scientious Christian, viz., the lawfulness of cultivating what are called "accomplishments." In accordance with the views stated above, we look upon it as a duty to do so. Has God given beautiful gifts for the purpose of being buried in the earth? If the soul-cheering art of the musician, the singing of sweet songs, and the still more noble studies of the pencil and the palette, are not abused, but used for the relaxation and refreshment of the wearied mind, and as means of influence and attraction over others, they are consecrated into work for the Bountiful One, who giveth us all things, richly to be enjoyed. Indeed, viewed as the medium of giving pleasure, they become no small element in the social work; there are ever some irritable and Saul-like temperaments which can be soothed and comforted by heart-reaching strains of music; there are ever some minds which will give more respect to the religion that is accompanied by gifts and accomplishments, simply and cheerfully exercised.

The quality most required in social work, is that most difficult to be obtained even at a throne of grace, -unselfishness! There are few imputations from which we start back so sensitively as the charge of selfishness, and never is it more justly founded than when in our own estimation we are peculiarly free from its dominion. All our social faults, however, flow from this source, and we are apt to forget that it is not only selfishness displayed to men, but also displayed

to Him who pleased not Himself. God has given us His will upon this point clearly and strongly expressed in the Golden Rule-"Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them," and its twin commandment-"Love thy neighbour as thyself." Such, doubtless, is the code of the social circle above, but it is not upon earth as it is in heaven. From whence proceeds that "entrenchment in our own individuality," as it has been well expressed by a modern writer, which prevents us from admitting any within the pale of our sympathies, who do not "interest" us, as the phrase is, or with whom we have " no ideas in common? From whence comes the feeling of self-congratulation— "Lo, I am better than thou, wiser than thou, created of finer clay, and gifted with higher intelligence than thou?" From whence come the indifferent manner, the hasty judgment, the supercilious look, the witty story told at the expense of an acquaintance? From whence the carelessness of the pursuits, the wishes, and the feelings of our neighbours ? From whence, save from the deliberate breach of God's commandments. Christians though we be, we do not love our neighbour as ourselves, we do not unto him as we wish him to do unto us.

Here is a work then placed before each, a work of obedience so arduous and so momentous, that instead of any bemoaning the absence of work, they might be more easily excused, were they to exclaim

despondingly" Who is sufficient for these things ?" Up, then, rouse you from your lethargy,—do battle with the principle of self within you,-unlock this exclusiveness,-escape from this indifference. What! indifferent to any whom you may meet in heaven, or rescue from hell? Throw shaft and pulley into the yet unworked mine of manner, of affection, of influence, and precious will be the treasures that come forth from the depths. Replace the gossip, the self-estimation, the superciliousness by kind looks, thoughtful actions, encouraging words. Lend a helping hand to some, who, though they have failed to "interest," may yet be sorely discouraged because of the way. Draw forth the good that there is in all. "None are all evil." Many hearts that appear hard and inaccessible will be found in the sunshine of kindness like the granite rock in the south, which emits sweet music at sunrise. Many still more icy, resemble the snowy Andes which are not without their currents of genial air.

Were there no other instrument for social work placed in our possession than the wonderful one of speech, what a wide range of usefulness would be opened up to us, and how startling the thought of the multitude of "idle words" which are gathering against us for the day of judgment! One able writer* informs us that every spoken word causes a vibration in the air which spreads in all directions round the

* Dr. Hitchcock in his "Religion of Geology."

whole world, and produces a change in the atmosphere which alters it through all future time. Another declares that "the air is one vast library in whose pages are for ever written all that man has said, and woman whispered." Alas! for the bulky volumes of the idle and the hurtful thus strangely registered, compared with the small compass required for words to which God hearkens and writes in the book of His remembrance. Such statements in some measure realize to us the wonderful significance of language which in some such way may now be registering its silent records, hereafter to witness against us with loud and startling re-utterance.

+

To draw the poison from "the unruly evil," to tame the tameless member, to guide aright the small helm which turneth about great ships,† is no easy, unworthy, or merely negative work. "Pleasant words are as an honey-comb, sweet to the soul, and pleasant to the bones." The fountain which has hitherto sent forth a bitter flood, may send forth the sweet waters of affection and blessing; the "idle words" may be changed into the busy ones of gentleness and sympathy; the harsh accents into a sweet voice, persuading men to listen to the yet sweeter, which says, "Beloved, love one another."

So important is the social vocation that we cannot consider any species or degree of work important, though it may seem to be work befitting the + Prov. xvi. 24.

* Mr. Babbage.

James iii. 4-8.

Christian, which interferes with the cultivation of social interests, and social amenities. It is at best only one species of work untimeously displacing another, which cannot be pleasing to the God of order and design. We quote the following admirable passage from the accomplished authoress of "Anna; or, Passages in a Home Life." "When God is teaching us lessons on this subject, we begin to see that circumstances as well as commands are but an expression of His will. We then feel that no outward thing can really 'hinder' us. A vexatious interruption to duty,' we perceive to be a contradiction in terms. Let us thank God and take courage when it is so with us; let us take the full comfort of this fact, that we are servants, and have really no work of our own to do,-nothing which we are striving to accomplish on our own account. We have no selfish schemes which circumstances may thwart, we acknowledge no selfish hopes which they may destroy. It is blessedness, indeed, to have accepted as our only portion, that His will should be done,—in us, and for us, and by us for ever!"

...

It must be remarked that there is no small degree of danger connected with social work, and no small degree of grace required to enable us to walk in wisdom. The temptations are great to overstep the line of demarcation between the social sphere in which God has placed us, and the worldly sphere in which God has not placed us,-to be unduly all