thee in glory. In a thousand ways I have proved to thee that I loved thee with an unfailing love. However much of supposed g may withhold from thee, however much of real disappointment I lay upon thee, no misgiving as to my love should trouble thee ani honour me. After such an experience as thou hast had, thou ought be able to say in all things, 'It is the Lord! He cannot be unkindt It is the same loving-kindness always, though sometimes it forbid desire and rejects my supplication.'” The way in which Di doubts were prevented is the way in which ours must be checked cured. If God's nay to our requests should tempt us to distrust love, we must meet the temptation with memories of the many and the manifold ways wherein He has heard our prayer and enr us with His blessing. Discontented brooding over the few ant little things denied, must be supplanted by grateful meditation o many and great things bestowed. We must not be beguiled by craft of the wicked one which seduced the mother of us all into tisfaction and disobedience. If the tempter begin to talk to us : the one tree whose fruit we must not gather, be it ours to speal stantly about the thousand trees of whose fruit we may freely eat the Lord were to speak to us of all that He has done for us and to us, He might tell a more wondrous story of His love than thi which the elevation and enthronement of David were described. that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, hov He fail in kindness to us? If He were to reject our petition thwart our desires a thousand times, our faith sustained by exper. ought to rise above all denial and disappointment. After whe have seen of His grace in the Gospel, it is reason as well as faitl each one of us to say, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Hi

There is great significance in the fact that in refusing David coveted honour of building the temple, the Lord reminded him of glory as well as the mercy already bestowed upon him :“ I have mi thee a great name, like unto the names of the great ones that are in earth.” Was it not telling David that the fame he had seci was enough for any one man's lawful ambition ? To him had 1 given the honour of rising to regal dignity, of delivering nation from the danger and degradation which had lasted for g rations, of reducing a chaotic kingdom to order, and of produ prosperity unheard of before! Why should he want to add to the glory of being the greatest temple-builder the world had se He must not aspire to that crown too. God would reserve it another; for it is not His pleasure that all the brilliancy of g achievements shall belong to only one name, and that all the jo great successes shall flood only one heart. Excepting the kingdoi God's grace, there are to be no more world-wide monarchies. Il must be sceptres for many hands and crowns for many heads, for Lord will not favour the monopolising spirit. The old motto,“. and let live" is unspeakably more in accordance with His will than modern notion of one man grasping at well-nigh everything. Covet may not put any limit to their desires, but God will put limits to powers. This is a great good; for if some men had opportunities aculties equal to their ambition, all the business of the city would sorbed into two or three establishments, and all the ships in the would belong to two or three firms, and all the great profits of erce would be swept into two or three coffers. Men righteously inced Napoleon for his desire to make a French empire of all be. There is too often a Napoleonism in commerce which is not t more admirable. Instead of vigorously and contentedly purtheir own proper business, men have sought profitable pecuniary ction with ten or twenty other totally distinct enterprises. In nany cases this vaulting ambition has overleaped itself! How of present depression and difficulty has come from practical forness of the obvious truth, that it is not God's will that a few hould have everything, but that honours and profits and pleashould be widely distributed! Men may determine "to have irons in the fire,” but God will not give them hands enough to e them all skilfully; and therefore sooner or later fingers are to be burnt. In moralising upon this matter we have travelled ir than we intended from things ecclesiastical into things secular; i is easy to return by simply remarking, that the spirit we have to describe and deprecate sometimes creeps into the Church, it is more unseemly and reprehensible than in the world. m another part of the inspired history we learn that the characDavid's preceding work was given as one reason why the present se was to be laid aside : “ But God said, Thou shalt not build an

for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed "* It should not be supposed that this implies censure of 's warlike course. Had he not been qualified for it and called to God? Was it not a necessary work, and had he not Divine sucn it? It was both lawful and expedient; and yet it had unfitted or the new kind of work to which he wanted to put his hands. ir present imperfect state ability for one thing may involve dis✓ for another thing. As no one man is intended to gain every

so no one man is endowed with all the talents. Happy is he finds out what he is fit for, and devotes himself to it; and is : 80 wise or so busy that he does not attempt numerous other vements. It is too often assumed that because a man is gifted the work of the ministry” he is equally gifted for many other 8. He is expected to be an “ Admirable Crichton,” to whom a tific lecture, a literary essay, a political oration, a secretary's s, and the labours of a counsellor to all classes on all subjects, are ngenial as the preaching of a sermon, and none of them

"more difficile Than for a blackbird 'tis to whistle.” > fought battles as successfully as David, some people would be

* 1 Chron. xxviii. 3.

surprised if he could not also build temples as magnificently as Solo mon. The alleged author of “ Ecce Homo” has well said, that in these days of varied demands and multiplied endeavours, one of the first conditions of ministerial success is that the minister impress himsel with the fact that he has not the genius for doing everything. We should learn this lesson for the times from the life of David, that great success in one department of labour may actually disqualify a man for another department. Not because he had been such a bad warrior, but because he had been such a good one, David was to leave temple building for another to undertake.

Another way in which the Lord sought to reconcile David to the denial of his desire, was by promising that his purpose should not perish, but be carried out by his own son. “ And when the days be fulfilled, I will set up thy seed after thee, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever.” It is no wonder that the Divine message checked all murmuring and rebellion in David's heart. He did more than cheerfully submit; he exulted in the decision and purpose of the Lord. Instead of weeping and wailing because his plan had not been adopted, he broke out into an impassioned and sublime strain of thanksgiving. He looked at the greatness and glory God had promised to his house; and as he gazed at that, he could no more see the denial of his request, than he could have seen the faintesto the far-off stars while he was looking at the lustre of the noon-tide sun. With thoughts of mercies past and mercies to come filling his mind, there was no room frr discontent because of present disappointment. Let it be remen-vered to the honour of his piety, that such was his confidence in the wisdom and love and faithfulness of God, that one of the most fervent songs he ever sung was inspired by the very message in which he was told he was not to do what he had asked to do. “ THEN WENT KING DAVID IN AND SAT BEFORE THE LORD AND SAID, WHO AM I, O LORD GOD? AND WHAT IS MY HOUSE THAT THOU HAST BROUGHT ME HITHERTO? AND THIS WAS YET A SMALL THING IN THY SIGHT, O LORD GOD: BUT THOU HAST SPOKEN ALSO OF THY SERVANT'S HOUSE FOR A GREAT WHILE TO COME. AND IS THIS THE MANNER OF MAN, O LORD GOD? FOR THY WORD'S SAKE AND ACCORDING TO THINE OWN HEART HAST THOU DONE ALL THESE GREAT THINGS, TO MAKE THY SERVANT KNOW THEM? WHEREFORE THOU ART GREAT, O LORD GOD; FOR THERE IS NONE LIKE UNTO THEE, NEITHER IS THERE ANY GOD BESIDE THEE."

It ought to be easier for us to imitate David's hearty acquiescence because we know that subsequent events proved how wise it was According to God's promise, Solomon succeeded to the throne, and was in every way fitted for the task assigned to him. His reign was one of profound peace and profuse plenty. He was inspired withi loftiest ideas of magnificence, and, having treasure and skill at his command, his hands could achieve what his thoughts dictated. Into the work of building the temple he was able to press not only the zeal

le Jews, but also the enterprise and genius of the Gentiles. The d structure was completed according to a scale of grandeur far ding any conceptions which the Psalmist had formed. As it I there in all its splendour, vocal with Divine praises and filled Divine glory, who could doubt that the Lord had done right in ing (against the prayer of His servant) that not David but non should build it? It was a magnificent testimony to the truth God's “ Nay" and God's “ Yea” are only two different forms in I the same everlasting love and infinite wisdom are expressed."

the vision which the beloved | tor, accustomed to perform poojahs e had of the glory of heaven, to all the gods and goddesses. Her W “a great multitude which | husband too was an idolator. But an could number, of all na they were precious in the sight of and kindreds and people and Christ; He had set His love on les, standing before the throne them, and so they had to be brought before the Lamb, clothed with out of the mire of idolatry. Won

robes, and palms in their derfully did the Spirit of God work! ;" and in answer to the inquiry Kanai had been educated in a who they were, he was told, school connected with the Church se are they who have come Missionary Society. He there learned of great tribulation, and have something of Christianity, but after ed their robes and made them leaving school he forgot all about it.

in the blood of the Lamb." Yet the seed sown was destined to jeen hundred years have passed spring up in God's own time. He John had that glorious vision, heard some preaching by the wayhe number of that multitude side, and the question came home to lot yet been completed. Year his heart, “What must I do to be year they have kept“ coming” saved ?” He knew the Hindoo of great tribulation, and the gods and goddesses could not save of praise has been ever swell him, and what he had learned of puder and louder. And often Christianity led him to wish to seek }, alas !-we in our mournings the way of salvation in the Bible. apt to think it happens too For this purpose he bought a copy ,-one and another passes away of the Bible for five shillings. He our very midst into the blessed read that at home; and He followed before the throne of God. One the native preacher everywhere, for has just left us to join the ran three years, before he said anything d multitude.

to him about his seeking after the dam, the almond, as her name truth. And he did not read the ifies, was a young Bengali wo Bible alone; he taught his young , only twenty-two when she wife to read, she could have been · She must have been married only sixteen then, and together they ler husband Kanai Lall Dutt, | used to read the holy book. Slowly

she was nine or ten, for that the light broke in upon them. le custom among the Hindoos. While they were still groping had been brought up as an idola | after the truth, a little child was

born to them. They had been read- My acquaintance with her com ing about Queen Esther, and they menced two years ago. For severa resolved to call their little girl months she lived close by, and Esther, in the hope that she would frequently visited her. Every Sun grow up to be as good a woman as day afternoon she used to attend Queen Esther was, and as devoted sort of Bible class held among th to her God. Their relatives objected native Christian women. Many to their naming the child so, but hymn and many a passage of Scrip Kanai and his wife said, “ We intend ture did she commit to memory and to be Christians, and therefore shall repeat to me. She never hesitated not call her by any heathen name." at taking her turn in leading om After this, Mrs. Sale, having heard prayers, and very sweet earnes from the native preacher that Kanai prayers hers were. I used to thin! had been conversing with him about she prayed better than the generalit Christianity, thought she would call of native Christian women. Perhap and see his wife. Kanai was absent, it was so because she had bee from home when Mrs. Sale called, taught only by the Spirit of God but Badam told her that she believed whereas the others had been accus Christianity to be the true religion, tomed from their childhood to hea yet seemed greatly distressed at prayers, and consequently had faller the thought of the separation from into the habit of using set phrases. her friends and relatives should a About the beginning of this yea profession be made. When Mrs. Kanai removed to a distance, an Sale next visited her, she was quite I saw Badam only once after thel reconciled to the thought of giving removal. She had never been strong up all for Christ. Some time after and latterly she frequently ailed Kanai offered himself and his wife Gradually her strength declined, an for baptism. On Mrs. Sale’s asking the end came on Friday night Badam whether baptism would save September 13, 1867. She knew sh her, she said,

was dying, but her husband say “No, but I wish to be baptized there was no fear. About ter out of love to Christ."

minutes before her death she said to “Do you think baptism will make her husband, “I must go to-night, you a disciple of Christ ?”

but there is a mansion ready for “No; I am His disciple already, me;" evidently referring to Christ's but by being baptized I shall show words, “I go to prepare a place for to all that I am His disciple.”

you.” Then she told him he must She told Mrs. Sale that she was not live alone, he must have some sure the Bible was of God, for it one with him to keep him company was the only book that showed the Kanai asked her what she wishe state of the heart. Until she read regarding her little child, but sh the Bible she had no idea that she was too far on her way to listen o was a sinner. To me some months notice. She turned round an ago she said that she had been seemed to fall asleep, but it was th greatly distressed about her sins, sleep in Christ. In a moment sh especially her sins of idolatry, but I was absent from the body and pre that the thought of Christ's blood sent with the Lord. cleansing from all sin had comforted · The next evening she was buried

Mr. Sale, who had baptized her, read Shortly after this she and her and prayed at her grave. The husband were baptized together in glorious words of faith and hope in the Lall Bazaar Chapel by the Rev. | 1 Corinthians XV., and 1 Thessa J. Sale. Doubtless there was re lonians iv., sounded very sublime in joicing in heaven that day.

the Bengali tongue; and the prayer

her.