true, and all-absorbing as theirs. They said, "We know whom we love," a long time before they said, "We know whom we understand.” And so it has ever been, and is. Men differ everywhere as to their "views" about Jesus Christ, and some are "babes in Christ," and some see through how dark and distorted a glass! and yet one passionate love is throbbing in the souls of all-a love that often defies the conclusions of a syllogism, and overleaps the confines of a creed, to ply its wings amid the "great cloud of witnesses," gathered from every land, and creed, and clime-all made one in Jesus Christ. Yes, and He is most truly known when we put away our books, and our theories, and leave our Rabbis, and walk alone with Him, amid the silences of our hearts: for He said "Not as the world giveth, give I unto you," because He reveals Himself only to the spirit of the little child. Hence such doctrines as the Atonement, and others, are often understood for the first time when a man totters out of his study, into the room with darkened windows, where, as in a place of shade, the Lord will manifest Himself to the quiet and humble soul. What doctrines, too, have been made clear over a tiny coffin, or a little grave-and what sweet revealings to the soul have come thence! And all this is because the fountains of the heart are then opened, and because the spiritual sentiment of love, chastened by a sacred communing with sorrow, has made the heart susceptible, making it forgetful for awhile of the hindrances that we have cultured as helps, and so leaving it free to be dealt with and blest by the Holy Christ. This is why the sorrowful and the forlorn seem, when they remember Him at all, to come to such a beautiful and holy knowledge of Him, as though they had indeed been with Him, and He had said to them "Peace I give unto you; come nearer unto me, and I will give you rest." And this is why little children have been known to name Him, with the beautiful voice of love. S AN OLD STORY. ITTING by the cottage door, Sitting by the cottage door, Little Alice of the dell. Alice with the golden hair, Blue-eyed, sweet simplicity? Chilly silence brooding there, Who is this so wondrous fair? Alice with the golden hair, T HAPPINESS AND BLESSEDNESS. HERE are those who speak of happiness and blessedness as though they meant the same thing. This is far from the truth. To be happy is to be pleased to have what we like; but to be blessed is often to be disappointed, and to have what we do not like; and even so, blessedness is greater and sublimer than happiness. The striving of men everywhere is for happiness, but love of happiness is only love of pleasure. The longing for happiness is selfish and often cowardly; but to pray for blessedness, and be content with it, is heroic and divine. He who has only learnt to be happy, has yet to learn the greatest lesson of life; he must be "born again." If we would understand how great is man's nature, and when it is greatest, we must go to the man "despised and rejected of men,”—"the man of sorrows and acquainted with griefs." Was He happy? Did He hedge Himself round with materials wherewith to build up a pleasant life? Why was ours a poor, striving, bruised, and suffering Christ? Was it not because men needed to be taught that even God's dearest One must be perfected by suffering, and that the greatest-the divinest life is not the happy and the pleasant, but the blessed and the good? Contrast the "sermon on the mount" with what has been the faith of the world, these hundreds of years.-"Happy are the ambitious, and the high-spirited," says the world, "for theirs shall be the riches of this life." "Blessed are the poor in spirit," replies Christ, "for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.” 66 Happy are the joyful, and the men whose lives are lit with pleasure," cries the world, "for they shall not be sad." "Blessed are they that mourn," says Christ, "for they shall be comforted.” 66 Happy are the men who can resent insults, and return injuries," says the world, "for they shall not be thought cowards." "Blessed are the meek," Christ pleads, "for they shall inherit the earth." "Happy are they who never hunger nor thirst for anything," says the world, "for they shall not be uncomfortable." "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness," teaches Christ, "for they shall be filled." Happy are the hard men, and the men who will have their rights," cries the world, "for they shall not be losers." "Blessed are the merciful," pleads Christ, "for they shall obtain mercy." "Happy are the men of a reputable life,” says the world, "for they shall see good society." "Blessed are the pure in heart," replies Christ, "for they shall see God." "Happy are the men who can fight for their own," exclaims the world, "for they shall not be injured.” "Blessed are the peacemakers," says Christ, "for they shall be called the children of God." "Happy are the men who never get into trouble about anything," says the world, “for they shall not be martyrs." "Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake: rejoice, and be exceeding |