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Lord, Thou dost know my heart; Search it in every part,

Purge it from sin;

Let not one spot remain,
No, not the faintest stain;
Then will Thy Spirit deign
To dwell within.

Psalm cxxxix. 23, 24.

Thus will my body be
A temple, meet for Thee,
Holy and pure :

Then shall I truly know
(While dwelling here below),
When from this world I go,
Heaven is secure!

1 Cor. vi. 19, 20.

Teach me, from day to day
(While to this mortal clay
Life Thou dost give),

To trust in Christ alone,
Who did for sin atone;
Him as my Saviour own,
And in Him live.

Romans viii. 1, 2.

Then, be the years I view
Many, or be they few;
I, by Thy grace,

Daily shall onward press,
Clothed in His righteousness,
And in that spotless dress

Finish my race.

Isaiah lxi. 10.

If thus in Christ I live,
He will His presence give,

Living in me.

Calming all faithless fears ;

Drying all sorrow's tears;
Lightening my constant cares-
Making me free!

Exodus xxxiii. 14.

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Janet's Sewing-Machine, and the Lessons it Taught.

IVE o'clock! They'll be here soon!" And Janet White stirred the fire to its brightest glow, put one or two neat-handed touches in passing to the comfortably-spread tea-table, and sat down again to her work. "I've nearly got these muffatees finished for

James," she said to herself, as her knitting-needle sped busily; "and then there'll be a little present for 'em all. What a happy Christmas it's going to be!"

It was Christmas Eve, that time of joy and good-will, when the echo of the angels' Bethlehem song is heard ringing in so many homes on earth; and in James White's home this year it was sounding merrily. It had not been so in years that were past. James White had, soon after his marriage, been led, step by step, into the sad habit of drunkenness, and that had shut the door against all joy, either at Christmas or any other time. Janet had been industrious and thrifty, and, for the sake of her three boys, she had worked bravely to keep the home together.

the work was only a drunkard's wife knows.

But how hard

James could not but notice her brave efforts to repair the ruin he was working, and-really kind-hearted as he washe made many good resolutions, only to break them again the next time he passed the "Green Dragon," or was invited by a comrade to "have a glass." And so things went on, the home getting barer, the little boys' clothes shabbier, and Janet's face whiter, all because of that terrible publichouse at the corner. Janet had wondered that she did not give way altogether; perhaps she would have done so but for the boys, brave, sturdy little fellows, whom their mother's struggles made thoughtful and helpful and unselfish beyond their years, and whose love kept her from the paralysis of despair.

And another comfort had quietly crept into her heart and brought with it an unseen strength and hope. She had been asked to attend a mothers' meeting just commenced in the neighbourhood, and from week to week she heard words. about the Lord Jesus Christ as a Friend and Helper and Saviour, which to her burdened spirit seemed wonderfully sweet. She had often thought, when wearily bearing her troubles, that no one cared for her except the little lads, who were almost powerless, and whom she was sorry to bring under the shadow of the dark cloud. Now she was

told of a Friend so loving and sympathising that He shared in every sorrow and affliction of His people, and had promised that if they called on Him in the day of trouble He I would deliver them.

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Still, there was a feeling of strangeness at her heart. This Friend, would He love her? It was His people" He cared for. Who were His people? and could she get to be one of them? These were questions she daily pondered, but she knew no one who could answer them except the lady at the meeting, and Janet was too timid to ask her.

Then a day came when the town missionary was present, and gave a simple, earnest address to the women, and, attracted no doubt by Janet's tearful, wistful face, he shook hands with her as she went out, asked for her address, and promised to visit her in her own home.

When he came, there was no further difficulty in telling her troubles, and getting the information she wanted about the Lord Jesus. Mr. Gray was full of the wise, kindly tact that fitted him to advise and sympathise, and to so ready a learner as Janet it was easy to teach the way of faith. He showed her that the "people" of the Lord Jesus were those whom He had saved from their sins; that He had died on the cross to be punished in their place, and had thus purchased the right to save them; and that all He required of her in coming to Him was a simple confidence that He would not cast her out; and that when, in this simple way, she ventured her soul on His salvation, He would breathe into her heart a calm peace which was the voice of the Spirit crying, "Abba, Father!"

And Janet, as she listened to this true gospel, and earnestly joined in the prayers with which Mr. Gray always accompanied his instructions, was able to "behold the Lamb of God, who beareth away the sin of the world," and, looking unto Him penitently and believingly, she was saved.

James could not understand the quiet peace that often overspread his wife's countenance, but he was softened by an unconscious influence that a life "hid with Christ in

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