"IT IS I: BE NOT AFRAID."

OUD was the wind, and wild
the tide ;

The ship her course delayed; The Lord came to their help, and cried,

""Tis I be not afraid."

Who walks the waves in wondrous guise,

By Nature's laws unstaid? ""Tis I," a well-known voice replies; ""Tis I be not afraid."

He mounts the deck: down lulls the
sea;

The tempest is allayed;
The prostrate crew adore; and He
Exclaims, "Be not afraid."

spirit (ver. 17).

Thus, when the storm of life is high,

Come, Saviour, to my aid!
Come, when no other help is nigh,
And say, "Be not afraid."

Speak, and my griefs no more are
heard;

Speak, and my fears are laid; Speak, and my soul shall bless the word,

""Tis I: be not afraid."

When on the bed of death I lie,

And stretch my hands for aid, Stand Thou before my glazing eye, And say, "Be not afraid."

TENFOLD BLESSINGS.

A LETTER TO A FRIEND.

Y DEAR FRIEND,-Tenfold blessings be yours! Whatever be your circumstances, and however dark and inexplicable may appear the dealings of Divine providence around you in this chequered world, "NEVERTHELESS" there are tenfold blessings open to us all, as recorded in the 73rd Psalm, which I earnestly desire may be yours.

1st. To enjoy, and to cultivate access to the sanctuary of God in an inquiring and teachable

And there to obtain,

2nd. True views of God's providential dispensations (ver. 17-20). 3rd. Humbling views of yourself (ver. 21, 22).

4th. Exalting views of God, the Father, Son, and Spirit, as "nevertheless" continually present with you in every place, and you with Him (ver. 23).

5th. As your gracious Upholder in all your past history (ver. 23).

6th. As your unerring Guide through all your future life. (ver. 24).

7th. As the merciful Receiver of your soul into the heavenly glory (ver. 24).

8th. As your one Possession in heaven, your sole Desire upon earth (ver. 25).

9th. As your all-sustaining Strength for the present (ver. 26); and 10th, As your all-sufficient Portion for ever (ver. 26).

May God, the Father, Son, and Spirit, be-the Rock of your heart on whom alone you lean; the Fountain of your felicity to

whom alone you repair; and the Portion of your inheritance' throughout eternity, in Whom alone is all your salvation, and all your desire.

Oh that you may always be enabled by the Holy Spirit to say, truly and from the heart, like the Psalmist, "God is the Rock of my heart (margin), and my Portion for ever." Your "portion," that which is assigned to you; given to be your own; your property and your possession. Thou art God's portioner as a Believer in Jesus, and in Him He gives thee a tenfold portion of blessing,

Himself as your Father.
His Son as your
Brother.
His Spirit as your Comforter.
His Love as your Banner.
His Promise as your Pledge.
His Oath as your Security.
His Word as your Guide.

His Providence as your Defence.

His Heaven as your Home, and

His Eternity as the duration of your existence.

This "Portion" is given in Christ Jesus the Saviour, and is enjoyed through the Holy Spirit by union with Him, in tenfold fulness, as a present portion-a free portion-a full portion-a rich portion-a suitable portion-an incorruptible portion—an indestructible portion--an inexhaustible portion-a joyous portion -and an eternal portion.

It is a "portion" of life, of love, of pardon, of peace, of power, of wisdom, of holiness, of honour, of joy, and of glory.

This "portion" is given from heaven, to lead to heaven, and to be fully enjoyed in heaven.

It is a "portion" earned not by our labour, nor deserved by our merit, but freely bestowed through the righteous life and the meritorious death of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is emphatically and appropriately called "The Lord our Righteousness (Jer. xxiii. 6).

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This blessed Saviour is "THE HEIR OF ALL THINGS (Heb. i. 2). and He asks you to become " a JOINT HEIR " with Himself (Rom. viii. 17), that you may share with Him in—

1st. His heavenly Life to quicken you. 2nd. His heavenly Light to direct you. 3rd. His heavenly Wisdom to counsel you. 4th. His heavenly Power to aid you. 5th. His heavenly Grace to sanctify you. 6th. His heavenly Bread to feed you. 7th. His heavenly Joy to cheer you. 8th. His heavenly Robes to clothe you. 9th. His heavenly Angels to attend you. 10th. His heavenly Glory to crown you.

Accept my best wishes for your constant enjoyment of all the fulness that is in Jesus. Tenfold blessings from the God of blessing, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be your portion in Time and in Eternity! Your affectionate friend,

ENS

JOHN STEVENSON.

MORAL AND RELIGIOUS TRAINING.

HE greater part of those who have written on, or who are practising the art of education, seem to forget that it consists of two great and entirely distinct, though closely allied principles. First, the moral training; secondly, the religious training. And the more any one will enter into the minutiae of education, the more will he perceive and acknowledge, this. It is not enough, as many have thought, and consequently practised, to try and lead a child by inculcating sound gospel doctrines; or by the law of love as revealed in Holy Scripture; or by the light of conscience as regulated by the word of God. This is the religious training; and though needful, yea, indispensable in the education of the young, still not enough. For, till the heart be really changed and born anew by the Spirit of God, though the child have all knowledge of the soundest creeds, yet he cannot obey the law of God as his law; nor till this change can he love God as his Father in Christ, because he knows Him not; nor again, till then can his conscience guide him aright, because the conscience, like every other faculty in man, was debased at the fall. Something more, then, is required to "train up a child in the way he should go ;" and that something is, we imagine, the training, the strengthening, the purifying, the enlightening of his moral nature.

It is almost impossible to name all the points that this must include, they are so numerous; as embracing almost every passion, every desire, every faculty, every attribute of the human mind. But we will name some, as of the most importance, and as being in the present day much overlooked.

As the first, because of its great importance, we would speak of reverence. Reverence in word, in look, in manner, in demeanour. Reverence not only to God, and to every thing sacred,-as His name, His word, His house, His day, but also to all to whom "honour is due;" to those who are in authority, whether public or private, the sovereign, and ministers, whether of Church or State, parents, teachers, and to all elders. This is perhaps, in general, less thought of than any branch of education. And yet, without reverence, how can any one of the "powers that be of God" hold their proper place in the mind of a child? Will he who is used to hear the name of God as a familiar sound, "give the honour due unto His name?" Some, with the most anxious desires after the spiritual welfare of their children, have caused them to think and feel lightly on the subject of religion by speaking of it too familiarly. A very young child may be spoken to on the subject of religion; but let it be done with reverence and devotion, both of look and manner and word. Most right is it

that a young child should be led to pray aloud, and by its mother; but should not that mother be also with it on her knees, or certainly in a reverential posture, instead of, as is too often the case (and that too where no ill health can be urged as an excuse), reclining on her bed? One great cause for the deficiency in reverence from the young towards their elders, we think may be attributed to the habit of making the drawing-room, and even the dining-room, into a kind of nursery for children at a very early age; and the encouraging them to give their opinion on persons and things, and to hear their elders and persons in authority commented on and blamed, so that the habit of respect is destroyed. It would be sad indeed to go back to those times when a child trembled at his parent's presence, and dared not take a seat before him; but the world has fallen into an opposite extreme, and before children "can discern between their right hand and their left," they are often made not merely guests but familiar at their parents' dining-table. These are common topics on which to comment; but while education is made up of little things, a writer on it must not abstain from dwelling on such. And, perhaps, one of the greatest faults in education is that of "despising the day of small things."

The next point in the moral training of childhood is that of obedience,-prompt and ready obedience; because the command has been given, and not merely because it is reasonable. Obedience as implicit as that of the centurion's servant should be almost the first principle inculcated on all children, and at the very earliest age. "Go," and they should go; come," and they should come; "do this," and they should do it. It is comparatively easy to form habits of obedience even in almost an infant. It is the hardest of all tasks to cure a habit of disobedience at any age. But how frequently are parents seen to be thoughtless or careless about enforcing strict obedience from their very young children, while they will be very jealous for their authority over the elder ones who are advancing towards man's estate; and thus they will often be found to exert an almost unlimited authority at the very age when, by the laws of nature, that authority should be exchanged for the equality of friendship.

If parents would study diligently the Bible statements with regard to the obedience that is due from children towards those in authority, they would see the imperative duty of enforcing it, as part—and a principal part-of the training "up of a child in the way he should go."

We now turn to another point, viz., self-control, including under it the command of temper and of feeling, at least as far as the outward expression of it. Why is it that it is a commou complaint against the pious that they have no government over their tempers or tongues when under excitement? Certainly this is occasioned by the want of a habit of self-control in youth; for

though none will deny that the Spirit of God can alone make men really meek and humble, yet every one who has any knowledge of human nature must acknowledge that by a proper discipline in youth, united to a thorough resolution of amendment, even the worst tempers have been to a great degree overcome. Then let self-discipline be taught in youth, not merely as a part of religion, but as belonging to the self-respect that is due to ourselves.

Care also should be taken to repress in children any exaggerated or over-violent expression of feeling on any subject. A calm and composed manner should be taught. Even in the youngest child the expression of warmth of temper should be controlled and restrained; and this, not by punishment at the moment when the temper is excited, but by the calming and quieting influence of solitude, which is often the best correction.

The imagination of youth should also be brought under control, otherwise in many it will run riot as life advances. Many children, and indeed many grown-up persons, who are accused of a habit of speaking falsely, do it, not from any real deficiency in the moral principle of truth, but from an uncontrolled imagination. How many are accused of misrepresentation, or adding to facts in the repetition of a story or event, who have done this most unintentionally! The vivid imagination gave a false colouring as the fact was received, and in its repetition the picture imaged on the brain was portrayed, instead of the facts as stated.

Enough then has been written on these three great points of moral discipline in the education of youth; namely, on reverence, obedience, and self-control: but surely not too much when their great importance is considered. It is this moral training that is as the foundation of the building on which the superstructure of religion is to be raised. And though none can deny that the highest and holiest truths may and should be imparted very early in life; yet, unless a solid foundation be laid still earlier, or, at any rate, at the same time, the building, however beautiful and costly in its materials, will be swept away by the stormy blasts of temptation, like the house that was builded on the sand.

We would conclude with a few words addressed to Christian mothers for it is from them that we must, for the most part, expect the training up of the children in the way of piety. Blessed is their lot! Most highly blessed! They have a possession that is far above rubies in the love of their children, which is theirs by nature as well as by rearing up. Let them cherish this love. Let them use it as an instrument for their children's eternal welfare. Let them lead them up from it to God. Thousands of sons and thousands of daughters, who have lived for years in the pursuits of sin and worldliness, and then have turned afterwards to God, have traced back the good seed as sown by a mother's voice, watered by a mother's tears, and placed in security by a mother's prayers. Let then the Christian mother sow the seed