The New Sixpence;

OR,

"GOD IS GOOD! GOD IS LOVE!"

"The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay His head."

MATT. viii. 20.

THE NEW SIXPENCE.

"My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways."-Prov. xxiii. 26.

EAD the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation, and you will see one thread runs through all; "God is good; God is love." These words contained a germ of strength and revival to the writer when setting forth on her pilgrimage, coming as they did from the lips of a dearly loved and honoured servant of the Lord in a brief parting interview. The winged words fled forth like birds to their home, and from that hour have nestled in the heart to which the Holy Spirit guided them.

In various dark and perplexing wilderness paths, when neither sun nor stars for many days appeared, and no small tempest was around,

they have solved many a difficulty, and dispelled unbelief, with their sweet song in the night.

Give them entrance into thy heart, dear Reader! and hear what God the Lord may speak by them; but if thou dost not bid them welcome, may they wait, like doves, at the window, with folded wings of hope and faith, ready to enter thy soul, when thou hast found a place therein, where the Son of Man may lay His head.

"God is good; God is very good!" The words fell in tones of admiring wonder from the lips of a child scarcely five years old, as, gazing from a high casement window, alone she watched the setting sun. Rich violet and golden clouds, like chariots with fiery steeds, seemed careering to the west, and beyond them, the pale opal green reflection, like a sea of unbroken light, imaged forth heaven to the little lonely watcher. Heaven! where God, and the angels, and her mother dwelt, and where some day the motherless one thought to lean again on the tender breast that had sheltered her infancy.

She knew not of the flaming sword at Eden's gate, that turned every way, to keep the way of

the Tree of Life, nor that the children of the exiled Adam cannot pass it. The white robe, washed in the blood of the Lamb, the white stone, the song of "Abba" in the heart, alone give entrance through the walls of Salvation and the gates of Praise.

The old house was silent, all within seemed desolate; costly toys and books lay scattered round, alike uncared for; the young heart was throbbing with strange feeling; it was experiencing its first hungry cry for love and sympathy, which never yet found rest but in the Infinite. It was the first whisper of the Holy Ghost to the little one, "Give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways."

No mother's love soothed her childish sorrows; no tender voice shewed her the Saviour of little children who stood ready to embrace her, or told her that He had laid down His life for the youngest lamb of His blood-bought flock.

The topmost branches of the distant trees were now tinged with gold, the sky deepened into crimson glory, whose light fell on the up-turned face where a tear still glittered. "Beautiful world! beautiful heaven! God is