in his death. He said that to the true believer it was but the shadow of death; the shadow of a sword cannot slay, the shadow of a serpent cannot sting; and therefore, being but the shadow of death, the Christian passes safely through the dark valley "leaning on the beloved Saviour."

Life nor death shall such dissever
From His love who reigns for ever:
Will He fail them ?-never, never,
When to Him they cry.

HEN I search through that treasurehouse of promises, God's own word, there is one especially which attracts my eye, which warms my heart, and excites me to stretch every nerve in the service of my heavenly Master; it is the following:"They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmanent, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." Often, when young, have I pondered over this inspiring verse, and longed to "be wise;" and longed to "turn many to righteousness." I have sat at the open window on a calm summer night, when the falling of a leaf was enough to break the stillness; and have gazed on the firmament, which is still

"very good," as it was when first spread by the Creator's hand; and, looking up at it, spangled gloriously, I have earnestly desired to "shine as a star for ever and ever."

My secret ponderings were known to Him from whom no secrets are hid; and He soon saw fit to place me in a sphere where all the energies of mind and body were needed, to assist the preacher by the humbler office of teaching. Ten years have passed; and though the work has been an anxious onean increasingly anxious one-it has been blessed; and I can set to my seal that God is true when He says, "Be not weary in welldoing, and in due season ye shall reap, if ye faint not." I can say to you, dear reader, let the object of your life be to testify of Jesus; do so with prayer and pains; and even here you will have a slight foretaste of the joy which the missionary spirit will hereafter partake of to the full.

It is not, however, of myself that I would now speak; some might point to me, and say, "You have had special helps and advantages for the work, from which many are

debarred." I wish to draw the minds of those who may read this little book, to the high privilege of being called to teach, by the dying expressions of the child Emma Moore, to her humble, holy governess. I am grieved often, when I go into a Sunday-school, to see the listless manner, the want of interest and of heavenly unction, in the teachers. Such will not be blessed! The heart must be in the work,-love to God and to the children must beam from the eye; the children must be exhorted with tears to seek Him early; they must be anxiously examined as to their ways, whether they pray, whether they read the Bible, whether they hate evil. Topics of engrossing interest should dwell on the teacher's as well as the preacher's lips; such as, the dark valley of the shadow of death, with and without a Saviour's supporting hand; the joys of heaven,-the songs of the redeemed, as they cast their crowns before the throne of the exalted Jesus; the terrors of hell,-its moans, its groans, the words inscribed upon its portal, "Ye knew your Lord's will, but ye did it not." When