what more can Rothschild be? The excellence of a circle lies in its roundness, not its bigness. The rim of a threepenny bit is a true circle, and would not be mended, but only magnified, if swelled till it equalled in size the tire of a cart-wheel, or dilated till it touched the outline of a planet. S. Coley.

CHARACTER—Formation of.

So build we up the being that we are.
Thus deeply drinking in the soul of things,
We shall be wise perforce; and while in-
spired
[free,
By choice, and conscious that the will is
Unswerving shall we move, as if impelled
By strict necessity along the path
Of order and of good. Whate'er we see,
Whate'er we feel, by agency direct
Or indirect, shall tend to feed and nurse
Our faculties, shall fix in calmer seats
Of moral strength, and raise to loftier
heights

Of love divine, our intellectual soul.

CHARACTER-Gone Before.

Wordsworth.

A young man's character was such as to excite universal disapprobation. He could no longer resist the pressure of public sen. timent. He disposed of his property and attempted to resume business in a distant part of the country. But his character, or rather his reputation, had gone before him. Men regarded him with suspicion. He was unable to secure the confidence and countenance necessary to success.

In this case his sins went before him to his new place of residence. The sins of men go before them still further. They go before them to the judgment, and will be ready to meet them there. What a fearful meeting! How impossible to es cape from their accusings and conse

quences.

It is related of a prisoner that, after he had toiled for months in constructing a mine from his dungeon, by means of which he hoped to escape, when at last he broke ground and let in the light of day, which he had so fondly hoped to enjoy, the first object he saw was an armed jailor waiting to arrest him! That jailor struck far less dismay and despair to the heart of the prisoner than meeting with his sins will strike to the heart of the sinner at the day of judgment. Dr. Jeffers.

CHARACTER Power of.

Benjamin Franklin attributed his success as a public man, not to his talents or his power of speaking-for these were but moderate-but to his known integrity of eharacter. "Hence it was," he says, "that I had so much weight with my fellow

eloquent, subject to much hesitation in my choice of words, hardly correct in my language, and yet I generally carried my point." Character creates confidence in men in high stations, as well as in human life. It was said of the first Emperor Alexander of Russia, that his personal character was equivalent to a constitution. During the wars of the Fronde, Montaigne was the only man among the French gentry who kept his castle gate unbarred; and it is said of him that his personal character was worth more to him than a regiment of horse. That character is power, is true in a much higher sense than that knowledge is power. Mind without heart, intelligence without conduct, cleverness without goodness, are powers, if they may be powers, only for mischief. We may be instructed or amused by them; but it is sometimes as difficult to admire them as it would be to admire the dexterity of a pickpocket, or the horsemanship of a highwayman. Truthfulness, integrity, and goodnessqualities that hang out on any man's breath-form the essence of manly character, or, as one of our writers has it, "that inbred loyalty unto virtue that can serve her without livery." When Stephen of Colonna fell into the hands of his base assailants, and they asked him in derision, "Where is your fortress ?" "Here!" was his bold reply, placing his hand upon his heart. It is in misfortune that the character of the upright man shines forth with the greatest lustre, and when all else fails he takes a stand upon his integrity and courage. Dr. Haven.

CHARACTER-Seat of.

Deeper than the judgment, deeper than the feelings, lies the seat of human character-in that which is the mystery of all beings and all things, in what we call their "nature," without knowing where it lies, what it is, or how it wields its power. All we know is, that it does exert a power over external circumstances, bending them all in its own direction, or breaking its instruments against what it cannot bend. The nature of an acorn turns dews, air, soils, and sunbeams to oak; and though circumstances may destroy its power, they cannot divert it while it survives. It defies man, beast, earth, and sky, to make it produce elm. Cultivation may affect its quality, and training its form; but whether it shall produce oak, ash, or elm, is a matter into which no force from without can enter a matter not of circumstances, but purely of nature. To turn nature belongs to the Power which originally fixed nature. W. Arthur.

CHARACTER-Social.

Shallow soil is like superficial character. You meet with such persons in life. There is nothing deep about them-all they do, and all they have, is on the surface. The superficial servant's work is done; but lazily, partially-not thoroughly. The superficial workman's labour will not bear looking into, but it bears a showy outside. The very dress of such persons betrays the slatternly, incomplete character of their minds. When religion comes in contact with persons of this stamp, it shares the fate of everything else. It is taken up in a superficial way. F. W. Robertson. CHARACTER-Truthfulness in.

Truthfulness is a corner-stone in character, and if it be not firmly laid in youth, there will ever after be a weak spot in the foundation. J. Davis.

CHARACTER-Upright.

A character should retain always the upright vigour of manliness; not let itself be bent and fixed in any specific form. It should be like an upright elastic tree, which bends, accommodating a little to each wind on every side, but never loses its spring and self-dependent vigour.

J. Foster.

CHARACTERS OF PEACE AND WAR. Luther loved to fight on the deck of the Church's ship out on the high seas, against the fleet that came sailing from the ports of the enemy. Leighton preferred the peaceful toils of the fisherman, to mend the Church's nets under some shady rock, and to cast them out into the still waters for a draught of fishes. Luther's faith was more of the soldier's sword, and Leighton's more of the pilgrim's staff. The one was eager, like Peter; the other retiring, like John. But both were faithful servants, loved their Lord, and have long since embraced in heaven. J. Stoughton.

CHARACTERS-Perfect.

There are some men who, like pictures, would be perfect in their moral characters, were it not for some blemish which you discover on the eye, or the ear, or the mouth, or some other part of the exposed person. John Bate.

CHARACTERS-Pure.

Thank God, there are several cases of unsoiled character in the sacred history. No flaw was ever alleged against the beautitul Abel, the chaste and upright Joseph,

seers Elijah and Elisha, or against Daniel, Ezra, and Nehemiah; and if Moses erred, it was only that "he spake unadvisedly with his lips;" and if this was set down as a sin by the Divine Lawgiver, it only shows how rigid and severe is His test, especially considering how many temptations and provocations the meekest man had to contend with. But what shall we say of Job, whom God himself calls a perfect man, or of John, "the beloved disciple," or of St. Paul, against whom no flaw can be alleged? for we deny all fault or appearance of fault in him in the "sharp contention" between him and Barnabas, about John Mark, who was sister's son to Barnabas, for the fault was all with Barnabas, and Paul was blameless; and he was commended by the brethren to the grace of God, while nothing of the sort is said about Barnabas. But, after all, how many, of whoin better things might have been expected, have been painful specimens of the frailty of human nature and its fatal tendency to sin. Beginning with our first parent, Adam, and passing over Cain, his first-born son, to Noah, and then to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to Aaron, and David, and Solomon, how do all tend to humble us, to show how frail is humanity without God? Surely, looking at such failures, one is disposed to cry out with David, "I have seen an end of all perfection: but Thy commandment is exceeding broad" (Psalm cxix, 96).

Dr. Holdich.

CHARACTERS-Semi-transparent.

There are minerals, such as gypsum, selenite, and quartz, through which objects may be seen, but with no distinctness of outline. Gypsum was used, under the name of phengites, by some of the most hateful of the Roman emperors-Nero, for example-for windows of their palaces. So nearly transparent was it that these tyrants could look out and see what the people were doing, while the latter could not look in and see what was going on there. And this is just what jealous and cruel despots and others of like disposition desire. Others they wish to scrutinise with eagle's eyes, while they themselves keep in the dark, and from thence give the assassin's stab. Dr. Thomas.

CHARACTERS-Two.

We place two characters before yon. Here is one-he is decided in his devotedness to God-painstaking in his search for truth-strong in benevolent purpose and holy endeavour-wielding a blessed influence-failing oft, and ceasing never-ripening with the lapse of years-the spirit mounting upon the breath of its parting prayer-the last enemy destroyed—his

memory green for ages-and grateful thousands chiselling on his tomb, HE, BEING DEAD, YET SPEAKETH." There is another -he resists religious impression-outgrows the necessity for prayer-forgets the lessons of his youth and the admonitions of his godly home-forsakes the sanctuary-sits in the seat of the scorner-laughs at religion as a foolish dream-influences many

for evil-runs to excess of wickednesssends, in some instances, his victims down before him—is stricken with premature old age has hopeless prospects, and a terrible death-bed-rots from the remembrance of his fellows-and augel hands burn in upon his gloomy sepulchre the epitaph of his blasted life-"AND THAT MAN PERISHED NOT ALONE IN HIS INIQUITY."

CHARITY-Christian.

W. M. Punshon.

never

Charity," as saith St. Paul, faileth." Stars, and suns, and systems! ye are appointed to endure but for a time; notwithstanding your appearance of permahence, ye carry with you, in your glorious marchings, the sentence that ye shall end stamped upon you all! But " charity never faileth." The man who, actuated by the love of the Creator and Redeemer, drives out "by little and little" all selfishness from his soul, shall shine hereafter amidst stars which are never to be quenched, when "there shall be no more light of the sun, neither of the moon." The faithful, in whom faith has wrought by love, shall have their place in a firmament spread out for eternity, and move in an orbit which, if it change, will change only through increasing speed in performing the will of their Lord. H. Melvill.

CHARITY-Excellence of.

Irenæus calleth charity a most excellent present from heaven, the top and zenith of all virtues, gifts, and favours of God. Maximus saith, it is the gate of the sanctuary, which leadeth us aright to the vision of the Holy Trinity. It is the double spirit which Elvieus required, wherewith to love God and our neighbour. Behold the whole law! behold all perfection! You are not much to afflict yourself, saith Augustine, to become perfect. Love God, and then do what you will; for if you desire to know whether your love to God be real and

not counterfeit, mark how you love your neighbour. By how much the lines draw nearer one to another, so much the more they approach to the centre; by how much the nearer you approach to your neighbour in love, by so much the nearer you are to God. N. Caussin.

CHARITY-No Excess in.

In all other human gifts and passions, though they advance nature, yet they are subject to excess; but charity alone admits no excess. For so we see, by aspiring to be like God in power, the angels transgressed and fell; by aspiring to be like God in knowledge man transgressed and fell; but by aspiring to be like God in goodness or love, neither man nor angel ever did, or shall, transgress. For unto that imitation we are called. Lord Bacon. CHARITY-Looking at Others in.

Those of us who have read classic history may remember an incident in the history commanded to sketch the monarch. In one of the Macedonian emperor. A painter was of his great battles he had been struck with the sword upon the forehead, and a very large scar had been left on the right temple. The painter, who was a master hand in his art, sketched him leaning on his elbow, with his finger covering the scar on his forehead, and so the likeness of the king was taken, but without the scar. Let us put the finger of charity upon the scar of the Christian as we look at him, whatever it may be the finger of a tender and forbearing charity, and see in spite of it and under it the image of Christ notwithstanding. Dr. Cumming.

CHARITY-Touchstone of.

Never to despise, never to judge rashly, never to interpret other men's actions in an ill sense; but to compassionate their infirmities, bear their burdens, excuse their weaknesses, make up and consolidate the breaches of charity happened by their fault, to hate imperfections, and ever to love men, yea, even your enemies; therein the touchstone of true charity is known. N. Caussin. CHARITY AND FRIENDSHIP.

Charity commands us, where we know no ill, to think well of all; but friendship, that always goes a step higher, gives a man a peculiar right and claim to the good opinion of his friend. Dr. South. CHASTISEMENT-Design of.

This is the manner of God's proceedings to send good after evil, as He made light after darkness; to turn justice into mercy, as He turned water into wine: for as the beasts must be killed before they could be sacrificed, so men must be killed before

you will find your heart open to every good motive, your life strengthened, and your breast armed with a panoply against every trick of fate; truly you will wonder at your own improvement. Richter. CHILD-Cost of a.

"How much that little girl costs!" said a mother, as she and I passed a little child leaning against an iron railing, eagerly watching some boys playing at marbles. "Costs!" I said; "what, her shoes and socks, her plaid dress and gay ribbons, her hat and feathers, her

"That is her least cost," replied the mother; "nor was I thinking of that, but what pain and suffering she costs; what fatigue and watching; how much of a mother's anxiety; how much of a father's toil; how many prayers; how many fears; how many yearnings; how much patience; how much responsibility; how much instruction; how much correction; how much love; how much sorrow; how many teachers; how many sermons; how many Sabbaths! She costs, too, a dying Redeemer!" Cameron.

CHILD-Death of a.

One Sabbath evening, soon after, as she was sitting beside her parents at the door of their hut, looking first for a long while on their faces, and then for a long while on the sky, though it was not yet the stated hour of worship, she suddenly knelt down, and leaning on their knees, with hands clasped more fervently than her wont, she broke forth into tremulous singing of that hymn which from her lips they never heard without unendurable

tears:

"The hour of my departure's come, 1 hear the voice that calls me home; At last, O Lord, let trouble cease, And let Thy servant die in peace!" They carried her fainting to her little bed, and uttered not a word to one another till she revived. The shock was sudden, but not unexpected, and they knew not that the hand of death was upon her, although her eyes soon became brighter and brighter, they thought, than they had ever been before. But forehead, cheeks, lips, neck, and breast, were all as white, and to the quivering hands that touched them, almost as cold as snow. Ineffable was the bliss in those radiant eyes; but the breath of words was frozen, and that hymn was almost her last farewell. Some few words she spake-and named the hour and day she wished to be buried. Her lips could then just faintly return the kiss, and no more; a film came over the now dim blue of her eyes; the father listened for her breath, and then the mother took his

A delicate child, pale, and prematurely wise, was complaining, on a hot morning, that the poor dewdrops had been too hastily snatched away, and not allowed to glitter on the flowers, like other happier dewdrops that live the whole night through, and sparkle in the moonlight, and through the morning onwards to noonday. "The sun," said the child, "has chased them away with his heat, or swallowed them in his wrath." Soon after came rain and a rainbow, whereupon his father pointed upwards: "See," said he, "there stand thy dewdrops, gloriously reset, a glittering jewellery in the heavens, and the clownish foot tramples on them no more. By this, my child, thou art taught, that what withers on earth blooms again in heaven." Thus the father spoke, and knew not that he spoke prefiguring words; for soon after, the delicate child, with the morning brightness of his earthly wisdom, was exhaled, like a dewdrop into heaven. Richter.

death of his favorite child, and, in the A shepherd was mourning over the passionate and rebellious feelings of his heart, was bitterly complaining that what he loved most tenderly, and was in itself most lovely, had been taken from him. Suddenly a stranger of grave and venerable appearance stood before him, and beckoned him forth into the field. It was night, and not a word was spoken till they arrived at the fold, when the stranger thus addressed him :-" When you select one of these lambs from the flock, you choose the best and most beautiful among them. Why should you murmur because I, the Good Shepherd of the sheep, have selected from those which you have nourished for me the one that was most fitted for my eternal fold ?" The mysterious stranger was seen no more, and the father's heart was comforted. Anon.

CHILD-Description of a.

Thou little child, Thy mother's joy, thy father's hope-thou bright,

Pure dwelling, where two fond hearts keep their gladness; Thou little potentate of love, who comest With solemn sweet dominion to the old, Who see thee in thy merry fancies charged With the grave embassage of that dear past,