a testimony in fe.vour of the theatre, compared to the testimony against it of the thousands it has ruined? "It might do good, but never did." Beware of impurity in any form. Beware of impure books, impure songs, the impure jest, impure companions. "'!'here is death in the pot." There is no sin that brings a more speedy or more terrible retribution in this life, than impurity of thought or deed. In a diseased body and a disensed mind it leaves its deadly marks. 'l'he impure man is a walking sepulchre. He is digging his own grave. Above all, he is destroying all hope of entering that pure and holy heaven where God is, and into which there shall in no wise enter anything that defileth. III. Tms MA y DE SAID ALSO OF HADITB OF INTEMPERANCE. "There is death in the pot." We need not take an extreme position on the subject of alcohol any more than on any other subject. But it is right that, as intelligent beings, with a reason and a conscience, as Christian men and women with God's Word to guide Ill!, we should look facts in the face. Medica.l opinion is often resorted to by those who make too free in their use of alcohol. Let us hear the latest and best medical opinion on the subject. At the last meeting of the British Medical Association (Dublin, 1887), one of the most interesting papers was the report of a special co=ittee which had been appointed by the association to inquire into the connection of disease with habits of intemperance. Here are some of the conclusions which the committee, after most careful investigation, arrived at: "(1) That habitual indulgence in alcohol beyond the most moderate amounts has a distinct tendency to shorten life, the sho1tening being on the average fairly proportional to the degree of indulgence; (2) that the strictly temperate who have passed the age of twenty-five Jive on the average at least ten years longer than the intemperate." Is not this an important proof of our statement? "Habitual indulgence in alcohol beyond the most moderate amounts has a distinct tendency to shorten life." The man who drinks alcohol to any considerable extent is slowly killing himself. "There is death in the pot." If we turn from the assembly of doctors to the experience of everyday life, we get similar proofs. What terrible madness and infatuation drink causes ! What fearful havoc it bas made ! What hopes it has blighted! What homes it has wrecked I What lives it has mined! There is death in the cup of intoxicating drink, as many a man has proved when it has been too late. But absence of wrong-doing will never make you right. As Elisha cast the meal into the pot, wholesome and nourishing food in place of the deadly poison, so be it yours to fill your mind with the teaching of God's Word, and your lire with holy and useful deeds. The great Teacher is Jesus Christ. .A..sk him to enter into your life, to purify your heart and your desires. Ask him for time and for eternity to save your soul.-C. H. I. Vera. 42-44.-The loaves multiplied. L THE PROPHET PROVIDED FOB. It was a time of famine. "But they that fear the Lord shall not want any good thing." Elisha received a thank offering from the people-" bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn." The obfection to a paid ministry has no war- rant in the Word of God. Old Testament and New alike encourage provision for the wants of God's ministers. Jesus said, "The labourer is worthy of his hire." Paul said, "They that preach the gospel should Jive of the gospel." It is impracticahle and inconvenient that men shoulo. be preachers of the gospel, with all the preparation which that work requires, and pastors of the flock, with all the attention which this requires, and at the same time be burdened with the toil and anxiety of providing for their own temporal support and that of their fe.milies, if they have them. II. THE PEOPLE FED. We see here: 1. Elisha's unselfishness. He had freely received; now he freely gives. In that time of famine he might; have thought it prudent to store up for himself the supply of food be bad received. But no. He trusts God for the future. His first thought is of others who were hungry round about him. "Give unto the people, that they may eat." There is need for more of this unselfish- ness, considerateness, thoughtfulness. How many of those who have abundance forget to think of those who are in want I 2. 1'he Divine power exercised. God owns his servants, not only by supplying their wants, but by giving power to their word. Oh that every minister of Christ would realize this I What a new power it would ~ive to his work I what a new stiutulus to his earnestness I When we think of the 80 THE SECOND TIOOK OF THE KINGS. [err. IV. 1-44.
greatness and reeponeibility of our work, we may well RSk, "Who ie sufficient for these things?_" But "'.hen, on. t?e other hand, we think of the Divine power which works along with the faithful mm1ster, we may well say, " I can do all things through Christ which st.rengtheneth me." He can help ue to break among our people the bread or life, and blese it abundantly in the breaking.-C. H. I.