PREPARATION FOR CONQUEST.

AND the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho.

And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched. corn in the selfsame day..

And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.

And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand : and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?

And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?

And the captain of the Lord's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.

Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.

And the Lord said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.

And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.

And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.

And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him. JOSHUA V. 10 to vi. 5.

Israel is now face to face with fierce and powerful foes. These are to be conquered. What are the preparations for conquest?

So is the young Christian soldier. preparation in his case? ISRAEL'S PREPARATION.

1. Circumcision, omitted in the wilderness, now revived. The symbol of entire consecration to God, everything displeasing to Him being put away. So before fighting, all circumcised.

2. The passover, also omitted in the wilderness, now also revived. The symbol of faith in the sheltering blood of the slain lamb, and of getting strength by "feeding" on the sacrifice.

3. When all ready, "the Captain of the Lord's host❞ appeared. "I have given into thy hand Jericho." Without Him all preparation useless.

What is the right

CHRISTIAN'S PREPARATION. 1. Cannot "fight the good fight" while sin is cherished. Must "lay aside every weight," &c., Heb. xii. 1. See 1 Cor. ix. 25-27. "Evil-doers shall be cut off," says G. Text; yes, and so must our evil doings.

2. Is it hard to fight against the world and the devil? Must believe in blood of Lamb of God, and "feed on Him in our hearts." "This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." I John v. 4.

3. Without Jesus, the "Captain of our salvation" (Heb. ii. 10), our self-denial useless, and faith too in itself. "Those that wait on the Lord," says G. Text, "they shall inherit the land."

out of the mouths of babes and sucklings Thou hast

Isa, xxx. 18; xlix. 23; lxiv. 4; Lam. iii. 25, 26. Ps. xl. I.

xii

JOHNNY'S SIMPLE PRAYER.

A POOR widow called her four little children to her one morning and said to them, "My dear children, I can give you nothing to eat; there is no food in the house. I have worked hard for you, but I am now sick and can do no more. We must pray to God, who has said, 'Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee.'"

Little Johnny, who was six years old, being very hungry, was much troubled by what his mother said. As he was on his way to school he turned aside, and, kneeling down, prayed aloud, using words like these: "O God, my Heavenly Father, and my dear Saviour, through whom I may come to Thee, hear me, a little child, pray, Our mother has no bread, nor meat, nor even a potato. Do give us something, that we and dear mother may not starve! Help us, O Lord! Thou art rich, and good, and canst easily help us; and Thou hast promised to hear the cry of the poor and needy; so hear, hear us, and help us, for Thy dear Son's sake."

This was Johnny's simple prayer. After offering it, he hurried to school. When he returned home in the middle of the day he found a great loaf of bread and a large dish of meat and potatoes upon the table.

As soon as he saw them he clapped his hands and cried out, "Oh, good, good, good! Did an angel bring these things for us?"

66

No," said his mother, "but God heard you when you were praying this morning, on your way to school. A lady was near the place, where you could not see her ; but she saw and heard you. And so she sent all these things. She was the angel."

Yes, my dear children, Jesus is willing to help little boys and girls, and all people, so far and in such way as He sees best, when they call upon Him.-Rev. Dr. NEWTON.

THE SABBATH.

"God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it."

GOD the Creator bless'd

The Sabbath of His rest:

His six days' work had brought

The universe from nought;

The heavens and earth before Him stood,

He saw them and pronounced them good.

God the Redeemer bless'd
The Sabbath of His rest,
When, all His sufferings done,
The cross's victory won,
In Joseph's sepulchre He lay,
And rested on the Sabbath-day.

And God the Spirit bless'd
The Christian's day of rest,

Where met with one accord

The servants of the Lord;

To whom the Father's promise came,
Like rushing winds and tongues of flame.
The Church hath ever bless'd
Her own sweet day of rest,
When in her bridal dress
Of blood-bought righteousness,
Her happy spirit doth rejoice,
To hear the heavenly Bridegroom's voice.
They love the Sabbath-day
Who love to sing and pray;
The Sabbath-day they love
Who seek their rest above;
They love the day of God in seven,
Who prize an antepast of heaven.

My God, the day is Thine;
Oh, may I make it mine.
By hallowing it to Thee

'Tis hallowed twice to me;

And when my heart with Thee is right,
I call it holy, a delight.

JAMES MONTGOMERY.

THE SAVIOUR'S LOVE.

GOD loves little children, and wants them to come,

To live in His happy and beautiful home;
And Jesus came down from His home in the sky,
Instead of poor sinners to suffer and die.

Although we were sinful, to save us He came,
For us He was punished, and bore all the blame;
And now we have only His Word to believe,
And trust in His mercy our sins to forgive.

Then God's Holy Spirit our hearts will renew,
And teach us what Jesus would have us to do:
Obedient and truthful, and gentle and mild:
A little like Jesus when He was a child,

Now Jesus has promised a place to prepare
For all the dear children who seek Him in prayer ;

And when it is ready, the angels will come,
And bear them away to His beautiful home.
There white robes are given to each little one,
And crowns of bright glory that shine as the sun;
And none ever feels any sorrow or pain,
Or wishes to leave that bright dwelling again.

They dwell with the Saviour, and sing of His love,
Which made their souls fit for His presence above;
And in that bright home there is plenty of room
For all who are willing to Jesus to come!

J. H. L.