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The Scotch Lassie and Dr. Chalmers.

There is a story of Dr. Chalmers. A lady came to him and said: "Doctor,
I cannot bring my child to Christ. I've talked, and talked, but it's of
no use." The Doctor thought she had not much skill, and said, "Now you
be quiet and I will talk to her alone." When the Doctor got the Scotch
lassie alone he said to her, "They are bothering you a good deal about
this question; now suppose I just tell your mother you don't want to be
talked to any more upon this subject for a year. How will that do?"
Well, the Scotch lassie hesitated a little, and then said she "didn't
think it would be safe to wait for a year. Something might turn up. She
might die before then." "Well, that's so," replied the doctor, "but
suppose we say six months." She didn't think even this would be safe.
"That's so," was the doctors reply; "well, let us say three months."
After a little hesitation, the girl finally said, "I don't think it
would be safe to put it off for three months--don't think it would be
safe to put it off at all," and they went down on their knees and found
Christ.

[Illustration: The Sermon on the Mount. GUSTAVE DORE. Matthew, v.]

Johnny, Cling Close to the Rock

Little Johnny and his sister were one day going through a long, narrow
railroad tunnel. The railroad company had built small clefts here and
there through the tunnel, so that if any one got caught in the tunnel
when the train was passing, they could save themselves. After this
little boy and girl had gone some distance in the tunnel they heard a
train coming. They were frightened at first, but the sister just put her
little brother in one cleft and she hurried and hid in another. The
train came thundering along, and as it passed, the sister cried out:
"Johnny, cling close to the rock! Johnny, cling close to the rock!" and
they were safe. The "Rock of Ages" may be beaten by the storms and waves
of adversity, but "cling close to the rock, Christians, and all will be
well." The waves don't touch the Christian; he is sheltered by the Rock
"that is higher than I," by the One who is the strong arm, and the
Saviour who is mighty and willing to save.

Obedience.

Suppose I say to my boy, "Willie, I want you to go out and bring me a
glass of water." He says he doesn't want to go. "I didn't ask you
whether you wanted to go or not, Willie; I told you to go." "But I don't
want to go," he says. "I tell you, you must go and ge