The above lines by Robert Montgomery express in fitting and beautiful language the Christian's trust in Providence as all sufficient for his happiness and well-being in this vale of

tears.

As soon as Christ descended from the mount of transfiguration, the people ran towards him and saluted him with particular reverence, for they probably discovered some faint glimpse of the heavenly light still shining on his face. His first act was to restore to health the son of a poor man who was grievously afflicted, telling the multitude, when the scribes began to doubt his power, that "all things were possible to them which believe ;" thereby giving us a lesson by which we may well profit, that without faith all religion is vain, all profession useless: this is why the Pharisees were condemned by our Lord, because, in spite of their strict adherence to the forms, they wanted the spirit of religion. "The letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life:" that is, that though the words of Scripture may condemn us, yet a firm faith in the saving power of Christ will redeem even the worst of sinners.

God of my life, to thee I call,
Afflicted at thy feet I fall;
When the great water-floods prevail,
Leave not my trembling heart to fail.

Friend of the friendless and the faint!
Where shall I lodge my deep complaint?
Where but with thee, whose open door
Invites the helpless and the poor!

Did ever mourner plead with thee,
And thou refuse that mourner's plea?
Does not the word still fix'd remain,
That none shall seek thy face in vain?

That were a grief I could not bear,
Didst thou not hear and answer pray'r:

But a prayer-hearing, answ'ring God,

Supports me under ev'ry load.

Fair is the lot that's cast for me;
I have an advocate with thee:
They whom the world caresses most,
Have no such privilege to boast.

Poor tho' I am, despised, forgot,

Yet God, my God, forgets me not;

And he is safe, and must succeed,

For whom the Lord vouchsafes to plead.

After a short tour through various parts of Galilee, our Saviour returned to Nazareth, where being called upon to pay tribute for it must be recollected that the Jews were at this time under the Roman sway, and that every citizen was obliged to pay a certain portion of his income yearly, in token of his obedience to the laws of the Cæsars, though the Jews were still governed by their own laws-he gave a noble example of conformity to the laws by paying the tax demanded, though he might easily have evaded the payment had he been so inclined. And even here a miracle was necessary; for our Lord was so poor that he had not probably sufficient money for the purpose; and turning to Peter said " Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them (the tax-gatherers) go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up: and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.”

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This miracle was doubtless performed by our Saviour with a view of showing that submission to the "powers that be," is incumbent on all men, no matter what their private opinions be, and is a powerful incentive to all those who would follow in the footsteps of their blessed Lord and Master.

And about this time, our Saviour was teaching the people on the coasts of the river Jordan, and they brought young children to him that he should bless them. But his disciples were angry with those who brought them, which Jesus perceiving, he took the babes in his arms and blessed