A. TENNYSON.

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ACTS OF MERCY.

Yes, any act of mercy, even to the humblest and lowliest of God’s creatures, is an act that brings us near to God.  Although “the mercy of God,” as the Psalmist says, “reaches to the heavens, although his judgments are like the great deep,” yet still, as the Psalmist adds, it is the same mercy, the same justice as that which we know in ourselves.  “Thou preservest both man and beast; how exalted is thy mercy, O Lord; therefore the children of men take refuge under the shadow of thy wings.”  That mercy which we see in the complex arrangements of the animal creation, extending down to the minutest portions of their frames—­that same Divine mercy it is which we are bid to imitate.  He whose soul burns with indignation against the brutal ruffian who misuses the poor, helpless, suffering horse, or dog, or ass, or bird, or worm, shares for the moment that Divine companion wrath which burns against the oppressors of the weak and defenceless everywhere.  He who puts forth his hand to save from ill treatment, or add to the happiness of any of those dumb creatures, has opened his heart to that Divine compassion which our Heavenly Father has shown to the whole range of created things—­which our blessed Saviour has shown to the human race, his own peculiar charge, by living and dying for us.  “Be ye merciful” to dumb animals, for ye have a common nature with them.  Be ye merciful, for the worst part of the nature of brutes is to be unmerciful.  Be ye merciful, for ye are raised far above them, to be their appointed lords and guardians.  Be ye merciful, for ye are made in the image of him who is All-Merciful and All-Compassionate.

DEAN STANLEY.

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THE GOOD SAMARITAN.

    He beheld the poor man’s need;
    Bound his wounds, and with all speed
    Set him on his own good steed,
    And brought him to the inn.

    When our Judge shall reappear,
    Thinkest thou this man will hear,
    Wherefore didst thou interfere
    With what concerned not thee?

    No! the words of Christ will run
    “Whatsoever thou hast done
    To the poor and suffering one
    That hast thou done to me.”

ANON.

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LOVE.

Thus, when Christianity announced its fundamental idea of love, it, by an immovable logic, enveloped all things in that affection, and every dumb brute of the street comes within the colored curtains of the sanctuary.  The Humane Society is a branch of God’s Church, and we Christian church-members are all members of all such associations, so far as we are intelligent members of the Church of Christ.  Love does not mean love of me or you, but it means love always and for all.

PROF.  SWING.

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CHILDREN AT SCHOOL.