THE UNFAITHFUL HUSBANDMEN AND HEIR.

HEAR another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:

And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.

And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.

Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.

A CLEAN "CREATE in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." This is one petition of King David's prayer which we find in the fifty-first Psalm. And Jesus is just as willing to hear and answer such a prayer

But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.

and slew him.

When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?

They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their

seasons.

Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken : but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.

But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.MATTHEW XXI. 33-46.

THE PURE IN HEART.

A LITTLE girl having one day read to her teacher the first twelve verses of the fifth chapter of the Gospel by Matthew, he asked her to stop and tell him which of these holy tempers, said by our Lord to be blessed, she should most like to have. She paused a little, and then said with a modest smile, "I would rather be pure in heart." Her teacher asked her why she chose this above all the rest. 66 'Sir," she said, "if I had a pure heart I should have all the other graces spoken of in the

of in the Bible.

"Can aught beneath a power divine The stubborn will subdue?

'Tis Thine, almighty Saviour, Thine To form the heart anew."

GOD CARES FOR ME. POOR and needy though I be, God Almighty cares for me; Gives me clothing, shelter, food, Gives me all I have of good.

He will hear me when I pray ;
He is with me night and day,
When I sleep and when I wake,
For the Lord my Saviour's sake.

He who reigns above the sky.
Once became as poor as I ;
He whose blood for me was shed
Had not where to lay His head.

Though I labour here awhile,
He will bless me with His smile;
And when this short life is past,
I shall rest with Him at last.

Then to Him I'll tune my song,
Happy as the day is long;
This my joy for ever be,
God Almighty cares for me.

CHORUS.

Poor and needy though I be, God Almighty cares for me.

"MOTHER, I am very happy; I have prayed to my Heavenly Father." So said a dear little sick boy. Willie was once a fine lively child, jumping and running about, full of spirits as any of you may be ; but one day he was knocked down by a carriage, and he never overcame the injury he then received. Through a long illness he was a sweet, patient sufferer, lying for hours, week after week, on a couch made up for him beside the fire, while his mother was engaged in caring for the wants of her family, never murmuring, but so gentle, and so grateful. “If you please," and "Thank you," were never forgotten when anything was offered him. In the warm summer weather Willie gained a little strength, and his baby sister was delighted to see him able to walk across the room again. It was very pretty to see his loving, smile.

on her when we might have thought, in his weak state, he would have been teased by her caresses. His brightest time was of an evening, when he could sit up with his

dear parents to talk to them or hear them read.

Willie had a favourite rabbit, with a little family around her, which was a source of pleasure and amusement to him; and great was his grief when, by eating improper food, she was poisoned; and soon the little ones all died, for want of a mother's care. Dear children who have kind mothers to care for you, be thankful, and try not to do anything to trouble or vex them. The loss of his pets. was a sad trial to the dear boy, and he could not be persuaded to have another rabbit instead, though he thought it would be a pleasure to him still to have his old one to look at ; so his father kindly had it stuffed for him. Willie did not fret long about it, for he loved his Heavenly Father, and, resting in his Saviour's love, as he became more weak and ill he would talk to his dear mother of his happiness. He did not wish to live, he said, and she must not grieve for him, he was going to heaven; his Heavenly Father was preparing a place for him, and would take him to Himself. His fine dark eyes sparkled with holy joy as he told her of the beautiful visions he had of this happy home.

Although Willie did not grieve long for his pretty rabbit, he did grieve over anything he felt to be sinful. He was very sorry if he thought his dear brothers did wrong at any time; and, when he was able, he talked to them about preparing to go to him in heaven. He always kept his little hymn-book near him when too weak to read much; and regularly read his evening hymn and offered up his prayer to God before going to rest at night. When he was very ill and weak, his parents heard his voice before they rose in the morning, singing praises to his Heavenly Father, and he told them holy angels had been around. his bed and watching over him all the night, and he was so happy. Willie was very grateful for everything done for him, so sweetly saying to his friends, "I hope the Lord will bless you for all your kindness to me." On a Sabbath evening he was taken to the place prepared in heaven for him. He asked to have his hymn-book, and his father knelt beside his little bed while he read his hymn and offered up his prayer; and, very soon after, he said, Mother, will you take me in your arms-I am going to heaven :" and presently the happy spirit was gone, and he breathed no more.

Of such is the kingdom of heaven.