John Knox was born in East Lothian, on the banks of the Gifford Burn-as sweet and shady a water as wanders to the sea. The burn is famed for trout; and starry wood-sorrel grows there, and primroses and dainty mosses. We are not told indeed whether Master John loved these things. But he spent his boyhood among them. It was when James Fourth was on the throne. John Knox was eight years old when the Scottish banners pressed to the border; and the loved king came back no more, nor his nobles, nor his knights; and dool and weeping was on all the braes, in the howes and on the knowes, and by the burnsides, and every hearth was mourning bitterly because of Flodden field.

But Knox's own youth it would seem, passed as tranquilly as might be. He was of kin, says John Howie, to the ancient house of Ranfurly. And he went to the Grammar School when he was of proper years, and thence to the University of St. Andrews to study under the learned Mr John Mair.

At St. Andrews he became a priest, and for twenty years he studied and wrote and disputed with the other priests of his time. For he had learned much which the other priests did not know, from the Bible and George Wishart, and his own silent thoughts.

Scotland, as perhaps you know, was a troubled country then. France and England each sought the baby-queen as a bride to its own prince-and they wooed roughly you will think, sending captains and soldiers to the land, besieging the queen's castles, wasting her fair realm. And there were some for England, and there were some for France. And each proud Scottish noble was a king in his own country.

The Hamiltons besieged St. Andrews to avenge a deed done there-besieged it six autumn and winter months; it bore always the brunt of the storms-this little, fair, stately city.

But as John Knox says:-'They within had broken through the east wall, and made a plain passage by an iron gate to the sea.' The Hamiltons had not ships enough

to keep the castle there, so the siege was fruitless, the castle stood safe.

Now John Knox had become very famous for his manner of teaching youth.' He was living at this time at Longniddry. as tutor to the laird's sons. Francis and George Douglas were the names of his young pupils. He had also in his care Alexander Cockburn, the son of the good laird of Ormiston.

But the unquiet times made the lairds of Longniddry and Ormiston bethink them of the strong castle that overhung the sea.

'Mr John,' they said, 'you shall take our children there; you shall have the benefit of the castle, and our sons of your sound doctrine.'

And so in the early May-time of 1547, Knox and his three pupils entered the castle of St. Andrews. The lairds were careful for their sons, they themselves abode in the stormy open country; but Francis, George and Alexander must have the sea-castle round them, and Mr John's sound doctrine will make the grey walls the more safe.

Mr John may be a stern master, but then he has a keen humour and a tenderness of his own; and the boys attend with profound respect when he exercises them after his accustomed manner.'

What that exercising was the teacher himself has told.

'Besides the grammar and other books of human learning, he read unto them a Catechism, account whereof he caused them give publicly in the parish church of St. Andrews. He read moreover unto them the gospel of John, proceeding where he left off at his departure from Longniddry, where before his residence was: and that lecture he read in the chapel within the castle at a certain hour.'

But many besides his pupils crowd to the chapel to hear-and they find him to be a great preacher-such a one as stirs men's hearts. So they gathered together and entreated him not to refuse the request of those who desired to be taught, but to become a public preacher among them, for the gifts of God were his.

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'In the name of God and of his son Jesus Christ,' said John Rough, and in the name of these who call you by my mouth, I charge you that ye refuse not this holy vocation, but that ye take upon you the public office and charge of preaching.' And turning to the people he said: 'Was not this your charge to me, and do ye not approve this vocation?'

It is; and we approve it,' they answered.

'Whereat the said Mr John, abashed, burst forth in most abundant tears, and withdrew himself to his chamber.'

So says the old history. But John Knox accepted his vocation, and became preacher in St. Andrews.

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John Knox's first sermon in St. Andrews has been minutely written down, and what the people thought of it too.

'Mr George Wishart spoke never so plainly,' said some, and yet he was burned. Even so will Mr Knox be too.'

Nay,' said the laird of Niddry, a man both good and wise, we counsel them to provide better defences than fire and sword, for the sufferings of God's servants made never his cause the worse.'

Then John Knox was called before a convention of friars, and the sub-prior dean John Winram, to answer for what he had said.

You would not care to hear all that the friars said, and all that John Knox answered. They could not take his life away, they had not that power now. But they were greatly troubled.

Wait, there shall soon be found cure,' said the queen regent, Mary's mother, to whom there had word been brought of the bold words John Knox spoke.

'And truly in but a week or two there appeared in St. Andrews bay twenty-one French galleys and a great army, the like whereof had never been seen in that haven before.'

'Twas the twenty-ninth day of June when they saw from the castle walls this foreign fleet sailing in from the edge of the German sea. And the eastern sun across the water lit the wet oars, and gleamed on

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the chains of those poor galley-slaves whose arms urged the boats towards the shore.

'But the castle handled them so,' says John Knox, that Sancta Barbara, the gunner's goddess, helped them nothing; for they lost many of their rowers, men chained in the galleys, and some of their soldiers both by sea and land.'

But the foreign fleet was resolute, and the soldiers landed at last. They planted their cannon on the Abbey Church, and on St. Salvator's College. The cannon looked down upon the castle. West wall, nor Block-house, nor Sea-tower, could they keep who had them. And on the morning of the thirtieth July, the Castle of St. Andrews was taken.

That was a dark morning. No blue light on the captured bay-no flush on the dimpled sands. The rain fell as never before was known in the memory of the city. So vehement was it that no man might abide without a house.

It ceased when an hour had passed; and under the gloomy sky they carried out the spoils of the castle and filled the galleys in the bay. But most precious of all the spoil were the prisoners they took-John Knox was among them. And they made him a galley-slave. And so all the autumn and winter he sailed on the rivers of France, chained to the galley-oars like the other poor prisoners.

When peace was made with France, John Knox was set free. And then he came to England and preached in many of the towns to large and eager audiences. Edward Sixth heard of his fame, and wished to make him a bishop. But Knox would not be a bishop. And when king Edward died he went away again across the sea.

He lived in Frankfort and Geneva, and became acquainted with Calvin, and preached and wrote letters, books and admonitions, living a busy, public life, and becoming known wherever he moved as a great Protestant Reformer. But in the autumn of 1554 he went home to his native land, after being seven years away.

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Slowly during these seven years the Reformation had been making way in Scotland. There were many now to welcome him gladly, to linger under the harvest moon, loath to lose his sure words. At the house of the laird of Dun, where he first took up his abode, nobles and commons both came to him with eager docility.

But how can one write in a page or two a history which has filled books? You all know how Scotland became a Protestant land-how she rose up against the priests and the mass-and even against the fair old Abbeys and the lofty, dim Cathedrals where the people had used to pray. You have seen from old-fashioned streets, or in sweet shady country parishes, bits of niches or saints that encrusted the sacred walls. And very likely you were told this destruction was the work of John Knox-and how his followers briefly said, they must pull down the rookeries, that the rooks might fly away.' By which they meant, as you know, they must pull down those beautiful buildings where the priests had said mass and the monks and the friars had lived.

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PIONEER QUESTIONS PREPARED FOR THE 'CHILDREN'S SERVICE.'

BY REV. DAVID MACRAE.

SERIES D.-SONGS FOR THE NIGHT For the Night of Despondency. 13 What did David say in his Night of Despondency? "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance." (Psa. 42. 5.)

14 What does Jesus promise? "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." (John 14. 18.)

15 When we are sinking care, what should we do? upon the Lord, and he (Psa. 55. 22.)

under the burden of "Cast thy burden shall sustain thee."

16 If the brokenhearted will go to him, what does He do? "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." (Psa. 147. 3.) 17 Does His anger endure for ever? "His anger endureth but a moment;, in His favour is life weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." (Psa. 30. 5.)

For the Night of weakness

18 Does the Lord pity us in our Weakness?

"As a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him. For he knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust." (Psa. 103. 13, 14.)

19 Will He break the bruised reed? "A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench." (Isa. 42. 3.)

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20 In the sorest trial, what is there sufficient for us? 'My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness." (2 Cor. 12. 9.)

For the Night of Agony.

21 Are we to think it strange if fiery trial should come upon us? "Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings." (1 Pet. 4. 12, 13.)

22 Who is it that sends affliction? "It is the Lord; let Him do what seemeth Him good." (1 Sam. 3. 18.)

23 Does the Lord love even while He afflicts us? "Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and Scourgeth every son whom He receiveth." (Heb. 12. 6.)

24 Shall we be left to perish in the deep waters? "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." (Isa. 43. 2.)

For the Night of Death.

25 Does Jesus give life to those who are dying in Him? "I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of My hand." (John 10. 28.)

26 What then can the Christian say of Death? "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Cor. 15. 55, 57.)

27 Where do the good go when they leave this world? "To be with Christ; which is far better." (Phil. 1. 23.)

28 Shall we meet many in that Heavenly Home? "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands." (Rev. 7. 9.)

29 Shall there be any more weeping there? "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. (Rev. 21. 4.)

MISUNDERSTOOD.

THEY blamed her for her simple ways,
Her ignorance of worldly lore;
And they denied the meed of praise
For all the love she held in store:

Her failures were so manifest

And so she meekly bent her head; And when the worst had been confessed'I shall be wise, some day,' she said.

They laughed because her quiet face
Could claim no beauty of its own,
They said she had no wit nor grace,
For lack of fairness to atone.
Sometimes a silent tear would fall,

But oftener she would smile instead,-
'Though I am homeliest of you all,
'I shall be fair some day,' she said.

She daily strove with patient arts

The fortress of their love to win,
And laid a siege to stubborn hearts
That did not want to take her in.
But when her efforts all were vain,

Herself she softly comforted,
As with a sob that seemed like pain

'I shall be loved, some day,' she said.

They did not know till she was gone

How wise her childlike speech had been, Nor how the gentle face had shone

With beauty that they had not seen. The love they had denied in life They gave to her when she was dead; And in the day's turmoil and strife,'Ah! would that she were back,' they said.

But now perhaps in yonder land

She gains the treasure here she lost; And many a grace may there expand, Which here was blighted by the frost. 'And if we to that kingdom win,

'As God in mercy grant we may, 'We will confess to her our sin, 'And she will love us still,' they say.

KATIE THOMSON.

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PRIZE BIBLE QUESTIONS

TH

HREE Prizes, in each of the two divisions, are offered for the largest number of correct answers. The Prizes to be awarded in December 1874. The following are the conditions:

1. In the first, or Junior division (the questions for which will be printed first in order), competitors not to be above thirteen years of age.

2. In the second, or Senior division, competitors not to be above eighteen years of age; and in both divisions the answers must be honestly the work of the individuals competing.

3. All answers to be addressed, not later than the 18th of each month, to the Rev. JOHN KAY, Coatbridge.

The answers may be written on post cards. Be careful in all cases to give the name and address of the competitor.