A SPANISH artist was once employed to paint “The Last Supper.” It was his object to throw all the sublimity of his art into the figure and countenance of the Lord Jesus; but he put on the table in the foreground some chased cups, the workmanship of which was exceedingly beautiful. When his friends came to see the picture on the easel, everyone said, “What beautiful cups!” “Ah!” said he, “I have made a mistake, these cups divert the eyes of the spectator from the Lord to whom I wished to direct the attention of the observer.” And he forthwith took up his brush, and blotted them from the picture, that the strength and vigor of the chief object might be prominently seen and observed. Thus all Christians should feel their great study to be Christ’s exaltation, and whatever is calculated to hinder man from beholding Him in all the glory of His person and works should be removed out of the way!
CONVERSATION.
I WOULD establish but one great general rule in conversation, which is this―that men should not talk to please themselves, but those that hear them. This would make them consider whether what they speak be worth hearing; whether there be either profit or sense in what they are about to say; whether it be adapted to the time when, the place where, and the per son to whom it is spoken.―Steele.,