May 12

1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, whether in the body I cannot tell, or whether out of the body I cannot tell; God knoweth: such a one caught up to the third heaven.

3 And I knew such a man, whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell; God knoweth:

4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

5 Of such a one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he swore me to be, or that he heareth of me.

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

9 And be said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

"Give up praying away thy thorn, O Christian, and take to heart the promise of all-sufficient grace; then shalt thou begin with Paul to boast of thy weakness and shelter thyself in Christ's own power."—W. F. Besser.

"It is every Christian's duty to have a victory either over his trials or in them. And this last is the better of the two, and far more glorious; for it is a higher exhibition of Christian manliness to be able to bear trouble than to get rid of it. To be able to endure is more manly than to have nothing to endure. Who could not be a Christian if every time anything touched him to hurt him prayer was like a shield struck right between the weapon and the sensitive skin, so that he could always avoid pain? But if trouble really wrings the nerve and muscle of a man, and then a heroism is vouchsafed to him, such that he can afford to have it continued, there is awakened in him a manhood which is transcendently higher than that which would be awakened if the trouble were removed in answer to his prayer. And this is the promise of the Saviour to the apostle, and, by analogy, to every one that bears trouble: either that it shall be removed, or that grace shall be given with which to bear it. God says, 'My grace shall be sufficient for you. Take trouble and bear it, and I will sustain you under it.'"—H. W. Beecher.

Closet Promise.—My grace is sufficient for thee; for My strength is made perfect in weakness.—2 Cor. xii. 9

Dr. George Matherson, of Scotland, is totally blind, and yet he is one of the most learned and gifted men in all Britain. The following touching words from his pen ought to strengthen the Christian patience of God's afflicted children: "My God, I have never thanked Thee for my thorn. I have thanked Thee a thousand times for my roses, but not once for my thorn. I have been looking forward to a world where I shall get compensation for my cross, but I have never thought of my cross as itself a present glory. Thou, divine love, whose human path has been perfected through sufferings, teach me the glory of my cross; teach me the value of my thorn. Show me that I have climbed to Thee by the path of pain. Show me that my tears have made my rainbow. Reveal to me that my strength was the product of the hour when I wrestled until the break of day. Then shall I know that my thorn was blessed by Thee; then shall I know that my cross was a gift from Thee, and I shall raise a monument to the hour of my sorrow, and the words which I shall write upon it will be these: 'It is good for me that I have been afflicted.'

THE CHILDREN'S CORNER.

Breakfast Motto.—Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled.—Matt. v. 6.

Weekly Proverb.—Before you marry, have where to tarry.—Italian.

DAILY BIBLE READING—JESUS THE MAN OF PRAYER.

Sunday.—At His Baptism.—Luke iii. 21, 22.

Monday.—After Healing the Sick.—Mark i. 32-35.

Tuesday.—When His Fame Spread.—Luke v. 12-16.

Wednesday.—Before Appointing Disciples.—Luke vi. 12-16.

Thursday.—When He Fed Five Thousand.—Mark viii. 1-9.

Friday.—When He Prayed Alone.—Luke ix. 18-27.

Saturday.—When Transfigured.—Luke ix. 28-36.

WHAT I WOULD DO.

If I were a rose On the garden wall, I'd look so fair, And grow so tall; I'd scatter perfume far and wide, Of all the flowers be the pride. That's what I'd do If I were you, O little rose!

If I were a bird, With a nest in a tree, I would sing a song So glad and free, That birds in gilded cages near

Would pause my wild, sweet notes to hear. That's what I'd do If I were you, O gay, wild bird!

Fair little maid, If I were you, I should always try To be good and true: I'd be the merriest, sweetest child On whom the sunshine ever smiled. That's what I'd do If I were you, Dear little maid' —Our Little Ones.

WHICH WILL YOU TAKE?

A rose or a thistle, A rock or a cake, Now answer me quickly, Which will you take? Rose and cake, said every voice.

May you answer as promptly, With judgment as clear, When asked to decide Between water and beer, And then be as wise as your choice.

The one leads to sickness, The other to health; The beer leads to ruin, Pure water to wealth, Yet many the better despise

The one costs you nothing, The other is dear; For God gives the water, But man sells the beer. O when will man learn to be wise? —Edward Carswell.

Dost thou believe on the Son of God? John ix. 35

I want to show you a card which I sometimes ask little children to sign, if they can. Here it is:

Dear Little Friend:

Can you from your heart answer Yes to the following questions?

Do you love Jesus?

Will you try by the help of Jesus to give up everything sinful?

Will you try to be more like Jesus every day?

Name

Residence

Now, if you can say "Yes" to those questions, just write your name and residence in the blank spaces; in after years, when you have grown up, it will be pleasant to look back to. I don't see why the smallest of my readers should not love Jesus. A little girl, who had been converted, was asked if her heart was changed, and gave this beautiful reply: "Something, I know, is changed; it may be the world, it may be my heart. There is a great change somewhere, I'm sure; for everything is different from what it once was."

TWENTIETH WEEK.

PEARL TEXT.—The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; the God of my rock; in Him will I trust.—2 Sam. xxii. 2, 3.

For us whatever's undergone, Thou knowest, willest, what is done. Grief may be joy misunderstood; Only the good discerns the good. I trust Thee while the days go on.

I praise Thee while my days go on; I love Thee while my days go on; Through dark and dearth, thro' me and frost, With empty arms and treasure lost, I thank thee while my days go on. —Mrs. Browning.

Trust not so much to the comforts of God as to the God of comforts.—Mason.

God is a shower to the heart burned up with grief; God is a sun to the face deluged with tears.—Selected.

How kindly has God thwarted me in every instance where I sought to enslave myself. I will learn at last to glory in disappointments—McCheyne.

HELPS FOR THE DEVOTIONAL HOUR.