somehow your little girl found a soft place in my heart, and I didn't like to refuse her."

"Thank you, sir, very much for your custom, whatever it was that brought you here."

"Why, it was your little girl that brought me here, without doubt," said Mr. Banks, smiling.

"She led the way, sir; but I do believe it was God that made you come. Don't think me over bold, sir; but I really do think it was Him that made you buy those things."

"Well, but my good man, it was the greatest chance possible that I was in the town at all; if I had been met at the boat, as I expected, I should have been miles away from here before now."

"Would you really, sir; then that only makes it more wonderful that God should have chosen you to be the one to help me out of my trouble, for if I hadn't made up my rent to-day I must have turned out of the old place that has been my home for years."

"Then, do you mean to say you think I was kept in Stoney Bay this evening through an accident or a misunderstanding, just to enable me to help you? That would be rather a roundabout way of giving you assistance. I don't want to shock your feelings, but I think if Providence had intended helping you it might have been done without spoiling my journey."

"I don't know much about Providence, sir, but I know that God has promised to help His people; and this day I laid the matter of the rent before Him, and so did Fanny. We both of us asked Him to help us to pay it, and we believed He would hear us, and He has."

There was something very earnest in the way the poor man spoke, and Mr. Banks was impressed by what he said.

"I do think," the old man continued, after a slight pause, "I do think, sir, that we haven't half faith enough. If we could only remember that we have our heavenly Father's word for it that He will never leave us nor forsake us, we should be much happier than we are."

cost Him a sacrifice, even His own beloved Son, but delivered Him up for us all who " was by Him, as one brought up with Him, and daily His delight." Well may the apostle John return again and again to this unanswerable evidence of the love of God towards man. "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love, that God sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us."

And throughout all the life on earth of that beloved Son of God, this giving up, this sacrifice of self is seen, surpassing even all His loving-kindness and bountifulness in giving. In His ministry to men He laid down His life not on Calvary only, but all the way along. Mark His conduct towards the hungry thousands of Bethsaida, as contrasted with that of His disciples. They indeed showed their compassion, would have exerted themselves to send the people to their homes, would even, as it seems, have supplied them with two hundred pennyworth of bread; but the Lord Jesus, the good Shepherd, gave up Himself, His own so sorely needed retirement and rest, to minister to the multitude.

Here, on the other hand, is a searching test for us, as to whether we have really known and believed the love which God hath towards us. It is not enough that we give, even give largely to His poor, or to His cause in any way, if we are only giving that which really costs us nothing-perhaps even procures us a self-satisfaction, or praise of man, of more value to us than that wherewith we purchase it.

Are we, if called to yield up for Christ's sake anything we hold dear, ready to make the offering, willing He should have our precious thing rather than we? It was such giving up of her very living which gave its surpassing value in the sight of Jesus to the widow's mite, as compared with the rich men's much gold.

Thank God, that while giving to Him in the usual sense, the spending of money or time in His immediate service,

may not be within reach of us all, this giving up, so much more precious in His eyes as a sign of our love, may find place in, yes, may even be the rule of every Christian life. There is no need to go far, to leave the humble path of daily duty, for opportunity thus to prove our love. Continually and everywhere we are tempted to keep back, to please self, called to let go to please God; and no offering is more precious to Him than the yielding up of our will, the bringing of every thought and desire into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

To give up for God, is it to suffer loss, then? No, truly. It is the putting out of our treasures to such high and sure interest, that our opportunities of giving up to Him that which we prize are among His most gracious favours. “All these things," said the Lord Jesus, "shall be added unto you, that ye let go in seeking first the kingdom of God." "Manifold more in this present life, and in the world to come life everlasting," is the promised portion of those who leave aught to follow Him.

And He who gave up His Son for us all, was any thought of recompense in His holy heart? Yes, wonderful truth, it was to gain our hearts for Himself. It was in accordance with that outcry of yearning love, "How shall I give thee up, Ephraim ?" that He gave up Jesus. And not less true is it of the Father who sent the Son, than of the Son who laid down His life, that in every sinner that repenteth He sees of the travail of His soul, and is satisfied.

"Lord of glory, Thou hast bought us
With Thy life-blood as the price,
Never grudging for Thy lost ones
That tremendous sacrifice.

Give us faith to trust Thee boldly,
Faith to stay our souls on Thee,
That the fruit of Thy soul's travail
Thou in each of us may'st see."

A. J. T.

REAT Shepherd, Thou who didst of old

Thy chosen people guide;

And while they trod the wilderness

For all their wants provide,

Thou art not changed; Thy people still
Have Thy especial care;

And those who put their trust in Thee
Thy richest favours share.

They shall not want Thou dost declare;
They shall be well supplied;
And naught that to Thy glory tends
From them shall be denied.

Not all their wishes dost Thou grant,
But what they really need;

All wise and good, Thou wilt not fail
To make them blest indeed.

With Thy right hand Thou leadest them

Where living waters flow,

And feedest them with richer food

Than earthly pastures grow.

And when they pass through Death's dark vale
Thy staff shall be their stay;

And Thou shalt be their portion blest,

When earth shall pass away.

Great Things.

J. D.

"The Lord hath done great things for us whereof we are glad.”—Psa. cxxvi. 3.