the infinity of grace which is in Jesus, " for of His fulness have we all received, and grace for grace." Now if, in unions for prayer, one voice only were the exponent of the feelings of all, the channel of blessing would surely be much narrowed. "There are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all; but the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal." Sketch an object from one point of view only, and, may-be, you get a correct outline; but it is a flat, one-sided view. Now, combine with this another outline, sketched from the stereoscopic angle, and the picture will start into relief before you with a strange, almost living reality. Thus truth, in itself essentially one, has many aspects in which it is presented to varied minds, and it is through blending these we apprehend its reality and fulness. On the other hand, it has been found inexpedient to urge those to conduct the prayers of others who are painfully nervous in praying before them. In the presence of an Almighty God, of heartsearching purity, when we really draw nigh to God and feel He draws nigh to us, every other presence should be lost sight of except that of the Mediator, the Man Christ Jesus. If we cannot. succeed in banishing the recollection of the presence of comparative strangers, it is probably better to wait till we are sufficiently familiar with them to do so. Perhaps, in such a case, if none could be found willing to offer extempore prayer, the difficulty might be bridged over by writing prayers beforehand, which could be read at the time. The results we have already been permitted to trace in this one small circle of mothers, make us the more earnest in urging others to make a similar experiment. In the first place, the refreshment and enjoyment of the hour itself is very helpful to those whose daily recurring duties claim from them a constant supply of grace and wisdom. In many the springs of spiritual and mental life are so delicately poised, that they soon lose their elasticity; they bend under the pressure of anxiety, or are worn out by the little frets and cares of life; they need an occasional repair, to be strengthened and renewed. Such have come weary, and gone away invigorated and refreshed. "It is the happiest hour of all the month," said one dear friend, and the expression was echoed by one and another, whose bright faces testified it was no hollow compliment. Another, when ill, left her bed to join us; and many little arrangements evidence the unwillingness of any to absent themselves for any but grave reasons. One who has, since she joined us, left the neighbourhood for a distant part of this wide city, always contrives still to meet with us. "I gain too much to be willing to give it up," is her testimony. In January, shortly after the beginning of our mothers' meeting, one of the members mentioned a beloved son going to leave the parental roof for a distant land. He was a precious child, who had responded to careful parental training by conduct which was habitually dutiful and affectionate. His outward walk was blameless before man; but, with the keen-sighted instinct of true affection, behind the veil of natural reserve, his mother detected all was not right with God. The altar was built, the wood was laid in order; the heavenly flame was wanting to kindle the acceptable sacrifice. One thing he lacked, but that one thing was the essential of life, the numeral without which all earthly endowments are cyphers, but which, placed first, gives its value to each. Together we pleaded that, if it were God's will, this loved one might, during the four months which must elapse before he left home, give evidence that he was born again; that, ere he quitted his father's dwelling, he might learn to look up to a heavenly Parent, and say, "My Father, Thou art the guide of my youth." The prayer was offered in submission to God's will; for while we know He willeth not the death of a sinner, we may not dictate times and seasons to Him. It was signally answered. When the ship sailed, his happy mother told with overflowing heart of what God had done for her son; how heartily he had devoted himself to his father's God; how natural reserve had melted before the warmth of new and spiritual affection. He had joined with them in praying aloud; at first it was in broken, stammering accents, but before he left, his prayers were the outpouring of a heart overflowing with believing love. We asked when the change began, and heard that while he believed others had long reckoned him a child of God; it was only in January he truly began to seek God. January! the very time we had united in prayer for him. Truly it is written, "While they are yet speaking I will hear."-From " Mothers in Council." UNHAPPY MARRIAGES. OW many an anxious thought a loving mother has in looking forward to the future of her daughters, as to what their lot in life may be! The mother knows from her own experience the peculiar trials of a woman's life; and she often longs that if her girls should marry, they may have good husbands, and thus be spared the countless miseries that await the wife of a worthless man. What great advantage would arise if all mothers were careful to train their daughters to look on the subject of engaging in marriage as a very serious matter, requiring the utmost care and most prayerful consideration before entering upon it, instead of allowing them to think of it only as a thing to be joked about, as so many appear to do! We must all have noticed how often young girls seem to marry merely as a matter of course, and with almost as little consideration as if they were buying a new bonnet or dress. I have often heard a gentleman speak of the case of a young woman in his factory, who one day announced her intention of marrying a man who had only come to work there a few days before. Her employer expressed his surprise, and asked her whether she thought it wise to marry on so very short an acquaintance. Her reply was, that "she didn't know; the young man asked her to marry him, and she thought she would; but if her master disapproved of it, she would give it up at once, for she cared nothing about him-nothing at all!" Surely, in such a case as this, there could be little reasonable prospect of a united and happy wedded life. This may appear to some to be an extreme case; yet I fear there are too many girls who are quite as ready to rush into a marriage without consideration as the young woman I have mentioned. Marriage is one of the most important steps we take in life-a step that, once taken, cannot be undone or retraced; it is for life. How important, then, that mothers who have daughters to bring up should train them to consider how necessary it is for them not to enter into marriage with one whom they do not feel that they can willingly love, honour, and obey! What young woman would like to promise to honour and obey a drinking or immoral man, or one who was in the habit of giving way to outbursts of passion, or using bad language, if she had seriously weighed these things? She would feel that the kind of husband she needed was one who would lovingly help her on her way to heaven, and not one who would in any way hinder her; and unless she had the opportunity of marrying one who would thus help her, she would prefer not to marry at all, and brave all the consequences of being an "old maid"-a lot which we should all agree in thinking much less terrible than that of being the poor careworn wife of a bad husband, perhaps having to work, not only to maintain herself, but also (as, we know, is too often the case) to maintain both her husband and children! Perhaps some who are placed in very trying circumstances, where their children are almost inevitably exposed to temptation, and surrounded by bad examples among their neighbours, may be ready to say, "It is no use for me to try to mend matters: I can do nothing that will have any effect." But do not be so easily discouraged; it is an old saying that "where there is a will, there is a way," and there is a great deal of truth in it. It is astonishing how often a way will open for doing a thing, if we only set ourselves diligently to find it, and if we are determined to lose no opportunity of trying to do right. But when we feel how weak we are, and how little we can do, let us seek help from God; for "to them that have no might He increaseth strength" (Isa. xl. 29). There is every encouragement given to the Lord's people to ask of Him for all they need; and He will not refuse the anxious mother's cry unto Him for grace to be enabled to guide her children aright, and ation, these friends consented, and the authoress of Short Tracts for Mothers most kindly supplied them with notes of Scripture subjects considered at a similar mothers' meeting, and with the following rules she had drawn out for its practical regulation, which had been found to work well: RULES FOR LADIES' MOTHERS' MEETING. 1. The members shall meet on the last day of every month at twelve o'clock. 2. Every meeting shall commence and end with prayer. 3. The time shall be spent in reading the Scriptures, and such works as relate to education, in conversation, and in prayer for a blessing on our efforts for the good of our children. 4. That at each meeting a subject be proposed, to be carefully considered and studied before the next. 5. That every Monday the members should unite in prayer for a blessing upon the Association, upon each other, and upon their children. 6. That every Member of the Association shall consider herself bound, if possible, to read a portion of Scripture daily with her children. An alphabetical list of the mothers united in this little association, with their children's names and birth-days written under each, was inscribed on a large card, and a copy given to each mother to hang in her bed-room, that she might be able to remember each by name at the throne of grace. The special circumstances of any causing anxiety, or calling for praise, are named at the monthly meeting, and prayer offered, or thanksgiving rendered accordingly. It has been found an advantage for the meeting not always to be held in one house, lest it should become too individual an effort. The members have therefore met alternately at three houses central to those in their immediate neighbourhood. As part of the hour was frequently lost in separate conversations, carried on by little knots of two or three, all conversing at the same time, it has been found expedient to economise the time of all by appointing one of the members president pro tem., to whom all conversation must be addressed, that all may share in it. It is considered the duty of the president, as far as possible, to limit the conversation to the subject under discussion. The lady at whose house the gathering is, generally acts as president. The little effort of praying before others, felt by those who have not previously been accustomed to do so, has been amply repaid by the enlarged communion of heart to which it has led. The Church of Christ is affianced to One who is infinite. We can never fathom the fulness of His truth and love; but the variety of grace bestowed on the multitude whom no man can number, which constitutes the Bride, the Lamb's wife, in some feeble measure reflects the infinity of grace which is in Jesus, " for of His fulness have we all received, and grace for grace." Now if, in unions for prayer, one voice only were the exponent of the feelings of all, the channel of blessing would surely be much narrowed. "There are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all; but the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal." Sketch an object from one point of view only, and, may-be, you get a correct outline; but it is a flat, one-sided view. Now, combine with this another outline, sketched from the stereoscopic angle, and the picture will start into relief before you with a strange, almost living reality. Thus truth, in itself essentially one, has many aspects in which it is presented to varied minds, and it is through blending these we apprehend its reality and fulness. On the other hand, it has been found inexpedient to urge those to conduct the prayers of others who are painfully nervous in praying before them. In the presence of an Almighty God, of heartsearching purity, when we really draw nigh to God and feel He draws nigh to us, every other presence should be lost sight of except that of the Mediator, the Man Christ Jesus. If we cannot succeed in banishing the recollection of the presence of comparative strangers, it is probably better to wait till we are sufficiently familiar with them to do so. Perhaps, in such a case, if none could be found willing to offer extempore prayer, the difficulty might be bridged oyer by writing prayers beforehand, which could be read at the time. The results we have already been permitted to trace in this one small circle of mothers, make us the more earnest in urging others to make a similar experiment. In the first place, the refreshment and enjoyment of the hour itself is very helpful to those whose daily recurring duties claim from them a constant supply of grace and wisdom. In many the springs of spiritual and mental life are so delicately poised, that they soon lose their elasticity; they bend under the pressure of anxiety, or are worn out by the little frets and cares of life; they need an occasional repair, to be strengthened and renewed. Such have come weary, and gone away invigorated and refreshed. "It is the happiest hour of all the month," said one dear friend, and the expression was echoed by one and another, whose bright faces testified it was no hollow compliment. Another, when ill, left her bed to join us; and many little arrangements evidence the unwillingness of any to absent themselves for any but grave reasons. One who has, since she joined us, left the neighbourhood for a distant part of this wide city, always contrives still to meet with us. "I gain too much to be willing to give it up," is her testimony. In January, shortly after the beginning of our mothers' meeting, one of the members mentioned a beloved son going to leave the parental roof for a distant land. He was a precious child, who had |
