The parent, then, who prays for the salvation of his child, irrespective of all other considerations, excepting his exemption from misery, prays in vain, for he prays with a heart which is supremely selfish.  Where is the parent who could not thus pray?  Pray, do I say; such is not prayer.  Such pleas, however ardent, however long, however importunate, can never be consistently answered.  Prayer, to be acceptable and effectual, must always have the glory of God in view, and be offered in submission to the divine will.  It must have reference not merely to what is good, but to a good which shall consist with those eternal principles of justice and mercy, according to which God has decided to conduct the affairs of his spiritual kingdom.  We may never wish our children to sit with Christ in his kingdom to the exclusion of others.  We may not wish them introduced into that kingdom on other principles, or by other instrumentalities, than those which God has recognized and appointed.  The great law which governs in relation to other matters is to govern here.  Whatsoever ye do or seek, do and seek, even the salvation of your children, for the glory of God.’

And, now, in conclusion, allow me to inquire whether it be not owing to this selfish feeling that so many parents, who nevertheless abound in prayer for their children, fail in seeing those prayers answered?  They fail, not because they do not pray often and earnestly, but because they desire the salvation of their children rather than a humble, holy, self-denying walk with God on earth.  They forget that the chief end of man is to glorify God, and that the enjoyment of Him is an effect or result of such a course.

The object of the writer is not to discourage parents in praying for their children, not for a moment, only, dear friend, I show you “a more excellent way.”  I would urge you to abound in prayer still more than you do.  Pray on—­“pray always”—­pray, and “never faint.”  But, at the same time, pray so that you may obtain.  AMICUS.

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SUPERIOR REVERENCE FOR THE SABBATH IN SCOTLAND, as aptly represented by the anecdote of the American geologist, who was walking out for meditation one Sabbath day in Glasgow.  As he passed near the cottage of a peasant, he was attracted by the sight of a peculiar species of stone, and thoughtlessly broke a piece of it.  Suddenly a window was raised, and a man’s coarse voice reprovingly asked, “Ha! man, what are ye doing?” “Why, only breaking a piece of stone.”  “An’, sure,” was the quaint reply, “ye are doing more than breaking the stone; ye are breaking the Lord’s day.”

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Original.

GLEANINGS BY THE WAYSIDE.—­No. 1.

LOVE AND FEAR.

  “Do with thy might whatsoever thy hand findeth to do.”

I rose one morning, before six, to write letters, and hastened to put them into the post-office before breakfast.  It was a dark, lowery morning, not very inviting abroad, for an April shower was then falling.