perfect, and right, and pure, and good;
A copy Lord of Thine.

Thy nature, gracious Lord, impart;
Come quickly from above,
Write Thy new name upon my heart,
Thy new, best name of Love.

Little Harry was wearying for a story, so mamma told them of a very little girl who got the new heart, and knew that she had got it. She was the daughter of a friend of the Rev. Mr Milne's of Perth. On one occasion when that good man was visiting his friend, he was much interested in his little girl, who was then between four and

เ

Next time Mr Milne came to see her parents, he heard that his little friend had been taken to the home above, and he learned from her mother that she had not forgotten her promise to him. Till within a few weeks of her death, she had repeated the words, O Lord, give me a new heart,' every morning and evening at the close of her own little prayer. The first time that she omitted the words, her mother said to her, 'You have forgotten Mr Milne's prayer to-night, dear. O no,' the child replied, but I've dot it now, mamma.' That sweet child prayed expecting an answer, and she got it, and so will every one who prays in sincerity and truth, 'Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.' 'Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled.'

Now we shall read a parable in which Jesus shews us the picture of one who has got the new heart; of a child of God, renewed after His own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness. Which parable is it, Willie?'

'I think it is that of the good Samaritan, because he was so like Jesus, when he was so very kind to the poor man who had fallen among thieves.'

'The good Samaritan is a photograph of Jesus. His character reflects Christ's glorious image; for Love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love.'

Young maiden, hast thou chosen
This blessed path to tread,
To follow in His foot-prints

Who bore the thorn-crowned head? Think not to find a service

Where sorrow does not come : Through struggles and temptations We reach our Father's home.

In daily simple duties

The virgin's light may shine: The touch of consecration Makes common things divine. It is thy best He seeketh,

Not something hard and high: The trivial work beside thee

Our Lord may glorify.

Thy home may be thy cloister,
For there thy life may be
In all to God devoted,

From earthly bondage free;
And, if a will unsparing

Toward self thou would'st attain, Then mortify e'en feelings,

Where Jesus docs not reign.

For outward things are easy,

But inward things He sees; And, not our flesh or fancy, But Christ we seek to please. And young disciple, daily,

Is blessed work to do-
To hide thyself in Jesus,
That He may fill the view.

Look lovingly on all men,

Nor shrink to speak the Namc, Like ointment, fragrant, flowing, Exalted over fame.

Perchance thy servants, even,

Are weary and opprest; Then, coming from His presence, Show them the only Rest.

And if thou fain would'st follow
Some high vocation here,
Then live beside the Saviour,
Draw nearer and more near;
For, when thy soul is fitted,
Perchance, the Lord may say—
'Go forth into my harvest,
And watch, and work, and pray.'

JESSIE P. MONCRIEFF.