I SONG FOR THE LIMPLE RES.

“ And they brought young children to Him, that He should touch them: and His disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And He took them up in His arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them."

MARK X. 13-16.

OME, dear children, gather round me, leave awhile your books and toys,
Leave awhile your pets and treasures, leave awhile your other joys;

Come each one and nestle fondly close around my easy chair,
While my arms are clasped about you, smoothing down your sunny hair :

Black-eyed, blue-eyed, gray-eyed darlings, curly-headed boys and misses,
Whose sweet rosy lips are rippling with love's youngest, purest kisses :

Dimple-cheeked and tender-hearted, each with eager listening ear,
Never wearying some new story from the grand old Book to hear:

Listen while I tell the story, richest, sweetest, brightest, best,
Of the love for little children, of the Saviour ever-blest :

How when big and grown-up people little ones would drive away,
Jesus spake and answered to them, “Let the little children stay ;

Suffer them to come to Me, and let them too enjoy My love,
For, for such as they are ready, happy, glorious homes above”:

And the Saviour took the children in His loving arms and blessed them,
Shielding them from grown-up people whose ungentleness distressed them.

And though many years have passed since that Saviour was on earth,
Still He loveth little children, caring for them from their birth;

He ascended up to Heaven to His home in the blue sky,
And for them prepared a mansion to inherit when they die;

But the gates to that bright dwelling none can ever enter in,
Save those only who are cleansèd from each speck and spot of sin.

Sin is disobeying Jesus, breaking God's most holy laws;
And of all our pain and sorrow, sinning is the foremost cause :

Little children, look to Jesus in His childhood and His youth,
Learn, like Him, to be obedient, and, like Him, to speak the truth;

Never use improper language, be unjust, or try to steal,
Never give another sorrow, but for others' sorrow feel :

A SONG FOR THE LITTLE ONES.

Love to learn, and learn to love, learn to keep the Sabbath day,
Six days only God has given for our work and for our play;

And the seventh day is the Sabbath-Sabbath means the day of rest, For ourselves and for our servants, that they may not be oppressed:

Be unselfish, little children, think not only of your play,
Study to make others happy, show some kindness every day:

Be not saucy, rude or idle, count how many precious hours
Every passing day possesses: children, kuow they are not ours;

God has lent them to us only, He requires them back again,
And will then examine if they have been really used in vain.

When you rise from bed each morning, lowly bend upon your knees,
Asking Jesus to be with you, knowing that He hears and sees;

After asking Him to bless you, think of Him the wbole day long,
And to praise Him for His goodness, sing to Him a sacred song:

If you ever feel you're tempted just to do some little thing,
That your conscience says is sinful, straight your case to Jesus bring :

He has promised to assist you, if you wish to do the right,
Pray for guidance that you only do what's pleasing in His sight:

Satan, as a roaring lion, seeketh whom he may devour,
Little children, be ye watchful every day and every hour :

Ever gentle be and loving, with a modest, docile mind,
Scorn to do a cruel action, or to say a word unkind :

Be the friend of all dumb creatures, who have not a voice to plead,
And can never say if suffering hunger, thirst, or pain, or need:

Evermore remember Jesus, how He called the children near,
And He gently taught and blessed them, that they had no cause to fear:

And whatever else neglecting, seek His blessing night and day,
Earnestly in faith beseeching Him to take your sins away-

All your sins to take completely, wash you white as driven snow,
Purify your words and actions while you live on earth below:

Then, dear children, bright-eyed darlings, clustering now about my chair, While my arms are clasped around you, smoothing your soft sunny hair,

Then—when all your life is ended, still rejoicing in His love,
You shall go to Him in Heaven to His bright, blest home above.

PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD.

“I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning : yet have ye not returned unto Me, saith the Lord. Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel : and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.” . . . . . . . . . . Amos iv. 11, 12.

RACHEL'S LAMENT FOR HER CHILDREN.*

“ Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not."

Matt. ii. 17, 18.

Mourn, Rachel, mourn! aye, with intensest anguish,

If to thy soul this solace is denied;
Well may'st thou mourn and weep and wail and languish,

Nor care indeed thy sufferings to hide.

Weep, Rachel, weep! if now thy conscience telleth

That those whom once thou dandledst on thy knee,
Were never warn’d where sin uncheck'd impelleth,

Nor ever told of Christ upon the tree.

Think, Rachel, think! Thy woman's heart was gladden'd,

When to those loved ones, joyful thou gav'st birth;
Shall their eternity indeed be sadden'd

In that their Lord they sought not while on earth ?

Eternity may come at any hour,

As unexpected as a thief at night;
And without warning thy most cherish'd flower
May be removed for ever from thy sight.

Oh! Rachels, who are darlings now caressing

Ere down your wasted cheek the tear-drop rolls,
Seek ye on them a thousand-fold God's blessing!
WHERE, NOW, O RACHELS! ARE YOUR CHILDREN'S SOULS ?

* See note C, page 82.

AI

CHE STUPENDOUS DUEL.

“Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterward an hungred.. ... Then the devil leaveth Him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto Him." . . .

.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Matt. iv. 1--11.