Donald's Counsel.

A Scotch nobleman, of the Roman Catholic persuasion, lived a very retired life, and left his affairs very much in the hands of others. One of his tenants, named Donald, rented a farm upon which his forefathers had lived above two hundred years. The lease by which he held was on the point of expiring and the steward refused to allow Donald a renewal, wishing to give it to a Friend of page 39 his own, Poor Donald tried every argument in his power with the steward, but in vain. At length he determined to make his case known, to his lordship himself; but at the castle-door he was repulsed, the steward having given orders that he should not be admitted.

Donald, almost in despair, resolved on a bold measure. He climbed over the garden-wall, and entering a private door, made his way unobserved towards the apartments of the nobleman. As he drew near he heard his lordship's voice engaged in prayer; and waiting till he should conclude, distinctly heard him pleading earnestly with the Virgin Mary and St. Francis to intercede with the Father and Son in his behalf.

After the voice ceased Donald gently knocked at the door, was admitted, and made his case known to the nobleman, who, greatly moved by his tale, assured him that his lease should be renewed, and, himself and family protected from the resentment of the steward. Donald poured forth his earnest and artless thanks, and was about to take leave, when a feeling of anxiety for the generous nobleman took possession of his mind, and he addressed him thus:—

“My lord, I have been a bold man, but you have forgiven me, and saved me and my family from ruin; I would again be a bold man, and say something farther, if I have your permission.”

“Well, Donald, speak out,” said the nobleman.

“My lord, replied Donald, “as I stood waiting at your door I heard you praying with great earnestness to the Virgin Mary and St. Francis; you seemed to be very unhappy. Now, my lord, forgive me, but I cannot help thinking that the Virgin Mary and St. Francis will do you but little good. I had been a ruined man if I had trusted to your servants; I came direct to your lordship, and you heard me, Now, if you would but leave the Virgin Mary and St. Francis, who, I am convinced, will do no more for you than your steward would for me, and just go direct to the Lord Jesus himself, and pray to him for what you need, he will hear you and grant the desires of your heart; for he has said in his word, ‘Him that cometh to ME I will in nowise cast out.'”

Swear Away.—A Sailor, standing on a wharf, was swearing away very boisterously, when one of the Society of Friends, passing along, accosted him very pleasantly, and urged him to continue the exercise. Said he, “Swear away, friend, swear away, till thee gets all that bad stuff out of thee, for thee can never go to heaven with that stuff in thy heart.” The sailor paused, and with a look of astonishment and shame bowed to the honest Quaker, and retired from the crowd which his turbulence had gathered around him.

Important Hebits.—He who cannot find time to consult his Bible, will find some day that he has time to be sick; he who has no time to pray, must find time to die; he who can find no time to reflect, is most-likely to find time to sin; he who cannot find time for repentance, will find an eternity., in which repentance will be of no avail—H. Moore.

Choice Sayings from Luther

The Bible—Scripture without any commentary is the sun from page 40 which all Doctors derive light. Let this one book be on all tongues, in all hands, under all eyes, in all ears, and in all hearts.

Prayer.—Spalatin, chaplain to the Elector of Saxony, asked Luther, “What is the best way of studying the scriptures?” Luther replied, “It is certain one cannot arrive at an understanding of the scriptures either by study or by the intellect. Your first duty then is to begin with prayer. Entreat of the Lord that he will deign to grant you, in his great mercy, the true understanding of his word. There is no other interpreter of the word of God, than the author of that word, according to that he hath said, ‘They shall all be taught of God.’ Hope nothing from your labours, nothing from your intellect, trust solely in God and in the influences of His spirit. Take the word of a man in this who speaks from experience.”

Truth.—Truth is more powerful than eloquence, and victory is for him who stammers out the truth, not for the eloquent advocate of a lie.

Faith.—The Holy Spirit is no sceptic, and he has written in our hearts, a firm and strong assurance that makes us as certain of our faith as of our life.

Humility.—God in mercy, said Luther, preserve me from a church in which there are none but saints; let me dwell where are the humble, the weak, and the sick, who know and feel their sins, and who groan and cry incessantly to God from the bottom of their hearts for his comfort and his aid.