deep and serious thinking on the problems of life and destiny, she found the simple-minded Wesleyans no congenial companions, and she withdrew herself from those simple-minded people who

"Felt like singing all the time,"

and who shouted "Hallelujah" rather too much for her inclination, to knit her brows over some question or religious problem. She withdrew herself to more dan

gerous society. As she said in her letter:

"Undeniably goats are more clever and amusing than sheep. I left the company of the sheep and went in among the goats, and I have suffered for it. The more I revealed to my new companions my faith in Jesus Christ, the more they trampled upon me and butted me with their horns."

At last she humbled herself to come back again among those who, with all our differences, dear friends, are of our kith and kin. We are of the same flesh and the same blood if we have at all in our hearts the faith and fear of Jesus. So you, dear Thomases, do not sit apart. You need us, and we need you. Remember, you are not an independent unit called Thomas; you are one of the twelve.-MCNEILL.

Eclipse of Faith.

I do not know how it was with your newspapers, but I remember that about a year ago, in connection with the eclipse of the moon, my newspaper in Scotland published a time-table of the eclipse. I was told to the second of the most nicely balanced chronometer when the

dark shadow would first impinge upon the bright surface of the moon. I was told in the same definite way, to minutes and seconds, how the shadow would spread; when, precisely, the shadow would be half; when, precisely, the eclipse would be total; when, again, the eclipse would lift, would slide off, and would finally disappear, and the moon would walk in silver splendor through the heavens. So with these eclipses of our faith. Make God your Astronomer Royal, and then you may be sure of this: They are timed; they are calculated; and certainly they will lift and disappear, for He is the perpetually recurring Sun, and sooner or later He will shine in "Look to the light; all will be right.

Morning is ever the daughter of night.

All that was black will be all that is bright."

-MCNEILL.

Unbelief Stupid.

Let me repeat what I have repeated from this palpi till it is almost wearisome. Unbelief out there in the world and out there in books-a spirit of doubting-is mightily praised, and gets a great deal of attention to it. self. But here in the Bible it is always a scupidityalways an unreasonable thing, with nothing to say for itself when the Lord questions it. You do not find Peter

Saying: "Wherefore did I doubt, blessed Master?"

"There lives more faith in honest doubt,

Believe me, than in half the creeds."

No; he did not think of it. has nothing to say for itself.

He said nothing.
Oh, let us come back to

Doubt

unquestioning faith! Peter walking on the sea to come to Jesus-that is the type. That is the picture for the individual believer and for the whole Church. That is where we should be, and Christ says to us, as He said to him: "Come." And He says to us also, as He said to "Wherefore didst thou doubt ?"-McNeill.

him:

Condensed Comments.

Intellectually, the difficulties of unbelief are as great as those of belief; while, morally, the argument is wholly on the si'e of belief.-ARNOLD.

Skepticism is like the measles-very dangerous if it is driven in; comparatively harmless if it is allowed to come out.-LYMAN ABBOTT.

DUTY.

"Thou Must"-"I Can."

So close is glory to our dust,

So near is God to man,

When Duty whispers low "Thou must,"

The youth replies: "I can."

The Royal Road.

99

EMERSON.

The way of duty is often rugged, but it is always royal. It is the king's highway. It is the way to promotion and power. It gives dignity to life from the moment we take our first step in it. O royalty of youth! Walk in the way of duty-the way of Christian duty, manly and womanly duty, patriotic duty. It is the way to your cor onation. CHARLES C. ALBERTSON,

The Man of Duty.

The true hero is the great, wise man of duty-he whose soul is armed by truth and supported by the smile of God-he who meets life's perils with a cautious but tranquil spirit, gathers strength by facing its storms, and dies, if he is called to die, as a Christian victor at the post of duty. And if we must have heroes, and wars wherein to make them, there is no so brilliant war as a war with wrong, no hero so fit to be sung as he who has gained the bloodless victory of truth and mercy.-HORACE BUSHNELL.

There's Heaven in It.

We turn our sad, reluctant gaze
Upon the path of duty;

Its barren, uninviting ways

Are void of bloom and beauty.

Yet in that road, though dark and cold
It seems as we begin it,
As we press on-lo! we behold

There's Heaven in it.

ELLA WHEELER WILCOX.

Condensed Comments.

Let him who gropes painfully in darkness or uncertain light and prays vehemently that the dawn may ripen into. day lay this precept well to heart: "Do the duty which lieth nearest to thee," which thou knowest to be a duty. Thy second duty will already have become clearer. THOMAS CARLYLE.

Go to your duty, every man, and trust yourself to Christ; for He will give you all supply just as fast as you need it. You will have just as much power as you believe you can have. Be a Christian; throw yourself upon God's work; and get the ability you want in it.-HORACE BUSHNELL.

Duty is duty; conscience is conscience; right is right, and wrong is wrong-whatever sized type they may be printed in. "Large" and "Small" are not words for the vocabulary of conscience.-ALEXANDER MACLAREN.