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full of "curses, deceit, and fraud;" awful echoes come back for them, Their Sabbath is only a day for idler hours, deeper sin, "evil continually."

They scarcely listen to the echoes now, but one day they will sound with awful force-one day, when it will be too late to awaken one gentle sound, one comforting word.

Echoes, echoes! Our lives are being filled with them. Ah, dear reader, pause a bit, just to think what sort of echoes your Sundays and week-days are awakening for you.

Sweet words, or sad ones? Blessed, beautiful, holy thoughts? Or the folly and the sin that will darken eternity? May God forgive us! May His Holy Spirit teach us what is pure and true and lovely, for the Lord Jesus Christ's dear sake. Amen.

A False and a True Friend.

"Love not the world, neither the things of the world."-1 John ii. 15.

"Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity."—Eph. vi. 24. "LOVE not the world,"

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Heed not its pleasures;

The earth "shall perish,"

With all its treasures.

Its pomps and its vanities soon will be o'er ;

The place that now knows you shall know you no more.

Heb. i. 10-12.

Seek Jesus the Lord,

Cling to Him ever;

When once joined to Christ

No power can sever.

He died for you, lives for you, and in His love

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a place" in the "mansions" above.

John xiv. 1, 2.

He is your best Friend;

Trust to no other:

He sticketh even

"Closer than brother."

Earth's friends will forsake you, Jesus will never ;

His friendship will last for ever and ever!

John xiv. 3, 18, 19.

Earth's kingdoms shall fall

(Greatest and strongest); Earth's days shall all end

(Brightest and longest);

But Christ's glorious kingdom shall never decay-
There'll ne'er be an end to Eternity's day!
Daniel vii. 27.

Then love not the world

Or aught it contains;
Heed not its losses,

Desire not its gains;

With thy heart's hope fixed on "the Lamb that was slain," "To live will be Christ, and to die will be gain!"

Phil. i. 20, 21.

D. H. C.

Chats with the Aged.

II.

ROM review of the past, we naturally come to consideration of the present daily life. Do you, aged pilgrim, indeed realise the solemnity and

blessedness of the near approach of the end of your pilgrimage?-that you are even now treading on the confines of "the other land," nearing the shore of everlasting life, while yet a space your little bark rests in a quiet haven to give you more time to prepare? Do not let this be a slothful, self-indulgent time; make it all it may be to you, whatever the past has been; a gathering together of all your remaining strength to fit you for the last call. For He whom we love stands ready on that glorious shore which needs no sun nor moon to lighten it; with outstretched arms and hands still pierced, He stands, and, one by one, He beckons to His people to come; one by one, He gathers in His sheep to the fold. Can we be too earnest in our efforts to prepare ourselves for going to Him? Not in our own strength can we do this; but we must ask Him to apply to us the benefits of His blood-shedding; we must beg Him for His grace.

It is very likely that your eyes are failing, and you cannot see to read His Holy Word as you desire to do; but I hope that some kind friend, or your minister, may come to read to you. Let me, however, advise you to take daily some short text, and make that your thought for the day. Sometimes you will find the echo of your own heart's desire in the sweet prayers of the Psalmist, and hour by hour your heart will raise the petition to God. Such texts as the following you will find very helpful. When thinking over your past life, say, "Hide Thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities;" "Create in me a clean heart, O God;" "Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin;" "O God, Thou hast taught me from my youth; now, when I am old and grey-headed, O God, forsake me not."

Or when your heart fails you, as, thinking over your sins, you feel your wretchedness in God's sight, let the thought that God is your Father, Who loves you with an everlasting love, be present to your mind as you say, "Be merciful unto me, O God! be merciful unto me! for my soul trusteth in Thee." Then, are you poor as well as aged? think what sweet comfort lieth for such in those words: "Though I am poor and needy, the Lord careth for me." O friend! in all your poverty, in all your trials, if you could once feel Who this great Friend is Who cares for you, I think that the darkest day would seem bright from the joy of that knowledge. Once we can say with truth, "I am not alone, for the Father is with me;" loneliness and suffering, poverty and sorrow, have lost their keenest edge. Will you try to make God your ever-present Friend and strength?

I can hardly speak to the aged without a word about sleepless nights-a trial which comes to nearly all old people. Perhaps God wishes to speak solemnly to you in those night-watches, for there is no time in which He seems so near as when all is still, others in the house all sleeping quietly, but the old pilgrim watching!-ay! and seeing the stars bright at midnight; and then, with just occasional

short snatches of sleep, seeming to be awake most of the long, dark, silent hours, till the paling of the stars and the tender light over the eastern sky speak of coming morn; and then, perhaps, you get a sound sleep. But these long hours are very lonely, very weary sometimes. I think good Bishop Ken must have known that trial when he wrote

"If in the night I sleepless lie,

My soul with heavenly thoughts supply."

If you do lie awake, just say those words, and if you open your heart to receive the message of love and comfort, I think God will fill it with happy holy thoughts, that will make the hours pass swiftly away, and by the very blessedness and rest of what those thoughts suggest, give you the repose you need. David says, "I thought upon Thy name, O Lord, in the night-watches."

G. V.

For Valour.

ANY years ago Queen Victoria saw fit to institute a new decoration, to be bestowed upon those of her soldiers or sailors who should distinguish them

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selves by any remarkable act of bravery or daring in the presence of the enemy. Since that time nearly three hundred of these decorations have been awarded to soldiers and sailors of all ranks, from the colonel and commander to the common sailor or private soldier; and it is considered among the highest honours that can be gained in the army or navy to be able to wear upon the breast the plain-looking Victoria Cross.

So highly prized and eagerly sought after is this decoration, that men have courted danger and been willing to run more than ordinary risks in hopes of being able to win it. And yet, after all, what is the value of it? It is merely a plain, small, gun-metal cross, of no great value in itself. True, there is a small money pension attached to the winning of

the Victoria Cross, but it is not that which is coveted or sought after; it is the honour of wearing a decoration given by a beloved sovereign in recognition of meritorious conduct. What volumes are contained in those two words, "For Valour," inscribed on the cross!

For length of service and good conduct, or merely for presence in a campaign, a medal may be earned; but not so the Victoria Cross. The man who would wear this must make up his mind to win it by some signal act of valour or deed of daring; and even then he may not succeed. The opportunity may never present itself, however eagerly watched for or frequently sought; and a brave man may try for years to obtain the coveted prize without even eventually succeeding.

It is not thus with the prize that is offered to every soldier of Jesus Christ, the crown of life, promised to all those who fight manfully and valiantly the good fight of faith. This is a prize that may be obtained by every soldier in the great Christian army; not by here and there one who has been exceptionally situated or remarkably valiant, but by every one who has "done what he could" in the service of his Saviour.

Let us look for a few moments at the inducements there are held out to the Christian to fight bravely and constantly against the enemies of the Lord.

There is the promised prize; this is no mere decoration of little value, to be worn for a few short years at most, and then to be laid aside.

It is a "crown of life," of "righteousness," of "glory;" it is "an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away." It is to be admitted into the society of the spirits of just men made perfect, of the holy angels of God, of Christ our Saviour, of our Father in heaven.

For every soldier in the British army who gains the Victoria Cross there are thousands who never possess it; not that there is any lack of bravery on their part, nor want

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