GOD'S WORK.

God has a work to accomplish in our world. It is a work worthy of himself, and will reflect the glory of his Divine nature, and sublime perfections. The plan was drawn in eternity, and time is set apart for the carrying it out to completion. It was begun

early. It has been going on ever since. It shall be carried on to perfection. With an architect of such wisdom and wealth, failure is impossible. God's heart is in it-God's word is passed for it. God's eye is ever over it. And God's highest honour is to arise from it. Let us therefore rejoice, and work, and expect its consummation.

God can never want instruments.

he has not, he can create.

What

and he al

What is not on the ground, he can bring to it. He always has provided the requisite means, ways will. He is not dependent on any of his creatures. He made us to use us, and when he has done with us he will remove us. Every age requires appropriate means, and those appropriate means are always found. He set the machinery in motion, and he

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keeps it in motion. Man may sigh and say, "Oh, that we had such and such and such instruments." But if God were to speak, he would say, I have what I want, and when I want others I will provide them." must not be proud, or think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think. God can do without us. He puts an honour upon us, by condescending to employ us. We are only like the axe in the woodman's hands, or the saw that the carpenter is using.

Much of the Lord's plan is already carried out, but there appears to be much more to be done, before it is completed. Therefore, as the Lord works by us, and thus puts honour upon us, let us throw all our influence, and all our energies into his work. Let every Christian find out his appropriate sphere, occupy it, and do all in it that he possibly can for his Lord's glory. Let us so act now, that there may be no regrets at last. our motto be, Every one at it, and always at it." Not because we fancy that the work cannot go on without us, for that will make us vain, and is not true; but because we love our God, delight to please him, and wish to do all we can to make our fellow men, the better for our existence.

Let

Reader, have you a place in God's building? Are you at work for him? To serve God, is an angel's highest honour and shall we shrink from it, or consider it a drudgery. If you are not busy for the Lord, begin at

:

once. If you are not active in God's service, it is quite time you were. Work, not for pardon, that is a free gift. Work, not for peace, that is only by faith in the blood of Jesus. Work, not for salvation, for that is alone of grace. But, receive the pardon, presented in the gospel; enjoy the peace, the blood of atonement speaks; obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, by faith in his name: and then work from pardon-work from peace-work from salvation-as an expression of gratitude, as a proof of love, and the legitimate effect of faith.

When Jesus for his people died,
The holy law was satisfied:
Its awful penalties he bore;

It can command, but curse no more.

He having suffer'd in their stead,
The law in covenant form is dead,
But rules them with a gentle sway!
And they, with sweet delight, obey.

Amazing love, how rich, how free!
That Christ should die for such as we!
From hence, the holiest duties flow
Of saints above and saints below.

A WORD FOR THE BLIND.

We live in an age of activity and usefulness. How many ways there are of doing good, and thereby at once of honouring God, and making our fellow-creatures happy. No one need be unemployed. There is work enough for all, and every talent God has given is necessary. How many evils we should avoid, how much happiness we should enjoy, and how much comfort we should impart to others, if we were daily carrying out the apostolic injunction, "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them that are of the household of faith." Oh! that our hearts were filled with the love of Christ, and then we should lay ourselves out for the good of our fellow-men.

These thoughts have been awakened in my mind by a meeting which I have just attended. A meeting of the friends of a Society for teaching the blind to read at their own homes. We have asylums for the blind, and for teaching them to read; but it appears

that their doors are closed upon all that are above 25 years of age. Consequently all who lose their sight after that age, or have been neglected until that period, are given up to linger out the rest of their lives in ignorance and gloom. I was surprised to hear that we have 29,000 blind persons in our country, only about 2000 of whom can read. And I was equally surprised to hear that we have between 40 and 50 in our own town. A benevolent friend of mine last year, being here for a visit, induced some friends to take up the subject, and now at this meeting there sat a row of blind persons, with their books before them, capable, with more or less fluency, to read the word of God. Some of them did read to us portions of that blessed book, which is able to make us wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Many touching anecdotes were told us, showing the gratitude of those who had been taught to read; and also of the ease and quickness with which they learn by the use of Moon's raised characters. Some, at 70 years of age, had been taught to read the Bible for themselves, and others who had tried other systems, but losing heart, had given up the attempt, now in a short time, and with little difficulty, could read well. It was a most interesting, and I think profitable, meeting, and a good collection was made toward providing a lending library for the blind.