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Enthusiasm.

BY THE EDITOR.

Wake up. Undying souls depend on your faithfulness. As you form the views, habits, hearts of your scholars now, so will they be hereafter. Pray God to set your heart ablaze with His love. The drowsy, sluggish, don't-care teacher is a drag; can never succeed. Like teacher, like scholar. You need enthusiasm for your work. Enthusiasm (En-theos, in-God) God-inspired is what every teacher and preacher need. Chalmers says the greatest workers are always in blood-earnestness. Carlyle says that every man that has made his mark in the world has been crazy. How of ten has the truly great man been thought to be beside himself, from Paul down. A wide-awake teacher will always be on the alert for something to interest and benefit his scholars. During the week, at work in society, in business intercourse, on a journey, he will be on the look-out for facts, illustrations and lessons taken from real life. Like the busy bee, he will know how to draw honey even from bitter, poisonous flowers, from things sinful and wrong which he may witness.

Handel, the great composer, happened into a blacksmith shop one day. The ring of the anvil as the swarthy blacksmith plied his hammer, started a new train of thought in his mind. He went home and wrote one of his grandest compositions. Its first suggestion he got from the anvil.

One day Chalmers sat aside of the driver on a stage coach. On passing by a white stone, he noticed that the driver cracked the legs of one of his horses, in order to turn the shying animal's attention from the stone to the smitten legs. This gave Chalmers a new idea. He saw that the man full of sin must get his thoughts off from the world till his soul is full of love to God. He returned home and wrote his great discourse on "The Expulsive Power of a New Affection."

Many of the best things that ministers get are not found in books. The teacher can get the use of a large library without money and without price. His own heart and experience, the life of his associates, of his community; of fields and

flowers, man and beast-all open their instructive pages to his inquiring mind. In a very emphatic sense, "the word is nigh him." But he must be wide-awake. His heart must be athirst for Christfor souls; must be God-inspired-enthusiastic.

Franklin and Whitefield.

Col. J. W. Forney, writing from London, October, 1874, speaks of the Tottenham Court Road Chapel as one of the oldest in London, and has a history full of interest to Americans. George Whitefield, its founder, preached frequently to immense crowds in the neighborhood of Philadelphia about one hundred and forty years ago. Whitefield was born 1714, and died 1770. Dr. Franklin says in his Pennsylvania Paper of May, 1740:

"On Thursday last, Whitefield left this city, and was accompanied to Chester by one hundred and fifty horsemen, and preached there to about seven thousand people. On Friday he preached at Wilmington to about five thousand; on Saturday at New Castle to about two thousand five hundred; the same evening, at Christiana, he preached to about three thousand; on Sunday at Whiteclay Creek, he preached twice, resting an hour between the sermons, to eight thousand, of whom three thousand, it is computed, came on horseback. It rained most of the time, yet they stood in the open air." Franklin had a difference with Whitefield with regard to the foundation of an orphans' house in Georgetown, which Franklin advised should be placed in Philadelphia, because Georgetown was destitute of workmen and supplies. His advice being rejected, he determined not to subscribe. "I happened," says Franklin, "soon after to attend one of his sermons, in the course of which I discovered he intended to finish with a collection, and I silently resolved that he should get nothing from me. I had in my pocket a handful of copper money, three or four silver dollars, and two or three gold pistoles. As he proceeded I was softened, and concluded to give the copper; another shake of his oratory made me ashamed of that, and I determined to give the silver, and the finish was so admirable that I emptied

my pocket wholly into the collector's to church. They must learn to worship dish-gold and all. On one occasion I with the great congregation. In the had the curiosity to see how far he Sunday-school they learn the Scriptures, could be heard when he was preaching learn to sing and pray, but not in in Main street, by retiring backwards the full sense as these are taught in down the street towards the river, and church-worship. Here there is an atI found his voice distinct till I came mosphere which they greatly need to near Front street, when some noises in breathe. The mere sight of a large, the street obscured it. Imagining then devout congregation is calculated to a semicircle, of which my distance make wholesome and lasting impressions should be the radius, and that it was on the mind of a child. So many earnest filled with auditors, to each of whom I faces, all turned towards one place; so allowed two square feet, I computed many voices, all saying and singing the that he might be well heard by more same words; so many people, all rising than thirty thousand. This reconciled to their feet in the pews, all folding me to the accounts of his having their hands, bowing their heads, closing preached to twenty-five thousand people their eyes during prayer; a solemn in the fields, and to the history of silence and awe pervading the church generals haranguing whole armies, the and congregation-all these teach a accuracy of which I had sometimes child holy and heavenly lessons before doubted." On Whitefield's second ar- it can read for itself. rival in America he wrote to Franklin asking him to secure lodgings for him in Philadelphia. He replied: "You know my house; if you can shift with its scanty accommodations you will be most heartily welcomed." Whitefield replied: "If you make that offer for Christ's sake you will not miss a reward." Franklin replied: "Do not let me be misunderstood; it was not for Christ's sake, but for yours.

The Children at Church.

BY THE EDITOR.

Said a distinguished clergyman of a sister church to us lately, after he had preached a very impressive sermon to our flock:

"My dear brother, how many children attend your church service! And that at night, too. I believe I have never seen the like. How can you get them to attend so well?"

As a rule fewer children attend the regular services of the congregation than was the case twenty-five years ago. Parents and children have conceived the idea that the Sunday-school services are all that the children need attend to. That here everything is adapted for them, whilst the regular services of the sanctuary are suited only for older people. This is a pernicious error. It gives children a wrong view of the Church, and their privileges and duties therein and thereto. Bring the children

Train the children to help the congregation in singing. Get them hymnbooks as soon as they can read, and see to it that they take them with them, and use them in church. Most children who help to sing in public worship every Sunday, will in a few years without much effort, learn many hymns and tunes by heart. They soon become familiar with some of the best and most beautiful hymns in our language. The children and youth are the best helps in congregational singing. Their voices have a sweet, clear ring. No melody is more charming to God and man than that which vibrates over the cheerful, hopeful heart of childhood. "Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings, God has ordained praise."

Train them to listen attentively to the sermon. Always ask them to give you the text, after church. If possible, always take them with you in your pew. If not, seat them where you can see them, lest their restlessness and thoughtless misconduct will disturb the congregation. If your child misbehaves in church, it is almost the same as if you did it. For all will at once think of you, and wonder why you do not train your children better. Bring them to church while you can, and when they are older they will come of their own accord; will bring you when you are old and feeble. Give them their own way when small, and they will go where they please when they are grown up. These little ones soon become attached

to these places of holy concourse. They will learn to love and delight to visit them. Amid such surroundings they will, by the blessing of God, imbibe a reverence for the Lord's house, and for the place where His honor dwelleth, and an inclination to worship there. Often have we noticed such children, the moment they entered a church, when there were no services, the boys take off their caps, and all walk and whisper softly. If rightly trained, these little ones are often among the most devout and sincere worshipers of our congregations. Bring them to church, while they can be brought, "in the days of their youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when they shall say, I have no pleasure in these things."

Waiting for the Evening Train.

Among the crowds of people moving restlessly about the depot, was an old man, whose form was bowed down with the years of hard toil. His hair was white as the winter's snow, and his hands tremulous. There was that in his countenance and manner, which always wins confidence and respect.

That old man will not wait long, for the train is sweeping in on the down grade with great speed. The hours wear fast away. The sun is going, and the shadows are already thickening over the track beyond. There is but one change on this route-and by the deep river which rolls between this and the other shore.

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More than eighty years ago he re- Oft then the lost son longs for home-made ceived a through ticket bread, over the strait and narrow way, whose terminus Then we feel more childlike, more simple and The sheep gone astray to the Lord will be led; is the Eternal City.

Death is a mighty engine, and for thousands of years it has swept this down grade hourly, with loaded trains. It stops at every station. There are Morning trains, carrying the children, the little, loved ones, whose robes are as yet unsoiled by the sins of the world.

The Noon train, loaded with the pleasure-seeking-the young men, the maidens, and those in the prime of their manhood.

The Evening train, is filled with the aged, sorrow-stricken, and the homesick. Time-table there is none. We

true,

new.

Whilst childhood's old feelings again become
The cross of our troubles is lighter to bear,
The heart is more urged to praise and to prayer;

Our sorrow is lessen d and soften'd the tear,
On Christmas and New Year, to all of us dear!

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The Lost Child.

BY REV. R. LEIGHTON GERHART.

I.

Upon the street, amid the throng,
A little child went slowly by,

And now and then was plainly heard
To weep most piteously.

A little child, and, strange to say,
All unprotected and alone,

While cold the rain, and cold the sleet,

Upon her head unceasing beat,
Went wandering up and down ;-
And in the sky the fading light

Was deepening, deepening into night.

II.

Is there no one to care for her?
So many people going by!

Some one must take the child, or she
Will surely, surely die!

Is there no home to shelter her?
There are a score on either side.

Why, from their windows, see, the light
Streams out upon the dismal night,
Streams,-shining far and wide!
Yet left alone to wander here?
Alone, upon a night so drear!

III.

A little child's a tender thing;
A single word will often make
It weep with many a choking sob,
As if its heart would break.
A little child's a tender thing,
And must be kept with wondrous care-
Like to a frail and lovely flower
That blooms not but in summer hour,-
E'en from the cold, damp air.
Sad, is it not, that one should be
Thus left alone so heartlessly?

IV.

Now on a marble step she sits;
Within the house is light and cheer.
Now on a marble step she sits;
None know that she is near.
She weeps no more, but with the cold
Trembles, poor thing, in every limb.
Her head is bowed upon her knee;
Her hands are folded helplessly;
Behind her, dark and dim,
With icicles all crusted o'er,
Stands closely shut the massive door.
V.

The people on the street go by,
And in the distance, loud and shrill,
In spite of falling rain and sleet,
The newsboy whistles still!
Alas! how calmly on its way
The mighty world moves smoothly on,
Without a care for those who weep,
Nor any thought for those who keep
Their weary watch alone.

To this poor child will no one give
A helping hand that she may live?
VI.
The door is opened; ah! the light
Shines full upon a prostrate form.

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BRING THEM TO CHURCH.-One of | pher puts it in this wise: "Curiosity is the sins of parents that will be visited the parent of knowledge." Your first on their children to the third and fourth business, then, is to awaken a desire generations is the prevailing license to know. It is what, a few years ago, given them to slight the services of the we used to hear lectured about so much sanctuary. Unless our children are under the phrase "waking up mind." brought to the house of God, they will A large part of the failure among Sunnot be likely to resort to it as they ad-day-school teachers comes from the vance in years, and losing the advan- neglect of this principle. They know tages of early impressions from the gos- something to teach-they actually say pel, it will not be strange if, later in excellent things and do excellent things, life, they become inaccessible to its ap- but their pupils don't care a fig for the peals.-Kentucky Presbyterian. wares they are asked to buy. Now, my friend, you may go on in this way till you teach your class to death. may pour your stream of knowledge upon them till you drown them, or till they run away, and never get a drop of it into them, because their mouths are shut!

You

LITTLE CHILDREN shall, in some way, bear an important part in the ultimate establishment of Christ's kingdom. The fact that the Church has not yet found a sphere for childhood's work, and has but just acknowledged children's membership, is only a state You see the point, do you? "Oh! ment that the fulness of time has not yes!" I hear you ask: "How can I open yet come. their mouths? How can I get the cork It would be like God's way of work-out?" That's the rub, I confess. It is ing to give to children a prominent place in His greatest plans. He would show to us how the most mighty works are wrought by most humble instrumentalities.

Not so

"Weak as a babe," "helpless as a little child," are formulas of speech recognizing admitted facts. Children are most helpless of all born creatures. Others are born clothed, and provided with instinct to find shelter. with children. "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests,"but no "son of man hath where to lay his head," until provision is made for him. Other creatures have what they need ready-made. God has given to man only the raw material. Childhood cannot work to supply its needs. It does not even know its needs. It must be led. It is but an opportunity for God; it is but a possibility for man. A glorious opportunity-a beauteous possibility!

"It lay upon its mother's breast-a thing

Bright as a dew-drop when it first descends,
Or as the plumage of an angel's wing,
Where every tint of rainbow beauty blends."

UNCORK THE BOTTLE.-You can't fill a bottle with the cork in! Let the fountain be ever so abundant, and the pump be plied with ever so much vigor and persistence, it is all in vain. Do you know what I mean? The philoso

just here that the "teacher shines out." Any body can teach those who want to learn. The genius for teaching shows itself in teaching those who don't want to learn-in begetting a desire to know where such a desire did not exist. Do

not mistake. This thing you are so strongly disposed to give up as impossible, this teaching those who have no desire to learn, is just the most import

ant work we have to do. Were it not for this, our services might almost be dispensed with. Those whose minds are open to receive truth, who are all athirst for it, will find it somewhere and some way, if they don't get it from you or me.-Workman.

THE DEAF MUTES.-A person was brought to Jesus who could neither hear nor speak. What was he brought for? Because his friends wished him cured? Why did they bring him to Jesus? Had they ever heard that a deaf mute could be made to speak and hear?

I think they never heard of such a thing, but they believed that Jesus could do what they wished, and so they came to Him, and the man was cured! They had very much the same kind of faith that we all must have. We must believe that our Saviour can cure us of our sinfulness.

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