OUR CABINET.

TOO MUCH READING.

We once saw in a periodical intended for young folks the following para graph: "How easily could a person of ordinary leisure read one book a week. How rich would be the reward! Fiftytwo volumes a year. Such a quantity of useful reading every year would fit any one of ordinary capacity to be eminently useful in church or state; and if he remained a private individual it would be to him a source of pure enjoyment. Let it be tried!" The advice was well meant, but it should have been taken with many grains of allowance. Some one asked the pious Jordan, whether it was best to be always praying or always reading books of devotion. "You might as well ask me, whether it is best to be always eating or always drinking," replied the venerable man. The man who eats two dinners every day will dispose of a great deal of food in the course of a year, but he will probably ruin his digestion. Though it is an excellent thing to cultivate a fondness for reading, the taste must be kept within proper limits or it will grow to be a lust of the flesh. Much of the reading of the present day is absolutely worthless, and though it might be possible to read a volume a day, the time thus spent would be worse than wasted. Even one book a week is too high an average, if the books chosen are really thoughtful and instructive. The main thing is not quan tity but quality, and a volume which demanded years of preparation from its author can hardly be properly read by "a person of ordinary leisure" in a single week.

his treasures with a lavish hand. To read a few masterpieces of literature in this way, in the course of a year is without discrimination every week, or, worth far more than skimming a book indeed, every day in the week.

HOW HE SHE-WINGED.

BY A. M. S.

There is a class of persons who not only consider it their privilege but their solemn duty to argue concerning things they do not understand.

An illustration of this character came under my notice some time ago, and I think it worthy of going on record.

Dr. F.-a man who glories in his freedom from all orthodox doctrines, engaged in an argument with a member of the Roman Church. They argued about the inspiration of the Bible; the burial place of Moses, and other kindred topics. Finally, the doctor produced a copy of the "revised version" and said if they wanted to make this edition correct and able to be understood by all classes, he did not see why they employed words that no one understood. Upon being asked to explain, he said there occurred in the first chapter of St. Luke, the word she-winged, and, if his Roman friend knew what it meant he was ready to be enlightened.

It occurred, he said, in a passage where John the Baptist is spoken of as being" she-winged" unto Israel. The doctor supposed it had reference to his being transferred to the Israelites, or was used to convey the idea of "moving his tents" unto Israel.

It is related of Emerson that he They were hopelessly floundering never read without having a note-book around trying to put the proper conat hand, in which he entered everything struction upon it, when I happened that appeared especially valuable. In to drop into his office. At once the this way he collected a vast amount of whole matter as before stated was reavailable knowledge which by reflection hearsed to me, and my interpretation he made his own. He thus became asked for. mentally rich, and was able to dispense | mentally

Unwilling to commit myself without

more fully understanding the passage, I asked to see the word as it appeared in the Scriptures. Being told to turn to St. Luke, 1st chapter, 80th verse, I did so and read as follows: "And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel."

Although it may have been rude, I indulged in a hearty laugh at the doctor's expense, and after shewing him how simple it all was, he tried to justify himself by saying: "showing! shewing! showing! well, they had better use such forms of words as we are familiar with; and not something old and antiquated." Witness the confusion of those who are wise in their own conceit."

6.

WIRE; WIRING. AND WIRE-PULLING.

GOOD ADVICE.

Men who have risen in the world are often fond of looking back to see what cricumstance gave them their first push up the ladder of life.

A gray-haired old admiral used to tell of a piece of good advice which he received in his youth, and which made such an impression on him, that to it he ascribed his steady advance in life.

As a lad, just before joining his ship, he occupied an humble lodging for a few nights; the landlady, a respectable, motherly woman, at once took a strong interest in the young fellow.

"When I went to bid her good by," he said, "the kind creature pressed a Bible and a guinea in my hands, saying:

"There, my lad, take those, and God bless and prosper you. As long as you live never suffer yourself to be laughed out of your money or your prayers.'

But the boy stood firm. Alone among a crowd of careless ones, he said his prayers, trying to shut his ears to scorn and mockery, and even di-regarding personal ill usage as much as he could.

The Boston Advertiser' is right in suggesting that our times be styled It was a word in season; the young the Wire Age, as against the Stone Age, midshipman never forgot it. To keep Iron Age, &c., of former eras. We the resolution he made then required never before thought of it, how com- no ordinary firmness and courage, for pletely en-wired we are. We walk in let me tell you that fifty, sixty, or sev shoes stitched with wire. Our gloves enty years ago religion on board ship are wired at the wrists. We sit on was a thing to suffer for. wire chairs. Lounges and sofas are wired under us. Our beds and cots, and couches are wired with mattresses and springs. Our food is largely passed through wire sieves, and our tables are ornamented with wire covers, to shelter On shore he did not recklessly fling it against insects and flies. We enter away the money he had earned, in the house of a friend by wire-pulling." treating" and folly, as did most of We travel by cable-wires, and electric his shipmates.. So, by degrees, becomwires. We are hoisted by elevators set ing known to his superior officers as a in wire. We cross wire bridges. We steady, well conducted young fellow, he send messages by wire, over telegraph, merited the promotion he afterwards and through telephone. We find our obtained. way in the streets by wire light. The fields are surrounded by wire fences. Our clocks and watches run by wires. Many of the books we read are stitched with wire. And much of the work done in the State and Church is done by "wire pulling." No wonder, that we speak so often of 'wiry men'!

We want the Boston Advertiser' to have all the credit for directing our attention to this characteristic of the current period of American history. Its editor is right in suggesting that the future analysts ought to describe our times as The Wire Age." PERKIOMEN.

66

We need this sort of bravery nowadays-not the bravery which keeps a man staunch in face of the enemy's cannon, we have plenty of that in the land, and we are glad of it; but the bravery of the soul that dares keep its place when the devil's ugly weapons are directed towards it-the bullet-hail of scorn, laughter and mockery.

Try to lead good lives, lads of today! And next do not be ashamed of being seen to do so. It is as wicked to pretend to be worse than you are as it is to strive to be thought better than you are.-Lutheran.

SUNDAY-SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.

LESSON I.

PALM SUNDAY

April 6, 1884.

PAUL'S THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY.-Acts 18: 23 to 19: 7.

23. And after he had spent some time there, he departed and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples. 24. And a certain Jew, named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord: and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.

26. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: Whom, when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.

27. And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace.

28. For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, shewing by the scriptures, that Jesus was Christ.

Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, 2. He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were

ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.

4. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

5. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

6. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

7. And all the men were about twelve.

GOLDEN TEXT.—And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them. V. 6.

CENTRAL TRUTH: Bellevers should grow in knowledge and experience.

NOTES.

TIME: A. D. 54. PLACES: Antioch and southern portion of Greece. 28. Apollos Ephesus. V. 23. Some time there; in Antioch. now preached that Jesus is the Messiah, foreSee v. 22. Departed-on his third missionary told in the Old Testament. 1. Paul now tour. Galatia and Phrygia, in Asia Minor. In comes to Ephesus, where Apollos had been. order, in succession. Strengthening-confirm- Disciples-imperfectly instructed believers. 2. ing in faith. 24. Apollos-a liberal Jew; a disciple of John Baptist; soon to become a disciple of Jesus. Alexandria, the chief city of Egypt, built by Alexander, 332 B. C. Ephesus, a chief city of Asia Minor. 25. Instruct ed; literally, catechized. Baptism of Johnunto repentance. Not the same as Christian Baptism. 26. Aquila and Priscilla, (see lesson 10, 1st quarter). More perfectly-taught him about Jesus Christ. 27. Achaia, the

The great question: Did ye receive the Holy Ghost, when ye believed? We have not heard that He has been given. The reason is given in v. 3. Then Paul tells them of the Baptism of the Spirit, in the name of Jesus. 5-7. The dawn of imperfect knowledge was now followed by the full light of Christian truth and power. Prophesied-spoke in an inspired manner.

QUESTIONS.

From what city did Paul start on his third | On what did he base his arguments? What tour? In what year? Through what coun- testimony did he bear concerning Jesus? tries did he pass? In what work was he en- 1. Who succeeded Apollos at Ephesus? gaged? Whom did he find there?

24. Who was Apollos? From what city was he? What is said of him? Whither did he come?

25. What is meant by instructed? Had he been taught the whole gospel? Did he know about Christian Baptism? Was John's Bap tism the same? Did he need fuller light?

26. Was he willing to be instructed by others? Who became his teachers? What did you learn about them last quarter?

27. Where did Apollos next go? To what city? (Corinth, where Paul, Aquila, and Priscilla had labored). What letter did he bear with him? Was he of any help at Corinth? 28. What class did he persuade, chiefly?

2. What great question did he ask? Give Paul's question, as in Notes. Their reply. Did they know that there is a Holy Spirit? (Yes). Did they know that He had been given?

3. Is Christian Baptism superior to John's? What gift follows it? (Acts 2: 38). 4. On Whom are all to believe?

5. What followed Paul's preaching? By what was their feeble light followed? Was this a second Christian Baptism? (No).

6-7. What followed the laying on of hands? Was this the same as on the day of Pentecost? What is meant by prophesied? Was this the ordinary gift of the Holy Ghost?

CATECHISM.

Ques. 113. What doth the tenth commandment require of us?

Ane. That even the smallest inclination, or thought, contrary to any of God's commands, never rise in our hearts; but that at all times we hate all sin with our whole hearts, and delight in all righteousness.