And eummer days, when we were youngi Sweet childish days, that were as long • As twenty clays are now." Perhaps there is no reason to shatter this delusion. Why should we spoil the sunshine of youth with the shadow of coming years? 'l'he worlct could not go oa without young enthusiasm, and hope is essential to young enthusiasm. Yet it is possible to be led. into practical mistakes by this delusion. The young may think that there is plenty of time before them, and the thought ma.y be U.'!ed as an excuse for indolenc!'I, negli- gence, and the postponement or duty. Then a sudden a.wakening comes with a shock of alarm, as it is perceived only too late that the golden opportunities of youth are gone- for ever! II. THE DIVINE TRUTH. Clement or Rome appealed to the phcenix as a witness for the resurrection. We smile at his credulity. But may we not appeal to the legcn,I of the phcenix a.s an evidence of the instinct of immortality? Why is it so natural to us to believe that life will go on for ever? Shall we put this idea ,!own entirely to the delusion of circumstances and of our own vitality? Does it not spring from some- thing deeper in our nature? Betha~ as .it may, however, Christ has come to satisfy the desire and to confirm the hope. Job confessed the foolishness of his youthful dreams; yet even .he-in-.those old-world 'days had occasional glimpses of the life beyond the grave, and we hare a grand assurance of that life in Christ and his resurrection. The mistake is to dream of an earthly immortality. The old man who cheri~hes fond hopes of living a 1itile longer is not much better off than the drowning man catching at a straw:. But he who has a' hold on the life eternal can afford to see the years rushing away~ ·.swifter than a· weaver's shuttle. He must make the best of them while hi! has the'm; for'this life is with him but once, and he will have to give an account of .it hereafter; for there is a hereafter-a great day of God'~ eterni~y that knows no sunset;-W. F. A. Vera, 21-23.-Welcome counsel. Among the happy circumstances of Job's sunny days of.prosperity, he recalls the welcome that was accorded to his words of advice. Too often 1\dvice is more freely offered than thankfully received. Let us, then, consider the quali~y, the utility; and the acceptance or welcome counsel. • I,' TBE quALITY OF W:Ji:LGOME COUNSEL. What conditions must be fulfilled to make advice worthy of acceptati(m? • 1. It must be full of knowledge. A glib tongue is ready enough to offer gratuitous ,advice, but we want to ascertain whether a full mind is inspiring it._ ,Religious teachers must_ know for themselves before they can safely lead o_thers. The doubt that is pardonable in the private person may be fatal to the public instructor. 2. It must be based. on experience. Evidently Job IV'l,S a mau of wide experience. He spoke out of the fulness of his own observation of the world. ArmchiLir counsellors are not much valued. An apprenticeship must be served to the affairs on which we would•giv-e advice. 3. lt mu,st be accompanied by practical wisdom. Knowledge a.ad experience may find a man very foolish, and leave him so. We have to learn hciw'to 'apply our acquisitions. We_ need practical tact in dealing with men and affairs. 4: It must be offered in sympathy. It is very _little good to give preaching advice .. We must talk to a man as a br_other. We must let people see that we care for them, an~ that we are truly studying their good. A suspicion that the advice is not disinterested vitiates it entirely. II.. 'l'HE UTILITY OF WELCOME COUNSEL. Bushels of advice have to be thrown on one side e.s so much burdensome rubbish. Nevertheless, the rare value of really good advice is beyond all reckoning. 1. Right living is supremely important. Counsel deals with life rather than with opinions. It touches conduct. Now, as Matthew Arnold quaintly says, "conduct is three parts of life." Anything that really helps conduct must be valuable. 2. Right living is not easy. We are often perplexed and in uncer- tainty. Our prejudices and interests warp our judgments. 3. External advice brings new light. It may not be better than what we already possess; but it is an addition. Tho wise counsellor helps us to look at our affairs from a fresh point of view. At the same time, he coJU~s with a certain calmness and detachment that enable him to take a fair view of the situation. HI. THE A.OOEPTANOE OF WELCOME ADVICE, 1. It needs humility to receive it. \Ve THE BOOK OF JOB. [01t. :u::z:. 1--31,
nre sll resdy to receive the advice that concurs with our previous opinions; but that advice is BCSrcely needed. The difficulty is to sccept the ad.vice that contradicts our notions or wishes. Pride resents it; yet it may be most needful to us. 2, It should be taken ?Vt'.th discrimination. Well-meant advice me.y be very foolish; even wise advice is not infallible. We have to select what commends itself to our judgment. 3. It ought 'l!Ot f,o supersede independent thotight and choi.ce, We me.y be advised by counsellors; hut we hRve no bnsiness to let ourselves be ruled by them. After 11,ll it is we and not they who will be responsible for what we do. Let us, then, preserve indo- pen<lene<> of judgrncnt, and cultivate strength of will. 4. It dese,·ves to be treaud with gmtitude. For the sake of its value. Also because, if it is worth much, it must have cost our cc1unsellor time and po.ins. Too often giving advice is a very thankless task, N.B.-All earthly counsel is useful only in so far as it follows the heavenly, of which it is a type. The most welcome counsel should be that which comes through the voice of the Holy Spirit in our hearts.-W. F. A.