even the appearance of evil, and are to give attention to whatsoever things are pure, true, honest, just, lovely, or of good report.

"Full often, too,

Our wayward intellect, the more we learn
Of Nature, overlooks her Author more;
From instrumental causes proud to draw
Conclusions retrograde and mad mistake.
But if His Word once teach us-shoot a ray
Through the heart's dark chambers and reveal
Truths undiscerned but by that holy light;
Then all is plain. Philosophy, baptized
In the pure fountain of eternal love,
Has eyes indeed; and, viewing all she sees
As meant to indicate a God to man,

Gives Him His praise and forfeits not her own.
Learning has borne such fruit in other days
On all her branches; piety has found

Friends in the friends of science, and true prayer
Has flowed from lips wet with Castilian dews."

The life that now is-the life that is to come

a teacher's work has to do with both.

The children who come to us for instruction, and who listen to the words which fall from our lips, will carry the effect of our teaching to the

end of their lives. They are not machines, by which a certain amount of work is to be accomplished, or a certain amount of money to be earned. They are living, thinking, immortal beings. They come to us plastic and easily moulded. The impression we stamp upon them may never be effaced. Many and many a hungry and thirsty little soul has gone forth from the teacher's hands fed with stones and not with bread. Many a bright intellect has been cultivated and strengthened, while the soul's yearnings and needs have been unsatisfied.

Teachers! dare we run the risk incurred by a work half done? dare we "take tithe of mint and rue and every other herb, and pass over judgment and the love of God"? Have we no shrinking of heart at the thought of the "Woe unto thee" which must precede those other words of the Master, "These things ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone "?

The children's good! It is a simple matter,

and surely one that will need no exemplification. Whatever will make them truer, nobler, wiser; whatever will increase and extend their influence and improve their position; whatever will make their character more trustworthy or their work more valuable; which will strengthen their faith and quicken their zeal for good,—these things it is our province to teach.

It is possible to go to a class with the Word of God in our hands, and to leave the lesson at last without having called forth one good or holy aspiration or resolution.

It is possible to meet a class for the teaching of any subject, and yet leave behind us a sense, a tone, of something far deeper than any book learning itself could establish.

If we really desire the children's good—all good for them, and the highest good more than all-it must flow out in our every word and affect our every action. As well say to a candle, "Your business is to burn wick-you have nothing to

do with shedding a light," as to expect a religious teacher not to exercise a religious influence.

Paul was learned more than all the apostles. He did not despise wisdom of all kinds. What was the especial end of all his teaching? Here are his words :

Teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus" (Col. i. 28).

And again

"Pastors and teachers for the perfecting of saints, till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man" (Eph. iv. 11-13).

Did I not say a teacher's work was something like setting an angel free?

II.

About your Qualifications.

T is a good thing for us all that we should be able to estimate highly the

work of our daily life. No matter what our occupation may be, the manner in which you carry it on depends mainly upon the opinion we hold regarding it.

trade songs know this well;

Those who write

and there comes

into my mind, as I write, extracts from some of

these, each of them holding up the honour of the work of which they speak:

"The fire brigade is a famous host,

In danger and need they are at their post.
'House on fire'-off they run;

Facing danger comes like fun."