Not once through all God's Word are we told to copy one another. In the Old Testament we have -"Be ye holy, for I am holy," repeated over and over. In the New Testament we are all familiar with like words from the lips of our Great Teacher

"Be ye therefore perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect."

"Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father in heaven is merciful."

"Forgive, as your Father in heaven forgiveth you."

It is of little consequence to us that we know well how impossible it is for us here ever to attain the perfection we aim at, either in our work or in our own souls; but this is no reason why we should be discouraged.

"He who aims at the sun shoots higher than he who aims at a tree."

Even if we could err in this way, as so many do err in its opposite, it would be far better for

ourselves to be striving after excellence we never can reach, than to be satisfied with a standpoint which we come at more easily.

Aim at the highest good for your children, then, and though this highest good will not always leave you in the highest place, you will be nearer the Master for your effort. He who used his talents to the best advantage soon had more committed to him. As you in your little place, with your few opportunities of doing good, earnestly strive and work and pray to do to the full the Lord's will concerning this work, you will find your own soul ripen under your effort and your work prosper. You may never know how far your influence may spread. You may be like one who casts a stone into a river-the stone touches only one place, but the circles which proceed from the touch spread and multiply, growing wider and reaching further until the whole face of the stream is stirred by your one effort.

There is something very expressive in those

words, "Stand therefore," "Having done all to stand." The armour is to be put on; we are to forego neither helmet, nor breastplate, nor sword, and then with our faces towards the foe we are neither to flinch nor falter, but to stand—ready for anything, ready for everything which will further the Lord's cause.

And perhaps one reason why we all feel more keenly the discouragement of which we spoke just now, is that we look too far backward and too far forward as to results. If only we could be content with day by day effort! If we could begin every morning with a zeal and love all fresh, an enthusiasm just kindled with living coal from off God's altar; and putting yesterday's failures or to-morrow's doubts altogether in the background, just work, day by day, according to the grace given unto us.

“Surely a day is not so long a time to endure. There are not so many hours between rising up and lying down but that I could manage, if I

really prayed, and really strove, to be watchful and pure, and self-denying and zealous in my work. God requires my services day by day, and will graciously recompense me day by day, if I am true to Him, and lead me on day by day, and give me the support of a day in its day, and the grace of a day in its day" (Dr. Goulbourn).

Day by day! Faithfully to work the work committed unto us. He, the Master, can bless and give the increase. He has promised to do so, He is waiting to do so.

Ask for the blessing, and

expect the blessing, and wait for the blessing, then. Faithfully !-no perhaps, or it may be, with regard to the end. God's will and shall suggests no manner of doubt; let us leave it with Him, then.

And hopefully too. Without this the work will drag. There must be cheery brightness and hearty gladness of spirit in all we do for His little ones. Our lives are given to Him. Our work is from His hand. The nearer we get to

Him the more must joyful gladness of spirit be the spring of every effort. Those whose minds are stayed on Him have perfect peace, perfect faith, and perfect hope, as well as perfect love.

Ah, yes, love! love to Him first, and then love to every child our eyes rest upon. We know how hard the struggle will be for each one of them, if they are to be the Lord's servants. We know how much of trial they will have to meet, only in making their way here; the dangers lie thick around them, the snares are many. And as we remember all this our hearts must yearn over them with tender love. They are ours for so short a space; only too soon they will pass from us into the very thick of the fight. It may be that, if we fail them now, that never again will they be brought under good influences.

We dare not hesitate; we must not falter then; while we linger, evil is being established and right feelings blunted. We cannot be content to go with the crowd and do as others do. We are