April 28

1 The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.

2 For he flattereth himself in his own eyes until his iniquity be found to be hateful. 3 The words of his mouth are iniquity and

. 13 deceit; he hath left off to be wise, and to go good.

4 He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil

5 Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.

6 Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest men and beast

7 How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures

9 For with thee is the fountain of life; in thy light shall we see light

10 O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright is heart

11 Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.

12 There are the workers of iniquity fallen; they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.

This Psalm is the song of those who bear the easy yoke of Jesus. "The wicked are contrasted with the righteous, and the great Lord of devout men is heartily extolled; thus obedience to so good a Master is indirectly insisted on, and rebellion against Him is plainly condemned."

In verses 5 to 9, the Psalmist turns his contemplation to the glory of God. "Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings." "The best of reasons for the best of courses. The figure is very beautiful. The Lord overshadows His people as a hen protects her brood, or as an eagle covers its young; and we as the little ones run under the blessed shelter and feel at rest. To cower down under the wings of God is so sweet."—C. H. Spurgeon.

"They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of Thy house: and Thou shalt make them drink of the river of Thy pleasures." Mark, first, the excellency of the provision, 'fatness of Thy house,' the 'river of Thy pleasures.' The fattest is esteemed the fairest and the most excellent food; therefore the saint was enjoined to offer the fat in sacrifice under the law. As God expects the best from us, so He gives the best to us. . . . But, though God keeps so noble a house to satisfy His people's hunger, what special care doth He take to quench their thirst! 'Thou shalt make them drink of the river of Thy pleasures.' Hath the child, then, any cause, when his Father keeps so rare and costly a table, to leave such dainties and go a-begging up and down the country for scraps and fragments? Oh, how much do these disgrace their Parent's provision, and their own discretion!"—George Swinnock.

Closet Promise.—For thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river.—Isa. lxvi. 12.

"Peace as a river,' so beautifully flowing Quietly onward through darkness or light, Toiling or resting, in sorrow or gladness,

Sad our surroundings, or cheering and bright; Onward, still onward serenely and grand To the ocean of love in the bright glory land."

THE CHILDREN'S CORNER.

Breakfast Motto.—Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.—Eccles. xi. 1.

Weekly Proverb.—What's bred in the bone will never be out of the flesh.—English.

DAILY BIBLE READING.—ON GIVING.

Sunday.—God Claims a Tenth of All—Lev. xxvii. 30; Num. xviii. 20-24. Monday.—God's Promises to Such as Do This.—Mal. iii. 10; Prov. iii. 9. 10

Tuesday.—Examples of Giving.—Heb. vii. 1-3.

Wednesday.—Examples of Giving—1 Chron. xxix 1-9.

Thursday. Examples of Giving.—Acts iv. 31-37.

Friday—Examples of Giving.—Mark xii. 41-44.

Saturday.—General Rules for Giving—Matt x. 8; Luke vi. 38; 2 Cor. ix. 6-8

THE MANLY MAN.

It isn't the boy who doubles his fists, And thrusts them under another's nose, Baring the sleeves from his rigid wrists, Ready to rain vindictive blows;

Whose tongue is ready with gibe and jers To stir up strife wherever he can, Breathing menace and waking fear, Who grows to be a manly man. —Selected.

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth.—Eccles. xii. 1

Dear children, you can never begin too early to become little Christians. I know many little boys and girls who are good members of church, Samuel, John the Baptist, and Timothy early gave their hearts to God. Old Fox, in his Book of Martyrs, gives one instance which ought not to be forgotten. At Antioch, in November, in the year 303, a little boy was seized for the crime of confessing Christ and speaking against idols. When the question was put to him by the furious persecutor, "Who taught you this?" he replied, "My mother, with whose milk I drank in this lesson, that I must believe in Christ." That child was scourged till even the heathen spectators wept; yet he bore it all without a murmur. He smiled when the executioner tore the scalp from his head, and died clinging to the blessed truths of the Gospel, which his pious mother had taught him. Was he not a Christian? Yet the historian tells us that he was only seven years of age. Oh! dear children, give yourselves to Jesus while you are little. Then you will never get led away by the world; and when you grow up you will never be sorry for it.

THE GOAT-HERD OF GRANADA.

I wonder how many of my little friends have ever lived among shepherds, who do nothing but take care of their sheep and goats. In mountainous regions in Granada and other countries you will often see no animals but sheep or goats whichever way you look. The flocks are sometimes very large, and the owners have to employ a great many shepherds to take care of so great a number. They lead them forth from the fold, or from their houses in the villages, and find pasture for them. It is necessary, therefore, that they should be taught to follow, and not stray away into the unfenced fields of corn which lie so temptingly on either side. In the goat-herd, in the picture, the big goats are so tame and well trained that they follow their keeper with the utmost docility. Sometimes the keepers go so far in search of good pasture that the little ones become weary or sick; then the shepherd picks them up and carries them home in a kind of basket, like the one in the picture thrown over the mule's back. How pleased the little ones seem! how safe from all danger, for the shepherd's eye is upon them!

"The Lord is my Shepherd, how happy am I! How tender and watchful my wants to supply; He daily provides me with garment and food, Whatever he denies me is meant for my good

"The Lord is my Shepherd, then I must obey His gracious commandments, and walk in his way; His fear he will teach me, my heart he'll renew, And though I am unfu, my sins he'll subdue."

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EIGHTEENTH WEEK.

PEARL TEXT.—Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.—Lph. v. 16.

On the wild rose tree

Many buds there be,

Yet each sunny hour

Hath but one perfect flower.

Those who wouldst be wise,

Open well thine eyes;

In each sunny hour

Pluck the one perfect flower.

—Selected.

He that waits for an opportunity to do much may breathe out his life in idle wishes.—Selected.

Four things come not back: the spoken word, the sped arrow, the past life, the neglected opportunity.—Selected.

Opportunities are importunities. They are like flowers that fade at night; seize them, therefore, while they last.—Selected.

There are four good habits: punctuality, accuracy, steadiness, and despatch. Without the first of these, time is wasted; without the second, mistakes the most hurtful to our own credit and interest, and that of others, may be committed; without the third, nothing can be well done; and without the fourth, opportunities of great advantage are lost, which it is impossible to recall.—Selected.

HELPS FOR THE DEVOTIONAL HOUR.