STRIKING THOUGHTS.

Did not Lord Byron feel the sharpness of the goad when he exclaimed, concerning the gospel, "The worst of it is, I believe it?"

You have heard of the sword-fish. It is a very curious creature, with a long and bony beak, or sword, projecting in front of its head. It is also very fierce, attacking other fishes that come in its way, and trying to pierce them with its sword. The fish has sometimes been known to dart at a ship in full sail, with such violence as to pierce the solid timbers. But what has happened? The silly fish has been killed outright by the force of its own blow. The ship sails on just as before, and the angry sword-fish falls a victim to its own rage. But how shall we describe the folly of those who, like Saul of Tarsus, oppose the cause of Christ? They cannot succeed: like the sword-fish, they only work their own destruction.—Illustrative Teaching.

Dr. John Hall, in one of his sermons, compared the attacks of infidelity upon Christianity to a serpent gnawing at a file. As he kept on gnawing, he was greatly encouraged by the sight of the growing pile of chips; till, feeling pain, and seeing blood, he found that he had been wearing his own teeth away against the file, but the file was unharmed.

Oh cursed, cursed Sin! Traitor to God,
And ruiner of man! Mother of Woe,
And Death, and Hell!

Pollok.

Cowper describes Voltaire as—

"An infidel in health, but what when sick?

Oh-then a text would touch him at the quick."

Men complain of their circumstances, and cry, "This is hard-hard as for the bird of plumage to beat against the wires of its cage." Nay, harder far than that. It is hard for loss of time, for loss of temper, for loss of strength, for loss of trusting, loving obedience; and because no good can come of it, no success can be gained in the vain, Utopian, and worse than foolish struggle. Let every man struggle to improve himself, and he will not fail to improve his lot also. But let him never "kick" against his earthly lot; for so, if hurt at all, he hurts himself the more. He "kicks against the pricks."

Pulpit Commentary.

The Spirit of God can make use of any agency to bring sinners to repentance and faith in the Redeemer. Commenting once upon the words, "The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib; but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider," the speaker sought to impress upon his people how strangely guilty the human heart is, despising the goodness of God, and forgetting his very existence. Three or four days after, a farmer, who had been present, was giving provender to his cattle, when one of his oxen, evidently grateful for his care, fell to licking his bare arm. Instantly, with this simple incident, the Holy Spirit flashed conviction on the farmer's mind. He burst into tears, and ex

claimed, "Yes, it is all true. How wonderful is God's word! This poor dumb brute is really more grateful to me than I am to God, and yet I am in debt to him for everything. What a sinner I am!" The lesson had found its way to his heart, and wrought there effectually to lead him to Christ.

CXCV.

AND THE BARBAROUS PEOPLE SHEWED US NO LITTLE KINDNESS FOR THEY KINDLED A FIRE, AND RECEIVED US EVERY ONE, BECAUSE OF THE PRESENT RAIN, AND BECAUSE OF THE COLD."-Acts xxviii. 2.

H

ERE was an early Shipwrecked Mariners' Society.

Among rough people there is much of genuine kindness.

Let not people of a gentler mould, greater education, and larger possessions, come behind them in deeds of kindness.

Their kindness was thoroughly practical. We have too much of "Be ye warmed," and too little kindling of fires.

There may be spiritual as well as physical cold, and for this last the kindling of a fire is needed. This is our present subject.

I. THAT WE ARE VERY APT TO BE COLD.

1. The world is a cold country for gracious men. 2. By reason of our inbred sin, we are cold subjects, and far too apt to be lukewarm, or frozen. 3. Cold seasons also come, when all around lies bound in frost. Ministers, churches, saints, are too often cold as ice.

4. Cold corners are here and there, where the sun seldom shines. Some good men live in such cold harbors.

5. Chilling influences are now abroad. Modern thought, worldliness, depression in trade, depreciation of prayer, etc.

If we yield to the power of cold, we become first uncomfortable, next inactive, and then ready to die.

II. THAT THERE ARE MEANS OF WARMTH.

1. The Word of God is as a fire. Heard or read, it tends to warm the heart.

2. Private, social, and family prayer. This is as coals of juniper.

3. Meditation and communion with Jesus. "While I was musing the fire burned:" Ps. xxxix.

3.

"Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way?" Luke xxiv. 32.

4. Fellowship with other Christians. Malachi iii.

16.

Job

Doing good to others. Job prayed for his friends, and then his captivity was turned. xlii. 10.

6. Returning to first love and doing first works, would bring back old warmth. Rev. ii. 4, 5. Let us get to these fires ourselves, lest we be frostbitten and benumbed.

III. THAT WE SHOULD KINDLE FIRES FOR OTHERS.

We need the fire of revival, seeing so many are washed upon our shores in dying circumstances.