The shadows are long o'er the dial,-the wheels of the clock nearly down, But the orient will soon flush with purple,-and the gold that reflects my bright crown. O Jesus! Great Conquering Redeemer !-the Render-aside of the grave, I'll praise Thee both now and for ever-as able and willing to save. H. D. I. Chats with the Aged. III. HAVE spoken of the blessing of constantly lifting up the heart to God in short petitions, but I want also to urge upon you the comfort and necessity of daily morning and evening prayer. Will you, dear friend, try carefully to attend to this? If you are able to do so, kneel down before you leave your bedroom in the morning; it is better to kneel; it seems to place us more directly in the presence of God, to whom we are speaking, besides being more reverent. But if you cannot, from your infirmities, kneel down, fold your hands together and bring all your mind to the thought and certainty that God hears and sees you; then say, morning and evening, the "Lord's Prayer," our dear Lord's own precious words, left for His people on earth to use; then, in the morning, add a few simple words of your own, just to ask God for His keeping, His guidance, through the day; and at night, what more fitting words can we find, ere lying peacefully down to our night's rest-type of the long night of death-than,. “Lord, into Thy hands I commend my spirit, for Thou hast redeemed me." Ay, and I think many of us would murmur a "Thanks be to God," as we meditate on what that fully conveys, "Thou hast redeemed me"-bought me, made me Thine own! From prayer we are naturally brought to think about that greatest privilege and joy of all Christians, the Holy Communion. Surely if we love Jesus, and would follow His command, we shall desire to join in this as often as we can; and if in your younger, stronger days, you have not thus complied with your Lord's dying request, will you not now at once begin to see how best you can make yourself ready? In our first talk I advised you about searching out the sins of the past; well, then, let that be very thoroughly done, and be sorry for those sins. The next thing is to see whether you have a lively, i.e. a strong living faith in God's mercy. But can you, looking at the past, with all its sins, looking at the near coming future, with the Judgment Day, say you believe from your heart in the loving mercy of God? It makes one feel very humble as one does that; in no vain-confident spirit can anyone say those words of trust who looks back as well as forward; but in firm, childlike faith, we can say them, and then most deep and heartfelt and sincere must be the thankful remembrance of that death, the death of our dear Lord, which bought our pardon, and entitled us to the mercy of a justlyoffended God. Now, lastly, are you in charity with all men? This is sometimes very hard, I know; there are some who have injured you in days gone by, maybe they have defrauded you, or spoken untruly of you or yours. Many, many things cause unkindly feelings. Now, all such feelings must be laid aside; if there is any one near at hand whom you have not forgiven for some offence, I would urge you, traveller on the homeward road, go to that person and simply say, "Let us forget the past, and be friends," hold out your hand, and whether you are the wronged one or the one who has done wrong, ask forgiveness for any offence you may have given, and freely offer the same. This is a great step towards making the altar of our hearts ready for the reception of our Guest. Put off, therefore, no longer the act of love and faith to which you are called. And, dear friend, you will need no words after that to help you to realise the blessing, for the presence of the Lord Himself will indeed, I think and believe, fill you full of all joy and all hope. "The And now, for to-day, I must bid you farewell. time is short;" to each of us it is true that "now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation." Therefore now, friend, will you resolve not to lose another of these precious, rapidly-passing moments, but to turn to your God with deeper repentance, greater love, and a more firm desire to be entirely His? Then, believe me, when the last hour comes, and you feel yourself passing away from earth, and from all who have made life happy to you here; when the gloom of the dark valley of the shadow of death already falls upon your path, if you have then truly prepared, a light will arise in the darkness, and a voice, whose sweetness will fall with untold comfort on your ear, will whisper, "Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee." G. V. On Him shall be laid the Glory." ROM the pit and miry clay, FR From the barren wilderness I am freed, and in the way Set of peace and righteousness; From the love of all things base, From the dread that knows not rest, Love, sweet love, now works and lives; Jesus, all the glory Thine. From the effort, sinful, vain, Finding all my life in Thee; Death now brings to me no fear, And the grave's gloom vanishes, Death now as a friend draws near, And the grave life's gateway is; All the hope, the gain is mine, Jesus, all the glory Thine. All the joy and all the peace, All the hope and all the light, My Father. Y Father! leaning on Thy breast, M Mid earthly storms and change, I find mine everlasting rest, And would no farther range. My Father! name of sweetness vast, No sounding line, by mortals cast, E. S. II. My Father! though by sin defiled, My Father! through this vale of tears My Father! with my latest breath A. S. The Two Chaplets. I SAW a little maiden ; Her life a golden dream, A rosy wreath, enshrining I watched a Christian treading I marked a chaplet bright- The Christian's wreath was fairer The infant's garland faded Ere morning's smile was o'er: Is fresh for evermore. A. S. |