wife of one meek above all the men upon the earth, and she was vindicated by God himself.  What were her hopes in prospect of seeing the promised land, in common with all the nation, or whether she lived to hear the terrible command of God to Moses, “Avenge Israel of the Midianites,” we do not know.  The slaughter of her people may have caused her many a pang, and she probably went to her rest long before the weary forty years were ended.  She has a name and a place on the sacred page,—­she was a wife and mother,—­and though hers is a brief memorial, yet, if we have been led to study the word of God more earnestly, because we would fain learn more concerning her, that memorial is not useless.

* * * * *

Original.

BROTHERLY LOVE.

BY REV.  MANCIUS S. HUTTON, D.D.

     “Be kindly affectioned one to another, with brotherly love, in
     honor preferring one another.”

     (Continued from page 92.)

I remarked that this precept was important in the heads of families, in regulating their intercourse with each other, as well as that between themselves and their children.  I take it for granted that there is in truth no want of real affection and regard between husband and wife, and yet there may be, in their treatment of each other, frequent violations of the duty of kindly affection.  The merely outward manner is indeed never as important as the real feeling, but it always will be regarded more or less as the indication of the real feeling, and parents should never forget, that in their children they have most observant and reflecting minds; and you may rest assured that the parental cords are loosed most sadly when the child is led to remark that his parents do not cordially harmonize.  Nay, more, if those parents be Christians, such conduct throws a shade of doubt over their Christian character.  There were both force and sincerity in the remark of the man who, when the reality of his religion was questioned, replied:  “If you doubt whether I am a changed man, go and ask my wife.”  I fear that many a professing Christian could not stand this test; he could appeal with confidence to the testimony of his church, and receive the most favorable answer, but could he appeal with the same confidence to the testimony of his home, of one who knows him best?  Is his intercourse with them whom he truly loves best, always regulated by the law of that kindly affection which religion imperatively demands, nay, which good sense and common humanity require?  Many a man will speak at times to his wife in a most unkind and even uncourteous manner, in a manner in which he would not dare to speak to any one else; I know he may not mean unkindness, but is it not a wrong?  I say nothing of its unchristianness; is it not a wrong done to her who loves him more than she does all the world, to treat her far more uncourteously than the world would do?