k-minded at the least. Still further, I
have noted that such travellers _believed_ in their guide-books, and
usually acted on the advice and directions therein given.

"But one journey I can tell of in which all this seems to be reversed--
the journey from earth towards heaven. And here is our guide-book for
that journey," said the preacher, holding up the little Bible. "How do
we treat it? I do not ask scoffers, who profess not to believe in the
Bible. I ask those who _call themselves_ Christians, and who would be
highly offended if we ventured to doubt their Christianity. Is it not
true that many of us consult our Guide-book very much as a matter of
form and habit, without much real belief that it will serve us in all
the minute details of life? We all wish to get on in life. The most
obstinate and contradictory man on earth admits that. Even if he denies
it with his lips, all his actions prove that he admits it. Well, what
says our Guide-book in regard to what is called `getting on'? `In all
thy ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct thy paths.' Now, what
could be simpler--we might even say, what could be easier--than this?
Him whom we have to acknowledge is defined in the previous verse as `the
Lord'--that is, Jesus, Immanuel, or God with us."

From this point the sunburnt preacher diverged into illustration,
leaning over the desk in a free-and-easy, confidential way, and
thrilling his audience with incidents in his own adventurous career,
which bore directly on the great truth that, as regards the Great End of
life, success and blessedness result from acknowledging the Lord, and
that failure and disaster inevitably await those who ignore Him.

While Jackman proceeded with his discourse, the sky had become overcast,
dark thunderclouds had been gathering in the nor'-east, rain had also
begun to descend; yet so intently were the people listening to this
unusual style of preacher, that few of them observed the change until a
distant thunder-clap awoke them to it.

Quietly, but promptly, Jackman drew his discourse to a close, and
stepped out of the desk, remarking, in the very same voice with which he
had preached, that he feared he had kept them too long, and that he
hoped none of the congregation had far to go.

"We hev that, sir," said the old elder, shaking him warmly by the hand;
"but we don't heed that, an' we are fery glad that we came, what-e-ver."

As the wind had also risen, and it seemed as