Daily Provision for Daily Need.

ELL, auntie dear, it's all settled at last, and papa has just written to Mrs. Barton to say I will be with her on Tuesday next; and as we must

go into town by-and-by to make some little

addition to my wardrobe, mother told me that I might come over and stay with you until she calls for me; that is, if you are not too much occupied."

Miss Lees was not aunt to the young lady who thus addressed her, but this title was given her by half the little village of Morton, who came to her in all their troubles and their joys, sure of finding tender sympathy and wise counsel and loving help. The sorrow that had made her home a lonely one had taught her the blessed art of comforting others, by the comfort wherewith she herself had been comforted.1 And what she had heard in the darkness of bereavement and sickness and tears, she now proclaimed in the light; and those who as yet knew not for themselves the Fountain of light and love, whence she drew her strength and brightness, could admire the reflection of His image, and confessed that though Miss Lees was the most religious person they knew, she was also the kindest and the cheeriest.

"I am always glad to see you, Maud; but, my child, those tell-tale eyes of yours show me that you are in trouble. I can guess all about it" (auntie could always divine what was the matter); "let us come to our favourite seat under the old oak, and a little talk in the sweet, fresh air will do you good." So, taking her Bible, her constant companion, they went through the gay little garden to the well-known spot, where before now many a tale of sorrow had been poured forth, and many a prayer had ascended to "Our Father" in heaven, and where many a sweet answer of peace, too, had been granted; so that to Miss Lees at least it was a spot as sacred as it was lovely.

1 2 Cor. i. 3, 4.

2 Matt. x. 27.

Once seated here, it seemed that all poor Maud's trouble rushed back on her, as she said, with streaming eyes,

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Oh, auntie dear, I did not know what a wrench it would be to me to leave that dear, dear old home, and go to live with strangers. I did so long to help my dear father to give the boys a college education, that I entreated him and mother to consent to my going out for a few years; but now that a desirable situation has been obtained, my heart utterly fails-it is so selfish and cowardly of me!"

"I am not sure, Maud, that it is either one or the other. You are not repenting of your decision, are you? or would you wish the place to be given up?"

66 Oh no, no; but still I so shrink from the whole thing, and feel so weak. I have always had those loving parents at hand to counsel me about everything, and nowBesides, auntie, I do not think I should be so much afraid, but I hear that Mrs. Barton is quite a worldly person, and this might often place me in a difficulty. I am shy and timid with strangers, yet I do so want, everywhere and always, to confess my dear Lord and Master."

"I am not in the least surprised, my child, that you feel much leaving your happy home to go to those you have not even seen before; but you will have One with you who never fails, and the deep and tender love of your beloved father is but a feeble type of that 'knowledge passing love' of your Father in heaven. This morning I was reading a passage that never fails to help me, and it may be that the Holy Spirit brought it to-day to my remembrance, that I might have it fresh for you. Let us look at the sixth chapter of Ezra, and read the first and last clauses of the ninth verse: 'That which they have need of . . . . . let it be given them day by day without fail.""

But, auntie, does not this refer to the Jews, and not to us ?"

"Primarily it does, love; but the 'testimony of Jesus' runs like a golden thread through the whole Bible, and we may find Him and His people, His work for them, and His

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promises to them everywhere: so we do not wrest His blessed Word in taking all the comfort we can gather from this wonderful promise—a promise which we find repeated again and again, only in other words and under other circumstances. Think then of the Promiser. I, the King of whom Jesus said, 'Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall never pass away.' Then of the promise: 'I make a decree, that of the king's goods. No fear of His stores being exhausted or insufficient, when we read of the 'unsearchable riches of Christ," and of 'the exceeding riches of His grace,' and of the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God.' Then the command is, that from this treasure-house, 'that which they have need of . . . . . let it be given them day by day:' no store of grace promised to us to lay up. Only 'the prodigal son' asks for 'the portion of goods that falleth to me;' the loving, obedient child loves the very sense of dependence upon a wise and tender Father; and Jesus would have us waiting on Him continually, so that we may keep very close-yea, rather that we may abide in Him. And lastly, as if to add assurance to certainty, He adds, without fail;' for 'He faileth not." "4

"How wonderful!" said Maud, with emotion; "and that which we have 'need of' includes everything, temporal and spiritual, great things and small."

"Surely, dear; and there is yet another thought that you may take to encourage you. You see this provision was made for those who were building the 'house of God;' so there is special comfort in it for workers for God. And is not your dear Master now sending you into a new piece of His vineyard, and telling you to teach those two little children for Him? True, the enemy is very strong and you are very weak, and left to yourself you will make endless blunders, and must utterly fail; but day by day' go and tell Him your 'need,' whether it be of wisdom, or love,

'Eph. iii. 8. 2 Eph. ii. 7.

3 Rom. xi. 33.

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4 Zeph. iii. 5.

or patience, or grace to abide in Him; it is at a King's treasury you are knocking, and has He not said, 'Let it be given (her) without fail? You believe, Maud, that He is able to do this, do you not? and then, strong in His grace, keeping in the sunshine of His presence, you cannot help testifying for Jesus; and so shall those with you be attracted to that blessed Saviour whose voice of love is still saying, 'Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow;' 'Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely,' and who has promised His Holy Spirit to 'them that ask Him.' "3

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Prophecies and Fulfilments

CONCERNING

THE FIRST COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

IV.

"They gave Me also gall for My meat; and in My thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink."—Psalm lxix. 21.

"They gave Him vinegar to drink mingled with gall.”— Matthew xxvii. 34.

"Ail they that see Me laugh Me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the Lord that He would deliver Him: .... seeing He delighted in Him." -Psalm xxii. 7, 8.

"They that passed by reviled Him, wagging their heads, and saying,.. If Thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking Him, with the scribes and elders, said, . . . . He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him: 8 Luke xi. 13.

1 Isa. i. 18.

2 Rev. xxii. 17.

for He said, I am the Son of God."-Matthew xxvii. 39-41, 43.

"Thou didst hide Thy face, and I was troubled.”—Psalm xxx. 7.

"My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” — Psalm xxii. 1.

"About the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?"-Matthew xxvii. 46.

"He keepeth all His bones: not one of them is broken.”— Psalm xxxiv. 20.

"Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that He was dead already, they brake not His legs. . . . . These things were done, that the Scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of Him shall not be broken."-John xix. 32, 33, 36.

"He made His grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death."-Isaiah liii. 9.

"When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathæa, named Joseph, who also. . was Jesus' disciple: he went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered."—Matthew xxvii. 57, 58.

and brought a

"And there came also Nicodemus, mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices."-John xix. 39, 40.

"And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock."-Matthew xxvii. 60.

"They weighed for My price thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord."Zechariah xi. 12, 13.