delayed. It is not an act of favour, but of common honesty to pay them, and it were most selfish and unkind to satisfy some fancied want or inclination, by the expenditure of that money which indeed belongs to others, though they fear to give offence by asking for it. And supposing that you pay your bills once a year, if the tradesmen be obliged to pay their's twice, or four times during that period, you may cause them serious inconvenience, and much more so if your payments be unfixed or irregular.

With regard to the exercise of patience towards the faults of our dependants, it will be rendered easy by the habit of meekly considering our own. Probe to the quick, and "do unto others as you would they should do unto you." Ever have regard to the offence itself, rather than to the vexatiousness of its consequenees. Many an act of carelessness inflicts its own chastisement. Where serious offences require punishment, let not justice be untempered with mercy, nor embittered by malice.

There is another class of persons peculiarly liable to suffer from the inconsideration which is so prevalent, the keepers of lodging-houses. What sojourner is as careful of warping and scratching the tables and chairs of other people as he would be of his own? Are not many scrambling children and dirty boots allowed upon the lodging-house sofa which dare not approach one at home? Who watches the accumulating grease spots on the baize table-cover, or the ink splashes on the table itself, or the water drops on the sideboard with any anxiety, or notices whether the sunblind shades the carpet and curtains or not?

Yet almost everybody has a sort of affection for

his articles of furniture, apart from their intrinsic value, and feels a sorrow at seeing they have sustained an injury, independently of pounds, shillings, and pence; therefore there is something unkind as well as dishonest in not taking care of them.

The hired horse or vehicle ought not to be worse treated than our own of a similar kind. The hired or club book should not be carelessly thrown about, the cover warped by the fire, the leaves creased into dog's-ears, or the binding split by laying it open upon its face.

In truth the Law of Consideration is of universal application, and the more it is practically illustrated the stronger will be the testimony of the increasing influence of the law of love upon the heart, of the progressive subjection of every thought and feeling to the obedience of Christ.

The ancient mode of warfare is aptly likened to a game of chess; perhaps in that complicated game might also be found no inappropriate similitude for human life. At least in this the analogy is striking, 66 no move is indifferent," none unattended by consequences, none without some bearing upon the final issue.

Christians, despise not the Law of Consideration! Oh think of Hannah More; be kind, be honest in these little things.

L. 0.

CHRISTIAN INTERCOURSE.

EVEN in regard of the friends with whom we may have been privileged by a kind providence, how infrequent is that communion on which the heart and mind can repose with full satisfaction! The necessary occupations and businesses of life restrict the personal intercourse of friends within but narrow limits. And, when obtained, not seldom something arises to cause the heart disappointment in it. Some jarring of temper is felt, however slight; some clashing of worldly interests, some difference of taste or sentiment, which, though no preventive to mutual esteem and good will, may yet operate to prevent the delightful reciprocation of the out-flowings of affection. Indeed there are not a few who seem constitutionally incapable of such out-flowings, even towards their friends. Again, even where all is affection and cordiality, still how frequently is there felt the intellectual poverty of the intercourse! Whether from the limited powers and furniture of the mind, or the want of colloquial ability, conversation is insipid. There is little in it of what is interesting, instructive, noble, heart-stirring. The memory, as it reflects upon it afterwards, finds little that it would wish to retain. Such, in no small measure, is the intercourse of friends in this world; seldom, if ever, fully satisfying either to the intellect or the heart; seldom at all answering to that ideal

model of the communion of friendship which we yet cannot but fancy as possible, and look and long for its realization. It is obvious that in friendship, as in every other pure source of enjoyment, religion gives real Christians an incomparable advantage over all others. For supposing other qualifications the same, how greatly must selfish feeling be repressed by the influence of the good Spirit from above, how greatly love quickened, and confidence increased! And, then, among the subjects of Christian conversation, there will be some as much higher than other objects as heaven is than the earth, and the things of God than those of man. Still even sincere Christians continue creatures full of imperfection; and hindrances, such as have been hinted, operate with them to an extent greater than might beforehand have been anticipated, to render their communion with those they love not only infrequent but often unsatisfying and poor. So disappointment meets us even in our friendships in this world. the believer will not always be disappointed in them. There is something better for him to come......... The idea of conversing with the holy men of other times, with Adam, and Enoch, and Noah; with Abraham and Moses, with the patriarchs, prophets, martyrs, and whole company of the redeemed out of every age, and tongue, and nation; this must, even to the natural man, appear an association most desirable, from its promise of gratification to the curiosity and the understanding. But it is the enjoying God in it, that is here the saint's fondest anticipation of the society of heaven, and will be there to his mind its chief zest and joy. whole communion be hallowed.

But

Thus will their And oh! what a

blessedness will attach to it! What a reflection will each then present to the saints that commune with him of the glory of Jesus! a reflection brighter than that of Moses when he came down from Mount Sinai, for we shall be then perfectly like him, seeing him as he is! What outflowings of love will there be, as under the full influence of him who is love! What subjects of converse! the mysteries of the universal creation, and, still deeper, the mysteries of redemption; the general, the particular providences through which, as each will tell to his enraptured hearers, that wonder of wonders has been accomplished, that he has himself been brought safe to heaven; the perfections of God, the love of Jesus; the beauty of the celestial mansions; the prospects of eternity, its visions of glory beyond glory, opening before them in endless perspectives; in all these things, I say, what subjects of converse! And what powers of converse, also, when an angel's tongue shall have been given them, and they shall talk on heaven's themes in heaven's own language! REV. E. B. ELLIOTT.

CHRISTIAN COMMUNION.

IT is with Christians as with burning coals: if these are scattered far apart, one after the other is easily extinguished; but when collected together, the fire of the one preserves that of the other, and the glowing coals often ignite others that lie near.—Franké.