The Saviour, full of compassion, gives light, knowledge, hope, salvation, to those who believe.
Lesson. Open Thou mine eyes, that I may see.
Light and Joy.
A poor boy in a coal-mine, whose work it was to close the door after the coal-waggons had passed, was forced to sit there alone hour after hour in the dark. He was a dear lad, and when someone said to him, "Are you not tired of sitting so long in the dark?" he answered, "Yes, I do get tired, but sometimes when the men give me a bit of candle I sing." So do we. When we get a light in our hearts we sing. Glory to God Who is our light as well as our salvation! We see our sin and our Saviour, and, saved by grace, we shall one day see the dear face of Him we love, and behold the land which is far off.
Short Arrows
NOTES OF CHRISTIAN LIFE AND WORK.
The Cost of a Bible.
The striking diagram here shown is an attempt to represent the different prices a buyer would have had to pay in times past for an ordinary English Bible which he can get to-day for sixpence! In 1804 such a Bible could not be bought under ten times that sum, and in 1650 the purchaser would have had to pay no less than a sovereign, or, forty times to-day's price, for a similar Bible. In 1450 it could not have been bought, except as a written copy, and would have cost over five pounds, money then, as compared with now, having greater purchasing power, too! So that it is practically impossible to give a true representation of this last case, compared with the former; but the diagram clearly shows that a silver coin which would buy such a Bible to-day would have to be represented by the ten coins to buy the same Bible in 1804, and by the forty coins to buy it in 1650!