Useless thought makes the soul coa.r.s.e, and difficult of impression by good influences. Pure and holy meditations are an excellent means for the refinement of your moral being. Praying to G.o.d is talking to him, telling him the desires of the heart; whereas meditating upon G.o.d is contemplating his goodness, love, mercy, greatness, and wonderful works.

Meditation prepares the heart for that deeper communion with G.o.d called prayer. Whoever gives attention to his meditations, and has learned to fix his mind upon G.o.d; to whom "day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge;" to whom "the heavens declare the glory of G.o.d," and who hears G.o.d's voice in nature and sees the goodness of his hand in all creation,--finds no difficulty in drawing to G.o.d in prayer.

If you allow your mind to wander vaguely about upon the vanities of the world, you will find prayer a difficult and rather an unpleasant task.

Learn, therefore, I beseech you, to stay your mind upon the Lord, and great will be the peace and quietness of your soul. Precious moments spent in idle chit-chat with your companions or indulging vagrant thoughts are time worse than wasted. As your mind acts once, so it is disposed to act again. The mind forms habits of thinking. Then, how careful you should be to direct it in proper and useful channels.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THINKING OF THE LIFE BEYOND.]

Some people have found it difficult to prevent their thoughts from wandering while they were reading the Bible or in secret prayer. The wonderful works of G.o.d hardly awaken any admiration within them; they can not elevate the soul into a profound awe before his awful presence, and there is but little conscious depths of inner reverence and devotion to his name. There is a blessed and sure remedy for this serious trouble. Carefully watch your meditations. Call the oftener upon G.o.d in some silent, secret place. Select some secluded, hallowed place, where nature is most inspiring for meditation. Isaac, the son of Abraham, went into the field at eventide to meditate. The evening is a time well suited to draw the soul out into deep, intimate communion with G.o.d.

The the setting of the sun is a reminder of life's setting sun. You will be brought face to face with the fact that you must some day stand before Him who created all things. Your meditations will become serious.

Oh, may you adore the Creator, and learn to admire his wondrous works!

Go forth in the starry evening, when Nature is most inviting, and through her let your soul adore the Almighty, and let all within you be awed to solemn stillness at his footfall.

Idle, careless thoughts generate a stupidity that will rob you of joy.

The sensibilities of your inner nature will become deadened, and you can no more hear the solemn footsteps of the Lord, nor the whispers of his voice. Meditating upon pure and holy things and seeing G.o.d in all, will elevate the soul to a plane all radiant with light and love, and put a meekness and modesty in your life and a sweet gentleness in every expression that will seem to make you akin to angels.

Are you concerned about the peace of your soul? Is a happy life worth anything to you? Do you have any desire to become more like Jesus? Do you want to do all you can for him? Do you want to dwell in heaven with him forever? Then let your meditation be upon him, and your soul sipping at the fountain of Heaven's love as the flower drinks up the dew. I can not be too earnest in my exhortation to you in this matter. I know how important it is. I want to see you prosper and your soul increase in G.o.d; therefore I exhort you to meditate upon his law day and night.

REVERIE.

Down beside the rippling river 'Neath-the weeping willow-tree, Viewing nature sweet and lovely, Wond'ring what must heaven be.

List'ning to the merry songsters In the near-by leafy world; Such sweet music seems to bear me Nearer to the gates of gold.

Breezes murm'ring through the branches, Waters rippling o'er the stone, What, oh, what must be the anthem Ringing round the great white throne?

Songs of birds and streamlet rippling, Meadow, flowers, and leafy tree, Make of earth a land of beauty-- What indeed must heaven be?

If you love scenes of great grandeur, And to hear sweet music ring, Come, oh! come with me to heaven, To the land where Christ is king.

A THEATER.

A theater is a place where plays are performed before spectators. People go to such a place to witness the acts of men. The apostle Paul says, "We are made a spectacle unto the world." 1 Cor. 4:9. In the margin it reads "theater" instead of "spectacle." In Conybeare and Howson's translation this text reads thus: "To be gazed at in a theater by the world." You as a Christian are here in this world on exhibition for G.o.d.

He is the character you are to represent in life's great play. You must live in such a way as to do justice to his name. This world is looking on. G.o.d has written the entire play in his book. You have a life-time to play it in. If you will live in humble obedience to all the Word of G.o.d, you will act your part well and faithfully represent his true character.

REST OF THE SOUL.

"Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." Mat. 11:28,29.

Wonderful words of love and hope! Never did a sweeter nor richer invitation than this reach mortal ears. A whole world of humankind groaning under a burden, tossing in unrest, laboring under pain, sighing with sorrow, roaming in discontent, filled with fear, sinking in despair. But One appears upon the scene and says, "Come unto me, and I will give you rest." Oh, may the humble followers of the lowly Nazarene echo and reecho this invitation of love among the haunts of men as long as time shall last! Amid a world of sin and trouble, a soul at rest; how blessed!

You remember the day you came to him. Your sins with all the burden of guilt were taken away and you found rest. Later you dedicated yourself fully and forever to the Lord and entered into the fulness of his rest.

Canaan's fair land is the soul's sweet home of rest. What heaven will be we can not know now. Doubtless scenes and experiences will arise of such a nature as to greatly enhance the felicity of our hearts; but the revelation of heaven upon a sanctified soul and

"The enjoyment of heavenly bliss E'en in a world like this"

can never be told. Storms will arise and threaten you; but if the cable of faith remains unbroken and the anchor of hope unshaken, your little bark can sail on sweetly at rest. Doubts are very destructive to soul-rest; therefore they must be dispelled at their first approach. By faith your soul can be kept in the precious realization of heavenly enjoyments; you can have sweet walks with G.o.d and tastes of his love all along your journey of life. By living in the vale of humble submission to G.o.d, fully and freely yielded to his control, upon your soul the sweets of heaven's graces will be distilled like the gentle siftings of the evening dew upon the flower, transporting you to wondrous felicity in G.o.d all along your pilgrim way.

Behold the fowls of the air: They sow not, neither do they reap; Yet kings have not more healthful fare, Nor rest in calmer, sweeter sleep.

They have no barns nor h.o.a.rded grain, Yet all day long a soft, sweet strain They warble forth from forest tree; Ever happy and ever free, Teaching a lesson dear to me.

So free from care, O sylvan band; Fed by a heavenly Father's hand.

Your freedom, O ye fowls of heaven, New courage to my soul hath given; I no more can doubt or sorrow: G.o.d will care for me to-morrow.

Behold the lilies how they grow: They toil not neither do they spin; Yet kings in all their pomp and show Are not arrayed like one of them; Smiling and free in breezes sway, Yet clothed by heavenly hand are they.

Meek lilies of the quiet fields, Your growth instruction to me yields.

The One who clothes the lily fair And gives it tender, earnest care-- Will he not hear my fervent prayer?

The One who notes the sparrow's fall-- Does he not love his creatures all?

If he so clothes each tuft and tree And gives the birds such liberty, Will he not clothe and care for me?

I no more can doubt or sorrow: G.o.d will care for me to-morrow.

A merry heart is a continual feast.

It is the will of G.o.d that you be always happy.

If you are not contented with such things as you have, you would not be contented had you ever so much.

Those who are always contented and happy are a most gracious contribution from G.o.d to a discontented world.

This sin-darkened world is dotted here and there by beautiful Christian lives, which are to the world's weary wastes what the oasis is to the parched desert.

The Christian has the blessed privilege of proving to a covetous, discontented world that man can by the grace of G.o.d he contented under the most adverse circ.u.mstances.

Oftentimes people conclude that they would be happy if their surrounding circ.u.mstances were different. True happiness consists not so much in the environments, as in the dispositions of the heart.

After a day of labor, what a pleasure it is to meet at home the warmth of hearts we love! After a life of toil, what will be the pleasure of meeting all the loved in heaven?

I am told that the language of the Algonquin Indians of North America contained no word from which to translate the word _love_. When the English missionaries translated the Bible into that language they were obliged to coin a word for love. What must be a language without love?

and what must be the heart!

The Christian out upon life's sea can, by faith, hope, and love, weather the wildest storm that ever the winds of adversity blew. Hope is the anchor fastened to the eternal word of G.o.d; faith is the cable attached to the anchor hope.

[Ill.u.s.tration: My pathway of life is now paved with peace, The flowers e'er bloom bright and gay; A halo of light is shed around me As I walk the beautiful way.]

HAPPINESS OF LIFE.