the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening. These ravenous birds we find employed here in an occupation of disinterested kindness, denying their own appetites, coming and going at God's bidding, and performing a most beneficial office. No sooner does the morning dawn in Cherith's rocky vale than their cry is heard aloft in the trees, and, when Elijah wakes, he beholds the provision for the day lying before him. And this takes place not merely once, but a whole year round without intermission. O wisdom of God, which carnal reason would account foolishness, how precious art thou! Let the world imagine to itself a magnificent Deity whose government is only general. We adhere to the Lord God of Elijah, and rejoice in his providential superintendence of the smallest matters. Who else was it but the God of Elijah who only a short time ago in our neighbourhood so kindly delivered a poor man out of his distress by a singing bird? The man was sitting early in the morning at his house-door; his eyes were full of tears, and his heart cried to heaven, for he was expecting an officer to come and distrain him for a small debt. While sitting thus, a little bird flew through the street, fluttering up and down as if in distress, until at length it flew over the man's head, into his cottage, and perched itself on a cupboard. The good man, who little imagined who had sent him the bird, closed the door, caught the bird, and placed it in a cage. Suddenly some one knocked. Ah! it is the officer, thought the man, and was sore afraid. But no! it was the servant of a respectable lady who said, that the neighbours, had seen a bird fly into his house, and she wished to know if he had caught it. O, yes, answered the

man, and here it is, and the bird was carried away. A few minutes after, the servant came again. You have done my mistress a great service, said he. She sets a high value upon the bird, which had escaped from her. She requests you to accept this trifle, with her thanks. The poor man received it thankfully, and it proved to be neither more nor less than the sum he owed. And when the officer came, he said, here is the amount-leave me in peace, for God has sent it me.'-Dr. Krummacher's Elijah.

SCRIPTURE REFLECTION.

Col. xi. 5.

Walk in wisdom towards them that are without.

Ir is often a source of much perplexity and disquietude to the devout and consistent Christian, how to order his conduct in reference to "them that are without." Standing, it may be alone on the Lord's side, in the midst of his own family and connexions, with views entirely different from theirs, and with joys and sorrows which they know nothing of, he feels his position to be, as it is in truth, one of no common difficulty and trial. Here are acquaintances and friends whom he cannot but respect and love; and to some of whom he is united by many and the most endearing ties. How then can he find it in his heart to disturb this harmony! how can he burst asunder such bonds as these! But where the honour of God is concerned, there, there must be no hesitating-no compromise -no pleading for this or that exception, "Is it not a

little one?"—no conferring with flesh and blood. The language of Scripture is decisive, "Be not conformed to this world." And again, "Come out from among them, and be ye separate." And again, "He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me." These declarations, I repeat, are most positive; and from the tenor of them no one can, by any means depart in practice with safety to his soul. There is, however, something which the Christian may lawfully do in the way of reconciliation, and to soften the prejudices of those who oppose themselves. He may present his religion in that garb which to the world is the most amiable and alluring; he may avoid every unimportant peculiarity which is offensive to them; he may look well to and, if necessary, correct his phraseology, his manner, his gesture, the tone of his voice; and, above all, he may "let his light so shine before men, that they may see his good works, and glorify his Father which is in heaven." O let all who love the Lord Jesus in sincerity, and whose heart's desire and prayer to God for their brethren is, that they may be saved; O let us all take heed lest we throw a stumbling-block in the way of our brother's salvation, and cause him to perish, for whom Christ died. The world, we must be aware, are quickly prejudiced; and especially against the religion and followers of Jesus. Let us then so order our conversation, that with well-doing we may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. Let the consistency of our life and profession confound the enemies of the Cross. Let us show "to them that are without," that our religion is a principle

which is in continual operation-that we live in a pure benevolent, and heavenly atmosphere-that we aim to do good unto all men-that we are comparatively unaffected by the joys and sorrows, the smiles and frowns, of this passing world-that we are refreshed with secret consolations, supported by invisible strength, and that our hopes, unlike theirs which are withering and delusive, are always flourishing, and full of immortality.

J. R.

SAINT MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS.

September 29th,

THE Everlasting God "hath prepared his throne in the heavens and his kingdom ruleth over all," and various are the methods by which he accomplishes his eternal purposes. For their fulfilment he has ordained and constituted the services of Angels and men in a wonderful order. The good Angels, who kept their first estate, are called the "elect" Angels, the army of heaven, and Christ's holy and mighty Angels, having knowledge and wisdom, purity and holiness, of mighty influence, excelling in strength, activity, and swiftness; and they are his Angels, because they were created by him and are employed in his service. Amongst them are different ranks and orders under Michael head, who is therefore called "the archangel." God they wait, hearkening unto the voice of his word, and they are employed in executing his holy will.

their

On

The prophet Daniel alludes to St. Michael, (Dan. x. 13, 21,) also St. Jude (9 v), and the Epistle for the day.

Are they not all ministering spirits? saith St, Paul.They have been sent forth as executioners of God's vengeance. They were employed to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. An Angel smote all the first born of the land of Egypt. For David's sin in numbering the people an Angel produced the pestilence which destroyed seventy thousand persons. One hundred and eighty five thousand Assyrians perished in one night by the sword of an Angel, and an angel smote Herod for his pride, and he was eaten up of worms. are doubtless still employed, though not in a visible form, for the same purpose in different parts of the world, and they will be the executioners of God's vengeance in the last day. "The son of man shall send forth his Angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."

They

They have been sent forth also as the dispensers of God's mercies "to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation." The same power that destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah rescued Lot. When Jacob went on his way the Angels of God met him. The hand that smote the first born of Egypt preserved the Israelites. Angels were employed in the delivery of the Law, and an Angel compels Balaam, hastening to curse Israel, to utter nothing but what the Lord should put into his mouth. The destroying of the Assyrians saved Jerusalem, and Gabriel was sent to Daniel the greatly beloved with a message of consolation. The same Angel foretold the birth of Jesus and an Angel announced it to the shepherds. Angels ministered to Christ after his temptation, and during