Reader, think of little Sandie when you are tempted to say you are honest, and ask yourself the question, "Can I lay my hand upon my heart and say, My God, I am honest indeed, honest as that poor child was, honest before my neighbours, honest before Thee." *BEARING THE CROSS.* "’Take up thy cross,’ the Saviour said, If thou would’st My disciple be; Deny thyself, the world forsake, And humbly follow after Me. ’Take up thy cross,’ nor heed the shame, Nor let thy foolish pride rebel: Thy Lord for thee the Cross endured, To save thy soul from death and hell! ’Take up thy cross,’ and follow Christ-- Nor think till death to lay it down; For only he who bears the cross, May hope to wear the glorious crown!" _C. W. Everest._ Bearing the cross, or self-denial, as it is sometimes called, forms a necessary part of the daily life of every Christian man. Every one of us can give up something for the good of others. A rich man is called upon to give up one thing, a poor man another. But let none think that his riches or his poverty, as the case may be, will excuse him from bearing the cross of Christ. And indeed in the heart of any true servant of God, there will be no wish to shirk the hard and disagreeable part of His service. His heart will be so filled with love and devotion to Christ, that he will gladly bear the cross, "despising the shame." It may be we are called upon to give up our time to go and see a sick neighbour, or it may be we are asked to do a neighbour a good turn by going on an errand for them when we wish to go elsewhere. But whatever it may be, it is certain that opportunities for practising self-denial occur in the lives of us all. "If any man will come after Me"--Christ has told us--"let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me[#]." There is the command, now hear the promise made to such as fulfil the command,--"and where I am, there shall also My servant be[#]." [#] S. Matt. xvi. 24. [#] S. John xii. 26.