efforts, that such wonderful results were achieved. And if we want to do any good in the world, we must be willing to do good in little things. Drops make Dr. Johnson wisely observed, "He who waits to do a great deal of good at once, will never do anything."

the ocean.

Then, dear reader, wherever you are at work, whether at home or abroad; and whatever your work may be, whether for yourself or for somebody else, just make up your mind to press on, and persevere.

"One brick upon another, and the highest wall is made; One flake upon another, and the deepest snow is laid."

A little child once gave us a good idea on this subject. You shall have it, too, if you will promise to profit by it. A poor woman had a supply of coal laid at her door by a charitable neighbour. A very little girl came out, with a small fire-shovel, and began to take up a shovelful at a time, and carry it to a sort of bin in the cellar. A gentleman, who was passing by, said to the child, "Do you expect to get all that coal in with that little shovel ?" The child seemed rather confused by the question, but modestly replied, "Yes, sir, if I work long enough." Now, that's the sort of spirit you and I want, dear reader; the determination to toil on until our purpose is accomplished.

Look at such examples as these. A sexton's son became an astronomer, by devoting a few hours every evening to the study of the stars, after ringing the bell for nine o'clock. Gifford was, in early life, an apprentice to a shoemaker, and spent his leisure hours in study. His destitution was such, that he was compelled to work out his problems on a smooth. piece of leather, with a blunted awl. David Rittenhouse was a ploughboy, and covered his plough-beam and fences with his juvenile calculations. And some years since, in the erection of a chapel at Vermont, a

studious young man was employed as a carpenter, who, by persevering industry in his leisure hours, qualified himself for the responsibilities of the Christian ministry. That young man was Jared Sparks, editor of the "North American Review," of Washington's voluminous writings, &c., and now recognized as one of the foremost scholars, historians, and critics in America. What may not be achieved in the cultivation of the intellect, and in the improvement of talent, by steady, diligent, persevering endeavours?

And then, in the care and culture of our own hearts, there is nothing worth doing, to be done by fits and starts. A bad habit cannot be eradicated, nor a good one strengthened, by a few, feeble, intermitting attempts. Sanctification is the work, not of a day, nor of a year, but of a lifetime. What is the

real Christian's motto, the epitome of his whole history? "This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Without this unceasing activity, this perpetual advancement, there can never be the attainment of the victor's crown. Are you prepared to persevere ? to go on, step by step, until the race is run, and the laurel wreath encircles your brow?

Nor is this principle of "patient continuance in well-doing" less needed in our plans of benevolence, than in our purposes of self-improvement. For in trying to alleviate sorrow, lessen ignorance, and mitigate evil, there are many difficulties to overcome, and many disappointments to bear, before our hopes are fulfilled, and our aims realized. We may sow our seed and water it daily, and when we thought to gather in the harvest, not one green blade may have peeped above the ground, and we must begin again, at the beginning, and cast in fresh grain-and this, perhaps, more than once or twice; and unless we are

strong in faith and resolute in perseverance, we shall sit down in despair, and say, it is of no use to try any longer, and thus lose the recompense held out to us, "In due season ye shall reap if ye faint not."

The missionaries in the South Seas laboured there for many years before one convert studded the dreary wastes of heathenism, or one voice was heard to ask, with heartfelt earnestness, the question, “What must I do to be saved?" But they faltered not in the delivery of their glorious message; they persevered in their tearful work; and now that wilderness has become the garden of the Lord, and His knowledge covers that once dark portion of the earth, as the waters cover the sea.

Or to come nearer home. Will you step for a minute or two into Greenwich Hospital? Look at one of its inmates; that old pensioner nearly eighty years of age. He has seen a great deal of service; was in three general engagements; with Admiral Howe on the glorious 1st of June; with Admiral Duncan in the battle of Camperdown; and with Admiral Cochrane off St. Domingo. He was three times shipwrecked, and mercifully preserved from a watery grave. During the time he was at sea, very few passed through so many dangers, and had so many narrow escapes, and very few sank deeper in depravity; he was addicted to almost every vice. And after he entered the hospital, he was never sober when he could get drunk; and he has been seen for weeks together with black eyes and a bruised face, the result of his quarrelling and fighting with his cabin-mates. Well, a missionary, appointed by the London City Mission, visits this noble institution, and when passing through the ward to which this aged seaman belongs, the remark has frequently been made to him by the ignorant bystanders, "There, Mr. C, if you can convert that man, you will do something worth doing; he is one of the most wicked

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in the hospital." And, while he has been conversing with him, others have said, "It is no good to talk with that man; you will never make anything of him." But the missionary repeatedly replied," While there is life there is hope; there is nothing too hard for the Lord." So he persevered, and after seven years continually talking with him, and exhorting him to flee from the wrath to come, he prevailed upon him to attend the meetings. After a while there was a great change perceived by his companions; one sin was given up after another, and he is now quite an altered man. Last winter, when the snow was on the ground, and the weather intensely cold, he was regularly in his place, both at the morning and evening meeting, and appeared deeply interested in the truths of the Gospel, which were expounded in his hearing. Is not the joy which the missionary feels at the thought that this is a brand plucked from the burning, a sufficient return for those seven years of earnest and prayerful efforts?

Dear reader, have you tried, for a long time, in reliance upon God's blessing, to win back a wanderer from the error of his ways, to guide a soul to the Saviour, and have you hitherto tried in vain ?

You are, probably, a Sunday-school teacher, and there is some troublesome boy or some self-willed girl in your class, whose behaviour has caused you many a heartache, and whose ingratitude has well nigh exhausted your patience. And you are inclined to think that you have done enough for such a child; you had better turn your attention now to some more promising object; why should you waste your time and your energies on one who will never repay you for your trouble? Stay, dear reader; hold on a little longer; continue still your arduous exertions; for he that goeth forth weeping, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with joy, bringing his sheaves with him. A young lady once had a class in a Sunday-school, consisting of three ragged, dirty

boys, whom she had herself gathered from the streets, and persuaded to attend. The superintendent told these boys that if they would come to his house he would give them a suit of clothes.

Next Sunday she found two there; but the other, named Morrison, was missing. She sought him, found the truant, and brought him back with difficulty. The next Sunday it was just so again; and so the third Sunday; and so it was the fourth Sunday. After the fourth Sunday, at the monthly teachers' meeting, she said that she could no longer feel responsible for him. The superintendent, however, exhorted her once more to try to save him. "Why, sir,” she replied, “the suit of clothes you gave him is all ragged and torn." "Well, if you go, I'll give him another suit if he'll come to school."

So next Sunday she hunted him up, and induced her truant boy to return once more. He called the next week and got his suit of clothes; but, lo! the next Sunday he was again among the missing; and so it proved again and again for four weeks more. At the next monthly meeting, she reported how unsuccessful she had been. "I must give him up now." The worthy superintendent said, "Why, it is hard to give him up, and let him go to ruin; try one month longer." The young lady begged to be excused. "That second suit you gave him," she said, "has shared the fate of the first." "Well, well, nevertheless, if you will go and try it again, I will give him a third suit."

So she went, and brought the boy back for the three following Sundays; but, on the fourth Sunday, she found, to her surprise, little Morrison there in his place of his own accord, and from that time he became a most tractable and interesting scholar. He made great improvement, was led to the Saviour, became one of his youthful disciples; and, in after life, was the celebrated Dr. Morrison, a most mighty