strong acts of the Prince, it has become proverbial to call any brave man who is rash, a Rupert. The other leaders did not like the King's listening to Prince Rupert. But they still determined to do their duty. And so Sir Jacob Astley, in obedience to a command, led his men down the hill. The church bell was ringing for afternoon service as the Royalist forces were got into order for the attack: and so old Sir Jacob Astley knelt down, whilst his men stood in line of battle, and said, "O LORD, Thou knowest how busy I must be this day. If I forget Thee, do not Thou forget me." Then rising, he gave the word to advance, and forward the brave old soldier went with his men, in the sense that GOD knew, however the issue turned out, that he was doing his duty as he knew best how to do it in the sense of GOD's presence. His was a

reverent mind, that never forgot the all-seeing eye of GOD. If we did our acts in this way, we should be reverent: and if reverent thus, we should surely be better than we often are. This is what "dwelling with GOD for ever" But how far do any of us try to do so? That fine old man, depend upon it, always knelt in church when he wanted to "say his prayers," and so he gained God's grace in answer to his prayer to live always in His faith and fear.

means.

If you would remember to be guided by any particular words about this, you should try never to forget these, "Thou, O GOD, seest me;" and if you would be really and heartily reverent, you, remembering how those words have to do with all times, will be always doing everything you do because GOD can and does see you, and because it is your one great motive in life to do

all things for His glory in humble, true, childlike faith, and hope, and love.

Then, “surely goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life," as you "dwell with GOD for ever."

XVI.

KEEPING PROMISES.

"Take from me the way of lying."-PSALM cxix. 29.

WE naturally feel great contempt for any one whose character we cannot trust. It is very sad to have to do with one whose word is not to be depended on. We despise a liar. If a person once says anything to us, and we act upon what is said and find ourselves thereby betrayed, we do not readily listen to anything he may afterwards tell us. For we are brought up to be true and truthful, and we cannot but wish to avoid those who are not. And as we have been brought up ourselves so we seek to bring up others. We trust the

words of little people till we cannot but know that they are deceiving us. When they have once deliberately done that, we must always be on our guard as to their conduct towards us. It is a great disappointment to a teacher to find falsehood in a scholar. If boys or girls who have been trusted prove to have told lies knowingly, it will be a long time before they can regain the confidence which had been reposed in them. It is very sad to have to weigh in our minds whether a child means what he or she says to be the truth. We do not expect children to be faultless, but we do expect them to be truthful. They are often likely to be misled, or to fall short in what older minds hope from them-and for this we can always make allowance; but there is no excuse for their concealing their faults or attempting to impose upon any