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To read about Him you told us of.' Why do you want to read about Him? Is it because you love Him?'

The boy nodded his head decisively: there was no hesitation or doubt about the matter.

'Why do you love Him?'

The poor boy was silent. His little features worked, his little breast heaved, his little lips quivered, and all at once he dropped his head on the table, and sobbed out,

"Cause they killed Him.'

It is a homely story, but it tells a wonderful secret-namely, how hearts are won, through the grace of the blessed Spirit: it is by the simple story of the Saviour's dying love, the Just One for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.

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hearts. Instead of fretting, study that logic and rejoice in God.

Don't fret, for God's providence governs all things. Consider the hairs of your head, the fowls of the air, the lilies of the field. Thus stay your heart on God, and you shall be kept in perfect peace

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SATISFIED.

'Shall never thirst.-John 4. 14.

HEN you have had a treat or a pleasure, do not you begin to wish for another? When you look over your playthings or your books (whichever you happen to care most for), have you not said, 'If I only had just this, or just that besides'? And even some favoured little ones who hardly know what to wish for, because they seem to have everything, have not enough to make them quite happy; they want something, without knowing what they want. Is not this something like feeling thirsty?

And when you get the very thing you most wanted, it does not make much difference, for you very soon want something else; you are 'thirsty' again.

The Lord Jesus knows all about this, and so He said, 'Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again; but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him, shall never thirst.' First, you see you are quite sure to thirst again;' it is no use expecting to find anything earthly that will satisfy you. Secondly, Jesus has something to give you which will make you quite satisfied and glad. Thirdly, as long as you go on drinking this, you will be always satisfied and glad. Fourthly, you cannot get it from any one or anything else. Jesus gives it, and Jesus only. Fifthly, it must be meant for you, because He says 'whosoever,' and that means 'anybody that likes!" And He says, 'Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters!" And, 'If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink.' And, I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.'

Will you not say to Him, like the poor

PRIZE ESSAYS.

woman at the well, 'Lord Jesus, give me this water, that I thirst not!' Listen to His kind answer! Drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved!'

'I heard the voice of Jesus say,
Behold, I freely give
The living water; thirsty one,

Stoop down, and drink, and live.

'I came to Jesus, and I drank

Of that life-giving stream;

My thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
And now I live in Him.'

(From 'Little Pillows.') FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL.

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INTERNATIONAL SERIES of LESSONS.

QUESTIONS ON THE GOLDEN TEXTS.' August 3.-THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION. 2 Cor. 5. 14-21. Memory verses: 18-21. Golden Text. We pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 2 Cor. 5. 20. How ought we to regard faithful ministers of the Word? 2 Cor. 5. 20. Mat. 10. 40. What is it, to be reconciled? Gen. 50. 17-21. Mat. 5. 23-25.

Why do we need to be reconciled to God?
Rom. 8. 7. Eph. 2. 3.

By whom alone can sinners be reconciled to
God? Eph. 2. 14-16. 2 Cor. 5. 21.
When ought we to be reconciled to God?
2 Cor. 6. 2. Heb. 3. 7, 8.

August 10.-THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT. Gal. 5. 22-26; 6. 1-9. Memory verses: 22-26. Golden Text. Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Gal. 6. 7. Why are we all in danger of deceiving ourselves? Jer. 17. 9. 2 Cor. 2. 11.

What different kinds of seed do men sow? Gal. 6. 8. Hosea 10. 12, 13. Rom. 2. 6-10. What fruit does each seed yield? Gen. 1. 12. Mat. 7. 16.

When is the great reaping time? Mat. 25. 1-30. 2 Thes. 1. 6-10.

Give examples of men reaping, even in this world, what they had sowed? Esth. 7. 9, 10; 8. 15. Exod. 15. 4.

August 17.-THE CHRISTIAN ARMOUR.
Eph. 6. 10-20.

Memory verses: 14-17.

Golden Text. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Eph. 11. 6.

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What class of men need armour? 1 Sam. 17. 4-7, 38, 39. 2 Sam. 23. 8-21. 2 Tim. 2. 3. What foes must Christ's soldiers fight? Eph. 6. 12, 16. 1 John 2. 16.

What armour does Christ give them? Eph. 6. 13-18. 1 Thes. 5. 8. 2 Cor. 10. 1, 4. What are some of the wiles of the devil? Gen. 3. 4, 5. Deut. 29. 19. Acts 24. 25.

Give examples of how to use the armour of God? Mat. 4. 3-11. 1 Sam. 17. 45-47. 2 Chron. 32. 20, 21.

August 24.-THE MIND OF CHRIST.

Phil. 2. 1-13.

Memory verses: 5-11. Golden Text. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Phil. 2. 5. What is it, to have the mind of Christ? Phil. 2. 6-8. Mat. 11. 29. What lessons in humility did Jesus teach His disciples while He was on earth? John 13. 14-16. Mat. 18. 1-4. Luke 14. 7-11. How may we get the mind of Christ? Mat. 11. 28-30. Ezek. 36. 26, 27. Pet. 2. 21-24. Name believers who shewed by their conduct that they had the mind of Christ? Acts 26. 29; 4. 13; 7. 60.

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THREE Prizes are offered for the Best Essays on the following subject:

What evidence have we that the Bible is the inspired Word of God?'

The competitors must not be above 15 years of age. The Essays not to exceed in length three pages of the Dayspring'; and the MSS., accompanied with a sealed envelope, giving the name and address of the competitor, must be addressed to the Rev. JOHN KAY, 2 Cumin Place, Edinburgh, and reach him not later than the 29th of Nov., 1879.

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Under Thy standard,exalted and royal, Strong in Thy strength we will battle for Thee!

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2 True-hearted, whole-hearted! Fullest allegiance
Yielding henceforth to our glorious King!
Valiant endeavour and loving obedience
Freely and joyously now would we bring.

3 Saviour of sinners, Thou knowest our story,
Weak are the hearts that we lay at Thy feet,
Sinful and treacherous! yet, for Thy glory,

Heal them, and cleanse them from sin and deceit.

4 Holy Redeemer, beloved and glorious,

Take Thy great power and reign Thou alone,
Over our wills and affections victorious-
Freely surrendered and wholly Thine own.

Paisley: J AND R. PAR LANE.]

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[London: HOULSTON AND SONS.

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THE LAW OF KINDNESS.

THE LAW OF KINDNESS.
ONG ago, when Jesus Christ was living

in this world, walking and talking a man amongst men, there was one precept that He very often enjoined on his followers' to love one another'; and one of the few times that we hear of the gentle Saviour being angry, was, when James and John wished to call down fire from heaven on the village that refused to receive their Master. Jesus wished his disciples rather to try to help people to become better-to do good to them and not evil; and this He desires of us also. You remember, dear children, that Jesus was God as well as man, and therefore knew all things, and saw how difficult it would be for people always to agree well together; for besides that we have by nature naughty hearts inclining us to please ourselves only, it is also true that other people are often so different from us in all their feelings and likings, that we dont really know how to be kind to them without thinking about their particular character and trials. This is what we call consideration; and the sooner young folks begin to practise it, the better will it be for themselves and their friends.

There, now, are two school-fellows sitting side by side on the same bench: the one bright, active, full of fun and mischief, willing to give or take any amount of hard hitting, either by words or with fists. In complete contrast, his neighbour is a shy, reserved youth, on whose sensitive spirit the careless mocking language of companions leaves many a dint. But let these two beware of despising each other, for they severally have their God-appointed work and place in the world; for while the first may live to carry through some daring but worthy enterprise, none the less is the gentler boy fitted, by the truthfulness of his nature and a certain nobility of character, to exercise great influence, by and by, over the minds of men.

True kindness of heart, or the reverse, is often shewn by actions in themselves insignificant; and as

'Little drops of water, little grains of sand, Make the mighty ocean, and the beauteous land,' so the little deeds of little people go far to make or mar the comfort of life at home.

What a blessing it is now to yon pale, careworn woman to have such a daughter as Mary Jane; for she is such a handy, careful little woman, that mother can always trust her to carry a cup without spilling it, and who nurses the younger children when they are sick so nicely, that Lizzie has quite made up her mind that it is, on the whole, not a bad thing to be laid up with a cold.

I had occasion lately to visit 'The Sick Children's Hospital,' and saw in one of the wards a poor child that had been severely burned. His wailing cry of pain was pitiful to hear; but even this sad scene had its bright side, for soon I noticed that a dear little girl, herself a patient, although now nearly well, was bending over the pillow of the suffering boy to ask if he would like a drink, which she quickly handed to him. Was that a very small deed of kindness, do you say? Ah well, then, it is all the more easy to do it; and I feel sure that the weary, restless feeling of the child was as much soothed by the kindly tones as were his parched lips cooled by the soft, nice milk. Nor should the boys of our families be behind in such considerate acts of affection. Do not fear that it will take anything from your manliness: the bravest are still the most tender. And, believe me, in the years to come, when brothers, sisters, and friends have parted for their different paths through life, words and actions that seem nothing now may be keenly remembered either for joy or sorrow.

I can distinctly recall an occasion of this sort. We children had been invited to spend an afternoon at a friend's house in the neighbourhood; and what a happy, merry business was a country tea-drinking in the old time; something much nicer, and I think more wholesome, than the children's parties of modern days, in which little stuck-up, dressed-up men and women ape the manners of their elders, and forget

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