With all our helps to Bible study there is less instruction in the Holy Word than in former days. There are so many more things to engross our minds that we have little leisure. There are so many books claiming our attention that we give less to the Bible. Our tables are covered with books and magazines, our shelves are crowded. The odd moments of time are taken up with the newspaper. We feel ourselves in correspondence with the whole world, and daily read the doings of the most distant countries. The Bible is crowded out. It is quite possible that the “helps” increase the displacing forces. In addition to this, we are safe in saying that the religious training in the home is not the factor in life it once was. The Sabbath-school has invaded the domain of the home to some extent, and the prevailing worldly influences give more of the secular spirit to the family life. Family worship is neglected, in some cases is rendered well nigh impossible by the pressure of the economic life. We may add to this the decline of expository preaching by pastors. Formerly it was the rule that the morning sermon should be expository, and after this was relaxed, pastors still gave much of their pulpit ministration to this form of preaching. The people had their Bibles and used them, following the minister in his discussion of the consecutive verses or chapters. This was accompanied by a corresponding study of the Word in the home. There was much searching of the Scriptures whether these things were so. Much attention was given to committing the Scriptures to memory; in the Sabbath-school this was made prominent. The result of all was a remarkable degree of intelligence in the Bible, not of the words only, but of the doctrines contained in it. Children grew up with definite convictions, and personal character of strong moral fiber was formed. In this we now fail. Creedal statements do not command considerations, for convictions are feeble; doctrinal discussion is at a discount, for the faith is less positive. Much is said of our going back from creeds and doctrine to the simple and direct words of the Scripture, but in fact we are going back from the definite knowledge of the Word of God. We need a revival of the study of the Bible in the home, and in the church as well. We confess to a preference for clear and strong expository preaching, sermons that bring much of the sacred book under review, and show its thought in its unity. We should seek to increase our familiarity with the facts recorded for our instruction, with the devotional parts of the Bible, and with the precepts and commands contained in every part. The Bible should be woven into the life; it should become the warp and woof of character. It should furnish familiar texts as mottoes for daily living. Its promises should be so familiar to us that they would come at once to mind as we need them. It should be the accepted standard of truth and right, the guide to our feet, the light to illumine the way. And all this specially when we are young. In the early years the mind readily receives the divine truth. It speaks to the tender heart as it can not in later years, when the hardening influence of the world has been felt. It becomes fixed in the memory, and is precious in time of perplexity and trial. How the Psalms committed when we were young live with us now, and the gracious promises taught us by loving parents are now fountains of comfort. When there is perplexity, some familiar precept throws its beam of light upon our difficulties. When the pain and the sorrow come, how sweet and comforting are the assurances of the love and care of our Father in heaven. “How sweet are thy words unto my taste.” “These words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”—*United Presbyterian.