Christian

ON THE LOOK-OUT. WITH a keen eye the coastguardsman in our picture scans the horizon. He is on the look-out for smugglers who may attempt to land their goods on the coast. What a lesson may every old as well as young learn from this man. Is he wakeful and watchful? So should we be, for the world, the flesh, and the devil are every moment secretly endeavouring to introduce evil into our hearts, and unless we pray always with all prayer and supplication, and watch thereunto with all perseverance, we shall in some unguarded moment be overcome. In addition to this, and above all, we must be continually looking to Him who is able to keep us from falling, and to present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.

T77

"Can God give me another heart,
And take the bad away,

That I may never naughty be,
And love Him every day?"

"Yes, God can cleanse your sinful thoughts,
And all your heart renew;
And often I have prayed for this,

But you must ask it too."

"Lord, pity me, a little child,

And teach me how to pray; And though I cannot count my sins, Lord, take them all away!"

"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."

THE GOLDEN TEXT.

"If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."-2 Cor. V. 17.

A NEW HEART.
"I'm but a little child, mamma :
How many sins have I?
Can I remember all my sins,

And count them if I try ?"

"When you can count the stars, my child, And count the leaves that lie

All scattered o'er the autumn fields,
Beneath the autumn sky;

"When you can count how many hairs

Are growing on your head,

And tell how many grains of sand
Lie in the ocean's bed;

When you can count the drops of dew
That greet the morning sun;
Then you may try to number, too,
The sins that you have done.

"But you have always loved me so,
And called me 'little dear;'

I'm sure I've not been naughty more
Than ten times in a year."

But God looks on the HEART, my child,
And reads what is within;

He sees the thoughts that nestle there,

"WHICH WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE?" An interesting little girl, five years of age, was reading to her parents of a very naughty boy having got a new heart, and afterwards becoming good, and so on. Her father said, "Well now, Elizabeth, stop a moment. Which would you rather have a new heart or a new bonnet?" After a few moments' pause, she replied, “A new heart, father; for then I shall go to heaven; but without one I never shall go there." The following day she told her mother, when she came from school, that she now knew how to get a new heart. "Well, how, my dear?" Her reply was, " By praying for it!”

"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you."-Ezek. xxxvi. 26.

Oft when

I seem to tread, alone,

Some barren waste, with thorns o'ergrown,
Thy voice of love in gentle tone

Whispers, "Still cling to Me."

Though faith and hope may oft be tried,
I ask not, need not, aught beside :
How safe, how calm, how satisfied,
The souls that cling to Thee!

They fear not Satan, nor the grave;
They feel Thee near and strong to save;
Nor dread to cross e'en Jordan's wave,
Because they cling to Thee.

Blessed is my lot, whate'er befall;
What can disturb me, who appal,
While as my Strength, my Rock, my All,
Saviour, I cling to Thee?

CHARLOTTE ELLIOTT.

SOME PLACE FOR ME. WHAT if a little ray of light,

Just starting from the sun, Should linger in its downward flight, Who'd miss the tiny one? Perhaps the rose would be less bright 'Twas sent to shine upon.

What if the rain-drop in the sky

In listless ease should say, "I'll not be missed on earth, so I Contented here will stay;" Would not some lily, parched and dry,

Less fragrant be to-day?

What if some acorn on the ground
Refused its shell to burst?
Where would the stately tree be found?
Or if the humble dust

Refused the germ to nestle round,

What could the sailor trust?

I am a child. It will not do

An idle life to lead,

Because I'm small-with talents few :
Of me the Lord hath need,
Some work or calling to pursue,
Or do some humble deed.

I must be active every hour,
And do my Maker's will;
If but a ray can paint the flower,
A rain-drop swell the rill,

I know in me there is a power
Some humble place to fill.