crites, no doubt, who dishonor the work; but the tares and the wheat must grow together till the time of the harvest. When the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, Satan came also. There was a Simon Magus still "in the gall of bitterness and the bond of iniquity," though he had been baptized with the multitude of Philip's converts in the city of Samaria. It is not for man to weed out the tares, or to abuse the field for bearing them. An enemy sowed them; yet the wheat will ripen.

Let us rather, instead of reviling the evil of this revival, or patronizing its good, make it a personal benefit to ourselves, both as individuals and as a denomination, and see that we do not hinder its operation on others. We may be compared to islands of ice in a sea of fire. But mere comparisons do no harm. They are not even witty, unless they are true; and if we do not deserve the comparison, we shall be sure to spoil it of its wit. Let us show, by the fervor of our devotion, the liberality of our judgments, the holiness of our lives, that we do not relish "the icy kind of heavenly meat." Let us prove, by the warmth of our piety and the fulness of our charity, that our hearts feel the supreme importance of our relations to God and the world invisible. Let us remember, that it is better to be alive than dead, to be a fanatic in our worship, than a poor fool who says there is no God, that a running stream is the source of power, while a stagnant pool brings only disease and death. If we witness excess and turbulence in others who crave the peace that passeth understanding, let us show them that tranquillity is not inconsistent with zeal, nor gentleness with the most ardent aspirations and the most constant endeavors for personal holiness and the world's redemption. Let us make it manifest that the presence of the Lord is sometimes declared, not by the strong wind, nor the earthquake, nor the fire, but by the still, small voice. Let us demonstrate by our own examples, that the life which is hidden

with Christ in God is "the power which makes a man

humble instead of proud, self-denying instead of self-seeking, spiritual instead of carnal,-which makes him embrace, not only the brethren, but the whole human race, in the arms of his love."

Listen to the advice given to your ancestors by their pastor: "Be not offended at these things, or prejudiced against the genuine work of God from disorders and irregularities that arise among us, either from the weakness and corruption of human nature, or the malice of Satan not wholly restrained. And be sure to put in for a share of the spiritual blessings so liberally bestowed at this day. Be more careful and diligent in the working out your soul's salvation, than to be satisfied about this or the other occurrence. Give yourself to prayer, to reading and hearing the Word, to meditation, self-examination, and let nothing satisfy you short of a whole Christ and a whole salvation. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you." †

THE MOTHER'S SACRIFICE.

My child! my idol child, I see thee playing,
And flitting in and out beneath the trees;
And now, as yesternight, I hear thee saying,

The while thou look'st up, leaning on my knees
With thy fresh-gathered flowers, "How made He these?"
And in the morn, wreathed with the wild-wood bells,
Beside the sea thine infant steps were straying,
Gathering with eager hands the winding shells,

And asking, "What are the sea-voices saying?"

And my heart fails me, that my feeble ken
Sees but so narrowly and dimly, when
Such as thou askest of deep mysteries.

*Professor Jowett.

† Mr. Turell's "Dialogue between a Minister and his Neighbor about the

Times."

ANGEL.

Give thy child unto me,

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so shall she know

All mysteries: these be her heavenly lore, Learned where no blossoms fade, and the tide-flow Of earth's temptations threatens her no more.

MOTHER.

Do I dream, or hear? O wherefore! Art thou calling
To test my mother-heart? Dost thou not see
Beauty untold in those bright ringlets, falling
O'er snowy neck and brow? And life and glee
Radiant in every limb, and love that glows
On the kiss-loving lips, that vie the rose?

ANGEL.

Time, with his sickle, for that harvest waits!

He turns the gold to gray, and writes deep lines On brow and cheek, which only grief translates.

MOTHER.

But he brings blessings; and Faith shall transcribe
Harmonies sweet, and knowledge from above,

And we, so gladdened with her sunny smile,

Shall lean on her, and Time shall bring her Love –

ANGEL.

And Love's twin, Sorrow!

MOTHER.

O forbear!

If Sorrow come, it will but make more sweet
The graces that she wears; and she shall lead
More frail and timid ones to peace, and greet
The just despairing with new hope. O heed!
The earth hath need of her, hath piteous need!

ANGEL.

The Lord hath need of her.

MOTHER.

O heart of mine, be still!. she is His own,

Nor murmur when He taketh what He gave ;
Do I not daily thank Him for the loan?

But her home pathway lieth through the grave,-
And she so beautiful!

Yet Jesus lay there, cold,

As she must. And our God did not deny
Unto the estrangéd world his only Son!
He asks my child, and shall my heart deny
My Heavenly Master even my only one?
He takes in wisdom. From His hand shall flow
Healing, and strength, and faith, my stay to be;
And I my lost beloved shall find, I know,

With Him who bore death and the grave

for me.

H. W.

THE REVIVAL.

We found fault with revivals in 1828; and we did well But there are revivals and revivals; and 1858

in doing so. is not 1828. We would not follow the traditions of a sect in praising or in blaming such movements. Certainly we should not copy the measures of others in any spirit of servile imitation; nor should we denounce these measures merely to avoid the charge of imitation. We would copy neither others nor ourselves. For Segur brings this charge against Napoleon, and explains out of it the misfortunes of the Russian campaign: "Napoleon voulut s'imiter lui-même, malgré la difference des lieux et des circonstances, car l'habitude n'est q'une imitation de soi-même."

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The religious movement of 1828 was called a revival, — the religious movement of the present year is also called a revival. But herein the resemblance between the two ceases. In all respects, except the central analogy of a deep relig ious interest, they differ, as we hope to show.

What is a revival? It is the coming of new LIFE, or the return of life which had passed away. It is called a revival when life comes to us, not when we go to it. It is "a season of refreshing." It is the nature of all life to come in waves; flowing in at times abundantly, then withdrawn. Therefore Jesus compares the spiritual life-giving influence to the wind, which rises and falls, which sighs as a gentle zephyr, becomes a generous breeze, rises into a gale, rushes by in a storm, thunders around us in a hurricane, and then, perhaps, subsides into a calm.

The life of Nature has its revivals. We are now approaching one of them. After the sleep of winter comes spring, and spring is a revival. Into seeds, roots, and buds a new life is poured, -the seeds swell, the roots push, the buds burst open. Insect life, animal life, bird life, reappear. The air is filled with song, the wide world receives an inflowing tide of animation. All nature is vitalized afresh.

Or in midsummer, after a long drought, when the burning sun has parched the sod, and caked the earth, and the leaves are brown,- when the farmer sadly contemplates his yellow grass and drooping grain, the clouds collect some day, they darken, they gather blackness, and then comes up from the west the driving and rejoicing shower, preceded by white clouds of dust, and pursued by the rapid lightning. The rain pours in torrents, and then steadies into a thick and constant sheet, which comes down day and night, till the fields rejoice in new and living green,- till the emerald hills clasp their hands, and the trees wave and toss their branches in exulting welcome of the heavenly gift. This also is a revival in the domain of outward nature.

The invalid has been imprisoned by slow disease. Month after month has passed by, and all the appliances of science could not bring back vigor to his limb, color to his cheek, light to his eye. Weary months go on before he can leave his room. But at last he feels within a returning tide of life. He begins to regain strength. The disease is checked.