from the fact that, in thinking, we are so much in the habit of allowing our thoughts to run from one subject to another more or less like it. That is, we naturally and constantly form comparisons or analogies in our thinkings.

To take an example. We obtain light and heat from the sun. When the sun shines, we all alike feel and enjoy the warmth. Now, knowledge is very like the light of the sun, and kindness and love resemble, in many respects, its warmth.

Thus, light reveals to us what is. A traveller walking over an unknown country in the dark does so in fear of many unseen perils; but, when the light breaks, his fears are dispelled, for he can see where he goes and what lies in his path. Then again, the light streams all around, and is repeated day after day, and yet there seems no lessening of the store. We do not apprehend less light to-morrow on account of that bestowed to-day. So it is with knowledge; men are ever learning and acquiring, but the store of knowledge never grows less.

Thus far and much farther we might show the analogy between light and knowledge. And this being so general and obvious, the one is often used for the other. When we say that light is spreading over the dark places of the earth, we really mean that knowledge is becoming more diffused. And when a nation is generally well-taught, and makes a good use of its knowledge, we call it an enlightened nation.

We thus see that when things are alike in many points, the very word that originally stood, and still stands, for one of these things, comes in time to be used for the other. And if you will take time to consider you will find such words exceedingly numerous. Thus world, that physically means the globe upon which we live, in a religious sense means the cares and follies that occupy the mind apart from God and duty. In the same way treasure, sword, water, head, root, and hundreds of other nouns have come to possess two or more meanings.

The same process also goes on with regard to our adjectives and verbs. Thus warm and cold are applied not only to material substances, as when we speak of warm water and a cold stone, but we apply them to the habits and constitutions, for we speak of a warm attachment and a cool temper. We have not only a transparent window, but we speak also of a transparent character. So, too, we see, not only the desks and books of the schoolroom, but we also see that selfishness generally leads to misery.

Now, we want you to note carefully that, these secondary meanings of words and phrases are based upon the analogies or likenesses between objects in some particulars. And further, that while by their use our meaning is often brought out more clearly, yet we must be careful to remember that the likeness or analogy will not hold in all particulars; for if it did the things would be the same or identical.

We just now said that knowledge may well be spoken of as light, and love as heat. But one moment's thought will show you that the analogy ends somewhere. For, a man confined in a dark dungeon will obtain light by only removing the barriers which prevent the entrance of the light of the sun. But suppose a man without knowledge, he will not become learned only by being placed in the presence of books and teachers.

So, too, we become warm by simply basking in the sunshine, but we do not necessarily love God or our parents or friends by simply being in their presence.

Our Lord in His teaching once said, "Behold the lilies of the field how they grow, they toil not, neither do they spin, and yet Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." One way of understanding these words would be to say that as the lilies become beautiful and live out their life without any care or effort of their own, so we are taught that, if we are idle and indifferent, we too shall be supplied with all we need for life and beauty.

Now, this you can at once see would be straining the comparison beyond the limits intended by the Great Teacher. For, while the lily shows no carking care as to its future, yet day by day it does stretch out its leaves to gather in the light, and its root-mouths are ever seeking the nourishment upon which it grows; and thus, true to its plant-life, by these very energies it buds and blossoms, and

even cheers and teaches man by its beauty. And the lesson to us is that, as surely as God sends the light, heat, and moisture for the plant, so too, He will send us His truth to guide and His love to warm us; and that, if true in the use of these, we too may, like the lily, grow in beauty and usefulness.

2.

Home Exercise.-1. Define numerous, repeated, occupy, transparent, identical, and nourishment. Trace out how far light and knowledge are alike, and wherein they are unlike. 3. Give six examples of words that have come to have secondary meanings by reason of some obvious analogy.

THE angel of the flowers one day
Beneath a rose-tree sleeping lay;
That spirit to whose charge 'tis given
To bathe young buds in dews of heaven.
Awaking from his light repose,
The angel whispered to the rose:
"O fondest object of my care,
Still fairest friend, where all are fair,
For the sweet shade thou giv'st to me,
Ask what thou wilt, 'tis granted thee."

"Then," said the rose, with deepened glow, "On me another grace bestow."

The spirit paused in silent thought,-
What grace was there that flower had not?
'Twas but a moment-o'er the rose
A veil of moss the angel throws;
And robed in nature's simplest weed,
Could there a flower that rose exceed?

BRAINARD.

Home Exercise.-1. Learn the next three stanzas. of "The Blind Boy." 2. Parse the first two lines. 3. Paraphrase the above fable of the Moss Rose.

ON LAW, No. 9.

Associating, putting into
company with.
Assumes, takes to itself.
Inanimate, not having
life.

Impressed, marked in.
Invariably, always.

Universal, applying to all..
Establishes, makes sure.
Described, written down.
Opaque, not admitting

light.
Fortified, made strong
by art.

WE are in the habit of associating the word law with what ought to be done rather than with what is done. Thus the law of the parent is that which the parent requires his child to do. The law of a country is what the government of that state requires its subjects to do. And the law of God is that which the Supreme Ruler of all requires to be done. These are cases of moral law, and, in these, the law assumes the power to obey or disobey.