Shadows.*

OU remember that slight allusion to St. Peter in the fifth chapter of the Acts,-" Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them." The miracle is but a figure for a most profound and blessed truth.

Thus every

man and woman in the home, in the street, in the store thus every one of us, Sunday after Sunday, in the class, is casting moral shadows which are either hurting or healing those on whom they fall. I remember a most telling incident which Mr. Lockhart mentions in his life of his father-in-law, Sir Walter Scott. It occurred long before he knew Sir Walter. In June, 1814, Mr. Lockhart was cast with a friend in the city of Edinburgh, together with other young men, and as was the fashion then, and too much so now, it was the occasion for a carousal. After the dinner they adjourned into the library, lighted by a Greek window; and the revel went on, until Mr. Lockhart chanced to see upon the fringe of his coat a singular shadow. He was so sombre they could not help asking him if he was sick. He said, "No, I shall be well enough if you will change chairs with me; for through this window I see a hand which bothers me, and, when I look at it, will not let me fill my glass with good will." And so attention was called to the hand, and speech went on about it. The young man said, "See that hand, how it goes over one page of manuscript, and then over another, and another; see it go; how it goes! and so it will go on until candles are brought, and how far into the night God knows. It bothers me; I cannot bear to look at it when I am not at my book." "Some stupid, dogged, engrossing clerk," somebody said. "No, boys," in answer, "I will tell you whose hand that is; that is the hand of Sir Walter Scott." That was the diligent hand which, in the short evenings of a few summer weeks, wrote the last two volumes of the Waverley. That hand wrote the volumes; but it did something more. It changed a life by the lessons of diligence which it taught; for that young man, Mr. Lockhart's friend, learned the lesson which the hand taught him; left his revels and gave himself to his books, and became subsequently a renowned lawyer, Sir William Menzies, of the supreme court of the colonies at the Cape of Good Hope.

From an address delivered at the Annual Meeting of the New York Sunday School Association, by the Rev Wayland Hoyt, D.D., of Brooklyn.

What is this but the miracle over again, Peter unconsciously casting his shadow on those sick ones waiting there in the streets of Jerusalem ? What is this but the lesson over again, that every one of us is casting moral shadows which either blight or bless? That was a miracle; and yet the miracle is but the figure of this tremendous truth, that you and I cannot stand or move in this world, but there goes forth from us something which hurts or heals those around us. Now these unconscious moral and spiritual shadows, which we do cast as really as we cast the shadows of our bodies on the path or on the wall, are among the most prevailing and pervasive of the moral forces. By these, more than by any other moral energy we wield, do we lift or lower, do we bless or curse, our fellows. And why? The answer is easy enough. The reason is because these moral shadows are the real but subtle revelations of our inner selves; they are the adumbrations of our true characters. In that chapter of the Acts preceding that statement about Peter, it says, "And he was filled with the Holy Ghost." It was because the Spirit of healing was in him, that healing shadows were cast forth from him. If that right hand of Sir Walter Scott had been the laggard's hand, it had never cast the subtle influence of diligence over the young reveller and changed a life. Do you remember that passage in Bunyan's" Pilgrim's Progress"? Faithful and Christian are on their way to the Celestial City, and Talkative joins them, and this is the way he answers Faithful: What you will: I will talk to you of things heavenly, or things earthly; things moral, or things evangelical; things sacred, or things profane; things past, or things to come; things foreign, or things at home; things more essential, or things circumstantial; provided that all be done to our profit." And Faithful is amazed and delighted, and he whispers to Christian, "What a brave companion have we got! surely this man will make a very excellent pilgrim." But Christian knows him better; Christian has lived in the same town with him, and Christian answers, "His home is as empty of religion as the white of an egg is of savour. He is the very stain, reproach, and shame of religion to all that know him; it can hardly have a good word in the end of the town where he dwells, through him. Men that have any dealings with him say it is better to deal with a Turk than with him, for fairer dealing they shall have at their hands." Christian had seen the moral shadow which he cast.

So, friends, that influence of the volition, that influence which comes from our direct and personal energy, that influence which streams forth from gesture and eye-glance through all the machinery by which the soul shows itself forth,—that is something, and that is mighty. But did you ever think, that is not the mightiest thing? These moral shadows, this going forth of our inner self beyond and over our volition, this telling on the house-top what we whisper in the inner ear, this streaming forth of what we call unconscious influence, this is the most triumphant thing possible. And so I say that this,

first of all and foremost, is the greatest need in these days of ours.

Why, have you not been shocked by the

fallen ?

“That man has gone down."

was superintendent of a Sunday school." "Who was he?"

in the church."

report of some one who has "Who was he?" "Why, he “That man has gone down."

“Why, he was the teacher of the largest Bible class "That man has gone down." "Who was he ?" "Why, he was the leader in the infant department." Horrible! The mightiest necessity of the day is a revival of real, steady, earnest, honest, Christian character; not promises to pay, but pay; not fiats, but genuine gold money. We must not simply seem to be; we must be. We must not simply seem to have; we must have. That is a golden sentence which is copied in the Talmud of the sage Hillel,— "The holy of holies was left empty in order that thou mightest learn, O Israel, that the Eternal One is restrained from no place; His sanc tuary is in thine heart." And what we need most of all is for ourselves to dwell on those shining table-lands where our God himself move and abides.

But, in the next place, there is the responsibility of prayer. Will you for a moment think of the singular, palpable place of prayer P For many days no clouds have drawn their graceful folds across the glaring face of the sun; no dews during the night have ministered their refreshment to the fainting fields; famine, gaunt and terrible, stands looking into every window, from the hut away up to the palace; and then, like lightning out of a clear sky, comes the announcement of the Almighty, through Elijah's lips, "I will send rain upon the earth," God's message to Ahab. Then follows the mountain scene, the discomfiture of Baal and the compelled recognition of the people : "The Lord, He is the God; the Lord, He is the God." Now, have you ever paused in wonder at the conduct of Elijah after this? He had, in the first place, the great victory, Baal overcome. He had, in the next place, the Divine statement that God would send rain. Why cannot he rest there ? What was the use of doing any more? But he does not rest there; he does do more; he climbs up from that slope of Carmel to that peak projecting far out towards the blue waters of the Mediterranean, and there he falls prostrate and waits in prayer. What is the use? Had he not what he needs? Has he not absolute Divine announcement, "I will send rain upon the earth”? But what James calls "the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man" must be used. Here are the arid fields, and there is the little cloud arising out of the sea like a man's hand; but it needs the breath of prayer to waft it over the arid fields. Elijah stands mediately between God's promise of the rain and the blistering, starving fields; and the implication is, if the prayer be not offered, though God has said it, the sky shall not be dark with clouds and the earth wet with rain. Strange this place, in which stand our priestly prayers, this place mediately between the Divine promise and its fulfilment.

A noble Sphere of Usefulness.

HE schoolroom was large and airy, and hung with

many brightly coloured Bible illustrations and illuminated texts. The classes were assembled for the concluding prayer. Mary Lee, one of the teachers, was, however, apparently unconscious of the fact that the superintendent had already commenced to pray. Her

eye was fixed on one of the texts, "Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit." Had any fruit come of her work? This was the question absorbing her attention. The noise of dismissal awoke her from her reverie, and she turned to bid farewell to her girls. Her girls spoke respectfully, but there was an absence of the warmth with which those of the next class took leave of their teacher. Mary Lee felt the difference, and it pained her. She knew that several of the girls in the next class were decided Christians. Why had none of her class ranked themselves on the Lord's side? She had taught them carefully, had prepared for them prayerfully, she had even spoken to them individually, and urged them to yield themselves to God, but the only answer she had ever got was, 'I don't know how: " and when she had tried to explain, they had either lapsed into silence or turned the conversation, and she had noticed they seemed to avoid her after. What was the cause?

Why, Miss Lee, you are in a deep brown study," said the superintendent by her side; are you planning some improvement, or have your girls troubled you? It is not often I see you so very thoughtful?"

"My girls have troubled me, sir, but not in the way you would suppose. I am wondering how it is I see so little fruit from my work."

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And you were wondering too, were you not," he replied, "how it is that Miss Davis is so much more successful?

"Yes, sir, you have read my thoughts correctly, but indeed I was not jealous of her success, but thinking where had I been unfaithful."

"Do you remember the apostle Peter's injunction, 'Add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge'? I think perhaps your seeming want of success in the one great object you have in view is due to lack of knowledge. Do not misunderstand me, I am not now speaking of book knowledge, nor of principles and art of teaching; I refer to the knowledge of human nature, and of God's dealing with human souls. These girls have each had a widely different experience, and how can you without knowledge find where is their most accessible point? They show quite a different character to you from what appears in their home life. They feel you know very little of them, their temptations and their sins, and they do not feel confidence in what you recommend; they feel pretty much as you would feel if a doctor were sent for and prescribed you a remedy without knowing your complaint."

"I have often felt as you describe in speaking to the children, but how do you know so exactly my failings?"

"My dear Miss Lee, I have just been saying to you that you should study the characters of your children; do you not think I speak from experience? I study the characters of my teachers, or I should feel myself unfitted to superintend them. I heard you in your own home observe to your brother that you could not summon up enough courage to visit your children; and since I have been watching for just this opportunity of speaking with you, and praying for it too."

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'Why did you not speak before, sir? did you think I would mind ?"

“Experience teaches us many things," said the superintendent, kindly, “and one lesson I have learned, I trust from the Master Himself, is this,-not to be too hasty about doing His work; to wait, watch, and pray, and God will send the opportunity in His own good time; we must tarry' till we are 'endued with power from on high.'

"I have been very wrong," she answered, humbly. " how can I gain knowledge ?"

What must I do now?

"If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God;' on your knees, my child, alone with God, pray for that wisdom and power His Holy Spirit will give. Then do not hesitate or fear to do your duty in the way pointed out; visit your children, make yourself acquainted with their surroundings and difficulties; take any and every opportunity of showing them you have their true interest at heart, and you will find many unexpected opportunities of saying a word for Jesus."

"Thank you, sir, I will try to do my duty more faithfully," said Mary Lee, "and I will try to visit the children."

"Don't say, 'I will try;' when it is a right thing to do, say, 'I WILL DO IT.' We were speaking of Miss Davis just now; some years ago she learnt the same lesson that is before you, but hers was a bitter experience. She is just leaving the schoolroom; come with me, and I will ask her to tell you how she was taught of God."

"But will it not pain her, sir, to be reminded of past trouble? "

"Not now,"

answered the superintendent, "she will be glad if her past trouble will be of service in saving you future pain."

In reply to the question of the superintendent, Miss Davis expressed herself not only willing, but glad of the opportunity of becoming better acquainted with her fellow-teacher, and Mary Lee noticed the look of love and confidence that passed from the one to the other of her friends; and she wished herself to gain the confidence of one whom she respected highly.

"I am so glad to become more intimate with you, Miss Lee," said Miss Davis as they walked along together; “I think we might often be of use to one another.” "You would be of use to me," was the reply, "but I am afraid I could not aid you in return."

"If you will excuse me, I must say I think you are wrong there; the strongest need the sympathy of others; and there is one cause of the failure of so much Christian work. We hold aloof from one another, and become 'weary in well doing,' when a little healthy conversation with another of our Master s servants would send us on our way refreshed. I have often felt this after a quiet talk with our superintendent."