but the spirit is life because of righteousness 8-10).

The Curse of Indecision.-For want of resolute purpose many lives are worse than wasted. Courageous resolution, formed in youth and abided by in manhood, will certainly ensure a successful life. The instability which arises from a divided mind not only enervates the whole character, but is the sure precursor of failure. Firmness is, as a rule, identified with energy; half-heartedness is usually related to idleness. The outlook of wise resolution is clear and sunny. The vision of mental indolence is hazy, contracted, heavy. Akin to love of ease, Indecision is self-indulgent, and magnifies the hindrances which exist in the pathway to success.

Her vision

is distorted; the hill Difficulty to her eye is an inaccessible cliff, in whose caves she would rather rest than further upward climb. Instability marks strongly all her faculties, save her ready invention of excuses. Here she is an adept, and as slippery as deceptive. The work-day to Indecision is always too long, the hours wearisome, the heat intense, the expenditure of energy fearful. She knows the severity of the cold, the smallness of the wage, the trivial value of the success, and the distance of the goal. Thus her strength is "minished and brought low," her heart is faint, her arms hang down. Generally talkative, Indecision has no lack of criticisms for those who abjure her example; "either they are time-servers, or selfish, or they are looking after the main chance, caring nothing who goes to the wall so that they succeed." Her indolence affords ample leisure for scandal, and she waxes eloquent in defaming industry, energy, and brusqueness. Mark the startling but true testimony which the Apostle James gives of the character I am attempting to pourtray: "He is unstable in all his ways." Like a man whose legs are of unequal length, little progress is made, though much effort apparently is expended; for Indecision is a creature whose vitality furnishes impulse sufficient to start, and indolence enough to fail in the

race.

How she objects to discipline, to early hours, hard work, and mental training!

66

Perseverance she knows afar off, and is ready to swoon in the presence of the "dogged plodder to success.' She cannot account for success, nor "how it is done"; certainly it is luck," and the result of being born with "a silver spoon in the mouth." For her part, she "must be content, and not fight against fate." James says of this slip-shod and double-minded man, "Let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord." No doubt this is the fact; but it is equally true that Indecision is not slow to receive whatever she can get from man. She never refuses either to be helped or carried; other shoulders may bear her burden. She can become a flattering sycophant for a morsel of meat, and prate about the virtues of those who save her either from work or hardship. Her ability is to play the mendicant, to creep through a hole, to sleep on winter's mornings, to mistake the time in her own favour, to make excuses by the score, ever insisting that she is not to blame that wherever the mischief is, it does not lie with her. Truly may it be said of Indecision, "Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel."

Were the evils of indecision confined to the double-minded themselves, I might leave off at this point; but I call to mind that human society becomes increasingly like a vast machine, whose correct working depends upon the faithfulness of the many parts. In this view of the case, I notice that Indecision is in the highest degree demoralizing. Possessing the character of the head of the family, school, or house of business, its existence becomes a spreading paralysis, diminishing the work to be done and the progress to be made. As an example, its evil influence impairs the health and wealth of thousands. The young, unable to comprehend its tendency, become ensnared and corrupted as Indecision shares in the buoyant laugh and the trifling issues of life's careless days. Not seldom does she place at seeming disadvantage the discipline of school and the order of the well-regulated home.

The young see not, neither do they apprehend, the real value of firmness and decision. The intimate relationship which exists between indecision and want of success is unknown to them. Nevertheless, how nearly irresolution and indecision are related to idleness, mischief, and crime, is seen in the melancholy experiences constantly furnished in human history.

Wide Reading and Real Knowledge.-How often we hear it remarked, "He is a well-read man; "A man of wide research." Certainly I rejoice at the increase of opportunity now given to industrious men to be intelligently abreast of the times. But may we not with profit call attention to the fact that it is necessary, in order to excellence in almost any department of knowledge, to be what is termed a specialist? It is well known that nearly all the men who excel as physicians give some special form of disease their study, some department of the human organism their concentrated attention. Are there five able all round medical men in England to-day? It may be doubted. This is equally true in mechanics, science, chemistry, and the fine arts. I fear that the contracted ability, the lack of well-developed Christian manhood, is caused at this point. There are so few specialists, men out and out in the study of godliness; men whose whole life is given to be masters in Christlikeness. In the light of this thought, how striking are the words of the Apostle, where he says, "As a wise master-builder I have laid the foundation." Observe, not a novice, nor a mere apprentice boy. Mark the counsel given to Timothy, in order to success as a minister of Christ: "Give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Meditate upon these things, give thyself wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear to all" (in all things-margin).

Modern Religiousness.-The tendency of modern religiousness is toward a dwarfed and earth-born moralism. Appropriate conduct of such a character, that the good will

and opinion of men is secured, is the bound and fulness of the new religion. Christianity amongst these earth worms is only tolerated because of the high moral tone of the Christ. To make the world better in the sense of mere morality, intelligence, wealth, enjoyment, and variety of circumstance, such is the religion which is popular in the present day. As for the worship of God, man's immortality, his sinfulness, his absolute need of redemption, his partnership with Christ in order to the glory of the eternal world, all this to these modern religionists is "an antiquated superstition." As one of their number remarked a short time since, “Reject Jesus Christ! indeed I do not. My firm conviction is that in His day He was a perfect gentleman." Such is the stultifying effect of this Christless moralism. How it illustrates the truth that the Lord of glory, the Eternal Life, "was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.”

A Thrilling Incident.-Not far from the picturesque watering-place called Bray, in county Wicklow, Ireland, a vessel was driven on to the rocks. The storm was terrific, and a terrible death appeared to await the seamen on board the schooner. The lifeboat was launched, and the hardy and courageous seamen ventured out upon their work of rescue. Anxiety was strongly marked upon the countenances of the men. The line between true courage and foolhardiness is very difficult to draw when angry seas threaten to overwhelm rescuers and wrecked. 'Tis a noble heroism which proffers life for life. Amongst the lifeboat's crew sat a man whose countenance wore no trace of anxiety. "Away to the rescue," "Onward," "Lose not a moment," was the burden of his courageous cry. The heavy surf crossed safely, his brawny features shone through the storm with the brightness of the word rescue written upon them. Onward they pulled their way, and twenty long minutes to the watchers on the shore passed before they reached the wreck. Through the blinding storm they watched and waited the supreme issue. Would the

rescuers succeed, or would they be beaten back from their noble work? Could it be that the lifeboat had been swamped? Where was she? Every eye was strained; every heart was lifted up in earnest desire and fervent prayer. The strain was soon relaxed. See, she is returning. From behind the impaled schooner, the lifeboat is seen. "Thank God, they have rescued some at last!" said a gentleman, as by the aid of the glass he discerned a larger number in the lifeboat than she started with. How those oars defy the strength of ocean; success nerves every arm; the buoyant craft insists upon the surface, and every minute brings them nearer to the shore. Men breathe more freely, now, and the sound of loud cheering words reaches the occupants of the gallant lifeboat. Yes, they had taken all the precious lives off the schooner, and now the strife of storm was but a battle for the destruction of property. The men (the real estate) in the ship were saved. Half-an-hour sufficed to see them through the danger of the fearful surf. Just round that projecting rock a miniature and natural breakwater sheltered them, and they were saved. Oh! such greetings; such welcome and joy. Saved lives make strangers instant friends. A gentleman present, who had noticed the courageous willingness to go on the part of the seaman to whom I have referred, went up to him, and shaking hands, said, "What prompted your hardy courage and readiness to dare the storm?”

66

Ah, sir," the seaman replied, "I can tell you that. I was once in a similar position, wrecked, but rescued by a lifeboat."

Speak Gently; Sorrow may be Hereabouts.—A train was hurrying along one of the main lines of the Western States of America. In one of the cars sat a young woman nursing a little babe, whose restlessness greatly annoyed some of the passengers.

farmer, whose appearLooking up from his

Amongst these was a portly-looking ance betokened comfort and plenty. paper, evidently irritated by the child's continued cry, he said, "Can't you keep that child quiet?" His eye met the gaze of