SO SHALL THY STRENGTH BE.” The effect produced on his feelings was indescribable; his heart was filled with peace and joy. One divine promise like the above is enough to chase away all our fears, and cheer our hearts. Our wants and weaknesses are many, but He knows them all, and is both able and willing to supply our every need.

A HAPPY RELIGION.

CHARLES FINNEY and Judge Andrews once went to see an old Christian lady. The Judge was then a stranger to religion. This woman, who was no half-hearted, but a full-souled disciple, and whose religion made her happy, began to tell what Christ had done for her with so much cheerfulness, that she rivited the attention of Judge Andrews. It was not long before a tear moistened his eye. She continued her evidently happy and joyful story in God, and he listened for forty-five minutes, and became deeply impressed. When he and Mr. Finney left, he said to him, "If this is the religion of Jesus Christ, I am determined that I will not rest till I possess it, and know what it is."

BLAMELESS, NOT FAULTLESS.

No Christian is, or can be, faultless before the Lord. Blameless all may, and ought to be. The child that does its needle-work faithfully, is commended, though not a stitch is perfect. The child is blameless, but the work not faultless. The Christian who lives up to his light and

They may With more light

Others of more

ability, is blameless, but in God's sight faulty. He is not conscious of his defects, his eyes are not sharp as God's; his best efforts are like the needle-work of the little girl, well done for her, but so defective in fact, that every stitch must be removed, and done again by a more skillful and experienced hand. Saints sometimes judge themselves perfect because they are not conscious of sin. be innocent, but surely are not perfect. and culture they would discern defects. experience, observe them now, because sufficiently educa ted or advanced in wisdom. The novice that paints a horrid daub, thinks it beautiful; and it is well done for him. He has done his best, and is blameless, but a few months of training make him hide his earlier works in shame. Jesus keeps blameless trusting souls, and step by step leads them to higher culture, richer wisdom, purer tastes, until they attain His likeness in glory.

BOTH SIDES.

AFTER one of the noted London infidels had concluded one of his infidel lectures, in a village in the north of England, he challenged those present to discussion. Who should accept the challenge, but an old, bent woman, in most antiquated attire, who went up to the lecturer, and said:

"Sir, I have a question to put to you."

"Well, my good woman, what is it?"

"Ten years ago," she said, "I was left a widow, with

eight children, utterly unprovided for, and nothing to call my own but this Bible. By its direction, and looking to God for strength, I have been enabled to feed myself and family. I am now tottering to the grave; but I am perfectly happy, because I look forward to a life of immortality with Jesus in heaven. That's what my religion has done for me. What has your way of thinking done for

you ?"

"Well, my good lady," rejoined the lecturer, "I don't want to disturb your comfort, but▬▬

"Oh! that's not the question," interposed the woman; "keep to the point, sir. What has your way of thinking done for you?"

The infidel endeavored to shirk the matter again; the feeling of the meeting found vent in uproarous applause, and the skeptic lecturer had to go away discomfited by an old Christian woman.

"ALL FOR THE BEST.”

You hear old Christians say: "Well, it's all for the best:" and you may think it is cant. There is no cant about it. They have learned that all is for the best in their life's history. Bernard Gilpin was to be tried for his faith in God, and to be put to death. He was in the habit of saying: "It is all for the best; it is all for the best." Starting for London to be tried for his life, and to be executed, he broke his leg. His associates said in derision: "I suppose you think this is for the best?" "Of course,"

said he, "it is for the best my leg is broken.” So it proved. Before he got well enough to go to London, Queen Mary died, and, instead of Bernard Gilpin going to London to be tried and burned for Christ's sake, he went home free. It is always for the best. "All things work together for good to those that love God."

"SITTING UNDER HIS SHADOW.”.

MANY years ago, one stormy winter day, a minister was visiting one of his people, an old man, who lived in poverty in a lonely cottage a few miles from Jedburgh. He found him sitting with the Bible open upon his knees, but in outward circumstances of great discomfort, the snow drifting through the roof and under the door, and scarcely an ember of fire upon the hearth.

"What are you about to-day, John?" was Mr. Young's question, on entering.

"Ah, sir," said the happy saint, "I am sitting under His shadow wi' great delight."

Oh wondrous "consolation in Christ," the river which, from the beginning of time to the end, "maketh glad the city of our God!"

"WHOM RESIST, STEADFAST IN THE FAITH."

THERE was an old man living in this country, a Primitive Methodist. He was one day talking with a Christian brother about the Bible, when Satan was spoken of as

"very wise." "O, no," said the old man, not wise, or he would have stayed in heaven; but he is very artful. Never parley with Satan, else he will trip you up. When he comes to trouble me, I never speak to him, but I always introduce him to his betters at once."

-Henry Varley.

SOME one speaking in the hearing of the late Daniel Webster, of the sublime poetry of the Old Testament, the latter at once and seriously replied, "Ah! my friend, the poetry of Isaiah, and Job, and Habakkuk is grand, indeed; but when you have lived, have lived, as I have, sixty-seven years, you will give more for the 14th or 17th chapter of John's Gospel, or for one of the Epistles, than for all the poetry in the Bible."

CHRISTIANITY is not talking of Christ, but walking after Him. Christ has many to follow after Him in the calm, who fly from Him in the storm. Withered leaves fall off in windy weather, so do dry professors in time of temptations. They that endure to the end shall be saved.

-Jackson.

A LADY approached a professed Christian man, with the request that he contribute for the support of their pastor. His reply consisted of that last resort of all mean, close-fisted professors, "Salvation's free." She replied, "That's true; but we must pay for the pitchers to carry it in.'