o fast from having
their own way, and others who would serve God if they would take a back
seat now and then, and let somebody else talk a bit.

But it is not to these men we address ourselves to-day. It is to those
who are trying to get as much ease and comfort out of life we would
speak. There are some of us who preach and live by it, who might do more
to earn our stipend. We fear the Rev. Mephibosheth Neversweat is too
"intellectual" to read "JOYFUL NEWS," and it is useless saying much to
him, or else we should like to ask him to remember that the time is
coming when he will be too old to work, and it may be then, when his eye
is too dim to read his newspaper, he may be compelled to read the proof-
sheets of his own biography--a book that will be published and read when
all the world be there to hear it. We pity him when in old age he
remembers mis-used opportunities of becoming a blessing to his
generation, or looks forward to the time when he must give account of
himself to God!

The reverend gentleman we have named has some cousins, who are Local
Preachers; and we should like to have a word with them also. How about
those village congregations that were disappointed of a preacher? How
about those stale and faded sermons? We wish you would be persuaded to
make a sermon on--"SHAKE THYSELF FROM THE DUST," because there would be
at least one penitent, even before the sermon was preached.

However, what perhaps is needed most of all is that the decrease in our
numbers as Methodists should lead us to repent, and do our first works.
We should as a Church humble ourselves before God, and that without
delay. He waits to be gracious. We must not lose heart. Let the
thousands of faithful workers among us remember that when the disciples
were baffled, Jesus was in the company of Moses and Elijah; but He
dismissed them that He might come to the help of His people. Whatever he
may be doing, we can catch His ear, and bring Him to the rescue. He
needs only that we should cry to Him for help. We indulge the hope that
when Methodism learns that, in spite of all the earnest work done, we
have fewer people meeting in class than we had last year, there will be a
bowing before the Lord. Already we see signs of blessing. There is a
waking up to duty, and a longing for purity, that can have but one
result. The Master is coming, and shall soon say,

"BEING HIM UNTO ME."

LII. MANNA.
EXODUS xvi. 4.

I.--Man