May 16

Upon the wicked he shall rain . . . an horrible tempest.

PSALM xi. 6.

The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. — MATT. xxiv. 50, 51.

THE faithless servant shall be stung with deepest remorse when he shall see his Lord. In the face of the triumphant Saviour he shall read the disappointment which his indifference has wrought, and how great the loss has been to him by neglecting those duties which would have brought in their train eternal blessedness. He shall be surprised in his indifference. His brightest hopes shall prove a cloud without rain. Though planted by a heavenly husbandman in a garden on a fruitful hillside, tended with all the love that can well up from the heart of an infinite Saviour, and watered by the dews of the Spirit, he shall be cut asunder. The vine laden with sour grapes shall be torn from its trellis-work, and the fruitless tree shall be rooted up. He shall find his portion, but without, among the hypocrites. Instead of the wedding march, heralding the approach of the bridegroom, his stupid ear shall be shocked by the groans of those who obeyed not the call. Instead of the flutter of angels' wings to bear him up, he shall hear the gnashing of teeth. O Spirit of life, whisper again thy loving come, that we may not fall into this death!

Conrad Clever

Have I long in sin been sleeping,

Long been slighting, grieving thee?

Has the world my heart been keeping?

Oh, forgive and rescue me, — even me.

MRS. E. CODNER.