r in their advance, came when they began to
doubt, and grieve, and fret.

Oh, keep the heart from the perforations of depression, discouragement,
distrust and gloom, for Satan cannot crush a rejoicing and praiseful soul.

Look out for the beginning of sin. Don't let the first touch of evil be
harbored. It is the first step that loses all. Oh, to keep so encased in
the Holy Ghost and in the very life of Jesus that the evil cannot reach
us!

The little fly on the inside of the window-pane may be attacked by the
little bird on the outside, and it may seem to him that he is lost, but
the crystal pane between keeps him safely from all danger as certainly as
if it were a mighty wall of iron.

APRIL 14.

"I if I be lifted up from the earth will draw all men unto Me" (John xii.
32).

A true and pure Christian life attracts the world. There are hundreds of
men and women who find no inducements whatever in the lives of ordinary
Christians to interest them in practical religion, but who are won at once
by a true and victorious example. We believe that more men of the world
step at a bound right into a life of entire consecration than into the
intermediate state which is usually presented to them at the first stage.

In an audience once there was a man who for half a century or more had
lived without Christ, and who was a very prominent citizen, a man in
public life, of irreproachable character, lofty intellect, and a most
winning spirit and manners, but utterly out of sympathy with the Christian
life.

At the close of a service for the promotion of deeper spiritual life he
rose to ask the prayers of the congregation, and before the end of the
week he was himself a true and acknowledged follower of the Lord Jesus
Christ. He said, as he went home that night, "If that is the religion of
Jesus Christ, I want it."

APRIL 15.

"Rooted and grounded in love" (Eph. iii. 17).

There is a very singular shrub, which grows abundantly in the west, and is
to be found in all parts of Texas. It is no less than the "mosquito tree."
It is a very slim, and willowy looking shrub, and would seem to be of
little use for any industrial purposes; but is has extraordinary roots
growing like great timbers underground, and possessing such qualities of
endurance in all situations that it is used and very highly valued for
good pavements. The city of San Antonio is said to be paved with these
roots. It reminds one of those Chr