ANECDOTES AND SELECTIONS.

that love is exalted not merely above but in place of all other virtues; that self-denial, self-control, courage, endurance, are all set aside for the sake of love, which is perverted to mean indolence and selfindulgence. This is not the love of the Bible, but a counterfeit weakness out of which spring evils innumerable, even in the very bosom of our homes and churches. Duty is the very breath of God and the outcome of love to Him, as surely as warmth is born of fire. Adhere to this, and the path of life will unfold before you, and the voice of the Lord say to your souls: "This is the way; walk ye in it."

WHITEFIELD'S PREACHING.-The effect of this style of preaching was greatly enhanced by an extreme variety of gesture, intonation, and manner. Considering the very small number of his ideas, it is a remarkable proof of the oratorical talents of Whitefield that his sermons were never charged with monotony. He frequently interspersed the more serious passages with anecdotes or illustrations. He sometimes even relieved them by a jest. Often, when the audience had been strung to the highest pitch of excitement, he would suddenly make a long, solemn, and dramatic pause. He painted scenes as if they were visibly present to the eye, with all the fire and the animation of the most perfect actor. On one occasion, when illustrating the peril of sinners, he described with such an admirable power an old blind man deserted by his dog, tottering feebly over the desolate moor, endeavouring in vain to feel his way with his staff, and gradually drawing nearer and nearer to the verge of a dizzy precipice, that when he arrived at the final catastrophe, no less a person than Lord Chesterfield lost all self-possession, and was heard audibly exclaiming, "Good God! he is gone. 19 On another occasion, preaching before seamen at New York, he adopted a nautical tone. "Well, my boys, we have a clear sky, and are making fine head-way over a smooth sea before a light breeze, and we soon shall lose sight of land. But what means this sudden lowering of the heavens, and that dark cloud arising from beneath the western horizou? Hark! don't you hear distant thunder? Don't you see those flashes of lightening? There is a storm gathering! Every man to his duty! How the waves arise and dash against the ship! The air is dark! The tempest rages! Our masts are gone! The ship is on her beam-ends! What next?" "The long boat, take to the long boat!" shouted his excited hearers.-Lecky.

DIVINITY OF CHRIST.-This is not doubtful of "things in heaven," for Thrones fall down before Him, Dominions obey, Principalities discrown themselves in His presence, Powers yield. "All the angels of God worship Him." And it is worthy of notice, that when in the humblest condition of humanity, when He "made Himself of no reputation," when many where astonished at His marred image and form, there was alway a contrast, a redeeming might, which vineicated His superior nature and universal rule. He is born, and the choirs of heaven salute the swaddled child. He is circumcised, and beneath a supernatural influence the aged saints confess Him, and then depart to die. He is tempted, and angels minister to Him. He is baptized, and the Holy Ghost, in the bodily shape of a dove, rests upon His head.

ANECDOTES AND SELECTIONS.

He hungers, and feeds thousands at His will. He thirsts, and turns water into wine. He slumbers, and awakes to still the tempest. He weeps, and calls the corrupting dead from the grave. He is in an agony, and a voice thunders from heaven, that, as He had been glorified, He shall be glorified again. He is taken captive, and more than twelve legions of ministering spirits hover round Him, impatient to rescue Him. He is put to death, and throws open Paradise. He is laid in the tomb, and an earthquake rolls away the stone to release Him who could not be holden of death, and whose flesh could not see corruption.-Hamilton.

BOTH FRIGHTENED.-The following good story is told of America's greatest statesman: Daniel Webster, travelling by the night stage from Baltimore to Washington, with no companion save the driver, contemplated that worthy's forbidding visage with a very uneasy mind. He had nearly reasoned his suspicious fears away when they came to the dark woods between Bladensburg and Washington, when Webster felt his courage oozing out of his finger ends as he thought what a fitting place it was for murder. Suddenly the driver turned towards him, and gruffly demanded his name. It was given. Then he wanted to know where he was going. "To Washington; I am a senator," said Daniel, expecting his worst thoughts were near realization. The driver grasped him by the hand, saying: "How glad I am, mister, to hear that. I've been properly scared for the last hour; for when I looked at you, I felt sure you were a highwayman."

AVOID THE LAW.-Two boys, passing near a large tree, found a fine large walnut. "It belongs to me," said Bernhard, "because I saw it first." "No, it's mine, since I picked it up," replied James; and there soon resulted an angry conteution between the two. A large boy was appealed to for his judgment in the case. Cracking open the nut, he thus decided: 66 Bernhard, you take this shell, since you first saw the nut; and to you belongs the other shell, as you picked it up. The contents of the nut belong to me as payment of the court expenses, as is fitting and usual in cases where the law is appealed to."

THE BEGGARS' BRIDGE.-There is a legend in Florence that a grand duke once proclaimed that every beggar who would appear in the grand plaza at a certain time should be given a new suit of clothes. They were on hand promptly; when all avenues to the plaza were closed, and each beggar was compelled to strip off his old clothes before receiving the new suit. In the old clothes thus collected enough money was found secreted to build a bridge over the Arno, which is still called the Beggars' Bridge.

SYDNEY SMITH AND THE STICK.-"Do you see that stick, sir?' said a very stupid acquaintance to Sydney Smith. "This stick has been all round the world, sir!" "Indeed, " said the remorseless Sydney, "And yet it is nothing but a stick."

PATIENCE.-A little girl in Scotland was asked, "What is patience?"" After a moment's thought, she said, "It is, wait a wee bit, and dinna get tired."

THE FIRESIDE.-NOTES AND QUERIES.

The Fireside.

in several waters till they are tender; pound them in a mortar with threequarters of a pound of sugar; blanch half a pound of sweet almonds, and beat them very fine, with rose-water to keep from oiling. Break sixteen eggs, but froth only six of the whites, beat very light the yolks and the remaining whites; cream also a pound

FLOUR.-Here are a few good rules worth remembering when one has occasion to select flour for family use. Of course the colour is of prime importance. If it is white with a yellowish coloured tint, buy it. If it is white with a bluish coat, or with white specks in it, refuse it. Second, examine its adhesiveness-wet and knead a little of it between your of fresh butter, and beat all these fingers; if it works soft and is sticky, it is poor. Third, throw a little lump of dried flour against a smooth surface; if it falls like powder it is bad. Fourth, squeeze some of the flour tightly in your hand; if it retains the shape given by the pressure, that too, is a good sign. It is safe to buy flour that will stand all these tests.

ingredients well together until perfectly light. Then lay a thin puff paste in the bottom of pie plates; and, pouring in the batter, bake. Sift sugar over the top when the puddings are drawn from the oven.

BOILED SALT FISH.-Cut a square the size desired, from the thickest part of the fish, take off the skin, wash clean, and broil for ten minutes on clear coals, then dip in boiling water, butter and serve. This is a nice relish for breakfast and tea, and with potatoes makes

VERSAILLES PUDDING.-Here is a receipt for a favourite French pudding, somewhat elaborate, but an excellent after-dinner dish. Take the outside rinds of three sweet oranges, boil them a palatable and economical dinner.

Notes and Queries.

J. S. B. It is quite true that the American Revisers have already reported that the account of the woman taken in adultery and the angel troubling the water will be omitted from the Revised Version of the New Testament. We may expect the Version some time next year.

W. G. W.-We cannot say. Consult your minister.

S. L. L.-It does not follow. The Gospel in the Epistles, as it is now called, is quite emphatic on all the points you mention.

C. C. B.-You are not the first who has asked the question, "How can these things be?” Ponder the reply given to the man who asked the question in the Gospel of John the apostle and evangelist.

W. W. C.-No. The title Saint Paul, Saint Luke, and the like, we

owe to the Roman Catholics. They also apply the title to all the prophets, and so speak a Saint Isaiah, Saint Jeremiah, and Saint Ezekiel. It is a Roman Catholic imitation also to put S. only, instead of St.

G. S. A.-Better stick to the plain teaching of Scripture. All such fanciful explanations are merely fancies. B. C. B.-Not necessarily. Read again the account in the Acts of the Apostles.

L. L. W.-"If thou canst ?" is a question expressing surprise at such a doubt.

K. K. A.-Yes: the first Epistle to the Thessalonians was the first of the apostle's letters. The present order is not the order of time, but sprang out of the size of the cities, and their importance. Hence the Epistle to the Romans comes first.

FACTS, HINTS, GEMS, AND POETRY.

Facts, Hints, Gems, and Poetry.

FACTS, HINTS, GEMS, AND POETRY.