he memory of man have there been iversal manifestations of hearty welad real joy as have lately been witin our land, called forth by the marALBERT EDWARD, Prince of Wales, XANDRA, Princess of Denmark. The ang out their merry peals; the cannon ered; the hearty cheers of thousands hen night came on, the illumination shing of electric lights, and the blaze ed as if it would bring day back again. it is done. And now that it is if it did not awaken in you, young

"THE FLOWER ABUNE THEM A'."

THE DEATHBED OF RS, A SABBATH SCHOLAR
AT I, AGED 13.

O MITHER, hae I broken the bonnie, bonnie flower?
The lily of the valley-sae fragrant and sae pure !
I thocht to haud it cannie, but there's dimness on my e'e;
But waft it by me ower and ower-it breathes o' heaven
to me.

An' oh! the last sweet posie the lady brocht at e'en-
Its blossoms were sae white an' fair, its leaves sae fresh

an' green;

An' even when 'twas dow'd and dry, I grat to fling't awa, For it minded me o' Jesus, the flow'r abune them a'.

Oh, the whiteness an' the sweetness in heaven willna tyne,

For Christ 'll mak the simmer there, an' mither, Christ is mine;

Tho' noo I'm but a fa'in' flow'r, to me will come a spring, When from the dust the Sun o' life shall wake me flourish

ing.

Oh, I maun tread the valley that's darker than this room, But I shall see the Lily there that lichts it wi' its bloom: An' whaur the shadow's eeriest, I'll find the arm o' Christ,

He's promised there to meet my soul, an' weel he'll keep the tryst.

An' mither, when the freends come, that hae been kind to me,

Ye'll tell me whisp'rin', wha they are—their face I canna

see;

I fain wad speak, an't werena for the pantin' an' the

pain;

But they'll gie their hand to me ance mair,

An' oh, we'll meet again?

A. B. O.

EDINBURGH: T. NELSON AND SONS.

PEVER in the memory of man have there been such universal manifestations of hearty welcome and real joy as have lately been witnessed in our land, called forth by the marriage of ALBERT EDWARD, Prince of Wales, to ALEXANDRA, Princess of Denmark. The bells rung out their merry peals; the cannon thundered; the hearty cheers of thousands rent the air; and when night came on, the illumination of buildings, the flashing of electric lights, and the blaze of fire-works, seemed as if it would bring day back again. But it is over,-it is done. And now that it is past, we may ask if it did not awaken in you, young

1

readers, some thoughts that led you onward to that most joyous of all joyous days-the "Marriage of the Lamb?" Let me speak to you about it for a little.

1. In olden times, Denmark was the strong and fierce invader of our island. Her ships were ever hovering on our coasts, and landing their powerful bands to kill, plunder, and destroy. And, in more modern times,— more than half a century ago,—our country was at war with the Danes, and sent Lord Nelson to destroy the batteries and the navy that defended Copenhagen. But those days of enmity are over. Our day has seen all past feuds buried, as if sunk in the German Ocean. Peace, and good-will, and real kindness have come; for the son of our beloved Queen has crossed the deep to seek the hand and heart of Alexandra, of the Royal House of Denmark.

Now here, let me say, is a parable. The "Marriage of the Lamb" has a feature like what has just been stated; for the Bride, "the Lamb's wife," belonged to a race that were his determined foes, and had herself inherited all their feelings as to his person, character, laws, ways, and kingdom. But a time came when the Lamb landed on her shores on an errand of love,-won her heart, and espoused her to himself. Do you know how it is that Christ, the Lamb, espouses sinners to himself? -how he, in a time of love, subdues the soul; revealing to it that he "loved the Church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it, and present it to himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy, and without blemish?” (Eph. v. 26, 27.)

2. You notice that it was from the most powerful and distinguished of the two that the first thought of the alliance proceeded. The Prince of Great Britain spontaneously sought this Princess, in that other land less mighty

by far; and you know that the "Prince of the Kings of the earth" was He who, in free grace, moved only by love to us, originated the idea of a marriage-union between Himself and such far-off ones as we. Young reader, this is the manner of the Lamb. His "Bride" is the Church of redeemed sinners. Have you met him? Have you heard the messenger say to you,-perhaps when your soul was as far alienated from Him as ever was the Dane, in old days, from reconciliation with our land," Wilt thou go with this man?" And did you, surprised and amazed though you were, at once agree? And have you been saying, "My Beloved is mine, and I am his?" (Song ii. 16.) Happy soul! Will you not, if this is the case, long for the marriage-day; and, in the meantime, delight to speak of Him to others, and hear others speak of Him to you?

3. When the day and hour of our Prince's marriage with the Princess at last arrived, there were most unprecedented demonstrations of joyous sympathy and congratulation all over the nation. We spoke of this before, and you all know it, and probably took part in the rejoicings. But when the "Marriage of the Lamb" has come, and his "wife has made herself ready" (Rev. xix. 7), there shall be joy throughout the universe of God: the voice of the great multitudes, and of the harpers harping with their harps, shall be "as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings" (Rev. xix.); and this is the burden of their song,

"Let us be glad, and rejoice, and give glory to Him,
For the marriage of the Lamb is come!"

In the multitude that encompassed and greeted our Prince on his way to the marriage at Windsor, every eye was turned in one direction; and it is said that the gleaming of so many eyes in such a countless multitude was