zealously affected in a good cause, but it is also desirable to ascertain whether our zeal is impelled by right principles.

Shall we take a peep at Charlotte in her quiet and happy home, and see whether her conduct, amidst the daily vocations of life, exhibited the germ of those qualifications which are necessary for the self-denying engagements of a missionary life.

One Sunday afternoon, soon after the conversation which we have just related, Charlotte went to occupy her usual place at the Sunday school. The weather was very warm, and the children were exceedingly troublesome, and as Charlotte looked on the unpromising little group around her, she felt half sorry that she had undertaken so arduous an employment. The appointed chapter, after much stammering and many blunders, was at last got through, but when she began to question her little pupils on what they had been reading, it seemed as if all their ideas had vanished. They appeared unable to understand the most simple explanation; and Charlotte's equanimity fairly gave way, when a ridiculous answer made by one of the girls, excited a general laugh among the others. She expressed her displeasure in a very indignant tone; and the children discouraged by her remarks on their dulness and inattention, grew sullen and careless, and wished, like their teacher, that the tedious hour was ended. Charlotte forgot how gently, and how patiently, her Saviour bore with the ignorance and perverseness of those who surrounded him on earth, and therefore did not strive to imitate so lovely an example. She felt glad and relieved when the school was closed; and as she walked home with her friend Helen, she eagerly unfolded to her the difficulties and vexations which she encountered in the fulfilment of her duties.

Helen listened attentively to the long list of grievances, and gave the best advice she could, but she was rather surprised that the ardent and enthusiastic Charlotte should be so easily tired and disheartened. The truth was, Charlotte possessed very little patience or perseverance, and now that the novelty and excitement of her position had worn off, and she found that her labors were not quite so light as she had anticipated, she was ready to relinquish her wearisome employment.

And yet Charlotte deemed herself capable of enduring all the perils and privations of a missionary life, and often pictured her

self sitting in the midst of a cluster of wild, untutored heathen children, and teaching them to read the Scriptures.

In the ensuing week Charlotte purchased a new dress for herself; she did not really require one, and the money might perhaps have been better appropriated; but a recent invitation to a birth-day party, made the expenditure in her estimation absolutely necessary. The material was very light and pretty, and after being duly admired by her friends, was committed to the care of one of the most renowned dress-makers in the place. At the appointed time it was sent home, and Charlotte glanced at the parcel with no small degree of satisfaction; but her pleasing anticipations were sadly disappointed, when she proceeded to a more minute examination. By some unaccountable mistake, the dress was made in a very different style to that which had been ordered; it was certainly vexatious, and Charlotte looked as if she thought so. "How provoking," she exclaimed, as she pushed it angrily towards her sister Kate, “I am sure I shall not like to wear such a fright as this, and there is not time to have it altered."

“But the pattern is not at all unbecoming, Charlotte; indeed, I think it prettier than the one you chose, only it is rather oldfashioned."

"It does not signify if it be ever so pretty," rejoined her sister, “when it is not the last fashion; everybody will think it an old dress, or if not, they will conclude that I have not the least taste, to have it made in this way."

Kate, who never manifested much consideration for other people's feelings, now laughingly alluded to the well-known story of Sir Isaac Newton, and his little dog Diamond; and advised her sister to recollect the calm equanimity of temper which he displayed under much greater provocation. "You know, Lotte, I always call you a philosopher, so you must endeavor to sustain the character."

Charlotte did not seem much like a philosopher just then, and her ruffled feelings were ill calculated to bear with Kate's raillery, neither could the suggestions of the latter, as to some minor improvements which might easily be effected, restore her wonted good humour.

Kate, although thoughtless, was not unkind, and she did all she could to reconcile her sister to her disappointment; but

finding that Charlotte still persisted in her vain regrets, she at length declared, that it was neither rational nor reasonable, to waste so much sorrow over a single article of dress. "What a pity, Charlotte," she said, that you cannot realize your bright dreams of living in Africa, for then you would have no trouble about what you should wear. I suppose any fashion would do for the poor savages?”

It was very wrong of Kate to speak so lightly on missionary subjects, especially when she knew that these allusions would irritate her sister; but it was strange that Charlotte did not consider how incompatible her present views and feelings were, with that noble and elevated engagement to which she aspired.

Some of Charlotte's young friends were very anxious that she should become a district visitor, for they thought that she was well adapted for that sphere of usefulness, and the society was urgent in its claims for more assistance. But they could not gain her consent. She said, in reply to their solicitations, that she did not think she should like it, and that she really had not any time which she could devote to the purpose. Was this the truth? We are afraid that the real reason why she refused to accede to their request, was a dislike of the trouble and self-denial which its acceptance involved. It was not timidity which deterred her, nor yet a mistrust of her own abilities, but she must have made one or two little sacrifices, in order to lend her aid in this labor of love, and Charlotte shrank from any personal inconvenience.

Are we wrong, then, in thinking that Charlotte was unprepared for the great work of implanting the gospel of Jesus Christ in foreign lands? Her indolent improvement, or thoughtless neglect, of present opportunities, gave but little promise of future usefulness. "He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much, and he that is unjust in the least, is unjust also in much." Her little brothers and sisters might have been led through the instrumentality of her persuasion and example, to consecrate themselves in early life to the service of the Redeemer; but Charlotte seldom told them of His love, or strove to win their young affections by the cheerful consistency of her conduct. She forgot that those who do not diligently employ the one talent which is committed to their care, are unworthy of being entrusted

with more; "For unto every one that hath shall be given, but from him that hath not, shall be taken away even that which he hath."

Yet her error is a very common one. Young persons often fancy that they could do a great deal more good, if they were placed in almost any position than that which has been assigned them; and they sigh for a more extensive sphere of usefulness, while the present is left unoccupied. Their time and energies are misused and wasted in idle dreams of the future.

But is it wrong then to desire to be a missionary? Certainly not. Neither would we check the noble enthusiasm, which aspires after a life of unwearied zeal and self-forgetfulness, in order that the blessings of the gospel may be diffused throughout the world. Many and beautiful are the instances of youthful devotion to the cause of missions. Home and friends have been willingly relinquished for a perilous enterprize, and perchance, aħ early grave; but their reward has been more than commensurate with their labors, and "their works follow them." And even to those whose ardent zeal has never been permitted to realize its bright imaginings, the gracious sentence of approval is given, "Thou didst well that it was in thine heart." But we wish gently to remind you, that your faithfulness with regard to present duties, is a fair test of your preparedness for a loftier station. The same principles which would enable you to adorn the latter, are equally requisite for your right discharge of the former; and if these are wanting, you should anxiously enquire how far you are fulfilling the great purposes of you existence.

Let it be your constant endeavor, dear young friends, to evidence the sincerity of your desire to be useful, by a diligent use of all the means which are now placed within your reach; and let principle, not excitement, be your constraining motive. And may the consecration and improvement of your talents be such as to win for you the kind commendation of your Saviour, "Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." C. C.

RUNNING.

"So run that ye may obtain." 1 Cor. ix. 24.

IN carrying out the principle which the apostle had asserted, "I am made all things to all men, that I might, by all means, save some;" he never "modified the principles or laws of Christ's kingdom, to gain a Jew; nor adorned them in the garb of pagan philosophy, or mysticism, to conciliate the wise or devout among the heathen; in all things indifferent, he lived and acted according to circumstances, as if he had said, "I have tried all allowable expedients, and yielded, as far as possible, in acts of self-denial, in my conduct towards all sorts of persons; not from any unsettledness in my own principles, temper, and views; but that by all prudent, laudable, and sinless methods, suited to their circumstances, and most likely to be attended with the Divine blessing, I might be instrumental in the hand of Christ, to deliver some, at least, from their errors, from sin, Satan, and their own prejudices; the curse of the law and the wrath to come, and to lead them into all the privileges and blessings of a spiritual salvation, even unto eternal life.*"

Conformably to this great object, an object which every Christian minister, and every pious character ought to keep in view, the apostle availed himself of every circumstance calculated to affect the mind. How admirably does he address the Athenians in his discourse on Mars' Hill, on the subject of the altar they had erected" to the unknown God!" and how happily does he introduce the sentiments of the ancient poets, and the customs of the Romans and Grecians, to explain and enforce his arguments and exhortations, in his spoken discourses, and in his written epistles to the churches.

In his letters to the Corinthians, he makes some striking allusions to the Olympic Games, so called from Jupiter Olympius, to whom they were dedicated. For a considerable time they had fallen into disuse, after their establishment 1453 B.C.; but they were restored by Iphitus, a descendant of Oxylus, king of Elis. The festival lasted five days. In these games were exhibited running, leaping, wrestling, boxing, and throwing the quoit, which were the five principal games. A course was appointed,

* Dr. Guyse.