August 25

1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:

2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:

3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own loss.

4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water.

6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens

shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in so holy conversation and godliness.

12 Looking for and having unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleh righteousness.

14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures, unto their own destruction.

17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.

18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen

The second coming of Christ is constantly represented in the New Testament as near, and the view is natural and true.

"The servant that looks for his master will be loth to be found in bed when he comes; no, he sits up to open the door for him when he knocks. Christ hath told us He will come, but not when, that we might never put off our clothes, or put out the candle. 'Watch, therefore, for ye know not what hour the Lord doth come.'"—Gurnall.

"Whether I eat or drink, or in whatever other action or employment I am engaged, that solemn voice always seems to sound in my ears, 'Arise, ye dead, and come to judgment.' As often as I think of the Day of Judgment my heart quakes, and my whole frame trembles. If I am to indulge in any of the pleasures of the present life, I am resolved to do it in such a way that the solemn realities of the future judgment may never be banished from my recollection."—St. Jerome.

"Strive that the Lord at His coming may find you peaceful and reconciled."—Gerhard.

Closet Promise.—I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.—John xiv. 18.

Into sick-rooms, where His children lie, Jesus often comes. No physician visits so faithfully. Noble old Halyburton, of Scotland, said one morning to his family, "Jesus came to me in the third watch of last night, walking upon the waters. He said to me, 'I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, and I have the keys of hell and death.' He stilled the storm in my soul, and lo! there was a sweet calm."—T. L. Cuyler, D. D.

THE CHILDREN'S CORNER.

Breakfast Motto.—How sweet are Thy words unto my taste.—Psalm cxix. 103.

Weekly Proverb. —Success has ruined many a man.—Poor Richard.

DAILY BIBLE READING.—SCENES IN THE LIFE OF SAMSON.

Sunday.—Samson's Birth.—Judges xiii. 1-25.

Monday.—He Kills a Lion.—Judges xiv. 1-9.

Tuesday.—Samson's Riddle.—Judges xiv. 10-20.

Wednesday.—Samson's Foxes.—Judges xv. 1-8.

Thursday.—A Jawbone for a Sword.—Judges xv. 9-20.

Friday.—Delilah's Scissors.—Judges xvi. 1-20.

Saturday.—Samson in Chains.—Judges xvi. 21-31.

A LITTLE CHILD'S RESOLVE.

I will not swear, I will not dare God's name in vain to take;

I will not lie, But I will try The truth my guide to make. —Selected.

As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.—Luke vi. 31.

25

Our verse to-day is what is called the "Golden Rule." I wish every one of my little friends would commit it to memory. If you always keep that rule you will make a great deal of happiness in this world. I read of a good man who lived in Massachusetts. One day his horse happened to stray into the road; his neighbor took him and put him into the pound. Meeting the owner soon after, he told him what he had done, "and if I catch him in the road again," he said, "I'll do it again." "Neighbor," replied the good man, "not long since I looked out of my window in the night, and saw your cattle in my meadow, and I drove them out and shut them in your yard, and I'll do it again." The other man went right off, and let the horse out of the pound, and paid the charges himself. Now, don't you see how the good man kept the "Golden Rule"—he did as he would like to be done by. And his act taught his mean neighbor a good lesson. When your little playmates treat you meanly, do you treat them kindly; then you will be obeying the "Golden Rule."

LEFT IN CHARGE.

This boy has been left in charge of the baby. The mother must leave the room to look after her household duties; or, it may be, must go to the store to make some purchases. The Bible says, "Honor thy father and thy mother." Now, if we would honor our parents, we must obey them. We must not stop to ask questions about what we are told to do, or try to find out the reason for it. It is reason enough that our parents tell us to do a thing.

If a boy is bidden to mind the baby, and chooses to do something else, the goodness of that something else and of the way in which it is done will not save him from censure. The commander of the ship-of-war "Orient," before the battle of the Nile, placed his son, thirteen years of age, on certain duty, to stay at his post till relieved by his father's order. Soon after the father was slain. The boy held his post in the midst of fearful carnage, ignorant of his father's fate; and, while the sailors were deserting the burning and sinking ship, he cried, "Father, may I go?" The permission did not come from his dead father's lips, and there he stood alone, firm at his post, and perished in the flames.

A noble saying is on record of a member of the British House of Commons, who, by his own industry and perseverance, had won his way to that high position. A proud son of an aristocratic family one day taunted him with his humble origin, saying, "I remember when you blacked my father's boots." "Well, sir," was the noble response, "did I not do it well?" Whatever you do, be it so humble a duty as minding the baby, do it well.

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THIRTY-FIFTH WEEK.

PEARL TEXT.—Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.—Psalm xxxvii. 5.

All my times shall ever be Ordered by Thy wise decree: Times of sickness, times of health, Times of penury and wealth.

Times of trial and of grief, Times of triumph and relief. —Selected.

Experience is an excellent schoolmaster; but he does charge such dreadful wages.—Carlyle.

A Christian life is full of mysteries: poor, and yet rich; base, and yet exalted; shut out of the world, and yet admitted into the company of saints and angels; the world's dirt, and God's jewels.—T. Manton.

HELPS FOR THE DEVOTIONAL HOUR.