66 ecclesiastical history, and note the engineering results of their predecessors. Weapon after weapon has been forged against the Word of God, and none of them prospered. There is such a thing as the 'Literature of Evidences," and it were well for men who vaunt their new objections to the Grand Old Book, to study the past victories of Faith over Scepticism. I am sure that the spirit of respect for the genius of the past is a wise one, and that many a man would feel abashed if, in the study of Church history, he humbly learned that many modern difficulties are only ancient ones with new names, and have been answered in other days. Nor is it fair to come to the study of the Bible, without the spirit of respect and reverence. Its very age, its wonderful uniqueness, its matchless triumphs, its unquestionable pre-eminence in literature-these things, apart from the fact of its perfect inspiration, should make all modest scholars approach its study with diffidence. The youthful engineer, who is about to search for flaws in the foundations of the Rock, ought to feel conscious that it is more likely that his efforts will be futile, than that the Book which has been the wonder of centuries should prove false at last. In all these remarks upon respect for persons and things, of course the writer has borne in mind that there must be something worthy of respect. We cannot will to respect anything. Where lofty position and virtuous character go together, however, no sensible man will grudge the respect which is given to honourable estate and honourable character combined. As the measure of responsibility is always to be gauged by the measured opportunity-as of him to whom much is given much will be required-so those who occupy high places should remember the loftier the pedestal the more prominent they are in the view of the multitude, and the greater, too, is the scope of their influence for evil or for good. There always will be differences in wealth, educa tion, and position; and so long as all men may by genius and industry rise to highest posts, and take their places as English chancellors or English senators, all is well. It would be a poor day when there were no positions other than the dead, dull level of an unreal equality. If, too, we would be respected, let us respect others; but, if we foster the spirit which sneers and satirises others, let us be sure that the same measure will be measured to ourselves. Many a man who complains of the pride of others, as having hurt his own particular vanity, would feel amazed and irritated if his own servant were to sit herself coolly down opposite him at his dinnertable at home, and he would have but little pity for the wounded pride which was irritated by his own bumptious manner. I have said in this paper that the Gospel we profess teaches us to cultivate the spirit of respect. In this and all other matters where popular opinions or manners get a disrespectful freedom out of harmony with the Good Book, we may be quite sure that it is wisest for us to take counsel with God rather than with man. "Honour thy father and thy mother"—that is the respect demanded of childhood; "honour to every man that worketh good"—that is respect for earnest and honest character everywhere; "David died full of riches and honour"--that is respect due to a king; "giving honour to the wife as to the weaker vessel"-that is respect for the womanly nature which is meant to lean ot the stronger; "honour widows that are widows indeed"-that is respect for the frail corps in life's battle-field who fight single-handed in the war; "that all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father"-that is the reve rential respect of redeemed men for the wordthe will-yea, the very whisper of their Divine Lord. In all aspects of life we are enjoined to cultivate the spirit of respect, when we become students in the School of Christ. NCE upon a time there were three sisters, Clara, Mary, and Edith. "Well," you exclaim, 'there is nothing so very strange in that!" True, young reader; Clara, Mary, and Edith were nothing more than ordinary girls, with ordinary names; and yet I can venture to say that they once met with a more wonderful adventure than you have ever done, or are likely to do. It happened in this way: One morning their mother came into the nursery, and told them that if SISTERS. THE THREE SISTERS. Tears rose into the eyes of the sisters, but no remark was made about the rain until they returned to the nursery; when the three began to express their disappointment all together. "How provoking!" cried Clara. "How very stupid!" burst forth Mary. "Oh, dear me! oh, dear!" whimpered Edith. In the midst of these exclamations, a tremendous clap of thunder, which seemed to shake the house to its very foundation, quickly put a stop to their grumbling, and caused them to huddle closer together, for a moment terrified by the noise. Not that they were usually frightened at thunder; for their good mother had carefully taught them that there was One who controlled even the thunder and lightning. Quickly recovering, therefore, from the shock which the suddenness of the noise had given them, and turning their eyes towards the window, they saw-and you may imagine how astonished, though not frightened, they were now-the most beautiful and charming creature they had ever seen, standing close to the nursery window. 66 Children," said the Fairy-for such it waswith a grave voice, "I have heard all your complaints about the rain, and very sorry indeed I was to hear them. If you had but thought of others more and less of yourselves, I do not think you would have complained. However, to teach you to do this for the future, you shall come with me, and see how much good the rain has done already." The Fairy ended her speech with a bright smile, which somewhat encouraged the astonished girls. 575 "Well, if that's all the good the rain does," said Clara, scornfully, "I don't see why we should be disappointed for the sake of a stupid old goat." Mary and Edith, however, went quietly up to the Fairy, and whispered, "I did not think of the poor animals, that might want the rain so much." The Fairy was silent. Presently she said, "We will now go and find out what the owner of the goat, who lives in yon little cottage, thinks about the rain." Then running down the hill-side, followed by the children, she bade the sisters stand beside the door and listen. "Martha," said a rough, but kind voice inside the cottage, "I think we needna sell our bit o' furniture after all." "How so, Jim ?" said another, weaker voice. "Look at the rain, lass," replied the first voice, "'twill make the corn worth threshing, and selling too; so cheer up, old 'oman." 'Do you hear that ?" whispered the Fairy to the girls, who were attentively listening. Clara hung down her head, but neither spoke. The Fairy then added, in a kindly tone, "This poor man and his sickly wife depend entirely for support upon their small piece of land, and principally on that plot of corn you see yonder. You may imagine, then, how glad they are to see this refreshing rain, after so much hot, burning sunshine. But I can see by your looks that you don't dislike rain quite so much as you did when we started; so we will now retrace our steps, or your friends will be "If we come with you," said one, we shall get wondering what has become of you; and then, but wet through." "You need not fear that," replied the Fairy, smiling, "for I have brought three bright blue cloaks, one for each of you." And then quickly throwing the cloaks over the three girls, she added, "This is called the Cloak of Contentment, and who ever wears one of these does not mind little troubles, as others do, but is almost always happy and contented." Having said this, she turned to the window, touched it with her wand, when it immediately flew open, and she stepped out into the rain, accompanied by the three sisters. They were then, as it seemed to the girls, carried rapidly through the air by invisible hands; on, on-out of sight of their own house, out of sight of the town, over the fields, and the hills, till they alighted on the top of a steep · and rugged mountain. Looking round, they saw on all sides the wildest, but most beautiful scenery they had ever beheld; and while they were wondering what they had been brought there for, the Fairy pointed to something on the hill-side, and said, "Look at that poor old goat, it has been almost famished lately, owing to the hot sun having dried up all the grass, but now the rain has come it will have food in abundance." not till then, you can tell me what you think of the rain." They were then lifted up into the air, in the same wonderful manner as before, and carried swiftly along. By this time the rain had ceased, and presently, the clouds having broken, the sun burst forth; and then, what a marvellous change seemed to have taken place! It was at the close of a hot and dry summer, and but a few short hours ago the whole country looked brown and withered; but now, the fields and hedges looked refreshed and green; and, as it were, expressed their thankfulness to the Kind Giver, by sending forth that pleasant and grateful odour, which may so often be perceived after a shower in hot weather. Every leaf in the trees glistened and smiled in the sunshine, and the happy birds were expressing their thanks in song. The three sisters noticed all this as they were borne swiftly on, and were obliged inwardly to acknowledge that it was the effect of that very rain which they had so lately pronounced "provoking" and "stupid." Reaching, at length, their own home, and the window again opening before the mysterious wand, they were deposited safely in the nursery, when the Fairy addressed them thus: "Now then, my children, I want to know what you think about the rain; is it 259. In what texts is it promised that human life "Oh! a good thing!" cried three eager voices in a flood? "Right," said the Fairy, a bright smile lighting R. G. W. "THE QUIVER" BIBLE CLASS. 256. From what passages of Holy Writ may we law? 257. What is the one condition to be observed for 260. What did the Passover prefigure, and by what 261. How many times has it been noticed that the 262. What appears to be the meaning of the 263. There is only one instance recorded in Scrip. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ON PAGE 544. 248. To be "carnally-minded " (Rom. viii. 6); 249. "And if I perish, I perish" (Esther iv. 16) 251. "Even our faith" (1 John v. 4; Heb. xi. 38). E. B. SUBSCRIPTIONS TO "THE QUIVER COT FUND."-THIRD LIST. Previously acknowledged...144 4 3 Greenfield, Lancaster...... 256 E. D. "Five Little Ones in L. E., Tenby, South Wales o 6 Miss Bird, Home House "For the Quiver Cot," from 0 12 O 4 0 026 O 2 6 S. C. Heyshott, Midhurst Miss Ford, North Cadbury o 4 1 T. M., 332, Essex Road, S. A. B., Manchester 036 Sarah A. Shipley, Hackney o kind parents, Swansea Devon 990 600 E. Cooke, 27, King Street, S. and P. Eva Annie Cross, Cotting. M. Bell, 16, Hall Gate, Don- "One who wishes she could E. F., 2, Kent Cottages, Lee H. Harcourt, Norwich L. and M. White, 75, Gra- 0 56 H. Least M. B. B., Spalding 4 O I 4 O 5 0 11 6 9 0 son Street, Edinburgh J. Hughes, 11, New Ches. Fanny Olver, Tremina Miss E. Norman, 26, Rutland Fanny and Fred Dickinson, 0 5 7 0 10 6 O 5 6 with O 12 6 heath..... 8 7 Miss A. A. Treasure, Dean 9 6 M. M., Kensington I 8 O Mrs. Proctor, Rokeby, Greta M. Wood, Accrington. J. H. P., Birmingham Anderson, Crook Log, Bexley Miss Brown, 1, Lovegrove Terrace, Mile End, Ports- M. G. Bleakly Farm, Annie Nicholls M. M. W, Lettenhall... 5 N Christmas morning Horace Eden made his with her. He was no sceptic; he was not thoroug O for that, morning service. Patricia went to church, because she had been taught to do so as a duty, and Horace went : well make a true minister of religion despair, so apt are they at self-deception, so ready to accept the VOL. V. 248 highest Christian privilege, and believe that in doing so they have fulfilled the highest Christian duty. Horace was ready to follow up his mock repentance by going to church. He had listened for Patricia's step going down, and followed after an interval, suppressing the qualms of fear that would rise in his heart through all the falsehoods with which he had lulled it. Before going down he took a glance in the mirror, and satisfied himself that he looked sufficiently haggard. He was acting, but he had no sooner entered the presence of Patricia than he felt conscious and ashamed of it. It disconcerted him at once. He bungled his speech about not being able to wish her a merry Christmas. No," she replied; "but we can do without mirth for a season, Horace, if we have only faith in each other." She looked at him with her great grey eyes-and her eyes always pled for her, though her tongue never would; they gave forth the desire she was too proud to utter. He could not bear their reproachful sadness; he sat down and groaned. "I fear so." "And you have deceived me as to your position from the first, and all throughout ?" He clasped his hands above his head, and clenched his teeth, groaning. A look had come into her face of positive repulsion, as if for the first time she had discovered some hideous ugliness. She stood waiting for him to speak. "but I have "I loved you then," he answered, loved you since then a thousand times more." You lied to me." "I don't remember directly lying." “Horace, I can bear poverty," she said again, "if had confessed it before, as I have often been tempted that were all. I cannot bear disgrace." "It shall not touch you," he replied. "I have resolved to lead a different life, if you will only share it with me. We can be poor and honourable." "I shall be content; but I cannot bear disgrace for you, and I have been brought up to consider debt disgrace, if incurred without means of payment," she added. "BesidesShe hesitated. "I know what you mean," he replied, looking really abject; "I lie under a graver accusation." She bowed. It was terribly difficult. She would not make it easy for him; she had not even taken a seat. Her eyes were upon him. to do." "I wish you had," she replied; "but I will believe you are sorry for more than the fact of being found out." "If you only knew how bitter my repentance has been," he said, thinking that she was relenting, "you would forgive me.” "I cannot," she returned. "I do not know what forgiveness means." 'Surely you must," he pled. "Every night since our marriage I have heard you murmur the words, Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us." "They seem to have no meaning now," she assur-answered. "We cannot deceive Him: we cannot do Him wrong. I shall not say those words again." “I have not learned to doubt your solemn ance," she replied, "though I have come to count you careless of the truth." "But I cannot give it." "Then you did deceive me?" He assented by bending his head. "To what extent ?" she asked. "As to the state of my affairs," he answered. "Yes, but was it true what that man said?" "He put it coarsely." "But it was true ?" Horace again assented. "The money was not your own?" "No." "And it was obtained on purpose to delude my father into paying an equal sum ?" She spoke it all so plainly, Horace winced and winced. "And you repaid it ?" "Yes." "And are now insolvent ?" "Oh! what have I done?" he exclaimed, with a look of alarm, as if he thought her reason was giving way. 'Only this," she replied: no human faith seems to me to have any foundation. I shall think all |